Iran Sentences Game Developer To Death

[aaronmcc]

Fan meet shit. Welcome to world war 3.

Thing is, if they actually succeed in pissing off Americans enough then the government will intervene eventually and they will learn, like so many before them, that you don't poke a bear with a stick even if you think he smells of blasphemy. Especially if said bear has a big enough cock to fuck your country's asshole until it bleeds.

 

[Excludos]

I guess its safe to presume a war will be starting any minute now. I don't see how the US will sit and let this pass.

 

[Robert Ewing]

Oh Jesus Christ... Honestly America, you like getting involved in this sort of shit, now is no better time to intervene with your world policing ethic, QUICK, QUIIICKKKKK

 

[Triaed]

The US will let it pass. They'll roll over and won't say a peep. Too much crap flying their way already as is.
One of those "for the greater good" excuses.

 

[boban]

Iran Sentences Game Developer To Death

Shortly after being detained, arrested, and accused of using videogames to spy in Iran, a U.S. game developer has just been sentenced to death.

Amir Mizra Hekmati was visiting Iran this past August when he was detained. He was subsequently put on trial by the Revolutionary Court, which specializes in trials against those accused of trying to overthrow the nation's government. He's just been sentenced to death because he was found guilty of charges that the CIA was paying him to make videogames that would affect public opinion on U.S. policies in the region.

Hekmati is a former U.S. Marine who became a game developer and was employed with Kuma Reality Games, working on a variety of titles for the studio. However, according to the Tehran Times, Hekmati allegedly confessed that "[Kuma] was receiving money from the CIA to (produce) and design and distribute for free special movies and games with the aim of manipulating public opinion in the Middle East. The goal of the company in question was to convince the people of Iran and the people of the entire world that whatever the U.S. does in other countries is a good measure."

It's no secret that Iranian authorities don't harbor any love for Kuma, based on the company's track record. In 2006, CEO Keith Halper admitted that his company worked on training software for the U.S. Army, but never claimed that any other government organization was backing any other projects. Additionally, one of KumaWar episodes the company created was called "Assault on Iran" and required players to infiltrate an Iranian nuclear facility in order to grab evidence of illegal uranium enrichment and sabotage the country's atomic weaponry.

The White House has repeatedly denied that Hekmati either worked for the CIA or was sent to Iran by the organization. On top of that, the White House has been calling for his release ever since he was detained:

"Allegations that Mr. Hekmati either worked for, or was sent to Iran by the CIA are false," said Tommy Vietor, a spokesman for the White House's National Security Council. "The Iranian regime has a history of falsely accusing people of being spies, of eliciting forced confessions, and of holding innocent Americans for political reasons."

Iran's routinely been the country that everyone reads about and does a double-take, simply because the news that comes out of the area is insane. This is the place with a president <a href=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hATGOzv6YSmgeMY1zdYbdpyrG2cw>who told an audience at Columbia University that his country doesn't have homosexuals. It's a nation where the government is at war with itself and the Supreme Leader is having the president's allies <a href=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/05/ahmadinejad-allies-charged-with-sorcery>arrested on charges of sorcery and witchcraft. Now, it's going to execute a man because he made videogames.

Source: <a href=http://www.tehrantimes.com/component/content/article/93702>Tehran Times via <a href=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/39542/Video_game_designer_sentenced_to_death_in_Iran_over_propaganda_charges.php>Gamasutra


Permalink

Hey, Mike, me again. Here's an example of what an unbiased article on sensitive subject looks like:
http://www.destructoid.com/game-designer-sentenced-to-death-for-spying-propaganda-219322.phtml

The author is one of your own, you could learn from him.

Lousy journalism is one of the main causes od shit in today's world. Journalism has the power to make war, or peace. I suggest you do your research next time you write about Iran or whatever else. If you think I am insane, please take a look at the comments on your article here at The Escapist, and then at the comments on the Destructoid article. See the difference?

There's a reason for that difference, Mike.

 

[CatsAttackAgain]

If this guy survives then he'll have one hell of a game to make.

 

[srm79]

What a bunch of cunts.

All the debate and opinion in the rest of the thread aside, it all boils down to this.

It's brinkmanship, pure and simple. Between this, uranium enrichment and the Straits of Hormuz either someone (Israel most likely) will snap or Ahmadinejad will know he can get away with being a prick.

