TEHRAN -- Screenwriter Fereidun Farhudi here Friday said that Iranian computer games could include Persian mythology and maintain national identity.

Talking to the student news agency ISNA, he added the computer games must be highly attractive if they are to replace foreign versions.

“The goal could be achieved through making use of Persian stories. Of course, these tales are too soft to meet the needs of today’s children unless they are combined with new exciting characteristics.

“To this end, the epic tales of Shahnameh are suitable, but they have to be turned into today’s tales, like what is done abroad.”

The contemporary events in Iran such as the Iran-Iraq war and even the nuclear energy case could be good themes for the games, he opined.

The screenwriter called for forming a group of experts to scrutinize the adventurous stories and make them fit for computer games.

Farhudi argued that some of the foreign-made games are destructive for children, calling for a ban on them.

“When the video clubs started work, they aimed to distribute the Iranian-made films, but they did not make it, recalled the screenwriter warning, “A similar problem will occur if the computer games are produced and distributed in the same way.”

The High Council of the Islamic Revolution has recently assigned the Department of Cinematic Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance the task of establishing a national computer games foundation.