Wall-E is First-ever Arab Localized Game
Wall-E is First-ever Arab Localized Game
July 8, 2008
Middle-East website Al Bawaba reports that Disney Pixar’s Wall-E will be the first Arab localized video game.
Luke Keighran, THQ Export Sales Manager remarked:
We are delighted to be part of this, launching an Arabic game is every Arab gamers’ wish. This is a great opportunity for us to grow further in promising territories like Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and a solid demonstration of our commitment to the Middle East market. It is [distributor] Pluto Games’ enthusiasm and will that made this commercially possible and we hope it will be the first of a long line up for Arabic titles in the future.
There are only few games that would suit the Middle East’s morals more than WALL*E. The game depicts family virtues in a fun adventurous story line immersing the players in a world of passionate pursuit for adventure.
Rabeeh Zakaria, THQ Product Manager for Pluto Games, added:
Wall-E is the first next generation video game to be produced in Arabic, we are seeing encouraging growth of the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 formats and are delighted to be able to finally distribute a product that speaks our language. We hope others will follow with THQ’s step and help contribute to the growth of the gaming industry in the Middle East.
A PUBLICATION OF THE ECA
SUBSCRIBE
LOGINGamePolitics ShoutBox
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:16pm
Andrew Eisen: Shouldn't be. Spirit of anti-discrimination laws would seem to include sexual orientation (and eye color). Plus there's always equal protection and such. Never know until you try.
Andrew Eisen: Shouldn't be. Spirit of anti-discrimination laws would seem to include sexual orientation (and eye color). Plus there's always equal protection and such. Never know until you try.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:10pm
Andrew Eisen: Should have sued (unless that wasn't an option given her financial situation or something). Might have won.
Andrew Eisen: Should have sued (unless that wasn't an option given her financial situation or something). Might have won.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:00pm
Valdearg: Story about a Male to Female TG who was expressly told she wouldn't be given a job because she was TG. Its not the main point of the story, but explicit, perfectly legal discrimination like this exists.
Valdearg: Story about a Male to Female TG who was expressly told she wouldn't be given a job because she was TG. Its not the main point of the story, but explicit, perfectly legal discrimination like this exists.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:53pm
Valdearg: Lol, I don't know. It may very well be legal to do so. Though that might able to fall under the "race" restriction, depending on how that point is argued.
Valdearg: Lol, I don't know. It may very well be legal to do so. Though that might able to fall under the "race" restriction, depending on how that point is argued.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:51pm
Valdearg: I don't think they do have any legal recourse. I'll have to dig around, but I seriously believe that if the law doesn't specifically mention Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, they can still be discriminated against in those 29 states.
Valdearg: I don't think they do have any legal recourse. I'll have to dig around, but I seriously believe that if the law doesn't specifically mention Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, they can still be discriminated against in those 29 states.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:51pm
Andrew Eisen: Eye color isn't covered either but I doubt it would be considered legal to refuse to hire people with green eyes.
Andrew Eisen: Eye color isn't covered either but I doubt it would be considered legal to refuse to hire people with green eyes.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:48pm
Andrew Eisen: My explanation is longer than the Shoutbox will allow. Suffice to say that while those who are discriminated against do have legal recourse, anti-discrimination law should specifically cite sexual orientation so that there’s no question about it.
Andrew Eisen: My explanation is longer than the Shoutbox will allow. Suffice to say that while those who are discriminated against do have legal recourse, anti-discrimination law should specifically cite sexual orientation so that there’s no question about it.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:42pm
Valdearg: "There is no federal law that consistently protects LGBT individuals from employment discrimination; it remains legal in 29 states, and in 38 states to do so based on gender identity or expression." From the Human Rights Campaign.
Valdearg: "There is no federal law that consistently protects LGBT individuals from employment discrimination; it remains legal in 29 states, and in 38 states to do so based on gender identity or expression." From the Human Rights Campaign.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:40pm
Valdearg: @AE: Why don't you think I'm correct? I know Wiki could be flawed, but as far as it says, its up to date as of June 2009.
Valdearg: @AE: Why don't you think I'm correct? I know Wiki could be flawed, but as far as it says, its up to date as of June 2009.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:39pm
Andrew Eisen: I don't think you're right but I really don't know and don't have the time to find out. However things actually are, it's very clear how they actually should be.
Andrew Eisen: I don't think you're right but I really don't know and don't have the time to find out. However things actually are, it's very clear how they actually should be.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:34pm
Valdearg: "just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal." I would disagree. If there's no laws against it, it makes it perfectly legal. It's definitely not right, but perfectly legal to do.
