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Poor bastard. Dude is just a pawn, because I'm sure the Mullahs are hoping o parlay sparing his life in exchange for softer sanctions.
Iran really isnt that different from America
As far as im concerned the Supreme Court is just as evil as the Ayatollah
Todays lesson: Dont trust old people in robes
As far as im concerned the Supreme Court is just as evil as the Ayatollah
Todays lesson: Dont trust old people in robes
@tylerstravis
Very well could be. We've held our fair share of American citizens indefinitely thus far, a couple for somewhere like 5 years.
Anyway, hope some kind of diplomacy can get this guy free. A couple months ago, Iran released a few American "spies" (they were hikers) after some crafty diplomacy involving the Sultanate of Oman.
Very well could be. We've held our fair share of American citizens indefinitely thus far, a couple for somewhere like 5 years.
Anyway, hope some kind of diplomacy can get this guy free. A couple months ago, Iran released a few American "spies" (they were hikers) after some crafty diplomacy involving the Sultanate of Oman.
@rogue: yeah that confessions Sooooo believable. Christ, spread your hate in a more appropriate place.
Also as a former marine, he knew what he was getting into. Especially if he also worked on those games.
So... is this proof that the CIA are actively persuing his kind of propoganda?
Cause if they're doing it to the middle east, they've probably been doing it in the west for decades.
*goes back to playing Battlefield* "OohRah!"
Cause if they're doing it to the middle east, they've probably been doing it in the west for decades.
*goes back to playing Battlefield* "OohRah!"
Why on Earth would he make such games while living in Iran? He should have known he would have no freedom of speech there.
Everyone has seen Mission Impossible and once you are caught you are considered rogue and not associated with anything.
On a side note it sounds like this guy was caught and is being held, why would you go to Iran or expose yourself to that when making games that obviously the country will not like!? That's like making a game about how wrestlers are all fat and stupid and walking into a wrestling convention....or something like that.
On a side note it sounds like this guy was caught and is being held, why would you go to Iran or expose yourself to that when making games that obviously the country will not like!? That's like making a game about how wrestlers are all fat and stupid and walking into a wrestling convention....or something like that.
While I can't say what America would do in a similar situation, I know death wouldn't be the option. I know I shouldn't be surprised at this, but I never like to admit to myself that humans will willingly take another human's life over something so trivial.
I guess that's just how life is, though.
I guess that's just how life is, though.
I highly recommend listening to this report from On The Media (WNYC). It focuses on citizen-journalist Hossein Derakhshan and helps to put some context and history of political prosecutions from Iran's government.
http://www.onthemedia.org/2010/sep/24/irans-blogfather-facing-possible-execution/
http://www.onthemedia.org/2010/sep/24/irans-blogfather-facing-possible-execution/
Intentional perpetuation of stereotypes has been made painfully obvious in a lot of today's entertainment in America, certainly wouldn't surprise me if Iran's version of the story were closer to the truth.
Can we just roll in there already and fuck their shit up? They keep baiting and trolling, I say we go in there and troll them some.
Nothing says "TROLLED" like a 1000lbs JDAM.
Nothing says "TROLLED" like a 1000lbs JDAM.
@KingSigy
Working in cooperation with another government to purposefully create a false, negative image of your country and get the other country's population to hate you so they will support wars in the future is hardly a "trivial" matter. I wouldn't call it punishable by death in terms of seriousness, and the real issue here is if Iran's accusations are truthful, but still. Once you propagate an image into the mainstream culture of a society, it's very easy to manipulate its people to support that image. I can certainly see video games being used as a propaganda tool.
Working in cooperation with another government to purposefully create a false, negative image of your country and get the other country's population to hate you so they will support wars in the future is hardly a "trivial" matter. I wouldn't call it punishable by death in terms of seriousness, and the real issue here is if Iran's accusations are truthful, but still. Once you propagate an image into the mainstream culture of a society, it's very easy to manipulate its people to support that image. I can certainly see video games being used as a propaganda tool.
