Germany poised to ban all violent video games

Mon Jun 15, 2009 1:21PM EDT

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Like gamers around the world, Germans love their shoot-'em-ups. Sure, video gaming isn't quite the industry in Germany that it is in the U.S. (or some other parts of Europe), but it's still an enormous market for the industry.

Those days are quite likely to come to a screeching halt in a matter of weeks, as Germany is well on its way to banning all "violent video games," defined (via translation) as games "where the main part is to realistically play the killing of people or other cruel or inhuman acts of violence against humans or manlike characters."

Hmmmm... sounds like just about every game I play. 

The move isn't just one politician banging a shoe on the podium in outrage. All 16 German states have already agreed on the move and are set on implementing it -- and soon. The only real hurdle remaining is pushing the law through German parliament, and that could happen before the end of the summer.

The law would have even broader consequences for game companies based in Germany (including Crysis creator Crytek), as the law would outlaw not just the sale of violent video games but the development of them in Germany, too. These companies would either be forced out of business or compelled to outsource development to other countries, unable to publish their own titles on their home turf.

Why all the panic over video games? The usual stuff, really: Their potential link to violence, particularly among youths. Earlier this year a German teenager killed more than a dozen people while dressed in black camouflage, purportedly copying moves learned in the terrorism-focused Counter-Strike. Such links are extremely controversial, but Germany has been at the forefront of lambasting violent games for years as causing these incidents.

So if the law becomes a reality, what then? Could this be a first step in a broad move to censor violence in all forms: TV shows, movies, books? No reporting of violence in German newspapers and on television news? National Internet filters to keep violent content (and web games) out of the minds of German citizens?

Lots for Germans to think about while they're playing Wii Bowling and Cake Mania.

 

 

Comments on Germany poised to ban all violent video games

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  • 46 Posted by reinierreimer on Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:03AM EDT Report Abuse

    I think it is a good step forward to make a country a better place to live in. Of course, it is not a popular decision by American standard since the majority of American population is still livening in the Wild West and need at home as many weapons as they can carry because Americans feel very insecure. Hence the tendency for violent crimes and behavior How is it possible that in the great nation of USA exist such a high crime rate. Think about it and you find the answer your self. Games that people play inspire to real actions.

  • 47 Posted by reinierreimer on Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:07AM EDT Report Abuse

    I think it is a good step forward to make a country a better place to live in. Of course, it is not a popular decision by American standard since the majority of American population is still livening in the Wild West and need at home as many weapons as they can carry because Americans feel very insecure. Hence the tendency for violent crimes and behavior How is it possible that in the great nation of USA exist such a high crime rate. Think about it and you find the answer your self. Games that people play inspire to real actions.

  • 48 Posted by reinierreimer on Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:11AM EDT Report Abuse

    I think it is a good step forward to make a country a better place to live in. Of course, it is not a popular decision by American standard since the majority of American population is still livening in the Wild West and need at home as many weapons as they can carry because Americans feel very insecure. Hence the tendency for violent crimes and behavior How is it possible that in the great nation of USA exist such a high crime rate. Think about it and you find the answer your self. Games that people play inspire to real actions.

  • 49 Posted by wileyquicksilver on Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:22AM EDT Report Abuse

    Yeah, blame the video games. It is so much easier than accepting responsibility for your actions or the actions of those you are responsible for.

  • 50 Posted by eichwulfie on Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:25AM EDT Report Abuse

    They'll just download the games from the torrents.

  • 51 Posted by eve4success29 on Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:57AM EDT Report Abuse

    LOL... I am German and this article is hilarious... This is NONSENSE and lies... but ohhh well ...

  • 52 Posted by weinderschneidht on Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:20AM EDT Report Abuse

    They are going to ban violent movies too right? Sorry Germans, no Transformers 2 for you! Suckers.