I reckon so as well. Hell, the Israelis once sank a French ship carrying reactor equipment bound for Iraq a couple of decades back. They know that Ahmadinejad is fucking nuts, and if he gets nukes he's not beyond lobbing a few at Tel Aviv.

And to be fair, the Israelis have a track record of kicking the shit out of all their neighbours when threatened. If this ends badly for anyone, it will be for Ahmadinejad when Mossad are finally let off the leash.

 

[VincentX3]

This is disgusting

Makes me hate Iran A-FUCKING-LOT

 

[Icetailgreg]

Personally, I find it odd that few have mentioned the fact that this man, not to mention the company, have basically used video games to brain-wash people to a particular viewpoint. This is not what video games are made for. I agree with Iwana, the guy deserves what's coming to him. And the Americans will probably do what they do best. Re-enact "Mariners Revenge" (Link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEmy2DBaeTc) on a global scale, ending with the president and an Iranian alone in a radioactive wasteland. If this is how he world ends, then...irony.

 

[Ragnarok185]

*facepalm*

are these people fucking serious?. thats it, im gonna kill them all. jk

 

[OldNewNewOld]

Just to the bunch who doesn't read.
The same would happen if the situation was reversed.

A former Marine, worked for the CIA, created training software and created a game that makes you infiltrate Iran (that IS propaganda).
So yeah, that is a definition of a spy/anti-government worker.

What does the USA do with spies again? Oh yeah, death sentence. But they don't say it out loud so that the rest of the world knows. No, they do it in secrecy to look civilized and democratic.

What happens to Muslims who try to enter the USA? They accept them with open arms? No. They try to find anything that could related them to anything that is possible related to terrorism and just trow them in jail. You're related to a Muslim with a long beard? To jail with you! NAO!!!!!
And with the new laws coming in, bye bye.

He got what he asked for.

And for people writing "Oh noe, dat impossibru in USA. We haz freedom of speech!!!!111"
Yes, yes you have. You have so much of it that it makes me laugh.
Unfortunately, the very same freedom of speech makes Julain Assange cry. On the other hand, Bradley Manning loves it.

SOPA, Patriot act... oh beauty of the freedom of speech... I have never seen freedom in such beautiful colors.

 

[White Knight2392]

Spend the next few months rabidly learning everything you can about the entirety of human history, from the first written records to today. I have a great love of history, and I've been paying close attention to world affairs for the last few years, and I've noticed a pattern here. In this new age of technology and enlightenment, humanity is slowly coming together to say ENOUGH! One by one, dictators are falling, tyranny is being overthrown, and people are waking up and taking control of their destinies. The Arab Spring, Occupy Wallstreet, the unrest in china, europe, and russia. This is only the beginning. This, my friends, is hope.


-The Assasins are right; the Revolution is coming, and the Templars are goin' down!

 

[brainslurper]

I'm speechless.

You know, I wouldn't really feel any pity towards Iran if they get hit by a crippling cyber attack sometime in the future.

You know, I wouldn't really feel any pity towards Iran if they get hit by a crippling attack sometime in the future.

 

[nothingspringstomind]

Seriously, I thought this had to be a joke. This marks the first time this year that i'm ashamed to be part of the human race. I know i'm going to sound whiny and preachy but for fucks sake, we're all human, we're all fundamentally the same and we're the only known planet in the universe to harbour intelligent life. Can't we all just stop dicking each other about and get the fuck on with our lives?

God, the world sucks.

/rant

 

[JSF01]

Hmmm, I remember reading an article on a little known gaming site (Read: The Escapist) about an Iraqi artists struggle to release a game called "The Hunt For Bush" which was created using an adapted form of a game called "The Hunt For Sadam". So this paranoid reality I am living in is called... Reality.

I did not see that article so I can?t really comment on it other than I doubt he was executed or even jailed for life if at all.

All I am trying to state is that there is a double standard in play here. This man does not deserve death however his charges are not... Insane whatsoever. He DID create anti-Iranian propaganda. And I think he was a total dipshit for travelling to Iran after doing so.

While it could be considered anti Iranian propaganda, that?s a still a far cry from him being a CIA operative on a mission to specifically create anti Iranian propaganda games and movies to distribute to the Iranian population. It was stupid of him though to actually travel to Iran though.

