Nothing is banned in my Country yet, exclude all games which are "banned" today.
What happened is, that they have the same opinion, that these Games should be banned. Not more, not less.
This Meeting doesn't have the competence to ban anything.
All violent video games to be banned in Germany
Now Diabolical
4thVariety
A few things to know about the German video game market.
(1) Do not mistake banned or forbidden with commercially unavailable.
(2) A company such as Microsoft Germany will make a huge deal out of stating in public, that they will not release a game, such as Gears of War 2, in Germany. This means Microsoft Austria will be supplying every store in Germany with a fully localized version. It might not be fore sale at Walmart, but people do not go there to buy games anyway in Germany. As long as you can go to big local video gaming stores such as the Wunderlampe, or even the Media Markt, you will get your "banned" game. Just flash your ID card, prove you are 18 and leave the store with Gears, Doom or Quake. Do not go to Gamestop though. What would an American company know about the German market anyway.
(3) There will be general elections this year! Germany is very much a country in which you can get people to vote for you by trying to make them scared. Just scare them and then promise all the bad things in the world will go away by voting for you. It's ruling by fear. All parties do that, there is no moderate party for the reasonable people. To give you an idea how bad German politics is atm, I have a quote of our beloved female Chancellor (or Cancellor as Obama recently called her very accurately by mistake in his Buchenwald speech).
Merkel: "Always using freedom as an argument will not help us in the end." At the same time her minister for the INTERIOR wants direct control over all special forces operations conducted ABROAD! When Special Ops recently called off an operation after coordinating the ins and outs with the U.S. Forces in the same region, the poor minister got seriously angry.
(4) Meanwhile the ministry for the family suggests we all monitor our own computers and install a one click panic button to report anything suspicious to the authorities.
But I am sure that anybody loosing his mind and run amok in that climate will do so because he could no longer handle red pixel dust.
Ignorance IS bliss.
(1) Do not mistake banned or forbidden with commercially unavailable.
(2) A company such as Microsoft Germany will make a huge deal out of stating in public, that they will not release a game, such as Gears of War 2, in Germany. This means Microsoft Austria will be supplying every store in Germany with a fully localized version. It might not be fore sale at Walmart, but people do not go there to buy games anyway in Germany. As long as you can go to big local video gaming stores such as the Wunderlampe, or even the Media Markt, you will get your "banned" game. Just flash your ID card, prove you are 18 and leave the store with Gears, Doom or Quake. Do not go to Gamestop though. What would an American company know about the German market anyway.
(3) There will be general elections this year! Germany is very much a country in which you can get people to vote for you by trying to make them scared. Just scare them and then promise all the bad things in the world will go away by voting for you. It's ruling by fear. All parties do that, there is no moderate party for the reasonable people. To give you an idea how bad German politics is atm, I have a quote of our beloved female Chancellor (or Cancellor as Obama recently called her very accurately by mistake in his Buchenwald speech).
Merkel: "Always using freedom as an argument will not help us in the end." At the same time her minister for the INTERIOR wants direct control over all special forces operations conducted ABROAD! When Special Ops recently called off an operation after coordinating the ins and outs with the U.S. Forces in the same region, the poor minister got seriously angry.
(4) Meanwhile the ministry for the family suggests we all monitor our own computers and install a one click panic button to report anything suspicious to the authorities.
But I am sure that anybody loosing his mind and run amok in that climate will do so because he could no longer handle red pixel dust.
Ignorance IS bliss.
Eragon Zarroc
wow, wtf is this? lol
lewis91
Holy crap. I'm not german but i do think that law is F**King rediculous. I hate it when they try to pin psychos on video gaming. People have been killing each other since the start. Its pathetic to pin it on gaming.
Arn't films just as gorey, with mindless violence? Wanna ban them too?
I cannot get over how stupid this is, if i go outside and nail some idiot, it may be because i don't like him, not because i happen to own every GTA game, along with the manhunt games (which too faced this controversial subject when it came out.)
If anything...I bet kids are more likely to kill with no game to relieve stress. Playing games where you get to kill people always relieves stress, and without that kids will need to find a new source of relief.
Arn't films just as gorey, with mindless violence? Wanna ban them too?
I cannot get over how stupid this is, if i go outside and nail some idiot, it may be because i don't like him, not because i happen to own every GTA game, along with the manhunt games (which too faced this controversial subject when it came out.)
