Read the following article about Iran's government-controlled video game industry.
http://www.strategicsocial.com/2010/01/iran%E2%80%99s-nascent-government-controlled-video-game-industry/
What do you think about a country with such strong censorship laws being so successful in their gaming industry? Do you think some of these games are being used as propaganda?
Think about some of the video games you play. Do you think any of your games are making a political statement?
Here is another article that takes a closer look at some Iranian games.
http://trueslant.com/nealungerleider/2009/12/10/inside-irans-video-game-industry/
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I'm no gamer, but it seems to me that this would pique the curiosity of Americans about this ancient culture
ReplyDeleteAnn
There are plenty of US games that are clear political and cultural propaganda. Young people are sponges when it comes to staring into video games. I have 4th grade students who are already developing their mindsets about other cultures based on games, cartoons and parental ignorance. It should come as no surprise that other countries have noticed, and begun to exploit gaming as an avenue for impressing young minds. I have always thought that the "war games" available for home/arcade play were perfect early training programs for combat. It has been documented that in Iraq, hard driving rock music, such as accompanies many games, is cranked out over loud speakers during much of the action, in order to help troops forget the reality of the horror they are inflicting. But in war, there is no "replay" button...
ReplyDeleteI have never understood the violence in these games. Remember when games were fun like Pac man and frogger. Lets get back to the basics.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to say that games in the U.S. are making any sorts of political statements like the extreme cases that are being described over in Iran. Most of the popular games played today are either sports, war campaigns, first person role playing games, or Italian plumbers. It is, however, very evident that Iran is using this as a platform for propaganda. U.S. military taking nuclear scientists in Iran hostage? Really? They should just pick up Mario Kart or something.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Mario Kart is awesome. But I can see how some games could subliminaly send out political statements.
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