Rumor: Iran Responding to Battlefield 3 with Anti-Israel Game

[Treblaine]

Oh calm down.

New York gets blown to shit countless times in games, you don't see them complaining about it. Or much people complaining about Washington getting fucked in Modern Warfare 2. The city, Washington. Not the person. If it was the person then yeah, complaints would probably be had. Especially if it was full on graphic- you know what? I'll just stop here.

Though having so many games featuring the Middle-East lately... it is getting pretty old. And I suppose people would flip their shit if you played the attackers attacking the US instead of the defenders.

And jet those things aren't even close to invading Iran.

In those games you're the defender and you succeed in it. You defended the country. You won.
But in BF3 you're invading Iran and you win doing so.

In "all those many games where the USA is invaded" (tho I don't know more than 4), the USA still wins. They defend them self.
But in all those many games where the USA invades the middle east, the USA wins, again and those countries lose. Ofc they will get mad.

There is a HUGE difference between being invaded and successfully defend yourself and being invaded and lose the war.

Read SyphonX and you will see that them worrying about all the shit being thrown against them is justified.

Just look at all those stupid games related to the middle east, at the news and at those sick US and Israeli politicians and how they talk about the middle east.

In DICE's defence, Battlefield 3's campaign was just so boring, generic, tepid and predictable I think the few people who actually finished it didn't care what happened or where.

It could have been any country in that vague region, it meant nothing, there was no unique aspects of Iran shown in the game like the very common and wonderful airbrush art, it's all generic dusty concrete cities. As yahtzee pointed out, the entire campaign was more like a tech demo for the new frostbite engine. The real focus was the multiplayer.

MW2 I believe you were shooting your way through The White House, Memorial Park and the distinctive row houses of American suburbs.

You would only have had to alter one or two pieces of dialogue to completely change the location to Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Qatar, Oman. Anywhere around there. COD4 of course managed to never mention which country they were in.

 

[Kadoodle]

Don't let Fox News hear about this...

"Video Games are War Propaganda"

 

[ThatDarnCoyote]

The site you quoted with a strange propaganda like banner on the top asking "Who are the real Jews?" in Farsi(yes, I can read a bit of Farsi as it is similar to Urdu), doesn't exactly seem unbiased.

Interesting, I hadn't realized that about Urdu. Anyway, the banner ads are targeted to the reader, not selected by the site. Myself, I get an ad for Star Wars the Old Republic.

You may not like that site, but the book it mentions is real. It debuted at the Khorasan book fair and was produced and distributed by the Department of Culture and Islamic Guidance. Here [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5367892.stm], too, is a BBC story about Jews in Iran that features lots of quotes by Iranian Jews about how great it is in Iran, but also points out facts like: they can't be officers in the Army, the property laws are stacked against them, and there are periodic attempts by the authorities to whip up sentiment against them. They say it's nice, but what else are they going to say to a foreign journalist?

Couple all that with President Ahmadinejad's various statements about the Holocaust, and the tendency of the Iranian government to scapegoat Jews is pretty much undeniable.

 

[Callate]

And about games as art, they don't even need to examine them, their statements prove that they already accept games as being equal to TV or movies which Fox has yet to do. Fox still thinks of all games as being toys for children.

What statements have they made which lead you to the conclusion that Iran accepts games as being equal to television or movies?

 

[AMK11]

oh just fuck you iran... seriosly fuck you you want to annoy the americans go attack THEIR capitol! we didnt even have anything to do with this one! or did we...
next thing youll know they would say that dices CEO is a mosad agent...

wow . lol ))) you sounds more like ur girl friend cheated on you with an Iranian guy. u should go play some Battlefield 3 to calm urself down man

 

[Arif_Sohaib]

And about games as art, they don't even need to examine them, their statements prove that they already accept games as being equal to TV or movies which Fox has yet to do. Fox still thinks of all games as being toys for children.

What statements have they made which lead you to the conclusion that Iran accepts games as being equal to television or movies?

This news story, they are taking Battlefield 3's story seriously and they funded a game called Garshap before this as a cultural thing.