If anything...I bet kids are more likely to kill with no game to relieve stress. Playing games where you get to kill people always relieves stress, and without that kids will need to find a new source of relief.
Now Diabolical
Quote:
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Originally Posted by 4thVariety
(3) There will be general elections this year! Germany is very much a country in which you can get people to vote for you by trying to make them scared. Just scare them and then promise all the bad things in the world will go away by voting for you. It's ruling by fear.
|
Btw:
Now I have your Ingame!!
Sniper22
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Verene
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. |
This is just a terrible idea. It will hit economically in and outside of Germany. Correct me if I'm wrong though, the site says that selling video games in Germany is illegal, it said nothing about playing them. So, could Germans just get video games from a nearby country or order it online from one and have it shipped in the mail? I mean, what are they going to do, search through everyone's mail to check for video games. Are they also going to try to block any German from connecting to web browser based games such as runescape. What about violent video games that people already have? Are they going to arrest people for playing GW or World of Warcraft?
It seems like this "law" isn't official yet and it may die in parliament... but who knows...
shoyon456
This is the legacy of Germany...
It's tragic history encourages its' politicians to try to make it a very socially conservative country. Personally, I think it may be best for Germany, and perhaps Japan too.
It's tragic history encourages its' politicians to try to make it a very socially conservative country. Personally, I think it may be best for Germany, and perhaps Japan too.
Chicken Ftw
Whee. This doesn't make me want to go all Liu Kang on someone's face. As has been said, there's never been any credible proof that videogames make you any more violent than you already were. If anything, being able to unleash my stress and anger through gaming makes me less likely to hurt someone.
Bob Slydell
LOL wait.. just wait, theres gonna be more news articles coming out of Germany with......how ironic: Increased Violence and death due to rioting.
Gun Pierson
They'll soon learn that people will order from the internet or just buy games in neighbouring countries like here in Belgium or The Netherlands.
The black market will jump on it and the German government will lose control over this part of the entertainment industry and miss out on taxes.
The black market will jump on it and the German government will lose control over this part of the entertainment industry and miss out on taxes.
Ghost Dog
Quote:
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Originally Posted by shoyon456
This is the legacy of Germany...
It's tragic history encourages its' politicians to try to make it a very socially conservative country. Personally, I think it may be best for Germany, and perhaps Japan too. |
Absolutely not, this is like a poisoned band aid.
My favorite right here "German school shootings on March 11th, which were linked to Counterstrike and Far Cry 2. "
FFS man.
s t e e
I guess Hitler played a lot of violent video games too. -_-
Seraphim Angel
Violence has been around for thousands of years way before TV,Video games, etc. and will continue to be around for thousands of more years. Its all about parenting people. Thats why I believe that there should be a test either psychologically or by blood to see if your genes are stale enough to breed and raise a child that will benifit society. We have the technology to do some of these things and that will stop all these idiots from breeding idiot kids who do stupid things in life 
My 2 cents.
My 2 cents.
Ratson Itamar
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Hanging Man
And Pokemon is banned in Jerusalem for Jewish references
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First Israel don't ban any games, shows or movies, no matter their content. The politicians have more pressing issues than video games. Moreover, I used to play Pokemon a few years ago on several consoles, like the Gameboy Advance (seems like ages ago :P).
Second, Jerusalem is just a city, it can't enforce it's own rules (of course, like everything else that has an exception but it has nothing to do with video games).
Third, why would anyone have religious conflicts with a cartoon show? That's absurd. The main population (more than 90%) is secular. We're not religious fanatics like (most) arabic countries or anything.
Fourth, Pokemon is still aired in Israel (including Jerusalem of course, we're a small country after all :P) . It's like in the eleventh season or something :P.
Bob Slydell
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ghost Dog
Absolutely not, this is like a poisoned band aid.
My favorite right here "German school shootings on March 11th, which were linked to Counterstrike and Far Cry 2. " FFS man. |
And I find it funny almost every single person that commits these crimes has
A. Shitty Homelife
B. Beaten By his Parents everyday
C. Taken to gun ranges (article)
D. Mentally messed up to begin with..
They make these things sound like FPS's and violence in a video game take a normal person, make them foam at the mouth and go on a killing spree for no reason which is NOT how it is.
