Iranian Military Game: Propaganda or Fun?

Iranian Military Game: Propaganda or Fun?

May 3, 2007
While we don't hear of too many video games coming out of Iran, PC World reports on Saving the Port, a strategic title developed by the Multimedia Office of Tebyan.

Tehran-based Taliya News writes that Saving the Port was created "in a bid to counter the West's cultural onslaught and in order to promote the Islamic-Iranian culture." PC World's Matt Peckham ponders the political aspects of the game and whether it will be used as a propaganda vehicle.

The game, which sounds as though it could be turn-based, is set in the World War II era, a time when the Middle-East was largely under European rule. English and Russian forces invaded Iran in 1941 to prevent it from allying with Axis forces. As described by IranMania.com, the game took two years to develop:
The usual high level of violence found in world games has been replaced by thinking... First, the user gets familiar with the whole idea of the game (um, tutorial?), and then enters the marine war in the second stage. Confrontation with the enemy takes place in the third stage, and in the fourth, the captain and the enemy's commander meet.

At the fifth stage, the captain and his crew attack the enemy at midnight... In the final stage, the enemy's airforce is destroyed in order to prevent them entering the port (Anzali Port, in northern Iran).

The faster the user plays the game, the more points he will get. At the end of each stage, a medal of bravery is granted to the person with the highest score, and whoever gains four medals will be the winner.

Saving the Port launches tomorrow, so still time to pre-order...
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Comments

Submitted by 9/11 was an inside job - May 8, 2007 at 2:01 pm -0500
9/11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB.

COME FIND THE TRUTH.

WWW.UNIVERSALSEED.ORG/
Submitted by Velvet_Llama - May 7, 2007 at 5:09 pm -0500
@bman
we americans may be a little better than countries like iran with regards to human rights, but i still wouldn't exactly create that good guy bad guy distinction. we do plenty of rotten stuff. consider all the civilians killed in the recent iraq war. way more than every terrorist attack in history. now i know our military wasn't intentionally targeting innocent people like the 9/11 hijackers. but you still can't ignore the fact that we have caused a great deal of death and distruction recently for dubious reasons. i'm not saying we should feel bad about being americans, i'm just saying that we should keep things in perspective before calling one nation the bad guys and ourselves the good guys. we have a lot of work to do before we can make that claim
Submitted by E. Zachary Knight - May 3, 2007 at 7:55 am -0500
Sounds like it could be fun. I wish we had a better translation of the gameplay though.
Submitted by John - May 3, 2007 at 8:02 am -0500
yeah I would try it
Submitted by Sidewinder - May 3, 2007 at 8:16 am -0500
Well, a diferent viewpoint in a WW2 game could be interesting, but 6 stages, and one of them is a tutorial... How about getting some more content?
Submitted by ZeRu - May 3, 2007 at 9:31 am -0500
Wow, a repressive country full of censorship like Iran has recognized video games as a powerful form of media and is using it to spread their political and religious goals? It's really a shame that they're ahead of western society when it comes to serious treatment of video games...this almost makes me respect Ahmadinejad a bit.
Submitted by Grahamr - May 3, 2007 at 10:11 am -0500
Nice history lesson, dennis!

Yea, Iran is a classic example of a country where separation of church and state is null...Censorship is the norm, rape is more or less validated, and intolerance is constant.

So this game might be...meh. But still, it's a story worth following.
Submitted by Archgabe - May 3, 2007 at 2:19 pm -0500
I don't see any real reason to try this game for 3 main reasons:

1- Needs more content.
2- Needs more content.
3- See #1

I don't mind if a game is made by religous lunatics. All I care about is if the game if going to stand up to the other games I have. It is pretty much "will this be fun?" I doubt this will be a fun game meerly because it's goal is propaganda, but even that I can pass over if there was content to the game. If they took 2 years to make 6 stages (or levels) then they obviously did not put enough effort into the game. I would love to see games from other parts of the world but I want them to at least try.

ps. Does anyone have screenshots of the in game graphics so I can comment on that too?
Submitted by Kevin - May 3, 2007 at 2:34 pm -0500
While not clearly stated as such, American games on WWII are mostly propaganda. It's a deeply rooted propaganda though, so much that it almost became a genre in itself and developers do it because it's cool, not with progapanda in mind.

