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Middle East Sees Surge In Console Use

Posted by simoniker on from the antartica-also-doubled-console-base-to-two dept.

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."

36 comments

  1. stat breakdown? by josephgrossberg · · Score: 1

    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(?)

    --

    Joe
    http://www.joegrossberg.com
    1. Re:stat breakdown? by josephgrossberg · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      I care.

      Clearly you're jealous.

      Otherwise, you could just ignore it.

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

      --

      Joe
      http://www.joegrossberg.com
  2. USA Brings Video Games by Kenterlogic · · Score: 1

    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 Bill Gates, 1 Microsoft Dr, Redmond, Washington, 62101

    --
    The New Root Council, kickin' ass sinc
    1. Re:USA Brings Video Games by Anonvmous+Coward · · Score: 1

      "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.

    2. Re:USA Brings Video Games by Samus · · Score: 1

      I think the address is 1 Microsoft Way

      --
      In Republican America phones tap you.
    3. Re:USA Brings Video Games by PainKilleR-CE · · Score: 1

      One Microsoft Way
      Redmond, Washington 98052-6399

      At least that's the address in their books.

      --
      -PainKilleR-[CE]
  3. Practicing by jazman_777 · · Score: 1, Troll

    They're all practicing FPS.

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    Slashdot: Failed Car Analogies. Amateur Lawyering. Anecdote Battles.
  4. PS2 and xbox in Israel by NaveWeiss · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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)

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    Slashdot community, please notice: I am looking for a girlfriend.
    Nave H. Weiss
    1. Re:PS2 and xbox in Israel by WildBeast · · Score: 1

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

    2. Re:PS2 and xbox in Israel by NaveWeiss · · Score: 1

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

      --
      Slashdot community, please notice: I am looking for a girlfriend.
      Nave H. Weiss
    3. Re:PS2 and xbox in Israel by WildBeast · · Score: 1

      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?

    4. Re:PS2 and xbox in Israel by NaveWeiss · · Score: 1

      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).

      And regarding Xbox games, why would anyone sell them if nobody has a console? I think it's really funny there's no xboxes here, and it gives me an idea - demonstrating against them when they come: "We managed great without those mosnters. Don't let them come in!"

      --
      Slashdot community, please notice: I am looking for a girlfriend.
      Nave H. Weiss
    5. Re:PS2 and xbox in Israel by WildBeast · · Score: 1

      You will be assimiliated by the Xboxes :)

    6. Re:PS2 and xbox in Israel by bigman2003 · · Score: 1

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

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

      --
      No reason to lie.
  5. PS2's for misiles by cybergrue · · Score: 4, Funny
    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

    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

  6. sorry but middle east!=europe. by gl4ss · · Score: 3, Insightful

    here is europe and here is asia, which middle east belongs to. 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.

    --
    world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    1. Re:sorry but middle east!=europe. by Dot.Com.CEO · · Score: 2, Informative

      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 worked for a multinational in such a capacity who was a European area manager as opposed to EMEA. Sony, of course, might be an exception but I somehow doubt it.

      --
      Mother is the best bet and don't let Satan draw you too fast.
    2. Re:sorry but middle east!=europe. by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      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 succesfulness in south america" is just about as bad.

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
  7. The culture infection begins! by skyknytnowhere · · Score: 1

    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

    1. Re:The culture infection begins! by WildBeast · · Score: 2, Informative

      Actually they are doing all that.

    2. Re:The culture infection begins! by skyknytnowhere · · Score: 1

      See? The terrorists have already lost!

      skye

    3. Re:The culture infection begins! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wanking to our porn?

      Do you not remember whose pictures were hung on the walls of Saddam Hussein's sons' gym?

  8. Congrats US troops by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is all thanks to the American liberation of Iraq. Now decent American companies like Sony and MicroSoft can allow the people in these countries to live like normal folk and play games like the rest of the world and have a higher standard of living.

    1. Re:Congrats US troops by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are aware that Japan is not part of the west, and Sony is not a western company - are you not?

    2. Re:Congrats US troops by WildBeast · · Score: 1

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

  9. Still not the same... by Sylver+Dragon · · Score: 1

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

    --
    Necessity is the mother of invention.
    Laziness is the father.
  10. Console games? by BladeMelbourne · · Score: 1

    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. ;-)

    1. Re:Console games? by danro · · Score: 1

      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, my friend...

      --

      "First lesson," Jon said. "Stick them with the pointy end."
  11. surge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If only the Middle East would see a surge in soap use. For a bunch of people who walk around in bathrobes all the time they sure don't bathe much.

  12. And their favourite game is... by jxa00++ · · Score: 1

    ...Conflict Desert Storm

  13. I hope by Jack+Bauer · · Score: 1

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