Not Again...

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

First English link I could find (courtesy of Paradox forums, thanks). I couldn't find this in Die Welt (after an admittedly brief scan), so I hope it's fake. But somehow, I doubt it.

Really? Please. No. There is only one bright side to this - the hope that eventually they'll push a little too far and get the people really riled up. More personal involvement in politics, a return to basic freedoms, a real democracy.

Then again, this is Germany.

If the Constitutional Court doesn't strike this down, I'm doing something. I'll join a party (I'd even consider making my own if I could ever get the free time), I'll write letters, whatever, I don't care, but this cannot stand. It is something small, yes - but it is the last straw on the camel's back.

[Ice]

Wow... uh that really sucks for gamers

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Chances are it won't get passed - as you could see with the paintball thing, we occasionally have ridiculous proposals that amount to nothing, especially at this time of year. The problem is that it doesn't seem like the normal ones, since there are sixteen Ministers of the Interior agreeing to it.

[InsaneApache]

Quite right to. You can't be trusted. :o)

[Hooahguy]

thats pretty aggravating...
but as EMFM said, i doubt it would be passed.

[Vladimir]

Wow. This isn't more guilt over that WW II thing is it? Get over it people (not anyone here, of course).

[Rhyfelwyr]

All violent video games is a bit vague... does it include things like the TW series, or is it only for more personal violence?

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

All violent video games is a bit vague... does it include things like the TW series, or is it only for more personal violence?

"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."

That potentially includes Total War.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Well, if you play the HRE in TW you can conquer the world as Germany, so...

Yeah, this is crazy.

Hopefully you can still download Mount & Blade.

[Crazed Rabbit]

You mean I won't be able to play this game (if I lived in Germany)?

Seriously, in Washington (state) a judge ruled a law prohibiting games that involved shooting police was unconstitutional, noting that a game may be set in a despotic future where the police are enforcers of tyranny, and saying it violated freedom of expression. Ah, bill of rights, how I cherish thee.

This is simply stupid.

CR

[KarlXII]

If I recall, a lot of violent games with "gibbing" are edited, take for example TF2. If you explode, bits of you don't fly around, machine parts and confetti does.

Also Nazi Germany is prohibited in Historical games, like HoI2.

[Marshal Murat]

"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."

So we can still kill octopi, rabbits, mice, rats, dogs, cats, pigeons, and all other non "manlike characters".

What if you're playing as a robot/human committing violence? What if you're a female robot?

[KarlXII]

So we can still kill octopi, rabbits, mice, rats, dogs, cats, pigeons, and all other non "manlike characters".

What if you're playing as a robot/human committing violence? What if you're a female robot?

Aliens aren't human, that works. What if you order a soldier to kill a human? You're not killing him, just ordering the soldier to.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Aliens aren't human, that works. What if you order a soldier to kill a human? You're not killing him, just ordering the soldier to.

Human-like aliens, like Klingon, may be banned I think.

[Marshal Murat]

But when does an alien become "human-like"?

[Hooahguy]

zombies?

[Beskar]

You need to tell that German minister something.

They all had Guns! They all ate food! They all watched violet movies! They all watched porn! They all voted for you!

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

You need to tell that German minister something.

They all had Guns! They all ate food! They all watched violet movies! They all watched porn! They all voted for you!

I'm considering sending sixteen copies of a rather angry letter to the ministers in question.

[Papewaio]

Maybe not the best tactic to prove their dubious point...

[rasoforos]

http://ps2.ign.com/objects/545/545789.html

Plenty of great games still available for our German friends to play. Don't worry EMFM, you will adapt ;)

[CountArach]

I'm considering sending sixteen copies of a rather angry letter to the ministers in question.

Do it - this proposal is utterly ridiculous and completely moronic. If you don't let the government know what you think they will just continue to ignore you (Chances are they will ignore you anyway, but if enough people get together they can be stopped). Consider sending letters to the editor of local newspapers as well - that helps to get public riled up.

[seireikhaan]

Utterly ridiculous proposal. Those ministers don't deserve their jobs.

[Fragony]

I am therefore I can

[Furunculus]

sucks. :(

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

http://ps2.ign.com/objects/545/545789.html

Plenty of great games still available for our German friends to play. Don't worry EMFM, you will adapt ;)

Do you think I buy my games in Germany anyway? ;)

I am therefore I can

Unfortunately that seems to be the attitude of our politicians.

Utterly ridiculous proposal. Those ministers don't deserve their jobs.

Quite. I'd already decided that the main parties in Germany probably don't deserve my vote. A thing like this just confirms it.

Do it - this proposal is utterly ridiculous and completely moronic. If you don't let the government know what you think they will just continue to ignore you (Chances are they will ignore you anyway, but if enough people get together they can be stopped). Consider sending letters to the editor of local newspapers as well - that helps to get public riled up.

I'm drafting the letters right now (I'll post a copy here when I'm done if I can) and I am going to try to send letters to some local newspapers as well (though obviously not the same letter).

[drone]

This seems really stupid from an economical stance. From the OP article:

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.

production - lost jobs and business tax revenue.
distribution - lost sales tax, and pointless when combined with the EU and digital distribution.

How does Germany handle games with Nazis being downloaded via Steam?

[Kadagar_AV]

"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."

Thank GOD (just a saying) that thet loophole is so big...

Main part would translate to < 50%

Now... I cant think of a game where you spend more than 50% of the time killing stuff.

Run around waiting for stuff to be killed, sure...

World of Warcract, I spend more time running around than killing...

Counter Strike, I spend more time running around than killing.

Total War, I spend more time with the stupid "AI" than killing. On a sidenote, I think CA should be held up in court for the reference of AI in correspondance to their games.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Thank GOD (just a saying) that thet loophole is so big...

Loophole means it will be exploited. By the politicians in question.

Main part would translate to < 50%

Only according to your arbitrary definition. Really it means whatever the drafted legislation in question will say it is.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Militarism has been on a steady rise in the past decade.

I, for one, applaud Germany's ongoing quest to turn the tide. Guns, murder, slaughter are not cartoon violence, but a real and existing threat to society.

As with smoking or alcohol, the excesses and abuse can be greatly reduced by banning a positive portrayal of these dangerous goods. Gun culture can be countered as much as alcohol culture.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

I concur with Louis, and would like to propose additionally the immediate ban of all games portraying drugs and alcohol in any way whatsoever. I look forward to the immediate banning of Victoria: Revolutions and Harvest Moon.