Valdearg: "just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal." I would disagree. If there's no laws against it, it makes it perfectly legal. It's definitely not right, but perfectly legal to do.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:33pm
Valdearg: Meaning in 29 states, private sector discrimination against gays is perfectly legal.. Sickening.
Valdearg: Meaning in 29 states, private sector discrimination against gays is perfectly legal.. Sickening.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:33pm
Valdearg: 19 states have no protections, and another 10 only have protections for public sector jobs.
Valdearg: 19 states have no protections, and another 10 only have protections for public sector jobs.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:32pm
Andrew Eisen: Well, most businesses have equal rights policies in place and just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal. Still, no argument against adding such protections.
Andrew Eisen: Well, most businesses have equal rights policies in place and just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal. Still, no argument against adding such protections.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:28pm
Valdearg: More information. Apparently, it's worse than I actually thought.
Valdearg: More information. Apparently, it's worse than I actually thought.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:28pm
Valdearg: Check the link. Apparently, its more like 20 states that have no protections.
Valdearg: Check the link. Apparently, its more like 20 states that have no protections.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:26pm
Andrew Eisen: In the US? Not that I'm aware of. Sad if true.
Andrew Eisen: In the US? Not that I'm aware of. Sad if true.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:25pm
Valdearg: @AE: Actually, I think, at least for now, businesses can still discriminate against gays in a few states.. Something like 5 or 8. Its part of why Gay Rights Advocates are in support of the Employee Nondiscrimination Act, or ENDA.
Valdearg: @AE: Actually, I think, at least for now, businesses can still discriminate against gays in a few states.. Something like 5 or 8. Its part of why Gay Rights Advocates are in support of the Employee Nondiscrimination Act, or ENDA.
Copyright © 2007 ECA. All rights reserved.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Comments
I wonder if Saudi Arabia will ban this for "promoting zionism" like they did with Poke'mon.
Did we forget to tell the Arabs that games based on movies have a tendancy to phail miserably?
---------------------------------
So speak I, some random guy.
Shh, lets let them have this one.
As to the story, this helps lead us to my vision. I envision a world where wars are unneeded, as all conflicts are settled by a series of Team Deathmatches. Hax and spawn camping will be considered war crimes, punished by account ban.
LoadingReadyRun called, they want their jokes back.
Personally, I think it should be setteled with ping pong.
No, let's settle it over a few rounds of Super Smash Bros.
You know the deal: no items, no fun, Final Destination, etc.
Say what now?
Edit:
Oh right, I forgot about those guys.
Now I remember that video. It must have seeped into my subconcious when I was looking through their videos during the Mass Effect controversey. Whoops.
It was inevitable, a movie with such high ratings would have a game go everywere....
but DAMN! I never thought pixar would outdo themselves, but they did...
Am I the only one slightly disappointed by this crap?
~You Could Be Mine, But You're Way Out Of Line..~
By the movie or the localization?
The movie was fan-freakin-tastic. It's definitely near the top of the Pixar spectrum.
As for the game...what's the big deal? It's rare enough for that region of the world not to bitch about games in general, so if they're willing to have this one, why not? I hope it's good, but honestly I don't think the game quality will be the big issue. It'll be whether or not someone with an axe to grind can find something in it to declare the game "harmful" and move to have it banned.
It's more a.. Lack of progress issue. Not everyone in the Middle East is a Fundamentalist Muslim. I remember ABC doing a story on Egyptian College Students a while back. They were really polite versions of American Students.
~You Could Be Mine, But You're Way Out Of Line..~
Ah, I see what you meant.
Out of curiosity, were these Egyptian college students in the U.S.? Europe? Egypt?
While not everyone in the Middle East is a Fundamentalist Muslim, they do represent a non-trivial amount of the wealthy/powerful elite, who are the ones who get to dictate the rules over there. Look what happened after our most recent Iraq debacle...we manage to get democratic elections held and Hamas wins...
It's not the Middle Eastern people as a whole who evoke this sort of reaction. It's the ones promoting Sharia and the like, and they unfortunately happen to be the ones with the loudest voices and the biggest sticks. So that's what molds the rest of the world's perception of their countries, for the most part.
It's sounds like the fundamentalist leaders follow Yosimite Sam's butchered version of Teddy Roosevelt's "I speak softly but I carry a BIG stick".
ie "I speak LOUD, and I carry a BIIIIGGER stick! And I USE it too!
Everywhere in the world we're subject to a "loud-acracy". The quiet literati are letting the loud represent what's going on. Why can't people do like Korn's album and keep our freaks on a leash?
The well-meaning people are also too scared to do the things that help others put themselves in power. In a power vacuum, fierce competition is encouraged- when current leaders are wiped from their offices of power, "political selection" favors the ruthless to take their place. The altruistic types need to learn that you need to bend your own psyche a little and be more selfish and aggressive (if only for the phase when government is in transition) if you actually want to be in a position to make a difference for the world. Once you secure your position in office, go back to your typical altruistic ways.
