**Tim Walz’s Dreamcast Infatuation: From Personal Tale to Video Game Modification**
In a fascinating intersection of political narratives and gaming culture, Minnesota Governor and Democratic vice-presidential hopeful Tim Walz has stumbled upon a surprise video game modification. This tale originated from a seemingly inconsequential anecdote in a *New York Times* feature, revealing that Walz’s spouse had once seized his Sega Dreamcast due to his gaming excesses. This amusing tidbit has spurred the creation of a fan-generated mod for the Dreamcast classic *Crazy Taxi*, whimsically dubbed *Crazy Taxi: Tim Walz Edition*.
### The Creation of the Mod
The modification was developed by Edward La Barbera, motivated by the *New York Times* piece. “Word is that Tim Walz was so fond of *Crazy Taxi* that his wife took his Dreamcast from him… so I thought it would be fun to include him in the game,” La Barbera stated on the mod’s [Itch.io page](https://edward-la-barbera.itch.io/crazy-taxi-tim-walz-edition). The mod substitutes one of the original game’s characters, Gus, with a 3D representation of Walz, featuring his iconic black and red checkered shirt—a style that has earned him recognition as a “DNC fashion icon” according to *The Wall Street Journal*.
In addition to the character change, the mod features a range of clever political nods. The gear shift indicators “D” and “R” have been updated to read “Democrat” and “Republican,” the fare meter now tracks “campaign $$$,” and a countdown timer measures the seconds “till election time.” These whimsical elements introduce a layer of political humor to the already frenetic gameplay of *Crazy Taxi*.
### Technical Challenges
Although the mod has captured some attention, it is not merely a matter of burning it onto a CD-R for use on an actual Dreamcast. The mod is currently tailored for the Dreamcast emulator Flycast, which facilitates in-game texture replacements. Gamers hoping to enjoy the mod on genuine Dreamcast hardware may find disappointment; however, those experienced with emulation will find the process of setting it up fairly simple.
In addition to visual enhancements, the mod features new voice lines for both Walz and his running mate, Kamala Harris. These lines were taken from their respective speeches during the Democratic National Convention, adding further depth to the gameplay experience. However, integrating these audio clips into a standard *Crazy Taxi* ROM demands some technical skill and third-party ISO management software. For those less inclined to manipulate files, a [gameplay video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rWMN4XugBE) is accessible online, showcasing Walz exclaiming phrases like “Mind your own business!” to impatient fares.
### The Impact of Walz’s Dreamcast
While Walz has not publicly commented on his Dreamcast gaming experiences, the console has woven itself into gaming legend. Former campaign intern Tom Johnson recalls that Walz brought the console to his office in 2007 for donation purposes. Unfortunately, the Dreamcast languished in the campaign’s break room and eventually found its way into the possession of another intern, Alex Gaterud. Gaterud later sold the console via Craigslist for a mere $25 in 2012, long before Walz rose to national prominence.
The new owner, Bryn Tanner, has since turned the console into a bit of an online sensation. Tanner has shared details about the purchase on various internet forums and even exhibited the Dreamcast at local gaming conventions like [2D Con](https://www.2dcon.net/). In a TikTok video, Tanner showcased the console, with a copy of *Crazy Taxi* still inside. “I’m kind of famous now,” Tanner quipped in a post following the *New York Times* article.
### Politicians and Video Games: An Emerging Phenomenon
Walz’s Dreamcast narrative is yet another illustration of politicians engaging with video game culture. Over the years, numerous political figures have made appearances in video games, either officially or through fan creativity. Bill Clinton and Al Gore were famously portrayed as hidden characters in *NBA Jam*, while Barack Obama and Sarah Palin appeared as downloadable content in *Mercenaries 2*. Even Abraham Lincoln commanded a robotic strike unit in the 3DS title *Code Name: S.T.E.A.M.*
As video games establish themselves as a dominant form of entertainment, younger politicians are beginning to embrace this medium. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, for instance, garnered attention for her participation in a charity-focused *Donkey Kong 64* Twitch stream aimed at promoting transgender rights. At 60 years old, Walz is part of the
