All violent video games to be banned in Germany

therangereminem

therangereminem

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2007

R/Mo

All violent video games to be banned in Germany

alli can say is wow so germans cant play wow or guildwars soon anymore. does this mean we take there servers down too lol.

Joe Hostile

Joe Hostile

Academy Page

Join Date: Aug 2007

Redmond, WA

Rebel Rising [rawr]

Ouch. That's a huge market.

bhavv

bhavv

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2006

Quote:
"Violent games lower the inhibition level for real violence and spree killers always played such games before they did the crime."
What a load of poop. I dont kill people because I play video games, I kill them because this one time, I watched a film called Saw, and it looked like fun to try that on people in real life.

They need to ban Chess as well, you know, the game where you kill the enemy pieces resembling humans soldiers? Oh, and also don't forget to ban Risk.

Hanging Man

Hanging Man

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2006

Deep in the Shire

That's ridiculous
I read this article in Gameamp [god bless] and they showed a few games that were banned in several countries.
Apparently Wolfestein was banned for using the Nazi Flag in Germany.
And Pokemon is banned in Jerusalem for Jewish references

Verene

Verene

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Join Date: Jan 2009

[SOTA]

D/

Quote:
Originally Posted by bhavv View Post
What a load of poop. I dont kill people because I play video games, I kill them because this one time, I watched a film called Saw, and it looked like fun to try that on people in real life.

They need to ban Chess as well, you know, the game where you kill the enemy pieces resembling humans soldiers? Oh, and also don't forget to ban Risk.
Okay, that quote you posted made me laugh.

What about people who went on killing sprees before video games even existed? What do they want to blame that on?

Also, it's false that "spree killers always played such games before they did the crime." Same with the claim that it lowers the inhibitions towards real violence - there is not, to my knowledge, a single credible study done that points to any sort of conclusion along those lines. And even so, correlation != causation.

Violent games only push people towards violence if 1) they already had the idea in their head and 2) if they are unable to differentiate between fantasy and reality. Basically, it's only going to have an effect if they are too young to know better or to realize the consequences of their actions (in which case, they shouldn't be playing violent games anyway), or they already have some fairly serious mental issues.

But the vast majority of people are not going to go "Well, beating up hookers in GTA is fun. Let's go grab a bat and do it for real!", because they know that it is a bad idea and that games are not real.

wilebill

wilebill

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Join Date: Dec 2005

Mt Vernon, Ohio

Band of the Hawk

W/Mo

The key word is "realistically." With WoW and GW, everything respawns, nobody and nothing is killed, certainly not "realistically." Not even in PvP.

If this becomes law at all in the first place, it will become a nightmare circus of lawyers arguing the fine points.

I myself wish that the focus of games could be on something other than just shooting something or chopping it up. Maybe this will at least stimulate some fresh thinking from game designers.

Shemsu Anpw

Shemsu Anpw

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Sep 2008

Sephirot - Keter

Very Silly. Someone took an overdose of their stupid pills (German Goverment).

AmbientMelody

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2009

Poland

N/A

If memory serves me well they already 'banned' or rather 'tried to ban' violent games and not only in Germany but also in USA. Anyway, we need to stop this brainwashing political correctness - the sooner the better. Dead nazi is just as bad as dead briton or american ... history between 39 and 45 is not going to magically disappear even if you ban a mention about that period over school history books (sic!).

Inde

Site Contributor

Join Date: Dec 2004

Quote:
Originally Posted by wilebill View Post
The key word is "realistically." With WoW and GW, everything respawns, nobody and nothing is killed, certainly not "realistically." Not even in PvP.

If this becomes law at all in the first place, it will become a nightmare circus of lawyers arguing the fine points.

I myself wish that the focus of games could be on something other than just shooting something or chopping it up. Maybe this will at least stimulate some fresh thinking from game designers.
wilebill, be careful what you ask for. The alternative is this: Designing a game about your "first time" This is considered innovative and fresh thinking.

Joe Hostile

Joe Hostile

Academy Page

Join Date: Aug 2007

Redmond, WA

Rebel Rising [rawr]

Seems to just be politics and someone making a statement. *shrugs*

Aleta

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2006

California

TTP

R/E

I wonder whatever happened to taking responsibility for what you do?

Instead of it was my mommy, my upbringing, my twinkies, my video games

So the door keeps opening on the book "1984" Soon in the interest of taking care of us poor sods they will tell you how to think,they try now, what to play, what to eat. OH that's happening now


Sad

Xenomortis

Xenomortis

Tea Powered

Join Date: May 2008

UK

N/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanging Man View Post
Apparently Wolfestein was banned for using the Nazi Flag in Germany.
Yes. Any video game containing symbols or icons used by the Nazis is banned in Germany.

