Please support Game Informer. Print magazine subscriptions are less than $2 per issue
Former Game Developer Accused Of Being A Spy Released From Iranian Prison
In 2011, Amir Mirzaei Hekmati, a former marine and developer for Kuma Reality Games, was arrested and imprisoned for allegedly being a CIA spy. In 2012, he was sentenced to death though Iran's Supreme Court later overturned the sentence and ordered a new trial. According to CNN, Hekmati, along with several other U.S. prisoners, have been released as part of a prisoner swap.
Hekmati had worked at Kuma as a developer on a game designed to help soldiers learn languages. In a supposed confession aired on Iranian state television after his arrest, Hekmati allegedly said that Kuma had been working to spread propaganda for the CIA.
Though Hekmati is now free from prison, a statement released on Facebook by his family says "There are still many unknowns. At this point, we are hoping and praying for Amir's long-awaited return."
Source: [CNN]
Our Take
We're glad that Hekmati has been released after facing such an ordeal and hope he makes his way back home soon and safely.
I’d like to ask you to support Game Informer’s continued coverage of games with a subscription. For less than two dollars per issue, we mail you a full year of 10 print magazines, each with cover stories and preview features filled with exclusive details about the most exciting upcoming games. We profile and interview game creators. We look back on the rich history of gaming, and we celebrate what’s next.
Here on the website, we offer much of our content for free, including game reviews, daily news, videos, event coverage, and more – all with minimal ads.
We do so with a small editorial team, alongside contributing paid writers from around the world – over 65 individuals from 9 countries around the world, just in the last couple of years.
It’s not possible without support.
In a time when game makers and games coverage have faced hard struggles and layoffs, the future of this 30+ year magazine and community is at risk. Our new standalone magazine subscription is the number one way you can keep us alive – and we believe you’ll get a pretty fantastic gaming magazine in your mailbox every few weeks for your trouble.
Thank you.
