Iran Government Develops Video Game (of Mass Destruction?)
OK, it looks like a con to us as well
Tehran-based Taliya News reports that the 'clash of civilizations'† is being extended into the world of video games with a "bid to counter the West’s cultural onslaught and in order to promote the Islamic-Iranian culture". Yes, it's a 'strategic computer game' called Saving the Port.
Here's what the report tells us - and before you go off on some smart-arsed giggle-fest about the English used, just how good is your Iranian, eh?
Okay, so far it reads like most other press releases for poorly put-together PC games that can be played on any spec machine - and enjoyed on none. The issues at hand are that the Iranian government, which sponsored the development via 'Tabyan Cultural, Information Processing Institute' sees that video games are of such significance, and are so widespread even with its own borders - that the influence of the medium needs to be counteracted.
Secondly, the Iranian government is actually supporting development of video games... go figure.
As for the game itself, we've not seen it - but we are requesting review code. And we always to save the port and then pass it to the left.
Source: Taliya Times
†Samuel P. Huntington - 1993
Here's what the report tells us - and before you go off on some smart-arsed giggle-fest about the English used, just how good is your Iranian, eh?
"Designed and produced by Multimedia Office of Tebyan (sic) relaying on a reasonable time and money investment, the game is the first Iranian strategic computer amusement, matching the most updated international standards for its type.
"The designers of the game have all the same tried to replace the excessive amount of aggression seen in strategic Western game with rational thinking s much as possible, that is one of the advantages of the Iranian version compared to foreign types.
"The graphic game despite its high graphic works and programming possibilities can be uploaded in most PCs, even with lowest hardware.
"It is thus predicted that Save the Port with its special features, as the first Iranian strategic computer game, and thanks to its rational retail sales price find its place in country’s software market, and even leave behind its foreign competitors in some parts of the world.
"The came would be presented to the public as of May 4th, and interested individuals can for further information refer to Tebyan Co. site at www.tebyab.net."
"The designers of the game have all the same tried to replace the excessive amount of aggression seen in strategic Western game with rational thinking s much as possible, that is one of the advantages of the Iranian version compared to foreign types.
"The graphic game despite its high graphic works and programming possibilities can be uploaded in most PCs, even with lowest hardware.
"It is thus predicted that Save the Port with its special features, as the first Iranian strategic computer game, and thanks to its rational retail sales price find its place in country’s software market, and even leave behind its foreign competitors in some parts of the world.
"The came would be presented to the public as of May 4th, and interested individuals can for further information refer to Tebyan Co. site at www.tebyab.net."
Okay, so far it reads like most other press releases for poorly put-together PC games that can be played on any spec machine - and enjoyed on none. The issues at hand are that the Iranian government, which sponsored the development via 'Tabyan Cultural, Information Processing Institute' sees that video games are of such significance, and are so widespread even with its own borders - that the influence of the medium needs to be counteracted.
Secondly, the Iranian government is actually supporting development of video games... go figure.
As for the game itself, we've not seen it - but we are requesting review code. And we always to save the port and then pass it to the left.
Source: Taliya Times
†Samuel P. Huntington - 1993
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Comments
ajmetz 1 May 2007 19:56
1/2
Pass the dutchy on the left hand side...
It's cool. Iran has a young population, is media savvy, and knows its propaganda. Meanwhile Blair and Cameron are a fair few decades/generations behind today's british youth, and their idea of fighting terrorism is to barge into innocent UK muslim houses and shoot 'em in the shoulder, and then apologise afterwards. Or to talk about a clash of Christian West v.s. Muslim East, when HELLO! A majority of us should surely be educated enough to be aetheist by now? I resent the assumption I'm Christian, just 'cos I'm white.
Iran represents a subculture that can subvert world politics. The only problem is it, it's out on a limb, and arguably surpressing its own people.
But when they can embarrass British troops in a pre-arranged well orchestrated international PR stunt, they're obviously more on the ball at world propaganda than our own government, and are able to depict themselves as reasonable, and us as arrogant. At the same time, international politics will always rely to a degree on the personalities and ideological leanings of the leaders at the top, whatever the opinions, culture, and attitudes of the voting base.
Will be interesting to see what Gordon Brown can do, when he's not pulling goldfish faces between sentances, and if the Iranian regime continues to be elected, or if they tighten rules and become more protective of their regime.
In the meanwhile, this videogames marks another piece of clever cultural propaganda, although how good it is remains to be seen.
I am constantly amazed at how there is no ideological counter argument to being a suicide bomber. Someone thinking about it, should surely have a reason not to do it, that's in line with their ideological/religious teachings, but I'm not aware of any counter arguments for the call to Ji'had. And I think our government should fund muslim academics to cross examine extremist ideology, and develop critically acclaimed counter-philosophies.
But good luck to these ideas of Shai law, and religous sense of community over individual selfish capitalism. As long as they don't start a nuclear war with Israel (or vice versa).
