+44 (0)203 137 3781
sales@click-entertainment.com
Iran
MCV finds out why piracy and strict censorship have resulted in a barren High Street in this Middle Eastern market
INTERNATIONAL FACTFILE
THE FACTS Population: 75,149,669 Currency: Rial GDP (Per Capita): $6,359 Capital City: Tehran Languages: Persian
MAIN DISTRIBUTOR Doostan Co
TOP DEVELOPERS Fanafzar Game Studios, Pluto 13, Puya Arts Software, RSK-IR
ABOUT THE MARKET
THE heavily populated Middle Eastern nation of Iran has a much higher proportion of younger consumers, with around half of Iranians younger than 35. Theoretically, this makes Iran a promising market for video games publishers, but the industry’s potential is hindered by a barren retail landscape.
There are very few retailers in the region, no recognisable chains to speak of and just one sizeable distributor in the form of Doostan Co. One Middle Eastern distributor described Iran as a “very closed market”, with very few distributors supplying games directly to retailers in the region.
Instead, some firms purchase games from neighbouring nations such as the United Arab Emirates – albeit in low quantities.
A significant number of consumers rely on pirated games. Chipped Xbox 360 and PS2 units are commonly found in Iranian households. This is partly due to the lack of new releases in the region. Many
www.mcvuk.com
titles that sell well in the West are banned in Iran because of the strict ratings and censorship regulations by the Entertainment Software Ratings Association.
One Middle Eastern distributor described Iran as a “very closed market”, with very few distributors in the region.
“
Titles can be classed a 3+, 12+, 15+, 18+ and 25+, with warnings about violence, language and sexual content. The ESRA also watches out for violation of religious values, such as the misuse of mosques or churches, and ‘hopelessness’ –any content that ‘may cause players to feel bad and/or sinful’.
That’s not to say consumers have little to choose from when it comes to picking up new games. The Iranian government encourages the development of games tailored for Iran’s audience, free from the influences of Western culture. In fact, in June 2012 the Secretary of the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution Mokhber Dezfuli told Iranian broadcaster Fars News Agency there are “around 140 games with Islamic and Iranian contents that can compete with foreign products”.
Around the World 27
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62