 

[Arif_Sohaib]

The site you quoted with a strange propaganda like banner on the top asking "Who are the real Jews?" in Farsi(yes, I can read a bit of Farsi as it is similar to Urdu), doesn't exactly seem unbiased.

Interesting, I hadn't realized that about Urdu. Anyway, the banner ads are targeted to the reader, not selected by the site. Myself, I get an ad for Star Wars the Old Republic.

You may not like that site, but the book it mentions is real. It debuted at the Khorasan book fair and was produced and distributed by the Department of Culture and Islamic Guidance. Here [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5367892.stm], too, is a BBC story about Jews in Iran that features lots of quotes by Iranian Jews about how great it is in Iran, but also points out facts like: they can't be officers in the Army, the property laws are stacked against them, and there are periodic attempts by the authorities to whip up sentiment against them. They say it's nice, but what else are they going to say to a foreign journalist?

Couple all that with President Ahmadinejad's various statements about the Holocaust, and the tendency of the Iranian government to scapegoat Jews is pretty much undeniable.

I never said the book wasn't real but the news story can skew its contents to make the Iranians look bad. For example, the story had no references or actual quotes from the book(which themselves can be taken out of context). These are prime examples of bad reporting and even bad propaganda(good news propaganda is indistinguishable from actual news this was, the lack of references and quotes was a huge giveaway as was the strange sidebar of news topics they had).
The book, if it exists, is also bad propaganda but you should understand why they are so against Israel and the US. They were huge supporter of the Shah, they ousted Mossadeq(which actually allowed the current regime to come in the first place) and they continuously threaten to attack it.

The conditions you describe seem very similar to those of Arabs in Israel, they too can't join the army(and by extension of that they can't vote), the property laws are stacked against them(the continuously expanding illegal settlements, the wall in Jerusalem) and the government does periodically whip up sentiments against the Arabs.

 

[ThatDarnCoyote]

The conditions you describe seem very similar to those of Arabs in Israel, they too can't join the army(and by extension of that they can't vote), the property laws are stacked against them(the continuously expanding illegal settlements, the wall in Jerusalem) and the government does periodically whip up sentiments against the Arabs.

I don't know where you're getting that information, but it isn't accurate. Arab citizens of Israel can in fact vote - there are several major Arab political parties in Israel, and currently there are 13 Arab members of the Knesset (out of 120 total members). One of the judges on the Israeli Supreme Court is Arab.

Not only can Arabs serve in the Israeli army, but there are a number of Arabs in senior command positions, Gen. Hussain Fares for example. You may be confused by the fact that Arabs cannot by law be drafted into the IDF, as all other Israelis can, but they are certainly able to join voluntarily.

I simply disagree that the situation of Iranian Jews is comparable. Though it should be noted that Iranians aren't Arabs, as they will be quick to remind us.

You mentioned that the CIA's ouster of Mossadeq paved the way for the current Iranian regime, but that isn't the whole story. It had much more to do with the Shah's reforms [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Revolution] ten years after Mossadeq - he threatened their land holdings much the way Mossadeq had threatened the British oil companies in the 50s, plus he wanted to allow women to vote and for religious minorities to hold office. That was what really ignited the fuse of Islamic Revolution in Iran. Remember, the Shah was a monarch - he held power before, during, and after Mossadeq's term.

I do understand that Iran holds a historical grudge against the US for the ouster of Mossadeq, but it's a bit more complicated than just that. For one thing, you keep mentioning "Israel and the US" being involved in deposing Mossadeq. Israel had nothing to do with it, it was the US and Great Britain. The British, interestingly, almost never come up in Iran's angry pronouncements, which indicates that they are more of a political ploy than an actual historical grievance.

 

[Laurie Barnes]

Assuming this is all credible info, which it is implicitly not, all I have to say is.

"LOWTFLMFAO He thinks America is run by Jews! He thinks that he can beat Battlefield with a video game of his own. MORON COD is struggling to surpass Battlefield, no way some idiot game made for the sole purpose of offending Americans is gonna even be in the same league. Battlefield will always be a superior game than anything they make because it wasn't attempting to offend it's target audience on purpose! Idiot, freaking Idiot!"