And Freedom of Speech does not really extend to hate speech. At least it does not in Britain. Please enlighten me, if I call someone a "Dirty ******" or words to the effect of in America, would I be charged with anything at all?

In America you would not be charged with any thing. We don?t have any Hate Speech laws. Now someone may kick your ass for saying it, but there are no laws against it. You can even organize a neo Nazi rally and march down the center of a Jewish community if you wanted to.

Although the members of Hezbollah who made said game would probably be arrested for attempting to cause terrorism. Not that the Americans need reasons to arrest people.

Nope

Or perhaps raising money for use in Terrorist Acts?

Now funding terrorist organizations is illegal, but if they where just keeping all the money for themselves and not doing or planning anything illegal with it than they would be fine

I mean, considering the Iranians quite rightly consider the Americans to be the largest threat to the continued existence of the nation (And just about everything within the borders of Iran if the Americans go nuclear) a man who produced material used to TRAIN the armies of your enemies, a man who produced games which fund (Indirectly through taxation etc) the armies of your enemies... Well, that sounds like a man you would want to arrest now doesn't it? For exactly the same reasons the Americans would arrest someone supporting terror (Unless its terror you directly support. Like the IRA. Who just happened to be blowing the shit out of one of your allies.)

except the charges are not for the games he made in the past. Also in the US you would not be charged with funding terrorism if it were an indirect way like taxation.

Not that a charge is needed. What with the ability to be held indefinitely without charge.

Derp.

At least the Iranians are ADMITTING they arrested this dumbass. The Americans would have just sent him off to Guantanamo to face a few rounds of "Tough interrogation techniques" without saying a word.

Perhaps its about time Americans started looking at the questionable actions of their own government before they start questioning and condemning the actions of other governments. Or, with this particular case, actually considering the reasons other than the blatant as to why this man was arrested.

Like that Russian spy a year ago was, Oh wait a sec.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

When it comes down to it, his company is to blame here, not him. Arrogant paranoid people they are, they're making their own country look bad more than a game possibly could.

 

[theultimateend]

Dear Humanity

Please stop doing needlessly cruel and stupid shit. It's getting a bit depressing.

Thanks.

The small group of people who lead the various countries != Humanity.

The mean age in Iran was something like low 20's last I knew. This sort of crap is just done by the aging and (apparently) insane older population.

I'm speechless.

You know, I wouldn't really feel any pity towards Iran if they get hit by a crippling cyber attack sometime in the future.

You know, I wouldn't really feel any pity towards Iran if they get hit by a crippling attack sometime in the future.

I only agree if your only target is the leadership. Otherwise you are killing a bunch of young folks who are actually into American Culture.

Seems like a dumb move to kill people who like you, just saying.

 

[ThunderCavalier]

Those are the crimes he allegedly confessed to, remember Iran has had a history of making people confess by use of fear and torture (see the 2007 capture of Royal Navy personel).

I personally think that Iran is behaving like a child on the international stage; throwing its teddies out the pram in order to gain attention. and I personally think that Iran should be stripped of any and all trade going into the country, If the government feels like being a douche it can go and sit on the international "naughty step"

Ah, crap. I forgot that these type of countries have been known to manipulate the truths confessed by its prisoners so it can save some face.

Yeah, now that I think about it, unless we have a confession from someone in our own government (haha, isn't gonna happen) that this was a government-sanctioned event, I don't think we can entirely trust Iran on calling this guy out now.

Seriously, Iran? I'm not quite sure if this is a viral story yet, but if it does become one, if the governments of the world don't get you for this, rest assured the Internet will find some way to screw you over.

 

[ThunderCavalier]

Uhh you realize that the people who are holding him captive are saying that he allegedly said all this, right?
I underline it for you in your post.
Seriously, fine reading before you go off on the poor guy.

Yeah, someone else pointed it out for me.

I'm an idiot. ^_^; srsly, I am still under the opinion that Iran is not responding rationally, sensibly, or morally right to this situation, and I hope that the guy really doesn't get killed.

Because seriously, if he does, then it's just another body to add to the body count of people killed due to complete and utter stupidity.

 

[notimeforlulz]

Hope these trolls like getting droned...

New idea: And this one is for a games industry response to Iran.

If they kill this guy, I'll volunteer to become a programmer for the military, instead of making video games.

Get about 100,000 programmers to offer that, and maybe the games industry can bring a threat to the table over this.