Seriously though, how hard is it to localize beeps and whistles.
Good on Pixar though. I find they're always one or two steps ahead of their competition in terms of tech. Dreamworks always looks like they're animating using Pixar's *last* toolset.
-- If your wiimote goes snicker-snack, check your wrist-strap...
To be fair, while it definitely isn't WALL*E, Kung Fu Panda was actually a very good movie.
I can see where this game will be accepted since one of the major themes is "The US will ruin the world".
That's pretty cool, but, for the record, Assassin's Creed was the next-closest thing to localised, from the amount of Arabic going around in that game :P
-The Bird
Why don't we take all the fundamentalist christians and all the fundamentalist muslims and have them fight each other to the death on (inter)national TV? We win no matter what the outcome, plus I bet they'd be willing to kill each other with a little provocation.
The fundie Christians usually aren't the violent sort. Loud? Yes. Annoying? Yes. But not violent. Fundie Muslims, on the other hand...
look up the LRA
well yes but pit them up against muslim fundies that shout death to america and want to push muslim philosophy (such as all women wear head scarfs) and who knows what will happen. Never mind the abortion clinic bombings we've had.
Better yet, get all of the annoying and violent religious fundamentalists in the world, stick 'em on some island, and arm each one with a BFG 9000.
With the stagnation in console sales the industry is going to be looking for any region with growth potential. If this works then two things are going to happen - first, we'll see alot more "Muslim-friendly" games localized for the Arab world and second we'll see some games produced with a mind towards Arab localization. By that I mean that they will either be easy to edit for a Muslim audience or certain ideas will be dropped entirely.
I believe this is isn't accurate, according to this post from March 30, 2004 8:39 am ...
http://www.geek.com/sony-unveils-first-ever-arabic-title/
It's good to see more games being ported to that region but it is by far not the first game to ever be localized in arabic.
Arabian Lords (http://www.arabianlords.com/Public/main_public_master.aspx) has been released there for over a year now and there were games before that.
Good on em imo.
The first step to breaking down stereotypes and assumptions is shared culture. Hence why 'breaking bread together' was typically a forum used to increase relations between factions.
As for the wankers offended by the Middle East actually getting some attention, how fucking petty can you get such that an arabic localised version of a Pixar game actually causes you to get annoyed? Grow the fuck up. It's this xenophobic crap on both sides of the fence that prevent either culture from understanding each other and (surprise surprise) increases the hatred and violence both ways.
Even kids in preschool can learn these lessons and yet adults somehow manage to miss it. Just fucking amazing..
Surely, no one can help that their ancestors all decided to find their religious prophets on the same damn fertile crescent...otherwise these religion turf wars wouldn't have been this serious. Maybe it would've been better to just give every major religion its own continent.
Good. I appreciate the progress. I have a little bit more hope for some other things possibly getting localization jobs.
I'm all for freedom of ttnet vitamin speech and allowing rent a car game makers to put whatever they want in games, but there's one thing about this app that has me scratching my head. Correct me if I'm wrong, but from araç kiralama the previous article araba kiralama on this I gathered that players can use Google maps in-game to find the other (real-life?) dealers in their area. If this is the case, has travesti anyone considered what's stopping someone from using this app to actually move drugs between hands for reals?
But majority araba kiralama of their outrage araç kiralama stems from what it could DO TO children, not the content itself. Talk to one of these people and you'll find they don't think any books kiralık araba should be banned from children. Mention American Psycho and they talk about kiralık araç the redeeming value of using imagination to construct a story. Reading, no matter what the content, is largely viewed as a consequenceless activity for people of any age. The reason why I mention American Psycho is because of the content itself. Gaming never has and likely never will have any scenes where someone has sex with a severed head. Not gonna happen. Yet despite this, they'll fight tooth and nail to protect their children from two boys kissing in Bully but whatever they read is harmless... yeah.
The entire arguement is kiralık oto based upon a social normality inflicted by luddites who can't figure out the controls for Halo so it's frightening and terrifying and obviously the cause of youth violence on the rise even though, in reality, it's in decline (which is actually a HUGE suprise given minibüs kiralama the economies status). In a perfect world, we would have parents that actually parent. The idea of sales restrictions on media on oto kiralama any form to accomidate parental unwillingness to get involved with their child's life is the real problem to me. Here I am, 32 years old, and being held up at a self-scan rent a car needing to show ID before I can buy a $10 M rated game all because Soccer Momthra can't be bothered to look at the crap Billy Genericallystupidson does in his free time. It's too hard for her, so I have to suffer?