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.
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67 Posted by marleebv on Fri Jul 3, 2009 9:36PM EDT Report Abuse
It's terrible that people are learning the violent moves from video games!!
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68 Posted by marleebv on Fri Jul 3, 2009 9:36PM EDT Report Abuse
It's terrible that people are learning the violent moves from video games!!
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69 Posted by webzpinner on Sun Jul 5, 2009 12:30AM EDT Report Abuse
Germany banning things the government doesn't want the citizens to have access to, in the name of building a better society... hmmm... sounds vaguely familiar... say... oh... the 1930's and 1940's?
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70 Posted by vooyek@ymail.com on Mon Jul 6, 2009 9:55PM EDT Report Abuse
Search angry german kid on youtube and you will see why!
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71 Posted by markfkaufman on Tue Jul 7, 2009 7:55AM EDT Report Abuse
Well, at least the Germans are getting as dumb as we in the US are. Video games are just that, games. Parents are role models, parents teach kids right from wrong, games are just games. I spent 23 years in very active Military service. My son thinks games are for nerds, he uses computers for school work, he wants to speak to a friend, he calls the person.This has to do with how his mother raised him, he prefers the world lf the physical. Me, I'm now retired, I love the SOCOM games on my PS2, my son, this summer he is an NROTC cadet -1st summer, he has neither the time nor interest Like most folks I know the difference between fantasy and reality..
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72 Posted by ksmith661137 on Tue Jul 7, 2009 9:46AM EDT Report Abuse
Considering the violence the german race has perpetrated on the globe in the last 100+ years, I can only wonder whatever sensible and human instinct permeated some legislator's mind to do this reasonable thing? Maybe the games resembled, to germans, nothing so much as a mirror. For anyone who objects to this post, I have but one word: Auschwitz. A german idea.
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73 Posted by petr.buben on Tue Jul 7, 2009 3:39PM EDT Report Abuse
very very well ! very much needed. .... stop the destruction of young human souls, their characters, personalities, through depraved violence celebration! ..... do not put profits over humanity. http://friendfeed.com/petrbuben
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74 Posted by mmeier1016 on Wed Jul 8, 2009 1:44PM EDT Report Abuse
It's funny that they are worried about video games being to violent. Cuz yeah violence never existed before video games. I mean there isn't violence in other forms of media at all right. Man that should just shut down all media and forms of entertainment and violence will magically disappear. What a joke.
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75 Posted by ra4king on Wed Jul 8, 2009 3:43PM EDT Report Abuse
i agree with everyone here, even with the kids buying illegally part.
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76 Posted by rustile306@sbcglobal.net on Thu Jul 9, 2009 5:51AM EDT Report Abuse
pfft even if i lived in germany, i wouldnt be scared. the internet gives everyone access to anything. well, 95% of stuff, but violent video games is part of the 95%. oh and also if you live in cuba or china or something, you may be subject to filters. and some activities are illegal. and there's stupid spam that blocks like 3% of stuff, so i guess the total would be 90% of the time you can have access to 75% of stuff without (probably) breaking laws.
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77 Posted by andywarb on Thu Jul 9, 2009 10:57AM EDT Report Abuse
YES . Ban them as soon as possible, The courts in its wisdom has given custody to my wife, now it's anything goes, so lets help me out by a total ban on Violent video games, prime time pervasion disguised as quality family viewing and put a watchdog on the new garbage pouring out of hollywood aimed at my teenagers as real cool entertainment.
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78 Posted by blazeiken100 on Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:22AM EDT Report Abuse
I just don't get the people who say Banning these will lead to a better world, Games only REALLY effect you if you play a mature game when you're 3 or something, and even then, good parenting can keep MOST anyone from becoming a criminal. pretty much only kids with Mental Issues are effected by them. A mix of Bad parenting, Bad friends, and a bad Childhood make Criminals, Games CAN help people become Violent, BUT CANT MAKE THEM VIOLENT ALONE.
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79 Posted by overlord1171965 on Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:29PM EDT Report Abuse
France will be invaded within 8 months of the ban. The Germans gotta shoot something......look out Pierre....
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80 Posted by feliscatuslover on Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:10PM EDT Report Abuse
Great idea! Hey, you know knives are used in almost half of all murders? We should ban them too! Oh and water causes millions of drownings a year! We must not forget to ban water!
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81 Posted by g_mom_7 on Fri Jul 24, 2009 12:55PM EDT Report Abuse
Another way to save on ink is to turn off the printer when not in use. It help keep the ink from drying out.
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66 Posted by peavedelic on Fri Jul 3, 2009 1:52AM EDT Report Abuse
what's the problem? is everyone jealous that germany may just lead the world in implementing the idea of 'civilization?' i recall a childhood of creativity, progress, and concern for one's fellow man; interesting to see the current video generation's lack of commitment to these ideals.