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Iran Sets Up ESRA Game Ratings, ESRB Denies Link
by Eric Caoili [PC, Console/PC]
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December 30, 2008
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Tehran-based National Foundation for Computer Games (NFCG), a non-profit group working under the Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance's supervision, has announced that it has instituted an 'ESRA' ratings model for Iran with full government support, with Iranian media reports claiming the country would be "joining the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)".
"This plan will help families get better ideas about selecting games for their children and can set a good example for cinematic and television productions," said NFCG's managing director Behruz Minaii, according to a report from Iranian English-language newspaper Tehran Times. "It also helps support our domestic producers and gives better assistance to the distributors."
Minaii said that the group enlisted 20 experts from different religious, psychological, social, and media organizations in the past year for this initiative. The managing director also claimed that the first part of the group's unspecified plan is now ready, and the next parts will be completed through establishing this partnership.
The North America-based ESRB, however, denies that it is working with NFCG or any other organization. "We have not had any discussions with Iran about adopting our rating system," ESRB's assistant director of communications Eliot Mizrachi told game weblog Kotaku.
Further complicating matters, NCFG held a ceremony celebrating its ratings introduction and honoring the experts heading the project, according to the Tehran Times. The function was attended by game producers and officials from the country's ministries of culture and education.
Iranian deputy culture minister for Cinematic Affairs, Mohammadreza Jafari-Jelveh, said in the event's opening speech, "If we think a bit, we will find out that the major goal of computer games is to create heroes. And we can revive the culture of Persian championship with all its Iranian and Islamic elements through national computer games."
A troupe of actors gave a performance incorporating ratings symbols, but photos from the ceremony reveal that the letters used actually spelled out ESRA, leading to speculation that Iran and NFCG have formed a different group with a name and charter mimicking the ESRB's.
Established in 2007, the NFCG is designed to help promote "cultural principles and Islamic-Iranian identity" through the video game industry, and to support local video game companies. In October of this year, the group held an exhibit at a week-long police expo inviting families to learn about selecting appropriate and safe games for their children.
Iran's locally supported PC games include Save the Port, a real-time strategy title from the Multimedia Office in Tebyan; and Rescue the Nuke Scientist, a first-person shooter produced by the Union of Students Islamic Association. The latter has players recovering scientists captured by the U.S. military and held in Iraq and Israel.
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"Wait, what was I doing?" Asks the gamer.
"RESCUE THE NUKE SCIENTIST!" replies the box.
You can't get this convenience from Gears of War.
That part of the world is as viable a market as any, and establishing cultural and socioeconomic ties would be a nice start to alleviation of the unwarranted racism of the last 35+ years (On both sides).
For those interested in the politics of US/Iran interactions, I suggest the following reading:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_Mosaddeq
Several great entertainment franchises have stemmed from eastern culture, Stargate comes to mind readily (Egypt). Perisan culture offers this sort of rich backdrop as well.
Interesting that you mention that. While I was still under-grad, I was called to the Ministry of Telecom and IT because a friend there told them that I "know about games". I met with some top guy there and he told me, EA is exploring opportunities in Jordan because the King asked them to consider investing in the country. They asked me stuff no way in hell I would know like the console installed base in the Middle East and then ended with a note that EA can't invest in the region without data to base their decisions on.
I was clueless. It was weird.
The leader of Iran Ayatolah Kemeni (Amadimajhad is not the leader) has repeatedly declared a fatwah on the stockpiling of WMDs, and denounces nuclear weapons as against the principals of Islam. They offered the US a bargain where if they are 1) removed from the Axis of Evil, 2) promised to not be attacked, 3) had sanctions lifted, 4) were allowed to have Euopean investment, then in return they would allow full nuclear inspections, cut themselves off from Hezbollah and Hamas, and even establish ties with Israel. The Swiss diplomat who delived it wasnt even allowed in the door. What a surprise you didnt see that on the news huh.
If I had the worlds largest army refusing my calls for diplomacy and threatening to destroy my country and rob it of all its resources, therefore cancelling any hope of a future for its people, then yeah maybe I'd probably dabble in a little extremist support myself. And I would have my right hand guy (Ahmadimajhad) getting vocal and drumming up support as well. Yes the regime needs to change, but in 10-20 years they're going to do that anyway, the US government however, are just straight up pricks.
Fascinating story. It's good that the people Iran adopt a rating system to help parents decide the appropriateness of games to buy for their families. I predict that such a rating system would also be implemented on imports and games localized for Iran. "
Tawna, are you serious ?
Erm... There ISN'T such a thing. Nobody localizes games for Iran, nobody imports. Heck, there is barely a market in China, which is one of the leading development poles. There isn't a market in Russia nor India either.
Do you really honestly think that Iran deals with original purchased software ?! At most, it's all pirated, therefore, what's the point of this board ?? To me this news is a pure joke. Some sort of extremely ill-advised propaganda piece trying to show that Iran has a peaceful, progressive government. That's about it. Any links with reality are non-existant.
Yes Jeffrey, they blow themselves up for absolutely no reason. Those people just wake up one day and think "Today is a good day to wear a dynamite belt and kill someone! No big deal!"
All this prejudice makes me sick. Let me return your gift: do you even have history and geography lessons in the US? Clearly not; if you did, you would understand why only a handful of countries are targeted by terrorists, or why terrorists exist in the first place.
Most of the suicide bombers are from ethnically Arab countries, which is distinctly different from Iran (which is comprised of Aryans and Indo-European Peoples - with some Mongol thrown in for good measure :).
Also, it should be noted that these radicals represent a fractional portion of the people, and care considered radicals even among their own populations.
Regardless of the country's political standing, this Move demonstrates a willingness to enforce copyright and ratings, which can eventually help create a viable marketplace (which is great as far as I am concerned).