"It was impossible to buy the licenses for the Western software used as the game's engine. The Iranians had to rely on less powerful open-source software that was freely available on the Web."
The open source engine they are using is OGRE3D. http://www.ogre3d.org/ It is getting pretty impressive for an open-source project. Former Blizzard North\Diablo 2 developers released a game called Torchlight that uses it.
There is a U.S. trade embargo against Iran. I seem to remember some licenses mention this, but the Ogre engine's MIT license certainly does not. Unfortunately, I think the U.S. governemnt > MIT license.
To whom do these sanctions regulations apply? All U.S. persons and entities (companies, non-profit groups, government agencies, etc.) wherever located...
Criminal penalties for violations of the Iranian Transactions Regulations may result in a fine up to $1,000,000, and natural persons may be imprisoned for up to 20 years. Civil penalties, which are not to exceed the greater of $250,000 or an amount that is twice the amount of the transaction that is the basis of the violation with respect to which the penalty is imposed may also be imposed administratively...
EXPORTS TO IRAN - In general, unless licensed by OFAC, goods, technology (including technical data or other information subject to Export Administration Regulations), or services may not be exported, reexported, sold or supplied, directly or indirectly, from the United States or by a U.S. person, wherever located, to Iran or the Government of Iran. The ban on providing services includes any brokering function from the United States or by U.S. persons, wherever located. For example, a U.S. person, wherever located, or any person acting within the United States, may not broker offshore transactions that benefit Iran or the Government of Iran, including sales of foreign goods or arranging for third-country financing or guarantees.
In general, a person may not export from the U.S. any goods, technology or services, if that person knows or has reason to know such items are intended specifically for supply, transshipment or reexportation to Iran.
The open source engine they are using is OGRE3D. http://www.ogre3d.org/ It is getting pretty impressive for an open-source project. Former Blizzard North\Diablo 2 developers released a game called Torchlight that uses it.