After an unnamed deputy, with the security and intelligence division of Iran’s police, announced that there would be a permanent ban on the selling of Battlefield 3, many game stores were raided and found to have copies of the game for sale. Though EA has no resellers in that region,meaning it was not meant to even be available, many store owners acquired the game by importing and more nefarious means to sell it, illegally.
The games sale was not banned due to selling imported versions but because of scenes in the game depicting a Tehran invasion, though fictitious Iranian police take such matters very seriously. Even before it had been officially announced some stores were raided for copies of Battlefield 3 and all were confiscated.
It seems many youth in Iran have fled to the Internet to pirate the game as it is their only way to play the military shooter. Though I suspect in some areas of Iran, just looking outside is like playing Battlefield.
Ignorance aside, I feel that gamers everywhere should be allowed to play whatever game they want, so long as violent video games are outright banned in that area, not just ones with specific content. There is a petition by a large group of Iranians that hopes to allow for the game to be sold once again via legitimate shops.
What do you think?
Source: The Daily Star
Rian Quenlin
They’re just being touchy. If you don’t like the content, don’t play the game. Pushing your will on other people just because YOU have a temper tantrum makes you out as a whiny little brat.
Noremac
“In some parts of Iran just looking outside is like Bf3…”
Iran =/= Iraq, pakistan, etc.
Its actually a great country with a retarded government due to the revolution just replacing one dictator with another.
Pixel
‘Though I suspect in some areas of Iran, just looking outside is like playing Battlefield.’
What an ignorant thing to write, you obviously have no idea what life in Iran is like.
lulu
i’m persian & i’m bought that game but in the way home every 5min i was looked around me for not beign arrested – sorry for terrble english
Rian Quenlin
Your English is fine, don’t worry about it. Next time I see someone whining about having a hard time getting this game I’ll just direct them to this post.
Chris Hernandez
@Noremac and Pixel
I did write in the next line “ignorance aside” as to show that I didn’t actually believe what I was saying.
I was just making a lame attempt at amusing the ignorant North Americans. Clearly it was not successful.
L.O.R.D
in syria..Call of Duty MW and MW 2 is banned
and any store sell this games will be closed and went to prison and he must pay a fees about 300 $ for the first time..the 500 $ for the second time..third time is a charm.. the store will closed forever ..and every content in the store either destroyed by the army..or taken.
the funny thing is..all the copy are pirated
there is only less then 1% are original game .
Stuart H
To be honest, not all content is suitable for all cultures, and with all the shit that goes down in the world its not a surprise that people are touchy about what content gets released, if the government thinks its not the right content it wants people to see then fair enough, its a wonder games that have the theme of destroying America still manage to get released.
We’ve seen it all before, Western content isnt exactly the most subtle, yet we seem to think its ok. Well with all the Russians, Chinese and Koreans shown blowing up the west in these films and games, Makes you wonder when it will actually happen. Because, it will.
Rian Quenlin
It’s because of the First Amendment in the US, you could make a game that has assassinating the president as a plot point and nobody would be able to do anything about it. Legally, the government is powerless to censor a game that is not considered “obscene”.
As I said, if you have a problem with the content, don’t play it.
Chris Hernandez
@Rian, that game would never see commercial release, as I’m sure there are loopholes that would allow the president to stop a company from selling a game where the president is assassinated.
Though I’m sure it exists as a flash or free game on the Internet.
Rian Quenlin
It would sooner be publishers refusing to touch it more than anything. PS, assassination of the president has been done, namely in XIII. Of course I meant a fictional president, killing real people in a game is in very bad taste.
Chris Hernandez
Oh yes, if its a fictional president then I doubt even a publisher would have issue with it.I thought you meant like having Obama assassinated, haha. That would be bad.