Iran Bans Arma 3

[Meight08]

I did not notice it before but why is Iceland (where I live) claimed to be under "Russian influence"? Did the social democrats get elected or something?

From the official website.

"Blighted by the long tail of a deep-rooted economic crisis and sliding toward the threshold of war, beleaguered NATO member-states stand weakened against an ambitious, resurgent Iran.

Flooded with profits from the rich export markets of a resource-thirsty SE-Asia and the rising price of oil, bolstered by strong ties with China and strategic entente with Russia, Iran sought to expand its influence.

Deployed under the auspices of a swift humanitarian response, Turkey - decimated by a series of devastating and unprecedented natural disasters ? fell within months to ruthless Iranian Armed Forces. Iran's aggressive expansion - spilling over into Greek sovereign territory - was brought to a halt in Rhodope Prefecture with the ratification of the Jerusalem Peace Accord of 2034, which crystallised a new strategic front along the shorelines of the Aegean Sea.

With the US locked into its own proxy-wars against aggressive Chinese expansionism in the Pacific, with each year more member-states leaving NATO on the promise of Russian oil, the fragmented alliance faces the growing risk of a global conflict that they can ill-afford."

Basically the world is aproaching world war 3.

 

[Soods]

Finland is apparently under "Russian Influence", which is probably horrible for all of the patriots around here, but we ain't banning shit. Stuff like that just shows the difference between free and just shitty countries.

That was the first thing I checked when I saw that map. I, for one, welcome our new russian overlords.

 

[cerebus23]

People can't argue that Iran is evil for making anti-Israel games at the same time games like this are being released.

I think people argue that Iran is evil because it's an odious, fanatical theocracy.

That is not what I meant.

When a game gets released that depicts some country like Iran, Russia or China as a horribly evil invader then nobody has any problems with it, but when they release a game that depicts the west as evil then all of the sudden lots of people flip.

I think Extra Credits did an episode on this: http://www.penny-arcade.com/patv/episode/propaganda-games

for the record i have never gotten upset when the wast was portrayed badly. nor have i read any major outcries anywhere and would think living in the US i would catch wind of it.

also like to point out that the west in general has nicer toys to play with than most other places, being stuck with 15 different ak47 variants would not be a very satisfying game gun wise .

 

[antipunt]

They are upset because the game incorrectly portrays them as closed minded fanatical people, so as a result they...

MAKES SENSE

 

[MasterOfHisOwnDomain]

People can't argue that Iran is evil for making anti-Israel games at the same time games like this are being released.

I think people argue that Iran is evil because it's an odious, fanatical theocracy.

I find Israel's government to be just as disgusting; at least Iran's government restricts itself to treating its own people like dirt. But no-one would portray Israel in the same light as Iran is regularly treated, for fear of being branded anti-Semitic. Just sayin'.

 

[maxben]

I doubt a game set in a "fictional alternate reality" where US are portrayed as evil imperialist invaders would get the green light here in America.

The makers are Czech. Just so you know.

 

[Falterfire]

That is not what I meant.

When a game gets released that depicts some country like Iran, Russia or China as a horribly evil invader then nobody has any problems with it, but when they release a game that depicts the west as evil then all of the sudden lots of people flip.

I think Extra Credits did an episode on this: http://www.penny-arcade.com/patv/episode/propaganda-games

Eh, I think the people who flip in America are the same people who go ZOMG MASS EFFECT IS A SEX SIMULATOR or THE VIDYA GAEMZ ARE CORRUPTING OUR YOUTHS! In other words, the people the rest of us prefer to pretend don't exist.

I don't think such a vidya game would actually receive the banhammer in the US for the simple reason that as far as I know, nothing gets the banhammer in the US. (The only exception I can think of was the Hot Coffee thing in GTA:SA, and that was a completely overblown case anyways)

I think the reason you don't see any "the US is evil" games in the USA is simply that there isn't exactly a demand for products which attempt to make the viewer hate themselves in any culture.

