Is piracy ruining the video game market in Saudi Arabia?
That's the spin coming from the Arabian Anti-Piracy Alliance at this week's Dubai World Game Expo. But, as GP sister-site GameCulture explains, it is actually game censorship by the Saudi government which pushes gamers into pirating the titles they want.
AAA official Scott Butler claims that Saudi officials aren't doing enough to combat piracy:
In the UAE they are sending pirates to prison a lot, whereas in Saudi Arabia there has never been a judgment like that for any kind of pirate. When they mete out the judgement of imprisonment, that's when the market will finally crack.
But, as GC editor Aaron Ruby points out:
That might be the first time the Saudi legal system was chastised for being too lenient. And therein lies the absurdity of Butler's proposal... Censorship in that country has effectively driven the videogame industry underground. The kingdom's fear of media that challenges its cultural values has created a thriving entertainment black market, of which games are a key segment...
Iran, whose entertainment is also heavily regulated by the state, is also a hotbed of piracy. According to Mehrdad Agah, chariman of Puya Arts Software, 99% of all games sold in Iran are pirated...
It's no coincidence that the countries with the highest piracy rates (Saudi, Iran, China) have some of the most draconian censorship policies on the planet. The true counter to piracy is more freedom, not less.
Bonus: In this fascinating article, a Saudi gamer pens a history of game piracy in the kingdom.
Comments
Re: Game Censorship Fuels Game Piracy in Saudi Arabia
Surely this is a joke article. I cant take it seriously no matter how hard I try.
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"The most difficult pain a man can suffer is to have knowledge of much and power over little" - Herodotus
Re: Game Censorship Fuels Game Piracy in Saudi Arabia
Good article, and I really like their logo.
Re: Game Censorship Fuels Game Piracy in Saudi Arabia
Do they let women use computers in Saudi Arabia?
Re: Game Censorship Fuels Game Piracy in Saudi Arabia
Well this is a very interesting theory. One that will get more vaility if piracy decreases in Australia with an R18+ rating release.
"Volume helps to get a point across but sharp teeth are better."
Re: Game Censorship Fuels Game Piracy in Saudi Arabia
"Is piracy ruining the video game market in Saudi Arabia?"
There's a video game market in Saudi Arabia?!
Re: Game Censorship Fuels Game Piracy in Saudi Arabia
Looks like piracy is becoming the gaming industry's boogeyman. Too bad it doesn't actually do nearly as much damage as they think it does, and on the flip side all their consumer-harming defensive measures aren't helping in the slightest.
Re: Game Censorship Fuels Game Piracy in Saudi Arabia
Censorship is one issue price,quality of life and enforcement of pirate outfits are others.
I is fuzzy brained mew =^^=
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Re: Game Censorship Fuels Game Piracy in Saudi Arabia
"It's no coincidence that the countries with the highest piracy rates (Saudi, Iran, China) have some of the most draconian censorship policies on the planet. "
I've never thought about it like that, but that makes a hell of a lot of sense, i'd admit i'd do the same thing if our govt here started acting in this sort of manner