BLOODGOAT
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Hanging Man
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 |
Quote:
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Saudi Arabia Name Reason Pokémon Banned because of "promoting Zionism and gambling." |
4thVariety
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Gun Pierson
They'll soon learn that people will order from the internet or just buy games in neighbouring countries like here in Belgium or The Netherlands.
The black market will jump on it and the German government will lose control over this part of the entertainment industry and miss out on taxes. |
Warvic
The problem is, alot of people play games nowadays, I read 80% of 18+ americans play games (lulz?). so the chance that a murderer plays games is big. and then they say that games lead to violence coz the victim played games.
and I dont think this will happen. if it wud happen, its baad, alot of gw players are german.
and I dont think this will happen. if it wud happen, its baad, alot of gw players are german.
Ratson Itamar
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Hanging Man
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 |
Quote:
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Originally Posted by BLOODGOAT
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Besides, I don't believe that the Guild Wars community has to fear from the new ban in Germany. Guild Wars doesn't fall under the "violent" video games category. It's variety of colors also helps to confuse the more up tight people
The Scorpion Knight
No worries, they have BMW lol.
makosi
Would the EU allow such a suppression of civil liberties? I don't see it happening.
Enforcing this would also be a logistical nightmare.
Enforcing this would also be a logistical nightmare.
Helix Dreadlock
Violent is all in the mind. Weapons can be anything.
GO LAZER EYES! O.O======
GO LAZER EYES! O.O======
Gli
I'm sure a dedicated researcher could find any number of things that spree killers have in common. Are we going to ban all of that?
I'm sure they all watched an at least moderately violent TV show once in a while. Who doesn't?
I'm sure they all watched an at least moderately violent TV show once in a while. Who doesn't?
Lycanthropy
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ratson Itamar
That's absolutely false. Just to clear things up, I'm from Israel so I'm a valid source.
First Israel don't ban any games, shows or movies, no matter their content. The politicians have more pressing issues than video games. Moreover, I used to play Pokemon a few years ago on several consoles, like the Gameboy Advance (seems like ages ago :P). Second, Jerusalem is just a city, it can't enforce it's own rules (of course, like everything else that has an exception but it has nothing to do with video games). Third, why would anyone have religious conflicts with a cartoon show? That's absurd. The main population (more than 90%) is secular. We're not religious fanatics like (most) arabic countries or anything. Fourth, Pokemon is still aired in Israel (including Jerusalem of course, we're a small country after all :P) . It's like in the eleventh season or something :P. |
heh, check out my post in the second page of this thread, Iv'e said basiclly the same thing as you have! ^^ didn't thought I'd encountered another israeli in this forum
Gun Pierson
Quote:
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Originally Posted by 4thVariety
Everybody I know is already ordering games from the UK due to the cheap British Pound. Street Fighter 4 cost me 40€ instead of 60€ (70€ in some stores), so I'd be stupid to buy in Germany to begin with.
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Some people want to buy a game on the day it comes out. Some don't have creditcards or are too young to have one etc.
But you confirmed what I think, there are enough ways to bend the rules.
Expherious
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Hanging Man
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 |
talon994
Hmmm does this mean no more german power traders?
Atlantis29
i can see there been killing sprees because of this. so i suggest we ban the german goverment to prevent this 
Qing Guang
This is just part of the German government's whole preoccupation with not becoming the Nazis again. It's been a thing forever in the board gaming business - Germans are like the premier board game people, but you won't find a German board game with direct violent confrontation between players (though apparently it's okay to unite against an inhuman enemy - see Kingsburg for an example), because IIRC it's against the law.
IMO, they've got a right to try to distance themselves from that image, but honestly, pretending violence doesn't exist and that everything is happy happy friendly time DOESN'T WORK. Any good Euro History class should tell you that.
IMO, they've got a right to try to distance themselves from that image, but honestly, pretending violence doesn't exist and that everything is happy happy friendly time DOESN'T WORK. Any good Euro History class should tell you that.
haggus71
The funny thing about them banning Wolfenstein is you KILL Nazis.
Yeah, this law is dripping with irony. Big smile! Big smile!
Yeah, this law is dripping with irony. Big smile! Big smile!
Kashrlyyk
Quote:
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Originally Posted by HollaBigj
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.
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Trader of Secrets
wow a huge market of the gaming industry includes violence. I wonder to what extent though, cuz I would consider gw and wow PG.
Now Diabolical
Quote:
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Originally Posted by haggus71
The funny thing about them banning Wolfenstein is you KILL Nazis.
