Middle East Sees Surge In Console Use

Thanks to Gamesindustry.biz for their report on the expansion of the traditionally quiet videogame market in the Middle East, covering Sony's announcement that "...combined sales of the PSone and PS2 have broken the 3 million unit mark... making the region into the fastest growing games market in the world - with sales expected to double for PS2 next year." The article also, interestingly, points out: "Sony's success in the area lends further weight to Europe's claim to be the world's largest games market."

stat breakdown?

[josephgrossberg]

How many in Israel vs. more culturally- and trade-restricted Arab nations. Mabye Israel is counted in Europe in their stats?

Also, I wonder (like Satellite dishes) how many pirated consoles there are.

Joe

P.S. fp(?)

Re:stat breakdown?

[josephgrossberg]

I care.

Clearly you're jealous.

Otherwise, you could just ignore it.

Like you ignored the fact I accidentally "signed" my name twice.

USA Brings Video Games

[Kenterlogic]

I believe that the sudden increase in console use can be atrtibuted to the Microsoft funded U.S. Army operation "Console Drop" which includes the strategic air lifts of 10,000 X-Box consoles with Halo and a bill for $250 to locations throughout Israel, Libya, Iraq, Iran and Egypt. Phase two of the operation is said to expand to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Azurbijan, Turjikistan and Othermideastcountrystan.

A note for anyone who happens to recieve an X-Box in this operation. Please make your check payable to Bil

Re:USA Brings Video Games

[Anonvmous Coward]

"I believe that the sudden increase in console use can be atrtibuted to the Microsoft funded U.S. Army operation "Console Drop" which includes the strategic air lifts of 10,000 X-Box consoles with Halo and a bill for $250 to locations throughout Israel, Libya, Iraq, Iran and Egypt. Phase two of the operation is said to expand to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Azurbijan, Turjikistan and Othermideastcountrystan."

You had the right elements here, but just managed to make it unfunny.

Re:USA Brings Video Games

[Samus]

I think the address is 1 Microsoft Way

Re:USA Brings Video Games

[PainKilleR-CE]

One Microsoft Way
Redmond, Washington 98052-6399

At least that's the address in their books.

Practicing

[jazman_777]

They're all practicing FPS.

PS2 and xbox in Israel

[NaveWeiss]

I don't know about other countries around here, but nobody's officially importing xboxes to Israel. You can find it in some Israeli auction sites but it's not too useful because nobody's renting games for it.

PS2, on the other hand, is very common here, I believe. They rent games for it in every Blockbuster branch.

(hmm.. it reminds me I should call that girl that invited me to her house where we played Tekken, long ago)

Re:PS2 and xbox in Israel

[WildBeast]

Well what are you waiting for? Tell'em to wake up.

Re:PS2 and xbox in Israel

[NaveWeiss]

Nah. I prefer the country to be xbox-free. I think PS2 is less evil.

Re:PS2 and xbox in Israel

[WildBeast]

You say that because you haven't tried the Xbox and you don't know much about Sony's practices.

Do people in there mostly rent games? Many of us here usually buy them instead. Do stores at least sell Xbox games?

Re:PS2 and xbox in Israel

[NaveWeiss]

I say that because I hate MS. HATE HATE HATE! And hate myself for using MS too. At least I'm not using IE so it's a little bit better. ;)

I know only one person with a gaming console, and I haven't talked with her for too long (time to do something about it). I don't think she rents games, but I got the impression that there's a fair demand for game rentals, at least from what I see in the local Blockbuster branch (lotsa games.. although there aren't many anime titles there, and I do like anime in games).

A

Re:PS2 and xbox in Israel

[WildBeast]

You will be assimiliated by the Xboxes :)

Re:PS2 and xbox in Israel

[bigman2003]

Well, your sig just reinforces my opinion of people who blindly hate Microsoft...

Maybe it is the built-up sexual tension that causes it...

PS2's for misiles

[cybergrue]

Rmember that story a couple of years back about how Iraq was trying to acquire PS2's as components for missile guidence systems. PlayStation 2: Iraq Scores Hordes of PS2s at US Gamers' Expense [ign.com]

I wonder how many units this acounted for. Then again maybe this acounted for some of these units as well. Buy Bush a PlayStation 2 [evilninja.net]

sorry but middle east!=europe.

[gl4ss]

here is europe [ri.net]and here is asia, which middle east belongs to. [ri.net] the article says that they(console companies) usually group the projections for europe and middle east together because it has not been a major area in sales before and is not very likely to become major area even in the light of these sales. these middle-east sales increase what europes sales look in the figures, but at the same time they twist those figures to be inaccurate if you consider them to be just europes sales.

Re:sorry but middle east!=europe.

[Dot.Com.CEO]

In every global company there is this thing called EMEA (European and Middle Eastern Area). It has become global practice in multinationals to count EMEA earnings, as opposed to European, EU, Middle Eastern etc. It has nothing to do with geography and everything to do with management practices. In short, the middle east is too small a market (monetarily speaking) to warrant its structural independence and whoever gets to manage Europe manages the Middle East as well. I have actually never met someone who wo

Re:sorry but middle east!=europe.

[gl4ss]

yes, the part of the article that looks like to come from sony is pretty clear about this but the guy that wrote the article doesn't seem to know the difference. look at the following: "although as most manufacturers group it with Europe in their projections, Sony's success in the area lends further weight to Europe's claim to be the world's largest games market.", confusing? bad reporting? you bet it is. "although vodka is succesful in russia vodkas succesfulness there lends further weight for vodkas succe

The culture infection begins!

[skyknytnowhere]

First they drink our soda, then they play our video games, before long they'll be listening to our music, watching our TV shows, and wanking to our porn!

It will truly be an Alvistide miracle!

skye

Re:The culture infection begins!

[WildBeast]

Actually they are doing all that.

Re:The culture infection begins!

[skyknytnowhere]

See? The terrorists have already lost!

skye

Re:Congrats US troops

[WildBeast]

They have yet to restore electricity in there. I'm sure they're lining up to buy PS2's though :)

Still not the same...

[Sylver Dragon]

Sure, they have the game consoles, but they have to play the DOA:XBV mod that has all of the women in burquas.

Console games?

[BladeMelbourne]

These people must be bored if they play games in a console. I mean, how long can you stare at an xterm window with ASCII characters?

Although text mode Quake is cool, it's not really captivating. ;-)

Re:Console games?

[danro]

These people must be bored if they play games in a console. I mean, how long can you stare at an xterm window with ASCII characters?

You have obviously never played Nethack [nethack.org], my friend...

And their favourite game is...

[jxa00++]

...Conflict Desert Storm

I hope

[Jack Bauer]

I hope Microsoft doesn't port Flight Simulator to X-Box...