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Iranian World of Warcraft fans go on the warpath over US sanctions

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By John Glenday, Reporter

August 30, 2012 | 1 min read

World of Warcraft starved Iranian videogamers are taking their fight from the virtual world to the real world in a battle against publisher Blizzard Activision after they blocked access to the games online world to users from the temperamental Middle Eastern state.

Ditching their axes, mallets and arrows for the plaintive missives on Activision’s messageboard the small but vocal community has been trying to overturn the ban, a consequence of US sanctions, ever since.

In an email to players Blizzard said: “US trade restrictions prohibit Blizzard from doing business with residents of certain nations, including Iran. Blizzard tightened up its procedures to ensure compliance with these laws, and players connecting from the affected nations are restricted from access to Blizzard games.”

Blizzard adds that Iran accounts for a ‘tiny fraction’ of its 9m global subscribers.

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