I'd like to see the word "propaganda" associated with occidental games more often. The ratio is not being fair to foreign games.

Is there anything as shameful as "America's Army"?
Submitted by Terminator44 - May 3, 2007 at 2:48 pm -0500
Guessing from the translation of the game's description, I'm guessing the Middle Eastern division of the studio that made Zero Wing was behind it. ;)

Also, didn't the Iranian government also say it would create a game in a more modern setting where you fight the U.S.? Or am I mistaken?
Submitted by AbsumZer0 - May 3, 2007 at 3:02 pm -0500
@ZeRu-

I take it you're not familiar with the 'game' America's Army?
Submitted by R W McBroom - May 3, 2007 at 5:09 pm -0500
I wonder if the US gov will add a naval stage to Americas Army, where you have to shoot down Iranian passenger airliners filled with women and children.

@ GrahamR I remember watching Sally Jesse Raphael last year where she quoted a US gov statistic claiming 1 in 6 American women have been the victim of sexual assault!

Still it sounds like Saving the Port may be worth a look. They should have a sequel called Saving the Passenger Airliner.
Submitted by CyberSkull - May 5, 2007 at 11:05 pm -0500
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saving_the_Port
Submitted by Damoun - May 3, 2007 at 5:31 pm -0500
This sounds alright. Good to see people are 'trying' to break way from Iran's norm. I'll check it out once it's released.
Submitted by Grendal - May 3, 2007 at 7:39 pm -0500
He was investigated be police they found no cause to charge him that were it should end. He has no history of acting act, no history of mental illness (at least from what I've read) he was a model student. He engaged in a fantasy, he used his imagination, whats wrong with that? After I rad the Zombie Survival Guide I started analyzying my college campus for fire angles an defense, it was just me screwing around, should I have been disciplined as well? I understand the desire to keep people safe, but if we start giving up our basic freedoms to secure safety then that's too high a price.
Submitted by Grendal - May 3, 2007 at 7:40 pm -0500
Above comment is in the wrong place disregard or delete please
Submitted by ZeRu - May 4, 2007 at 9:48 am -0500
Oops, I forgot about America's Army...sorry. But it still surprising that Iranians are making videogames...I didn't imagined them as open minded nation and you probably understand why :-)
Submitted by Iranian government making strategy games … finally! at - May 4, 2007 at 7:28 pm -0500
[...] Not to be outdone by the US military’s use of video games as recruiting tool, Iran’s government has begun creating “propagandatainment” as well. Tehran’s “Taliya News” reports that Saving the Port, released today by Tebyan, an official “information dissemination institute,” is an attempt to “replace the excessive amount of aggression seen in strategic Western game [sic] with rational thinking.” Who knew Iranian news organizations were so catty? On the Snark-O-Meter, that line is somewhere between Kathy Griffin and a New York Post gossip column. Looks like we’d better raise the threat level from “Elevated” to “Sassy.” [...]
Submitted by bman - May 4, 2007 at 9:18 pm -0500
It's sad to see how misinformed some people are. Iran is a country that hates the United States. This game is nothing more than propaganda for their radical Islamic agenda.