 

[Do4600]

BF2 was "Iran-inspired".

Well actually you know...no. There were also maps that took place in both China and the US. Are we talking about that though? Is China throwing a shitfit over that?

You do realize we are going to war with Iran, don't you? Do you not read any news on the subject. I already explained it in my op. America would throw a "shitfit" too if they were surrounded by about 100 military bases, and Canada and Mexico were occupied. Because that's the reverse scenario.

Are you not able to put it into perspective here. All the rhetoric out of the west has been about future conflict with Iran.

As for the commenter about "BF3 is Swedish". Come on man, who funded the game? Use your head people, you can't be serious.

All of you are taking the piss, and/or just willfully ignorant about the whole situation. It's kind of shocking.

This man, whoever he works for government or not, is viewing a video-game that was produced by an entertainment company in the U.S. and programmed in Sweden as a direct assault on his country by the U.S. Government, which he feels is only an organization for the hatred of Arabs and the protection of Israel.(This is a lie, we hate everybody equally, but we guard that right to hate everybody equally with the blood of millions)

This is akin to the president of Costa Rica making a statement that he will produce a film about Dinosaurs attacking Japan as a retaliation for the damage done to his county by the film Jurassic Park.

Yes, BF3 was published by EA....and unless you're willing to say that EA is some secret branch of the war department of the United States of America that's as far as that will go.

This is just another case of somebody blaming the actions of a group of free citizens upon the government under which they enjoy citizenship. I don't pretend to comprehend what is difficult to understand about the concept of separation of guilt from a countries citizens and it's government, but then again I don't live in Iran either.

 

[Something Amyss]

You accuse me of pedantry?

Yes, I do.

Though your explanation of "I made dozens of mistakes walking into this" (to paraphrase) is probably just as valid. Still, your response reeked of pedantry.

Actually, your response here seemed kind of pedantic, too. In the end, I read your confusion as disingenuous, and have trouble believing otherwise.

I do, however, mourn our language if "sarcasm" tags are now a necessity. I understand that a lot of people subscribe to the "without vocal context it is impossible to determine 'sarcasm,'" but having grown up on great satirists from classical to modern times, I personally think this argument is a pile of crap.

I understand the inherent problem cited by "Poe's Law," though that is (or at least, should remain) a tenet of discerning fundamentalist extremism from parody. This was neither.

I'm sorry if you took it as a straight comment, but seriously. The furthered "huh?" really does seem to indicate something other than an earnest comment, and so a string of errors when a more simple explanation of "pedantry" is available is hard to buy.

 

[Something Amyss]

Well if it was in the US depicting the US army as monsters then I'm pretty sure they'd get peeved too.

Speaking as an American, I think we do a pretty damn fine job of portraying ourselves as monsters.

I mean, that Israel controls America. Personally? I think that Israel has a bit too much influence over America (Considering all the Jews in America) and although I do not believe that "America is controlled by the Zionists yo" I think people SHOULD be aware that if Israel got invaded they would have America's support. And that current foreign policy with regards to Iran (Read: If they get the bomb we should nuke them) is not because anyone in the States believe that Iran with nukes would be a credible threat to the US (There is a difference between making a bomb and making an ICBM, one is possible, the other is not) but because an Iran with Nukes would mean Israel would have a challenger.

And honestly, the fact that it's political suicide to not unequivocally support Israel (on a national level, that is) does indicate there's a bit too much of a hold. This is, in no small part caused by the fact that we (speaking of America the body, not me specifically) NEED Israel in the Middle East for political and military reasons.

And religious, but that's not just Jews. There are a lot of Christians who believe Israel has to exist for Jesus to return, and it is not a happy ending for the Jews. it is ironic then that I'm the bad guy in the next portion of my post.

So yeah, to make a long story short, I'm often labeled anti-semitic for my own views. I don't even hate Israel, or deny the Israelis a right to exist. I oppose the annexation of Gaza and West Bank, and MOSTLY my problem is the treatment of Palestinians by Israel. This is a nation whose soldiers will shoot at ambulances, reporters, and children playing. Who will bulldoze homes after giving less than thirty minutes warning. Whose idea of self defense involves aggressively attacking and killing people (often civilians) and who often will kill people with massively disproportionate strikes.

