The Worst Racing Game Ever Made...

Summary

The script delves into the controversial history of 'Driving in Tehran,' a game developed by SRP with government and corporate funding. It was marketed as an educational tool for traffic laws but was fraught with issues, including alleged embezzlement, poor game quality, and heavy-handed DRM. The game's development is shrouded in mystery, with its creators seemingly disappearing without a trace, leaving behind a legacy of a digital disaster that duped both sponsors and players.

Takeaways

• 🚗 'Driving in Tehran' was a game developed by the Iranian traffic police and SRP, aiming to teach traffic laws and promote safe driving.
• 💡 The game was marketed with massive hype, featuring popular actors and a unique game engine developed at a high cost.
• 💸 Over 3 million dollars were spent on the game's development, involving 10 big companies and government funding.
• 🔄 The game's development was fraught with issues, including a change in the main executable and the use of an open-source engine instead of the claimed custom-built one.
• 🏢 SRP, led by Dr. Sami, was ambitious but involved in questionable practices, such as using unlicensed music and DRM tactics.
• 🛑 The game had a strong focus on obeying traffic laws, with consequences for breaking them, including game crashes for running over pedestrians.
• 💼 The game was filled with advertisements for its sponsors, including IKCO, the largest automobile manufacturer in Iran, which heavily influenced the game's content.
• 📉 Despite the investment, the game was not well-received, with issues like poor car handling, limited environments, and unclear traffic laws.
• 🚫 The game was restrictive, with no freedom for players to engage in behaviors typical of video games, earning it the title of an 'anti-video game'.
• 🕊️ The game was allegedly used as a front for embezzlement, with funds not transparently allocated to game development.
• 🕵️‍♂️ An investigation into SRP's address revealed suspicious activities, suggesting ongoing operations and potential ties to the medical industry.

Q & A

What was the primary objective of the game 'Driving in Tehran'?

The main goal of 'Driving in Tehran' was to teach traffic laws and promote safe driving, as it was developed by the traffic police.

Who was contracted to develop the game 'Driving in Tehran'?

The game was contracted to a company called SRP, headed by Doctor Sami.

How much time and money was initially spent on developing the game engine for 'Driving in Tehran'?

Over 2 years and 2 million dollars of taxpayer money were spent on developing the game engine.

What was unique about the game's development funding?

Doctor Sami convinced 10 other companies to sponsor the game, raising over a million dollars in addition to the initial investment.

What was the controversy surrounding the game's Digital Rights Management (DRM)?

The game implemented two layers of DRM, including a government-backed threat against crackers and an activation code linked to the computer's ID, which was criticized for being overly restrictive.

What was the game's price and how did it compare to the local market?

The game was priced at 5 dollars, which was considered high in Iran where piracy was common and pirated game disks typically cost a dollar or two.

What was the game's approach to handling traffic violations and accidents?

In 'Driving in Tehran', obeying traffic laws was mandatory; crashing the car resulted in losing money, breaking traffic laws led to fines, and running over pedestrians caused the game to crash.

What was the significance of the 'Taxi Mode' in the game?

'Taxi Mode' was a gameplay feature where players had to earn money through fares while adhering to traffic laws, emphasizing the game's educational purpose.

What were the allegations regarding the game's development and funding?

There were allegations that the game was used to embezzle over 3 million dollars from large corporations and the government, with suspicions that the funds did not go towards game development.

What was the controversy about the game's second disc?

The second disc, intended for track racing, was reportedly blank in most copies and is now considered lost media. It was also alleged to be a poorly modded version of 'Need for Speed 4'.

What was the outcome of the investigation into SRP and Doctor Sami?

The investigation led to a confrontation at SRP's address, suggesting that the company might still be operating from that location, but the individuals involved were evasive and suspicious, raising more questions than answers.