This week's gamescom in Cologne has seen the first appearance of Iranian game developers at a Western game show, reports the BBC. Trade group the Iran National Foundation of Computer Games was also on hand with a booth.
Amir Tarbyatjoui, head of Parsan Business Development Solutions, acknowledged that the current political situation makes Iran's entry into the global game biz a challenge:
We need more investors. The [US] sanctions do affect our industry, but they cannot stop it.
We are using this event to promote what is happening in the Iranian games industry. We believe we have more potential and we want to promote that potential...
It is difficult given the relations between Iran and the USA. Certainly all of us here today will be at E3 next year, but there will not be a dedicated Iran stand such as you see in Cologne today.
Ras Games exec Bahram Borgheai told the BBC that Iranian culture has a unique mythology that has not yet been seen in video games:
Persia has been around for a very long time. What we have is something quite unique and we are using the event in Cologne to show that to the world.
GP: Where diplomacy has failed, can video games succeed in reconnecting Iran to the West?
Via: Iran Quest
Comments
Re: Iran Wants to Join Global Video Game Market
"GP: Where diplomacy has failed, can video games succeed in reconnecting Iran to the West?"
Or how about re-connecting the West to Iran, eh?
Re: Iran Wants to Join Global Video Game Market
ignore this
Re: Iran Wants to Join Global Video Game Market
As long as the game was fun, I'd be okay with a game that portrayed the US as evil. We've done it enough to Russia, China, Germany and the Middle East that it would be hypocritical of us not to. I think it might actually promote some understanding as to why the world doesn't share the same opinion of us as we do.
Re: Iran Wants to Join Global Video Game Market
The USA is sort of evil in Fallout 3.
http://www.eliteownage.com/nice
Re: Iran Wants to Join Global Video Game Market
But that's set over 200 years in the future of an alternate timeline.
Re: Iran Wants to Join Global Video Game Market
Well I remember watching a news program on PBS and they had this story of Iran or another country that I forgot that was trying it's hand in animation. I believe they started to air their version of Johnny Bravo, as some company bought the licensing rights. So if there are talented people that are hoping to work in the animation business in the Middle East, hope it goes out well.
Re: Iran Wants to Join Global Video Game Market
Dude, yes. Iranian participation in a medium that represents the future and youthfulness is ideal. It will help give voice to younger Iranians who want their country to modernize and move away from a theocratic dark age- its doubtful the zealots there are very young, just like in the west.
Good, interesting games from Iran would also help paint a better picture of the actual people of Iran, rather than the negative image their leaders give them. The only problem is how much control their theocracy will have over their games designers...
Re: Iran Wants to Join Global Video Game Market
This assumes that the theocracy would even allow such an expansion in the first place. Given the results of the last election, we would have to assume that such an attempt to gain a peacfull foothold on the world stage by someone not in the government would be met with political backlash.
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Freedom of speech means the freedom to say ANYTHING, so long as it is the truth. This does not exclude anything that might hurt someone's feelings.
Re: Iran Wants to Join Global Video Game Market
Well of course they'd allow the game Devs to expand.
So long as their game content always paints the Iranian leaders as holy heroes, and the USA is satan.
They'd unfortunately have a rather booming market in Europe which has long since forgotten/ceased to understand that even though the USA likes to play World Police, it's better than no-one doing it... or leaving it up to the UN/Russia/China/Local Unions of Corrupt Despots. >_>
Re: Iran Wants to Join Global Video Game Market
That may be so, but those traits would make such games unpopular in the US and in the Far East, so any true expansion would me money down the drain.
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Freedom of speech means the freedom to say ANYTHING, so long as it is the truth. This does not exclude anything that might hurt someone's feelings.
Re: Iran Wants to Join Global Video Game Market
That would never happen, you aren't going to be seeing any Iranian games with the Ayatollah staring down from a pedastal or something.
I for one would LOVE to see some games come out of Iran. A unique prospective, maybe we'd some new and interesting stuff. Just as long as quality was kept high unlike most of the stuff they program over in India.
Re: Iran Wants to Join Global Video Game Market
I've known quite a few young zealots. ;)
Re: Iran Wants to Join Global Video Game Market
Prince of Persia?
Re: Iran Wants to Join Global Video Game Market
lol. That's what I thought of first too.
But in all seriousness, they certainly are right. Real Persian and Middle-Eastern mythology and stories have not really been touched upon in any legitimate capacity.
But does this call for Iranian game companies/studios? Not necessarily. Just hire Middle-eastern game devs for already establsihed studios and such.
Re: Iran Wants to Join Global Video Game Market
Yeah, Go ahead. Just make it a good game...