As for America's Army, it may be considered propaganda, but were actually the good guys. Those Iranians are crazy
Submitted by AbsumZer0 - May 4, 2007 at 9:56 pm -0500
@bman-

Who's misinformed? Everyone knows that the hardline controlling government of Iran is fanatically anti-Israel, anti-Western world, and anti-United States. While I wouldn't go so far as to make broad, black-and-white "good guy, bad guy" statements, nobody's saying Iran's a progressive nation who wouldn't attack us if they thought they were capable (or that they're not one of the primary causes of our military's struggles in Iraq, even). It simply doesn't change the fact that America's Army is also a propaganda tool and that our own government has recognized the power of video games for the same purpose long prior.
Submitted by Ricky Tjiu - June 21, 2007 at 9:48 am -0500
Ricky Tjiu - Tjiu Siauw Min - Cannaan Tjiu;
d/a Jamblang Raya (Duri Selatan 1) 36A, Jakarta - Indonesia - 11270
(ex Insurance Pioneers, ex 'Corporation' Directors, & ex MLM Founders)

please, help me, sos & mayday... POLRI - Polda Metro Jaya - take me to jail as political prisoner, 'cause hit emergency regulations (i am innocent - mom Catholic, dad Buddism - Chinese; i take course/seminary: Islamic at Middle/Far East Arabican, Catholic at Italy Vatican, Protestant at USA, Confucius at China, Taoism at Hongkong, Buddhaism at Thailand, Shinto at Jepang,Hinduism at India, Caballah-Jew at Israel,... when visit there for insurance/MLM or job task...) unbelieveable 'minority' can 'cause military coup or internal war at Indonesia).
they call me (handphone 085880592990) at midnight in my parent's home' would like send me 'express packet - BOMB'; i said 'are you terrorisms?', go down, & with no emotion hand shake them (about 20: Resimen Mobil - POLRI) and ask them where is my the bomb packet you send to me (i don't recognize them as my friends, who political scenarios they take it for me?).
they take me to 'Mesjid' Polda Metro Jaya (PMJ POLRI) and then interogate me.... and then take me to directorate of 'reserse' (they take care me like the animal, are they have human right?; want request lawyer and my friends, they dont give it and 'steal' ('cause until now dont give back to me; many important VVIP handphone number in my phone list) my handphone... drunk 'red face' with hard alcohol in the mouth, detective/intelligent, interogate me... other hit gun on the top of table intimidate, about hundred change interogate me...
no way out system... remember i am not drug and crime from the past to now (i am clean and they would like make me dirty, you know past they call me Sultani - can't kill, but now maybe Middle/Far East Arabican must call yourself Sultan - can kill; POLRI hide their '2 faces' in the back of Mohammadism but at the end act like Saladin invisibly; are they Mohammad or Saladin... of course not, they just about 'dirty money' & 'bad politic' : 'imitation prophets and robbers')...
and they 'plan' take me to PMJ POLRI jail to interogate me, 'cause i dont want sign 'suspect letters (content of letter is imposible, ask the people are they happened whatever they judge me?); they put on board i am hit the emergency regulation as political prisoner...
and they 'criminal-subordinates' in the jail everyday punch, kick, 'fire' my body when i am slept, dont give me eat or take my meal...
all of them: conspiration, 'cause police guard dont hear my report about my salvation. i am sick, want medicine, they take to 'crazy room' (play me or kill me softly? but they make letter i am 'dizzy' and i sign it)... And they take to kramat jati POLRI hospital (special for prisoners), they make letter 'cause i must opname, i sign it: but no one medicine and no medical care, i sleep on the floor. When i am out from there, they make letter and tell me Shizhofrenia (of course 100% wrong, until know i am the best in my field, 'cause my God 'll take care my hurt). And then when i already at home i know they 'rob' my money (its not match with administratives fee, and i dont know what they doing to my friends or my 'far families', but after that there are fire in my families home (about 420 homes in there)...

they are many more, more, more important things (int'l 'X-Files' scenarios they make related with me, 'cause i am 41 or 14 since i am child; they opposite them to take 'margin', you know bad opportunist...