Controversially, isn't it funny that they stand accused of sponsoring terrorist groups in Iraq and Lebonan, and yet they proudly boast how their game isn't aggressive? Still...they could mean they don't barge in like the US and make an ill thought out mess, but rather play a good game of chess.
Maybe our leaders had better brush up on their game, and become just as savvy as them?
I remember the online campaign to buy President Bush a PlayStation 2 and a copy of Socom, so he could live out his military fantasies via that, and not with the lives of US Troops. I wonder now the Iran government has made a game, if we can finally convince Tony Blair to sit down and play something other than EyeToy, which ELSPA happily introduced politicians to a few years back.....=P
Send a copy to Ming Campbell!
Oh....this has been, in part, ill educated waffle. So try not to get too rattled by my ill researched statements. I accept a lot of this is opinion, I may not be right about everything.
I remember a few years back, South Korea's government initiative to trade cultural commodities, and hence the Korean Game Promotion Centre, and all the companies setup up....including NCSoft, who struck gold with Lineage and Lineage II, and then brought us those Superhero/Villain games, I can't remember the names of now...
We're all a melting pot now. East v.s West partially a media construct. I can go out to the cinema and see hollywood films, or enjoy Channel 4's season of Iran films. What I can't do as easily however, is see British films....and most of our UK developed games are published by US or Japanese publishers....and I can't see the UK government setting up a "Stop Iraninans kidnapping our soldiers" game in a PR-coup-of-a-response to this announcement anytime soon....
It's cool. Iran has a young population, is media savvy, and knows its propaganda. Meanwhile Blair and Cameron are a fair few decades/generations behind today's british youth, and their idea of fighting terrorism is to barge into innocent UK muslim houses and shoot 'em in the shoulder, and then apologise afterwards. Or to talk about a clash of Christian West v.s. Muslim East, when HELLO! A majority of us should surely be educated enough to be aetheist by now? I resent the assumption I'm Christian, just 'cos I'm white.
Iran represents a subculture that can subvert world politics. The only problem is it, it's out on a limb, and arguably surpressing its own people.
But when they can embarrass British troops in a pre-arranged well orchestrated international PR stunt, they're obviously more on the ball at world propaganda than our own government, and are able to depict themselves as reasonable, and us as arrogant. At the same time, international politics will always rely to a degree on the personalities and ideological leanings of the leaders at the top, whatever the opinions, culture, and attitudes of the voting base.
Will be interesting to see what Gordon Brown can do, when he's not pulling goldfish faces between sentances, and if the Iranian regime continues to be elected, or if they tighten rules and become more protective of their regime.
In the meanwhile, this videogames marks another piece of clever cultural propaganda, although how good it is remains to be seen.
I am constantly amazed at how there is no ideological counter argument to being a suicide bomber. Someone thinking about it, should surely have a reason not to do it, that's in line with their ideological/religious teachings, but I'm not aware of any counter arguments for the call to Ji'had. And I think our government should fund muslim academics to cross examine extremist ideology, and develop critically acclaimed counter-philosophies.
But good luck to these ideas of Shai law, and religous sense of community over individual selfish capitalism. As long as they don't start a nuclear war with Israel (or vice versa).
Controversially, isn't it funny that they stand accused of sponsoring terrorist groups in Iraq and Lebonan, and yet they proudly boast how their game isn't aggressive? Still...they could mean they don't barge in like the US and make an ill thought out mess, but rather play a good game of chess.
Maybe our leaders had better brush up on their game, and become just as savvy as them?
I remember the online campaign to buy President Bush a PlayStation 2 and a copy of Socom, so he could live out his military fantasies via that, and not with the lives of US Troops. I wonder now the Iran government has made a game, if we can finally convince Tony Blair to sit down and play something other than EyeToy, which ELSPA happily introduced politicians to a few years back.....=P
Send a copy to Ming Campbell!
Oh....this has been, in part, ill educated waffle. So try not to get too rattled by my ill researched statements. I accept a lot of this is opinion, I may not be right about everything.
I remember a few years back, South Korea's government initiative to trade cultural commodities, and hence the Korean Game Promotion Centre, and all the companies setup up....including NCSoft, who struck gold with Lineage and Lineage II, and then brought us those Superhero/Villain games, I can't remember the names of now...
We're all a melting pot now. East v.s West partially a media construct. I can go out to the cinema and see hollywood films, or enjoy Channel 4's season of Iran films. What I can't do as easily however, is see British films....and most of our UK developed games are published by US or Japanese publishers....and I can't see the UK government setting up a "Stop Iraninans kidnapping our soldiers" game in a PR-coup-of-a-response to this announcement anytime soon....
FrankenVater 1 May 2007 21:15
2/2
ajmetz wrote:
I am constantly amazed at how there is no ideological counter argument to being a suicide bomber.
If you leave people with nothing, if you give them no hope. Why would they NOT be suicide bombers. Right now it's an East vs West thing... a Muslim vs Christian thing. But if corporate CEOs keep escalating their earnings while the working man gets poorer, working hours get longer, and working conditions harsher - there will come a time when it's a west vs west thing, a Christian vs Christian thing.
Fight the power.