Germany trying to ban development of violent video games

Stolen from Kotaku:

Germany's latest demagogue tantrum against "killerspiele" - violent video games - could be shrugged off as hot air, except for the fact it would ban even their development. So Germany-based Crytek would have to move.

The interior ministers of Germany's 16 states have unanimously asked the German legislature to ban outright the distribution, sale, and development of violent video games. Such games have been a big part of the national conversation since a 17-year-old went on a gun rampage March 11, killing 15. Naturally, the shooter owned a shooter - Crytek's Far Cry 2 - and playing it for two hours before the killings was enough to link games to the tragedy.

The demand is definitely politically timed - the interior heads want it ASAP, before German elections Sept. 27. Again, this is (snicker) a Far Cry from legislation introduced to parliament, but it was enough to fire up German readers who sent it to us, who already point to the country's extremely strict youth protection laws, and are generally disgusted by lawmakers' tendency to blame technologies they don't understand.

I know this doesn't really affect most of us (save for the potential delay and/or cancellation of Crysis 2) but it's still really crazy that such an extreme bill has so much support. I guess this is one more gaming-related reason why I'm glad I don't live in Germany (the others being their unofficial bans of certain games and the stipulation that shooting games not feature human enemies). That said, I could see this happening in America. Granted it wouldn't succeed, but it wouldn't necessarily surprise me to see something like this get proposed in a state legislature.

Germany trying to ruin the world again.

Germany trying to ruin the world again.

hedden93

I want to play the optimistic role and say that our long running legacy of democracy in this country means that something like this will not happen in America. I am not saying that legislative roadblocks to gaming will not erupt in the years ahead, but I do not think that it will be in this extreme. We are likely one or two more election cycles away from a president who has played games sometime in his or her life, even if it was as a young adult. There are already members of Congress who were gamers in their youth.

OK, and I know this theory is based on people having common sense, but hopefully someone will realize that there have been these gun-oriented killing sprees before games ever came onto the market. Not that any of our politicians would ever pick up on that before they launched some idiotic judicial attempt to keep us all fom having our fun.

- Vr/G.

This all comes down to the fact that it is easier to blame something most voters are unfamiliar of for society's problems than to make actual changes to society. Naruto

Wow, germany removed the usual machine slots on Pokemon Platinum, i`m not surprised that their leaders are coming up with that.

Now what next? They will try to ban people who play violent games? If you get caught playing one, you will be put in jail or sent to a asylum as a risk to develop violence tendencies and murdering intent? O_o

I blame the idiots that went on killing sprees and put the blame on the games, not the games...

[QUOTE="hedden93"]

Germany trying to ruin the world again.

HessenKnight

[QUOTE="HessenKnight"]

[QUOTE="hedden93"]

Germany trying to ruin the world again.

hedden93

Germany already messed up the world with Hitler no surprise they are doing it again...

I wonder what they would do if games where banned, and there were still killing sprees? What would they blame next?tsduv21