The arguments used by people supporting bans on videogames are often completely ludicrous. Of course, it's silly to outright say they have absolutely no effect because we honestly do not know.

Anyone know if Jack Thompson has moved to Germany?

Taixen

Taixen

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Join Date: Apr 2008

England

A/

This is amazing, I mean, I can't seem to think of any violent people in German history before Video Games were around.

AmbientMelody

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2009

Poland

N/A

Quote:
Originally Posted by Inde View Post
wilebill, be careful what you ask for. The alternative is this: Designing a game about your "first time" This is considered innovative and fresh thinking.
Haha, that's utterly hilarious! Though, kinda refreshing after all these pathetic porn games made by men. Would be interesting to watch it from the other side

Nodakim

Nodakim

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Join Date: May 2008

Hrvatska

N/Me

This is such irony.
btw.What about Steam?

Joe Hostile

Joe Hostile

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Join Date: Aug 2007

Redmond, WA

Rebel Rising [rawr]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Taixen View Post
This is amazing, I mean, I can't seem to think of any violent people in German history before Video Games were around.
That wasn't necessary.

BenjZee

BenjZee

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Join Date: Dec 2006

The Overacheivers [Club]

Mo/

AHAAA i just spent half an hour writing a fake newspaper report on violence in video games for my college assignment. This is quite funny

AmbientMelody

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2009

Poland

N/A

Quote:
Originally Posted by Taixen View Post
This is amazing, I mean, I can't seem to think of any violent people in German history before Video Games were around.
I have a brilliant idea, let's rewrite history and remove the Hitler with a magic rubber along with second world war and communism! That way game developers won't be banned for using nazi symbols since they will be creating fiction!

glacialphoenix

glacialphoenix

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Join Date: Jul 2008

Singapore

Royal Order of Flying Lemmings [ROFL]

Mo/

Gamer stereotypes much? *facepalm.

Xenomortis

Xenomortis

Tea Powered

Join Date: May 2008

UK

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nodakim View Post
This is such irony.
btw.What about Steam?

Steam can block and alter available content to certain regions. How else do you think they deal with regional restrictions and vaired release dates?

Longasc

Longasc

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Join Date: May 2005

This has already been brought up on the "Broken Toys" blog by Scott Jennings. And I wonder, it somehow became a very popular topic in the US.

"Killer Games" are a topic that always gets warmed up before elections and after massacres. It is usually frowned upon by people below 40, and not all above that age are that opposed to violence in computer games. Basically, it is something like nipples and sex on TV in America.

So far the proposal never made it, despite several attempts.

WoW and Guild Wars by the way do not belong to the category. The so called "killer games" are restricted to the FPS shooter genre. Wolfenstein was not banned because of being a shooter but for displaying the original Nazi flag, which is still prohibited in Germany.

Nodakim

Nodakim

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Join Date: May 2008

Hrvatska

N/Me

I meant does Steam gonna obey that law,and what about using a proxy on Steam?
Btw.
Closing your eyes and screaming "NAZI IS EVIL!!!!!" isnt gonna change a thing,so banning games because of that is retarded.

Zaris

Zaris

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Join Date: Jun 2007

The Netherlands

Look at the violance caused by games

AmbientMelody

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2009

Poland

N/A

Quote:
Originally Posted by Xenomortis View Post
Steam can block and alter available content to certain regions. How else do you think they deal with regional restrictions and vaired release dates?
I will welcome all german buddies with open arms in Poland. They are free to cross the border and go buy the every RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GOing computer game they wish on the spot if it's banned in their country.

Btw, America had that stupid period of prohibition, maybe something similar happens in Germany now, too? If that's the case it's living history and it's up to the citizens to overthrow the stupid ban if it takes place. All in all, stupid ideas usually never lived too long in democratic societies.

Nodakim

Nodakim

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Join Date: May 2008

Hrvatska

N/Me

Democracy doesnt exist.
Period.

AmbientMelody

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2009

Poland

N/A

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nodakim View Post
Democracy doesnt exist.
Period.
It does as long as the ruling authorities are liberals. Usually most stupid ideas that passed it through congress table were a source of corruption, I fail to see how german government would make any money from this ban. Actually, quite the opposite. Rephrasing - idealistic ideas have no chance without a profit to pass the table and that's the case in here. Period.