Yeah, this law is dripping with irony. Big smile! Big smile! |
Of course, privare People are allowed to own it, but Shops for example aren't allowed to sell Wolfenstein.
I think there was a Game like Wolfenstein with similar Symbols, where all Swastikas had been replaced with Smilies, but I am not that sure.
The well-known german Politicians don't really try to make good Politics, 3 of 4 years they do everything that they will be re-elected.
We have genereal elections in 3 months and they believe that all 40+ voter will vote them, because they only know what the Media tells them about PC-Gaming.
Sad but true.
Of course, I will continuing playing Counter-Strike. It's just riddiculous.
Germany won't benefit. Less people will spend Money in games in german shops, more people wil buy in the UK or in Switzerland.
Germany still is a big Market for PC-Games, but there is no use to get until this Proposal is gonna be "hot" in parliament.
Darth The Xx
Isn't it funny how people who play video games, violent ones included are stereotyped as nerds/geeks, or what have you, the most harmless people of society. Yet when someone gets killed they somehow find a way to blame it on the entertainment industry. I would be willing to bet 99.9999999999999999999999999999999999999999% of killings have NOTHING to do with video games or movies or whatever. As for people becoming desensitised to violence in real life, anybody who plays this game and has been involved in, or seen a serious accident or crime will know this is most certainly NOT the case.
I mean seriously, they convict a killer. He happened to play counter-strike and this is automatically labeled the cause, cus it had nothing to do with the constant abuse said killer was suffering at school from his fellow peers, or the abuse from his parents.
I mean seriously, they convict a killer. He happened to play counter-strike and this is automatically labeled the cause, cus it had nothing to do with the constant abuse said killer was suffering at school from his fellow peers, or the abuse from his parents.
Elrahir
Isn't this awesome? Would mean no more annoying german Pugs 
Hehe j/k 
This sound pretty much like a joke to me, I seriously doubt that law will go through.
This sound pretty much like a joke to me, I seriously doubt that law will go through.
Test Me
I welcome the change
I don't think the kind of violence they were referring to:
has any implications for games like GW or WoW or the like. They don't really qualify and probably the author of the article is somehow sustained by video game studios that feel threatened by such a law.
The sad reality is that there needs to be a law about this. However I would recommend a psychiatric evaluation of all the artists and engineers involved in the development of such games. Some of them are so violent I can't even look at when other people play.
And another sad thing is that I own a PS3 and if I choose to not play games that involve shooting and brains being spilt over walls I've got almost nothing to play. So I'm stuck to the lego game series... that's crap.
And lastly, no it's not ok to turn the wii controller into a knife and "teach" your 10 years old how to kill. I've never found that right and i never will.
I don't think the kind of violence they were referring to:
Quote:
| "where the main part is to realistically play the killing of people or other cruel or unhuman acts of violence against humans or manlike characters." |
The sad reality is that there needs to be a law about this. However I would recommend a psychiatric evaluation of all the artists and engineers involved in the development of such games. Some of them are so violent I can't even look at when other people play.
And another sad thing is that I own a PS3 and if I choose to not play games that involve shooting and brains being spilt over walls I've got almost nothing to play. So I'm stuck to the lego game series... that's crap.
And lastly, no it's not ok to turn the wii controller into a knife and "teach" your 10 years old how to kill. I've never found that right and i never will.
Ghost Omel
Seems rather silly just like most posters have stated.. Its a big bussiness even though i never headr of any decent German video games being ccreated i pretty sure the profit german stores,developers(if any ) are making and suddenly it would stop...it would hurt and sting alot...it wont be put to action..just words out of some ones political a$$
MithranArkanere
GW has no blood and no scars of any kind.
You don't damage the enemies, you just decrease their health bars and knock them out.
You don't damage the enemies, you just decrease their health bars and knock them out.
Xenomortis
Quote:
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Originally Posted by MithranArkanere
GW has no blood and no scars of any kind.
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Otherwise, your point more or less stands.
It does feature human vs human violence though, but not to a shocking degree.
AmbientMelody
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Xenomortis
The necromancer has two armour sets specifically called "Scar Pattern" and all of their headgear is termed "Scar Pattern".
Otherwise, your point more or less stands. It does feature human vs human violence though, but not to a shocking degree. |
I'm not a fan of over-violent games myself, but if things continue with this hate I may find myself getting one or two controversial titles just to support the game developers ...