Germany moves to outlaw all violent computer games.

[Syt]

All violent video games to be banned in Germany
(Supported by Welt Online, reputable paper)

German ministers have today agreed to ban the production and distribution of all violent video games, with the law only having to go through parliament in the next few weeks.

According to german website Chip Online and supported by Spiegel Online, ministers of the interior of all sixteen German federal states came together for a conference today in Bremerhaven where they agreed to forbid the production and distribution of all video games "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 country has been infamously hard on violent video games before now, but an outright ban would result in a huge loss for the video games industry in one of its most successful European countries.

The law would result in no Call of Duty, no God of War, no Crysis, no World of Warcraft, no BioShock, no Uncharted, and no Grand Theft Auto.

Moreover, since a ban on the production of violent games would also be included in the law, German studios, such as Crytek, would have to outsource development to other countries.

The law is hoped to come into effect before the country's federal elections in September. The minister of the interior of Lower Saxony commented:

"Violent games lower the inhibition level for real violence and spree killers always played such games before they did the crime."

Note the second part of that sentence: "spree killers always played such games before they did the crime." That's quite a statement; one we expect they'd like to support with the German school shootings on March 11th, which were linked to Counterstrike and Far Cry 2.

For the law to become a reality it must go through parliament in the next few weeks or months. We'll keep you posted and hope the ministers are just blowing smoke.

Well, as I posted on Wargamer:
German lawmakers are stupid, film at 11.

They also tried to outlaw paintball.

There's already relatively tight laws about making games 18+ (and not being able to sell them openly or advertise them; though 18+ persons can still legally buy them under the counter).

I wonder if this is still within constitutional boundaries of freedom of art and expression.

Moreover, who really wants certain games will get them anyway - be it through torrents, online shops or having it sent from different EU countries (say, UK).

Crap like that makes me glad I moved to Austria where that shit doesn't happen. Actually, instead of black listing games, there's an institution white listing games as recommended to kids/teens; including some EA Sports games, EU3, Galciv ...

[saskganesh]

representing a founding country of wargaming, the german military should file an amicus curiae.

[Syt]

Well, I doubt wargames will be covered by "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."

You raise a good point, though: imagine the shitstorm if Bundeswehr were to release a game like America's Army.

[Valmy]

Germany's Army: destroying the enemies of the Federal Republic

Hell that would sell about millions of copies to all the German fanbois around the world like Caliga.

[Caliga]

Hell that would sell about millions of copies to all the German fanbois around the world like Caliga.

[Syt]

Only that it would be a game about aid missions, rebuilding missions, rescue missions, and nonviolently defusing volatile situations (game over if it turns violent).

[Valmy]

I am curious what video games exacty can you play without ones with violence?  Especially violence as non-graphic as WoW.

....I guess only soft core pornographic games will be left.

[DGuller]

"Violent games lower the inhibition level for real violence and spree killers always played such games before they did the crime."

Logical fallacy at 11:02.

[Zanza]

I am curious what video games exacty can you play without ones with violence?  Especially violence as non-graphic as WoW.

....I guess only soft core pornographic games will be left.

Tetris.


I hope this doesn't go through and if it does go through I hope the Constitutional Court strikes it down. The court seems to be the last bastion of liberty in Germany. 

[Caliga]

Moreover, who really wants certain games will get them anyway - be it through torrents, online shops or having it sent from different EU countries (say, UK).

Crap like that makes me glad I moved to Austria where that shit doesn't happen. Actually, instead of black listing games, there's an institution white listing games as recommended to kids/teens; including some EA Sports games, EU3, Galciv ...

You should relocate to Germany and take your enlightened Austrian ideas with you along with your artwork.  Germans have a proven track record of listening to individuals such as yourself. 

[Syt]

The court seems to be the last bastion of liberty sanity in Germany. 

FYP

[Syt]

You should relocate to Germany and take your enlightened Austrian ideas with you along with your artwork.  Germans have a proven track record of listening to individuals such as yourself. 

[Zanza]

The court seems to be the last bastion of liberty sanity in Germany. 

FYP

Yes, that's probably a better description. And the Bundesbank perhaps. Interesting that the two state institutions that are most independent from the cesspool in Berlin are also the best. Honi soit qui mal y pense.

[Valmy]

I find it rather hilarious that they are trying to outlaw things that they think cause people to break laws.

As if if they outlaw enough things people will be more law abiding.

[Syt]

I find it rather hilarious that they are trying to outlaw things that they think cause people to break laws.

As if if they outlaw enough things people will be more law abiding.

Germany's future will be splendid and inoffensive. Like in Demolition Man.