For the majority of the industry's history, video games have almost exclusively been developed in America or Japan, which is why Mir Mahna is such an inspiring product. As video games mature in their artistic ability, it’s important that the market allows and encourages more diversity -- this Iranian game is a sign of things to come.
Co-developed by the Tehran-based studio ESPRIS and the Iran National Foundation of Computer Games, this first-person shooter follows the real-life exploits and adventures of Mir Mahna, an Iranian national hero who successfully faced down the Dutch colonialists occupying Kharg Island in the mid-1700s.
Despite the not-so-friendly ties between Iran and the United States, the two countries share a harmonious vendor-customer relationship in the gaming industry. Thanks to the increasing prevalence of programmers and the falling prices of development equipment, Tehran has flourished as a tech-center in recent years; Mir Mahna and other video games are a testament to that fact.
Since video games, like most modern mediums, show the distinctness of their creators, it’ll be interesting to see what Iranian games bring to the table. How does an Iranian sci-fi shooter sound?
Foreign Fantasy Games
History-Based Mir Mahna Puts Iranian Gaming on the Map
Trend Themes
1. Global Game Development - The development of Mir Mahna highlights the increasing diversity in game development as more countries, like Iran, enter the industry.
2. Cultural Representation in Video Games - Mir Mahna showcases the importance of cultural representation in video games, paving the way for more games that explore different historical and cultural themes.
3. Growing Tech Centers - The success of Tehran as a tech-center demonstrates the potential for other emerging markets to become major players in the video game industry.
Industry Implications
1. Video Game Development - The development of Mir Mahna showcases opportunities for foreign game developers to enter the global market.
2. Cultural and Historical Entertainment - The success of Mir Mahna opens up opportunities for industries focused on cultural and historical entertainment, such as museums and tourism.
3. Technology and Software Development - The growing tech center in Tehran presents opportunities for industries related to technology and software development, including hardware manufacturers and programming education providers.