Portraits of Possibility

How avatars will help players realize their presidential fantasy about sitting in the big chair

Mr. President is a game about putting yourself in the Oval Office. We want to do as much as possible to ensure that players can envision themselves as POTUS, which means a variety of player avatars. Many strategy games don’t even have a player avatar; sometimes that’s because the player identity or gameplay and setting are abstract. Other times, the avatar is part of the game itself, and can change as a result of gameplay, as in dynasty simulators like Crusader Kings.

In Mr. President, the avatar itself doesn’t have any gameplay effect (although your Presidential Attributes certainly do!). So why invest scarce development resources into a beautiful selection of presidential portraits? Why not follow the board game and leave the president’s appearance to players’ imaginations?

It’s because Mr. President is an aspirational game, in which we want players to feel that someone like themselves could sit in the big chair. Mr. President is not a satirical game; it’s a serious treatment of a subject that’s both historical and contemporary, with an ultimately optimistic vision of the presidency as an institution. That optimism means we want players to feel as welcome and natural in the game as possible, and be able to realize the presidential fantasy of having a portrait in the White House. And that means players should have some choices about what that portrait would look like. Joshua Balcaceres, the art director for digital Mr. President - and whose specialty is character art - has some further thoughts to share.

In designing the Presidential Portraits for Mr. President, our goal was to reflect a broad spectrum of players while honoring the dignity and gravitas associated with the office. We began with a traditional image—a male, older president in the mold of historical figures like JFK or Teddy Roosevelt—but quickly saw the creative opportunity to expand that vision. Each portrait aims to present a leader who feels authentic, commanding, and worthy of being remembered—no matter their background or style. That meant pushing past convention, exploring diverse visual cues, and reimagining what a modern president might look like while still capturing the seriousness and stature of the role.

Some presidents might have a nontraditional style that hints at their individuality, but the core message remains the same: this is someone who leads a nation. The portraits are not just aesthetic—they’re invitations. They say: this could be you. And in a game that encourages players to step into the Oval Office, that sense of possibility is essential.

Until next time - go paint some color into your world.
- Joshua Balcaceres
Exia Labs - Art Director