"Assault on Iran" is not a game to some
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Oct 25th 2005 at 2:00PM }
Kuma Reality Games is back in the news again, releasing a new 3D-simulation of what a
U.S. attack on Iranian nuclear facilities might play like. "Assault on Iran," the latest reality-based episode
available for free download at KumaWar.com, has drawn sharp criticism from PersianPetition.com, an online forum for
Persian speakers in Iran and abroad. On October 12, the website posted a petition requesting that Kuma stop offering
"Assault on Iran"; since then, the petition has gathered more than 5,000 signatures. However, Kuma has no plans to
remove the game from public access.
Has Kuma gone too far? Should game developers leave some issues alone? Or should game developers be subject to a waiting period before handling touchy subjects?
[Thanks, bandersnatch]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
vc @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
If Tom Clancy can write novels about nukes snuck into American football stadiums by terrorists... why can't Kuma Games do a scenario based on Iran?
Aaron Stanton @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
Because Tom Clancy is American writing about a terrorist attack on America. Release an Iranian made movie about Iranians sneaking a nuclear warhead into a football stadium and see what the public reaction is; then it's a more realistic comparison.
syco @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
That's hilarious. As if we could afford to attack Iran right now.
Guslav @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
this is a free country, so they can keep this game if they want, but i'd say persians--and keep in mind people who say "persian" are by definition not fans of iran's government--are right to be pissed. this is in bad taste: no more, no less, and very politically insensitive. there is a reason the enemies in rainbow six/socom, etc. are always non-state actors and not governments.
like #2 says, how would americans feel if iran published a game about killing americans in new york or washington? you better believe middle america and the good folks at fox news would be frothing at the mouth...
Guslav @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
..and i mean "if a game was publushed in iran," not if the iranian gov't published the game, though i'm sure that would be a very...uh...interesting game ;)
Kevin Nayer @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
im an iranian and i am appaled at such a game to come out. it is misrepresentive of my country and definately not cool.
SickNic @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
I saw this on the news. CNN stated that over 1,000 people from IRAN have downloaded this game to play it...
vc @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
Well, at least they're trying the game before they criticise it, which is more than you can say for American politicians who blast games they've never played.
OtakuCODE @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
Let the market answer the question. If society believes that the developer is overstepping their bounds, the sales will suffer. If not, they won't. If you simply ban such a game or protest it to get it stopped, all you've shown is that a minority group can control the majority by circumventing the idea of a free market.
You can't tell a socities values by its laws. If it truly, deeply, valued something, there would be no need for a law regarding it.
quanmadrid @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
isn't this the same as if another country made a game about attacking America? i think we would already be at war, or at least instituting a trade embargo on them.
What's with this arrogant, ignorant, fascism from people who are by definition fellow Americans?
Next we should have a Sim-game where you run for office, come up with good lies to get you there, then rig it, then you become president. Sim-democracy. But of course, that could be seen as a murder simulator too.
LaughingTarget @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
No one really plays Kuma War anyway, so it doesn't matter in either way.
Bad taste? So what? By the above requisites, Command and Conquer: Generals was also in bad taste becuase you killed terrorists. So is Rome: Total War because you could invade the middle east.
Guess what, the world doesn't have room for those who get "offended". The only way we can avoid being offended is to not say anything ever, hide in a blank room, and never come out.
Great, 5,000 "Persians" (tell these people Persia doesn't exist anymore) don't like it. Holy crap, 7.35e-3% of Iranians don't like it and 7.75e-5% of the world's population has a problem. Last time I checked, 7.35e-3 is such a small number that scientists outside of chemistry would refer to it as insignificant.
Think it is in bad taste? Just don't buy it. Making news like this did a better job of getting Kuma subscribers than the aim of your cause.
alireza @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
what s the point of this game anyway? did these developers get tired of making games to train americans to kill iraqis? now they wanna kill iranians too? what a messed up society we live in. no wonder the world hates us. all we think about is killing and violence.
Sassanix @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
I call my self a true gamer and I am Persian/Canadian and I was surprised to see this game pop up in my menu bar for Kuma Wars I tried the game and THIS IS NO GAME!!! How do you feel like killing your own people in a game? :(
Iran is no Iraq or Afghanistan! And Iran should be portrayed differently in Western media. What else does an average westerner knows about Iran besides it is in a region full of wars and also with developing nuclear weapons?
TASTELESS and should be removed from their SITE immediately
savannah @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
It's a game. You have choice, do you not? If you don't like it, then don't download it to play it. It couldn't be simpler.