  • 53 Posted by sateahmadmridha on Wed Jun 17, 2009 10:56AM EDT Report Abuse

    I think that the if Germany should ban anything it should be their ----- -fetishes...seriously... (like the ones in www.scatbabes.com)

  • 54 Posted by n0_ob_jnh on Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:38AM EDT Report Abuse

    Why don't you ban movies while you're at it. Oh what about weapons, or alcohol, that seems to cause violence in some people, Oh wait, why don't you just cut our hands off so we can't beat people up...well ----- , might as well just remove our brains so we can't do anything at all.

  • 55 Posted by damnyoudemons on Thu Jun 18, 2009 4:29AM EDT Report Abuse

    I can knock people off into gorges on Mario Kart Wii. That might influence me to get on the highway and ram other cars off bridges. Better go ban Mario Kart, Germany. Go go go. Big Brother approves :3

  • 56 Posted by a4garymorgan on Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    Hmmm, pretty sure that the most violent people in the world have never played a video game in their life as they are few and far between in bosnia, lebanon, china, africa, afganistan and so on and so on.

  • 57 Posted by turnerdaburner32 on Thu Jun 18, 2009 3:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    I grew up playing video games, mainly shooters and sports games. I've turned out perfectly fine, I'm not some brain-dead moron who can't see the difference between Halo and real life. I find that video games help me cope with stress so I don't go out and do something foolish. And I am not ashamed that I love some senseless virtual violence from time to time hahaha

  • 58 Posted by jlee067@sbcglobal.net on Thu Jun 18, 2009 8:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    Germans commited the worst crimes against humanity since the trans-atlantic slave trade of Africans, commited by Great Britain, Western Europe and their Colonies in the Americas. No video games existed during either period. Nevertheles----- ler, Stalin, King George, Queen Elizabeth and the rest of Europe's Most Nefarious along with their cousins in the Americas had no trouble finding new and more vicious ways of exterminating human life. And yet no video games or rap music existed.

  • 59 Posted by real_4js on Thu Jun 18, 2009 10:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    Sounds like dts a step in the right direction for all countries

  • 60 Posted by xblack_valentine on Wed Jun 24, 2009 3:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    The people who carry out those acts are already mentally ill, and without videos games, will ownly find another source such as TV to copy. What then? Ban TV? Then films, books, magazines......censor all everything to control what people think? Sound familiar anybody?

  • 61 Posted by bayshoretommy on Tue Jun 30, 2009 1:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think Germany is smart, at least they are trying to keep all this garbage out of their kids hands or at least make it much harder to get. Problem with the USA is most morons out there think this stuff is ok, they blame it on person but i can assure if you have a person that is a little off their rocker and non violent these types of games will make them off their rocker and violent. Speaking of that i cant wait to get my copy of COD 4 /2 that i pre-ordered in November! :)

  • 62 Posted by nicemikelake on Thu Jul 2, 2009 4:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have autism and agree in censoring some of the violence because non-autistic people seem to imitate things too easily instead of thinking about right and wrong. To tell the truth I am scared to death about claimed normal people who find all sorts of clamed reasons for killing, and find enjoyment in pretend killing. Playing an obvious imaginary space shoot out is not like images of killing actual people with blood, guts, and the works. Perhaps the reason many people like myself are interested in space and technology is to get off the planet and away from those who enjoy violence.

  • 63 Posted by xriz00 on Thu Jul 2, 2009 5:17PM EDT Report Abuse

    Yes, yes we all know violent video games lead to real life violence; especially German----- ler played such violent video games as a kid, like Doom or Quake, before going on and starting WWII and the Holocaust, right?

  • 64 Posted by brownsfans0355 on Thu Jul 2, 2009 5:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    Dont remember any any video games around when they shoved six million jews into the ovens.

  • 65 Posted by horizondark232 on Thu Jul 2, 2009 5:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    Hmm..So the video games are to blame? Thanks for trying to live in a sheltered world that says video games are causing these people to become violent. I'm sure they would have never learned about guns and killing from anywhere other than video games. Lets start censoring movies too while we're at it. And pictures. And books. Heck, lets get rid of history, that's too violent too!

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