 

[Neonit]

well to be honest, i too am tired of all those games where you have to fight people with bad russian accent, or "lets fight some arabs in the desert!" type of games. i did however noticed decline in "lets shoot some nazi's!" games.

iirc there was a game, banned in usa which depicted "one of countless arabs" as the good guys fighting us soldiers....
and lets not forget the countless protests against every second fps.....

so yeah, silliness as far as eye can see.
how about you let people protest with their wallets, huh?

 

[RA92]

Why couldn't they have made a Sci-Fi shooter with RPG elements that represents Iran as it does?

Because the ArmA series was always about being a hardcore simulator and making drastic changes in direction in the third iteration is a bad idea?

 

[Vanitas likes Bubbles]

To be fair, Iran isn't being fairly depicted in this game.

Am I the only one who thinks this constant use of countries like Russia or Iran as evil invaders is getting a little annoying?

People can't argue that Iran is evil for making anti-Israel games at the same time games like this are being released.

I actually agree with this. Why can't we have some countries like 'Merica or the UK or even Australia (where I live) be the bad guys for a change. I understand why some countries get pissed off at little things like this, it's because they're being bullied by other countries constantly.

 

[Sean951]

well to be honest, i too am tired of all those games where you have to fight people with bad russian accent, or "lets fight some arabs in the desert!" type of games. i did however noticed decline in "lets shoot some nazi's!" games.

iirc there was a game, banned in usa which depicted "one of countless arabs" as the good guys fighting us soldiers....
and lets not forget the countless protests against every second fps.....

so yeah, silliness as far as eye can see.
how about you let people protest with their wallets, huh?

No, for a game to be banned in the US, it would have to violate pornography laws. I think the game you are talking about was the one which allowed the player to play as the Taliban in Afghanistan, and Fox News had a shit fit and that feature was removed or they cancelled the game.

 

[Antari]

Iran is angry at something this week? I wasn't shocked the last few hundred times I heard this. I'm not going to be shocked now.

 

[Doom972]

Why couldn't they have made a Sci-Fi shooter with RPG elements that represents Iran as it does?

Because the ArmA series was always about being a hardcore simulator and making drastic changes in direction in the third iteration is a bad idea?

That part was a joke. I know that while it's not for me, many people like these games and I have no intention of depriving them of that. Arma should do what it can do best.

 

[BoogieManFL]

I don't think anyone other than Iran cares about what Iran thinks.

 

[BeerTent]

All I got from the last paragraph was "Down with the West! Down with Israel! Keep making games that portray these guys as assho- What? They're making US, Iran look bad in this ARMA thing? NO WAI! That's Bullshit! That's totally unfair!! BAN IT!"

 

[bl4ckh4wk64]

So, they get upset about a game "portraying them badly" when they threaten to execute a foreign developer of another game that also "portrayed them badly." These are also the same people that held 2 American tourists in jail for God knows how long threatening to kill them thinking they were spies. Also the same country who's leader claims the Holocaust never fucking happened. Naw, they aren't close minded at all guys. Definitely not evil in any way.

Frankly, I'm through with the entire fucking middle East, especially Iran. I'm just waiting for their "it's-not-for-weapons" nuclear reactor to go Chernobyl on their asses.

 

[bl4ckh4wk64]

A group of human beings somewhere in the world is getting pissy. But since it's a group of Islamic fundemantalists in the Middle East, that makes it news. A group of Christian fundementalists in the US could set a bus on fire and nobody would bat an eye.

That's because they're not trying to start a new Holy War, and there isn't a bunch of people in the bus.

 

[the clockmaker]

To be fair, Iran isn't being fairly depicted in this game.

Am I the only one who thinks this constant use of countries like Russia or Iran as evil invaders is getting a little annoying?

People can't argue that Iran is evil for making anti-Israel games at the same time games like this are being released.

I actually agree with this. Why can't we have some countries like 'Merica or the UK or even Australia (where I live) be the bad guys for a change. I understand why some countries get pissed off at little things like this, it's because they're being bullied by other countries constantly.

Okay, I'll bite, make a halfway plausable story with Aus as the bad guy.