These are not things a civilised country should be doing, and I object to that. For that, I cam called anti-semitic and compared to Nazis. For the act of not supporting such horrible tactics.

So, in short (again), I get what you're saying. However comma, I'm still at a loss on my core statement up there, that a video game is going to hurt our so-called zionist overlords. But I guess this is a more broad concept of not being sure how a game is really going to hurt anyone, so I can see where people might think I'm confused on the connection between the US and Israel.

Granted, the specific diction used, "hurt," may be an Escapist construct. I've just never seen anyone hurt by a video game.

Now, rock music, on the other hand...Poor Bruce...It's almost as bad as the bees.

 

[Char-Nobyl]

As was expected by many, Battlefield 3 was banned [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/114404-Iran-Bans-Battlefield-3] fairly quickly in Iran for its depiction of American soldiers roaming around Tehran looking for nuclear weaponry. Now, the next stage of Iran's response to the game has been announced by the director of the country's National Computer Game Foundation (NCGF). It's a game called Attack on Tel Aviv, and nothing is known about it other than its title.

Oh, God, yes. This is going to be hilarious. Iran is like a grade schooler trying to get back at a classmate (who we'll call 'Sam') for a perceived (and frankly, justified) insult by ham-handedly doing a crappy art project called, "Sam is a douche-butt" or something. And, like that not-quite-mentally-challenged-enough-to-warrant-pity child, I suspect that Iran's 'art project' will fail to impress anyone just as laughably.

In keeping with the calm rhetorical tone [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmoud_Ahmadinejad_and_Israel] set by Iran's vocal leader in recent years, NCGF head Behruz Minaii told the Fars News Agency that, "The United States is governed by the Zionist Regime so Attack on Tel Aviv would make Americans angrier than a game about an attack on Washington."

Ah. Yes. It appears that they're taking the 'Kitchen Sink' approach to conspiracies. They'll accuse the US of everything that comes into their heads until they finally get lucky and say something that's true. Presumably, they hope that the US will exclaim, "Curses! How did you know?" despite all indicator to the contrary, but hey. It's Iran.

"We have submitted several letters of objection to the developers of [Battlefield 3] but we have yet to receive a response," continued Minaii.

What, asking them to retroactively change the location of their game?

Look, Iranian government: people don't think very highly of you. You're not many rungs higher than North Korea in terms of impotent saber-rattling, and at least Pyongyang knows how to run a parade ground routine.

According to the Tehran Times, Minaii tried to get answers at the Dubai World Game Summit from Gears of War studio Epic Games (which is odd, unless it's a translation error or incorrect) but was not impressed with the response. "Their reaction was that it is only a game and we should take it easy, but with the game set in Tehran, it is simply not acceptable," he said.

Erm...maybe they don't understand how the gaming industry works...and think that Cliff Bleszinski is the Earl of Electronic Entertainment or something.

It is worth noting that Minaii revealed nothing about the game other than its title, leading some to wonder whether or not it's actually in development.

So in other words, it's just like their nuclear program? Zing!

Iran and Israel have threatened each another with various acts of retribution and aggression far more colorful than a game over the years,

And look at how those have panned out (re: they haven't).

and if this game does appear on the market one day it'll present an interesting opportunity of sorts for the community to discuss the paradigms surrounding national censorship. Or, more scope for some anti-Semitism and Iran-bashing.

Yeeeeeeeeaaaaah...I doubt it. If Iran actually does make this, it'll play out like a shittier version of Battlefield with an asston of hilariously stupid conspiracies thrown in.

Soldier #1: Look, fellow righteous warrior! The film studio where the Zionists staged all the 'evidence' of the Holocaust!

Soldier #2: Egad! And look here! Israel has created a weapon that turns Palestinians into gold!

Soldier #1: Our disclosing of the Zionists' deceitful ways will have to wait, friend! Look out! They've rebuilt Golda Meir using America's Satan-machines!

