Germany bans violent games

[Purkake]

Looks like they finally got what they wanted. Link (translated from German via Google Translate)

 

Can any local-ish people elaborate?

[Morgoth]

Actually, the interior minister aims to get the law passed before the general election this autumn, but I doubt it will get that far. The lower house of the federal legislature of Germany has to affirm this first. Otherwise, we'll see family friendly games from Crytek & Co in the future, unless they move out from Germany.

 

This whole thing is of course completely ridiculous.

Edited June 5, 2009 by Morgoth

[Purkake]

So what are the chances of them getting the law passed?

[Morgoth]

Pretty much nil, to be honest. There will be protests, there will be debates, and then of course there's the economic necessity of video games. I doubt these nutsjobs have a chance to drive out Crytek & Co of Germany.

Edited June 5, 2009 by Morgoth

[WILL THE ALMIGHTY]

German politicians need to play more Call of Duty 4.

[Gorgon]

They might just influence them to up the lameness and Disney levels though. Less gibs, is what I'm driving at here.

 

My god I've had it with do gooders and concerned parents stealing my gibs.

[Morgoth]

German politicians need to play more Call of Duty 4.

Or Crysis.

 

Deutsches Produkt, eh?

[Purkake]

If they see God of War 3, they will probably ban computers and TVs as well. Super violent gifs here and here. Fun for the whole family!

[WILL THE ALMIGHTY]

God of War 3 pushes the limit in terms of violence, honestly. I wouldn't play it if only because it'd make me sick.

[Malcador]

German politicians need to play more Call of Duty 4.

 

Jeez man, you must really hate them to wish that upon them :D

[Slowtrain]

The violence isn't real though. Its just physics calculations and polygons and textures and what not. It doesn't exist as anything more real than 1's and 0's on a drive.

 

It disturbs me sometimes that people (not referring specifically to you Will, just people in general) assign such a degree of "reality" to video games.

[Nightshape]

The violence isn't real though. Its just physics calculations and polygons and textures and what not. It doesn't exist as anything more real than 1's and 0's on a drive.

 

It disturbs me sometimes that people (not referring specifically to you Will, just people in general) assign such a degree of "reality" to video games.

 

With that logic, Rapelay is perfectly, okay! Infact it's not even offensive... Is Henti not pornographic?

[Slowtrain]

The violence isn't real though. Its just physics calculations and polygons and textures and what not. It doesn't exist as anything more real than 1's and 0's on a drive.

 

It disturbs me sometimes that people (not referring specifically to you Will, just people in general) assign such a degree of "reality" to video games.

 

With that logic, Rapelay is perfectly, okay! Infact it's not even offensive... Is Henti not pornographic?

 

Is blowing off heads with a shotgun OK?

[Deadly_Nightshade]

With that logic, Rapelay is perfectly, okay!

 

Actually, although I personally find it discussing and disturbing, I think that it IS perfectly “ok” and, unless it is proven to advocate rape and molestation, should be considered to be protected under free-speech laws. But let's leave that for another topic...

[Nightshape]

The violence isn't real though. Its just physics calculations and polygons and textures and what not. It doesn't exist as anything more real than 1's and 0's on a drive.

 

It disturbs me sometimes that people (not referring specifically to you Will, just people in general) assign such a degree of "reality" to video games.

 

With that logic, Rapelay is perfectly, okay! Infact it's not even offensive... Is Henti not pornographic?

 

Is blowing off heads with a shotgun OK?

 

*SIGH* YES!

 

I've opened a big can of worms and poured them all over the table haven't I.

Edited June 5, 2009 by Nightshape

[Slowtrain]

The violence isn't real though. Its just physics calculations and polygons and textures and what not. It doesn't exist as anything more real than 1's and 0's on a drive.

 

It disturbs me sometimes that people (not referring specifically to you Will, just people in general) assign such a degree of "reality" to video games.

 

With that logic, Rapelay is perfectly, okay! Infact it's not even offensive... Is Henti not pornographic?

 

Is blowing off heads with a shotgun OK?

 

*SIGH* YES!

 

I've opened a big can of worms and poured them all over the table haven't I.

 

 

lol. Yes, you have. And honestly, I don't really want to go there. Even with you. I'm not nearly smart enough to handle a conversation of this complexity.

[Wrath of Dagon]

unless it is proven to advocate rape and molestation,

What do you call having the player perform those acts?

[Humodour]

The violence isn't real though. Its just physics calculations and polygons and textures and what not. It doesn't exist as anything more real than 1's and 0's on a drive.

 

It disturbs me sometimes that people (not referring specifically to you Will, just people in general) assign such a degree of "reality" to video games.

 

So porn is not real either? It's just 1's and 0's and shouldn't get anybody excited?

[Deadly_Nightshade]

unless it is proven to advocate rape and molestation,

What do you call having the player perform those acts?

 

I hope you are not saying that committing an act in a video game will make you do the same acts in real life because that is what it sounds like you are implying. If so, I suggest you go seclude yourself from others, contact Jack Thompson, and stop posting here as clearly you would likely murder someone or commit some other horrible crime due to all of those “nasty” games you have been playing. Alternatively, is there a double standard being implied because you play violent games and Rapelay is about sexual violence? If that is the case, why? Is rape any worse than mass killing –I am not saying it is or isn’t, this is just a rhetorical question that I am using as a theoretical possibility- or are you simply bigoted against one type of crime and not the other?

[Morgoth]

I think as long as violence isn't glorified like in AvP or God of War, and as long as violence is always seen in context with the story, it's perfectly okay in my book. I agree though that restrictive measurements to prohibit kids from getting a game that's supposed to be for adults is important, like in Germany.

But banning the production of games in said country is just outright stupid and counterproductive.

[Nightshape]

BIG BIG can of wiggley worms...

[Pidesco]

I don't see why it's such a big can of worms. It's rather clear that imagining something is never a crime. People aren't tried for potential crimes.

[Oner]

People aren't tried for potential crimes.

I think you should rephrase that.

Hint: Attempted murder.

 

[Pidesco]

That's a failed murder not a potential one.

[aries101]

Another German once said something like 'when they came for the communists, I did not speak. I was not a communist.' And then the poem goes on untill it ends with these words: 'when they came for me, there were noone left to speak up.'

 

This is how I feel when we speak censorship for videogames, or other things. If we'ew not carefull, banning videogames or censoring them too much will lead till more general cencorship later on....

 

And I ask again:

 

What is a violent game?

 

Is the adventure game Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper violent...? Or are violent games just games like Call of Duty, GTA IV ? And what about RPGs like Mass Effect, Dragon Age: Origins or Fallout 3?