Touchy subjects? Meh, if it's a decent enough game, I'll play it.
BD @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
Sassanix--- you are a paradox and a half.
It's a game. How do you feel like killing people in any game?
Violence is violence ... play it or don't play it. It is going to perpetuate stereotypes either way. Get over it. If you're going to try to change the world, start in your own back yard, please.
ali @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
you guys don't seem to understand. yes, violence is violence. your right about that but killing aliens in halo is different than killing people (in this case, iranians). and in responce to no.10, the guy with the whole chemistry theory, buddy, the 5000 iranians who signed are a small population but thats only because most iranians dont even know this game exists. so next time, think before you come up with another story with made up statistics. oh and they call themselves persians because that's their race you ignorant dumb as. not because the name of their country was persia but because they are what they call in their own language "parsian" which refers to their race. there are iranians who are kurds, turks, arabs, and persians. so please do some research before you come up with another one of your "7.75e-5%" statistics.
SiD @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
it is a new and GOOD public relation for USA. United States of Agression. Thief of oil.
Dave C @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
"You can't tell a socities values by its laws. If it truly, deeply, valued something, there would be no need for a law regarding it."
You sure? I'd like to think that the society I live in truly, deeply values the freedom to walk the streets without the risk of being shot - does that mean there shouldn't be a law against murder?
Hitch @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
@ #12 "How do you feel like killing your own people in a game?"
Ive killed Londeners in GTA london by running over them. Black americans in GTA San AN. White Americans in every other GTA. Armys from all over the world in all the Age of Empire games. Space marines in nearly every damn FPS out there. American Vets in every other damn FPS out there.
If gaming was real I'd be up there with with the worst murderers in the world and if your a gamer so would you be.
Im english and I feel just fine about killing my own "pixel un perfect electronic renditions of peoples imaginations" in a GAME. But then thats the whole point isnt it? that mysterious word "Game".
"true gamer" ? Exactly what does a true gamer play then? Never killed people in Theme Hosipital? Never played say EVE online or another MMORPG? How about a racing game on the PS2 or PC? Do you think after those crashes your not fataly wounding some poor sod??
I have some new words for you to replace you obvious lying "true gamer"
"GET A LIFE"
Jonathan Morse @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
This reminds me when Syphon Filter 3 for the Playstation 2 removed a level where the main charactor had to fight the FLQ (Quebec liberation forces) who were trying to set off a bomb in a Toronto subway. Apperently Canadians killing Canadians wasn't cool. . .I thought it would of been cool.
Sassanix @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
Don't get me wrong! I'm not against voilence at all... except this mission Assualt on Iran is not based on facts, but mission 7 was slightly based on it (no one complains about that one), WHY DONT U FU*KERS get it!! your planting haterd seeds in Iran and your making your own propaganda for the Iranian government.
Plus i'm no HALF!!! both of my parents are Persian and I'm a proud Canadian (not born in Canada) so what does that have to do with this issue of the game? ...
Hitch chill, stop flaming.
ali @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
in responce to #17
"without the risk of being shot"? what about the gang violance in LA (and many other parts of the U.S)? you don't think theres a risk of being shot in the streets? and oh do you even know anything about Iran? i don't recall anyone being shot in the streets in Iran. that's the sad thing about us americans. we dont know anything about the world. just because iran is in the middle east doesnt mean its insecure!
LaughingTarget @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
Good lord man, calm down. What makes Iranians (or Persians if you insist on using that term) so sacred that makes them excempt to any form of violent media?
I've killed Japanese, Columbians, Cubans, Nicaraguans, Somalis, Egyptians, Germans, British, French, Italians, Russians, Chinese, Koreans, Romanians, Canadians, Americans, Iraqis, Saudis and more through shooters. Iranians aren't anything special. You're acting like the entire nationality is some super-race dropped onto Earth by Allah himself.
Guess what, they are not and are subject to the same treatment given by gaming to every other race/nationality on the planet. Kuma War is about historically accurate modern combat as well as "what-if" combat. Is an invasion of Iran a possibility? After the rantings of the lunatic that runs the place now about using God's wrath to wipe out Israel, of course.