I still remember Saudi Arabia accusing Israel of sending trained vultures as spies. That is marginally more believable than the CIA sending an operative to make video games (in Iran) that undermine Iran.
Chances are, this is not as it seems. If the primary sources are Iranian tv and the Tehran Times then I would guess we're seeing propaganda from Iran, not the CIA. I hope so. If not, good luck to the man.
Games and politics, yay.
Chances are, this is not as it seems. If the primary sources are Iranian tv and the Tehran Times then I would guess we're seeing propaganda from Iran, not the CIA. I hope so. If not, good luck to the man.
Games and politics, yay.
Yeah I want to believe a government that has women stoned in the streets for wanting more rights.
As untrustworthy as my government is, I'll trust it sooner than anything that comes from Iran.
As untrustworthy as my government is, I'll trust it sooner than anything that comes from Iran.
Considering how most of the world already views America in a negative light, I don't think a video game is going to change that.
"Hey man, I just got to level 5 and I love America now."
"Oh yeah? Wait till you get to level 10"
"Hey man, I just got to level 5 and I love America now."
"Oh yeah? Wait till you get to level 10"
oh man, rogue, buddy... pal... that was just... i bet you're looking back at that now and just shoving your palms so far into your face that you're starting to punch your eyes into your brain.
it's all good bro, we've all been there before.
also, cia, government, whoever, please, please, PLEASE keep games out of your shit? pretty please? we really don't need the bad pr.
it's all good bro, we've all been there before.
also, cia, government, whoever, please, please, PLEASE keep games out of your shit? pretty please? we really don't need the bad pr.
I wouldn’t say it’s below the American government to back a propaganda game, wasn’t America’s Army designed (among other things) to get young people interested in army careers?
That said I don’t believe these accusations for a second and hope the guy can get out safely.
That said I don’t believe these accusations for a second and hope the guy can get out safely.
I have no doubts that the CIA would do something silly like this, but if I were the guy, I'd make the game somewhere else and then distribute it online.
I don't know about you guys, but I am more shocked about Jim releasing a completely objective article. That's a once in a lifetime happening. Feeling down today, Jimmie?
The poor guy was sentenced for death for being a spy, not for being the developer of said games. That is, unless the government merely made that up as an excuse to have a reason for the death sentence.
But let us assume he really was a spy, in that case I believe he would not be treated in any other way in America, China or any other country that still sentences the death penalty; countries that thankfully have abandoned the death penalty would instead lock him away for a the longest time their law allows, or simply expel him.
(Or kill him without anybody ever knowing. I know I would do it if I could.)
The poor guy was sentenced for death for being a spy, not for being the developer of said games. That is, unless the government merely made that up as an excuse to have a reason for the death sentence.
But let us assume he really was a spy, in that case I believe he would not be treated in any other way in America, China or any other country that still sentences the death penalty; countries that thankfully have abandoned the death penalty would instead lock him away for a the longest time their law allows, or simply expel him.
(Or kill him without anybody ever knowing. I know I would do it if I could.)
Let's not get too excited, the U.S has the NDAA and will likely pass SOPA, Bradley Manning is still in solitary confinement for leaking confidential information; Julain Assange will be exported to the US where numerous talking heads have called for his execution.
Let's not beat the drums of war, we don't need Iran going the way of Iraqisthan.
Let's not beat the drums of war, we don't need Iran going the way of Iraqisthan.
I hadn't heard the info about the video game angle of this story.
All of the news I've heard just mentioned he was 28, a former U.S. Marine Interpreter, and that this was his first time in Iran visiting his grandmother.
Poor guy, hope he gets released.
All of the news I've heard just mentioned he was 28, a former U.S. Marine Interpreter, and that this was his first time in Iran visiting his grandmother.
Poor guy, hope he gets released.
@Jordan William Johnson: I dont want to start a huge argument on this on a videogame site but Bradley Manning deserves punishment because when you join the military you make certain promises and that includes not fucking releasing confidencial information especially if you dont even have the clearance for said information.
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