They hide the truth, maybe my personal affair you dont think about it but they are related with 'supranatural or real world creation, i am not crazy', 5 big invisible human-being follow surrounding me on the air until now.
Please, ask my email/'FAQ messages' to China Daily, Ban Ki mon, General Cao-China Military, Alan Greenspan, Bush, Putin, Jin-tao, Chirac, Kohl, Mekel, Benedict, Arabican Soladirity of Middle/Far East,... (dont believe their political-infiltration detective/intelligent at the holy place at Indonesia; i am truly 'mohammad and saladin' until 'spirit of Allah' and 'live mecha', you know what i am interpretation.../) and many military website from every countries ('cause they block isp, i am manuevering) for my sos and my mayday, 'cause i am cannot defense again, i am minority 'identity card' (Chinese Minority, Buddhism Minority, & Christianity Minority at Indonesia, they are many 'bad operation'). i dont have enough money for struggling against them, they barrier every my way/entries from job to personal affair/interest. To many Goliath, i need your support - your help... Come here my Knights from everyside of World, POLRI need 'war' in Jakarta - Indonesia... very very difficult against they 'ninja terroism'... i'll tell u everything what they do to me and to other countries (they play 'sufi-games' from Jakarta-Indonesia, there are not true Islamic but quellira roober having guns and uniform, also detective/intelligent)...
Submitted by Down the Wall » The Point of Games - September 12, 2007 at 2:12 am -0500
[...] A recent slew of serious games intend to influence the player’s opinions, taking the realism of simulations and applying it to a message. Orwell Today’s simulation of JFK’s assassination challenged players to reproduce the shots which killed Kennedy, shooting from Lee Harvey Oswald’s position. While notably morbid, failure would prove that there was more than one shooter. Even governments have seen the persuasive potential of games. The US military uses America’s Army, a realistic first-person shooter, as a recruiting tool, and Iran’s Save the Port promotes Islamic beliefs. [...]

GamePolitics ShoutBox

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Posted 11/23/09 at 07:42am
JDKJ: Leaders never follow. Followers never lead.
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DarkSaber: Anyone been following this Hadley Climatic Research Centre server hack story?
Posted 11/22/09 at 11:48pm
ZippyDSMlee: AE:they feeding you well? I am enjoying win7 and heading to bed...uhg I need to get up early and start back to cleaning/painting blahg >< need tog et stuff done befor thanksgiving....
Posted 11/22/09 at 11:41pm
Andrew Eisen: Just got home from an eight hour recording session at Capitol Records. A lot of fun but damn exhausting.
Posted 11/22/09 at 08:44pm
BearDogg-X: 10 N. O. Who Dat?
Posted 11/22/09 at 09:45am
ZippyDSMlee: JD:I think doc phill is still sout about the break up with his wife he dose not fill holes as much as make them bigger these day
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Posted 11/21/09 at 11:57pm
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Posted 11/21/09 at 11:56pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:no I am tried from prepping the banisters for painting , worked on them from 12 to 4 and 6 to 8...after I got back from the store...got up early got ready...blah...been up all day..I need a nap...
Posted 11/21/09 at 11:42pm
JDKJ: No. You gonna stay up late tonight soldering?
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ZippyDSMlee: JDKJ:Don't you mean Mctite?
Posted 11/21/09 at 11:33pm
JDKJ: @Zip: Neil, Bob, and Lik McTaint. The McTaint brothers. LOL!!!
Posted 11/21/09 at 09:44pm
Flamespeak: I still think military personell, killing other military personell, on a military complex should be handled by military courts.
Posted 11/21/09 at 09:43pm
Flamespeak: I could see this a mixture of the two charges rather than just one or the other.
Posted 11/21/09 at 09:43pm
Flamespeak: I think this was mainly a person who snapped, but evidence is showing he definitely had strong inlinations to islamic-extremism.
Posted 11/21/09 at 09:41pm
Flamespeak: People are trying to claim that Hasan's actions were not terrorism. I don't jump on the 'terror train' like others, however
Posted 11/21/09 at 09:38pm
mentor07825: Britain certainly does deserve it! And the French! God damn it, it was a hand ball!!!
Posted 11/21/09 at 09:34pm
ZippyDSMlee: mentor07825:Well Brittan dose deserve it....
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