Just got sent this gem of a press release. It's long and repetitive, so I won't reprint the whole thing, but here's a snip:

"Gordon Brown joins a virtual Paris Hilton, Alistair Darling and Keira Knightley as 3D characters in the downloadable SeriousPolicy Game. Developed by educational simulation specialist, PlayGen, the computer game sees the player on a mission to win Treasury funding for a new policy.

But this isn't satire. SeriousPolicy is designed as an example of how computer games can be put to use for both citizen engagement and education. With its clever blend of fun and seriousness, it encourages flagging public engagement in political processes and is an ideal tool for winning over Britain's younger voters - especially with Ms Hilton in situ."

Fine, fine. Educational games are good and all. But surely they can also be fun? Personally, I would rather eat crushed glass than try to "win Treasury funding for a new policy".

And why is Paris Hilton in the game? Isn't she the antithesis of education?

Honestly, it boggles the mind.