(cue entry of copy/pasted Cyberdemon from the original Doom, albeit with an unflattering picture of Golda Meir's face sloppily superimposed over its own face)

Soldier #2: Do not despair! Muhammad has come to help us!

(cue epic battle between FrankenMeir and a towering black CENSORED block)

...you know, come to think of it, I'd totally play that game. I'd pirate it, of course. It's not like I'm going to give Iran money for it, in the same way that I didn't give any money to read 'My Immortal.'

How could it possibly go wrong, I wonder?

Oh, it can't go wrong, really. If they actually go through with it, then Iran is dumping money it can't afford on a game that will likely look terrible by Dreamcast standards, and control like a cow in a wheelbarrow. It'll just make their government an even bigger laughingstock than it is now.

 

[Brawndo]

in b4 the Faux Noise Machine has a seizure over this game

 

[Inglorious891]

Soooo Iran is pissed at the US because a Swedish developer made a game about US soldiers attacking Tehran?

I can't believe Iran doesn't see the gap in logic here.

They are taking this waaaay to seriously to even think about what their saying.

 

[Treblaine]

You accuse me of pedantry?

Yes, I do.

Though your explanation of "I made dozens of mistakes walking into this" (to paraphrase) is probably just as valid. Still, your response reeked of pedantry.

Actually, your response here seemed kind of pedantic, too. In the end, I read your confusion as disingenuous, and have trouble believing otherwise.

I do, however, mourn our language if "sarcasm" tags are now a necessity. I understand that a lot of people subscribe to the "without vocal context it is impossible to determine 'sarcasm,'" but having grown up on great satirists from classical to modern times, I personally think this argument is a pile of crap.

I understand the inherent problem cited by "Poe's Law," though that is (or at least, should remain) a tenet of discerning fundamentalist extremism from parody. This was neither.

I'm sorry if you took it as a straight comment, but seriously. The furthered "huh?" really does seem to indicate something other than an earnest comment, and so a string of errors when a more simple explanation of "pedantry" is available is hard to buy.

I know if I am reading a satirical novel from the broader context. The vital role of an adaptation of a play is that the actors deeply understand the work's politics and decide how to express what is written that could be taken any way by the delivery. It IS hard to tell you are being sarcastic with just prose, it helps SOO MUCH to use a "[/sarc]" symbol or broader context. Most people on this forum speak plainly and unambiguously, with sarc-marks to help.

Is that pedantic? Or is that practical? I try to read every comment in this thread, that is kind of hard if I then have to re-analyse each one for sarcasm and satire I wouldn't get very far very quickly.

It is not the English language that is the problem, it is the MODE that we are communicating. On an internet forum. You cannot simply transcribe the way you would speak and assume your inflections and pacing will manifest in the ASCII characters. English was not a language designed by computers, nor by scholars; it was spoken long before it was ever transcribed with borrowed Roman characters. English works best when spoken, additional effort is needed with written.

If you don't believe my explanation, well... what more can I do? You refuse to use sarc-marks, can you really refuse to accept when people fail detect intended sarcasm in your prose?

PS: you keep using "pedantry" when I think "your comment was pedantic" might be more appropriate and proportional. It's more well known and is less judgemental on the character (do you know me?) and more focused the particular comment.

 

[Griffolion]

By that logic, are Germany, Britain and France to ban MW3 and make a game called "Attack on Moscow"?

Iran, chill the f*** out.

 

[StANDY1338]

would actualy buy this game. Heard ea are publishers.

 

[Obvious Ninja]

I almost want to play this game. Given how hilariously worded their statement is, the game could be nothing but fun

 

[duchaked]

"The United States is governed by the Zionist Regime so Attack on Tel Aviv would make Americans angrier than a game about an attack on Washington."
hmm...really? really? very mature LOL

ironically, there are a lot of (real or bad joke) hate on Jews in the U.S. anyway
ironically ironically...half the gaming community will just get riled up about "another bloody CoD" game
...and the other half buys a billion dollars worth lol


tho they're right about the attack on Washington being passé...prob cuz CoD ALREADY DID IT =P