Untie your panties, your historic nationality isn't special, get over it.
ali @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
hold a minute, wtf? did you read my previous comments? i'm not trying to say that iranians are better than anyone else. i'm saying that these games are creating seeds of hatred in dumbass americans who play these games. these developers have no conciousness. it's just wrong to make games in which you kill people from other countries. if they were all fictional then that would be fine. at least in games like metal gear solid, they make you feel sympathetic towards the enemy. these military games are just down right wrong. they just label these people as "terrorists" and your just supposed to kill them. undortunately most dumbass americans don't know the history and politics involved with middle eastern issues. in iran's case for example, the reason why they don't like americans is because the americans removed their democratically elected prime minister and installed a vicious dictator instead and supported his brutal regime. i bet you won't get that history in your f***ing kuma war game. your just supposed to kill the iranians because theyre "evil". and as for my sense of nationality, i have every right to love my country so go f*** yourself. the persian empire has more history than whatever country your from. unfortunately, because of your stupid government and you CIA, iran has turned into an islamic state. if it wasn't for america, iran wouldn't even be in the state that it is right now.
LaughingTarget @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
Final comment here.
Learn your OWN history. The US didn't make anything. I don't recall a huge international conspiracy when Tripoli pirates waged Jihad on the newly formed United States in 1794. I don't recall there being any issues involving meddling in Islamic affairs when the newly out of isolation US had the embassies bombed around the world in 1955.
I do know my history. Islam is the ONLY religion on Earth to have spread the bulk of its beliefs at the head of an army. Want to get into little fights like this, I can turn out how Persia invited the Mongol Hordes into Europe by their ignorance cutting the head off of Kublai Khan's trade emmissary because he wasn't a follower of Allah. Or how your beloved Persians razed the Great Library of Alexandria to the ground because written works violated the tennents of Islamic Law, setting back Western (and by proxy, world) science back 500 years or more (there are still technologies written about 2,000 years ago that we have not yet to recreate).
No, I am trying to play the high ground here. Saying Kuma War is inciting violence is putting you on the same level as Jack Thomoson. We're not killing Iranians, we're killing pixels and polygons. If the simply changed the name from Iranian to some fictional -stan nation, like Bakhalakastan, it doesn't exactly make it any better.
Get off your high horse and realize anti-American zealots are just as bad as you're portraying these "ignorant Americans" to be. Or you can just go out to play your Palestinian developed "Kill Isreaelis" game because it is apparently religiously legit.
ali @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
wtf are you talking about? persia wasnt even islamic you ignorant lying moron. what the arabs did to other countries was their business not the persians. persians were zarostians not muslims dumbass! and where the hell did you get your facts from? do you even know what mongolians have done to persia? when the hell did the persians invite the mongolians to europe? the mongolians burned persia to the ground! have you even read about the history of persia? do you even know that genghis khan burned every single book he could find in Persia? and about your precious greece, did you know that alexander completely destroyed the city of shiraz (the capital of persia of that time) and with it the center of education and science in Persia? so actually your dear alexander set us back 500 years. and palestinians? why the hell are you talking about palestinians? did i even talk about palestinians? and jack thompson and hillary clinton can suck my d*** for all i care. i'm not against violence in videogames. 99% of the games i play are violent. i'm saying that these kuma war games do nothing but spread hatred among people. haven't you ever played an online military game in your life? haven't you heard the dumbass americans who keep saying f*** muslims and f*** arabs while your playing online? that's what i don't like to see in videogames. so please, next time, read my comments first and do some research before saying something like "Persia invited the Mongol Hordes into Europe by their ignorance cutting the head off of Kublai Khan's trade emmissary because he wasn't a follower of Allah" because persians weren't muslims and they don't say allah (not even today) because that's not even their language.
savannah @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
"haven't you heard the dumbass americans who keep saying f*** muslims and f*** arabs while your playing online? that's what i don't like to see in videogames."
So don't play them. Get. Over. It. Already.
ali @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
ok. and you should get over the fact that all the world hates americans
savannah @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
"ok. and you should get over the fact that all the world hates americans"
That's a rather extreme generalisation you've made. Do you have any facts to prove what you've typed?
Sassanix @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
Savannah... you live in your world, at first I was supporting the DOWN TO NUKES... now im pro nukes... HOPE IT BLOWS THE SHIT OUT OF U
savannah @ Dec 18th 2005 10:00PM
Ah yes, when faced with a statement that cannot be intelligently countered, the opposing view states idle nonsense.
As to my proof at this generalisation, post no. 29.
Furthermore, your desire for me to be destroyed by a nuclear bomb via your pro-nuclear stance would also destroy many other lives. Are you willing to make such a frivolous wish just to remove a poster whose comments are not akin to your viewpoint?