PS. You will be probably the first one to protest anyway if such ban takes place

headlesshobbs

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2006

Sounds like a good time to leave the country as things just keep going more and more to hell, something I'm sure Hitler wanted to begin with.

I've no clue how imports are handled over there, can you still order them or will they get confiscated?

Nodakim

Nodakim

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2008

Hrvatska

N/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by AmbientMelody View Post
It does as long as the ruling authorities are liberals. Usually most stupid ideas that passed it through congress table were a source of corruption, I fail to see how german government would make any money from this ban. Actually, quite the opposite. Rephrasing - idealistic ideas have no chance without a profit to pass the table and that's the case in here. Period.

PS. You will be probably the first one to protest anyway if such ban takes place


I am like Manowar.

Banane-O-Man

Banane-O-Man

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2006

A/

I'll go back to playing postal 2, afk!

HollaBigj

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Sep 2006

I blame on left wing party. As I heard that right wing party won majority vote in EU, I'm sure right wing party will overturns this absurd banned violent games.

The US Congress and Senators tried to ban Doom because Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris played Doom almost everyday and ended up tragedy shooting at Columbine High School.

Hillary Clinton tried to ban GTA because she believed that GTA crime went skyrocketed because of GTA game.

The research found that playing violent games help to reduce aggression to violent.

[Morkai]

[Morkai]

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Oct 2007

Heroes of Elonia [HE]

W/Rt

Sweet, no more German hackers in my CoD4.

Taixen

Taixen

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2008

England

A/

Quote:
Originally Posted by AmbientMelody View Post
I have a brilliant idea, let's rewrite history and remove the Hitler with a magic rubber along with second world war and communism! That way game developers won't be banned for using nazi symbols since they will be creating fiction!
Precisely.

The whole thing is ridiculous, countries scapegoat films and video games because if you can explain a crime it's much less frightening when something can be justified, regardless of how it is justified.

Inde

Site Contributor

Join Date: Dec 2004

Everyone, I do have to issue a warning that despite the connection and how you can't really have one without the other type of discussion, politics is not to be discussed. It derails the thread and will ultimately just lead to its closure as it's a heated topic.

Lycanthropy

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanging Man View Post
That's ridiculous
I read this article in Gameamp [god bless] and they showed a few games that were banned in several countries.
Apparently Wolfestein was banned for using the Nazi Flag in Germany.
And Pokemon is banned in Jerusalem for Jewish references
I'm sorry but as a person living in israel, it's not true at all, first thing pokemon has no jewish references (I don't count myself as a jew but I have learned stuff about it) as well as you can't ban something stricly in jerusalem, jerusalem is a city, not a country of its own, its like banning something only in california, and not in the entire state, and a few years ago when there was the big worldwide pokemon buzz, it was huge here in israel as well, and on top of that, jerusalem usually is a pretty hated city around here, since it has a huge religious community which does nothing but harm. (most of the residents of israel aren't religious by the way, some of them count themselves as jews for cultural reasons, but most people aren't religious at all)

Nihilim Dhiamara

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2008

belgium

TFW

W/

That's just redicoulous, the talk about every person who commits a murder plays video games, but do you hear something about al the people who play em and don't do anything?...

Painbringer

Painbringer

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Join Date: Jun 2006

Minnesota

Black Widows of Death

W/Mo

I would find it hard to believe this will be implemented. Maybe a strict age limitation. Anyway if it does happen I smell a major Road trip To Austria? Internet coffee houses on the borders will make a killing

Xsiriss

Xsiriss

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2008

[email protected] and how it reflects todays society. I don't go out and kill people with my crossbow because of guildwars, I do it for my insane love of sharpies which I'm sure everyone can relate to. That and toast...

Having said that, bring crossbows and massive sharpies to gw.

Arduin

Arduin

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Join Date: May 2005

The Netherlands

Limburgse Jagers [LJ]

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So, can a German person still order a game online (eg. Guild Wars via Play NC store) and play it, or will that be prohibited too?

lilDeath

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2006

Treehouse #1

W/

Oh wow, not another one of these 'threats'.

If at all remotely true and if indeed it will happen, people will just play on 'Black Market' servers.

Try and enforce something stupid (like this) and a work-around will always be found (and used).

Xenomortis

Xenomortis

Tea Powered

Join Date: May 2008

UK

N/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Arduinna View Post
So, can a German person still order a game online (eg. Guild Wars via Play NC store) and play it, or will that be prohibited too?
I suspect that ban means one cannot buy or sell the affected games. I do not think it will make owning or playing said games illegal.