Well it's not just recently we've had stupidity abound in Europe as well.

I recall a few stupid spanish(or french?) police officers, a politician or two in UK, the whole Rule of the Rose thing, and how EU Media turned the MGS Fansite suicide(RIP m8) into a freakin' carnival, even getting Slimeball Thompson flaming...

Yep, my pride in being European faded drastically this year.. But nevermind that, let's all give a Biiiiig Welcome to the Year 2007! :D

Terrific roundup Dennis.
I think this isn't over. 2006 was a midterm election year. The next time videogame violence can gain you easy "culture warrior cred" is the next time politicians will revisit this topic.

Remember, the hippy activists of the 60's who played their rock music loud and cheesed off their parents grew up to found things like the PMRC and attacked vulgarity in music.

I'm expecting some contemporary videogame defenders to eventually join the other side and protest games like GRAND THEFT AUTO Virtual Reality Simulator. You know, the game coming for 2020 that'll let you carjack and unlock Hot Coffee in true Holodeck glory.

The "media is hurting our children" debate is older than Aristotle and Plato. It's not ending any time soon. Graphics are only going to get better and games are only going to get more complicated.

My point? There'll be a real need for GamePolitics (and GamerDad) for a long time to come.

The Pixelantes have defeated the Censorcrats in America, but now the Censorcrats are invading Europe.


In that case, we need more Eurospondents.

We don't only have to deal with Germany but also with the plans of the Italian Commissioner of Justice within the European Union. We will be seeing more news about this guy in the beginning of 2007. There will be a meeting between ministers of all European states next month about violent videogames. In the following months the regulation of games will be talked about with so-called experts and the game developers (conference). And the Commissioner has already stated that when the gamedevelopers don't agree with the measures the EU wants to take, there will be a law to make them comply. So in other words, when he gets his way, gamers in Europe have a big problem. Especially since he wants rules for development, production and the sale of videogames. He would love to have a say in every cycle of development. And this all, as he calls it, to protec the children.

I really wish that Germany was the only issue in Europe, but unfortunately it isn't. I also wish us Europeans had a real protection against idiots such as Frattini, Eurocommissioner. I am really sick and tired of being seen as a criminal, only because I like playing games. I have never hurt anyone and I don't intend to either. Why do we all have to suffer for a few minor incidents? When will they deal with the real issue instead of using games as a scapegoat?

@Cecil475

Actually, I think 2007 might be the year where the downfall of the anti-game movement begins. First of all, almost all of the video game bills passed (except for California's) have not only been defeated, but the state governments that passed them have been stuck with hefty legal bills that will almost certainly be used as ammunition by their political opponents. This will likely deter future bills, if not put an end to them altogether.

Secondly, some of the most hardline antigamers have now been taking a more industry-friendly stance. Although there could be any number of reasons for them doing so, the most likely explaination is that they have realized that their current tatics just weren't working, as highlighted by the defeat of the aforementioned game bills. Not only that, but I would imagine that their pointless politking is infuriating some parents who are actually interested in the whole issue, because it doesn't get them any closer to understanding the ratings, which is all many of them wanted in the first place. Therefore, they must have seen that it is in everyone's best interests to work WITH the industry, not against it.

So yes, it seems like 2006 was one of the worst years we've had, but towards the end things are starting the go our way. You know what they say: It's always darkest before the dawn.

Yep, I can only imagine what will happen next year.

- Warren Lewis

Ah, I see Fedule isn't aware I've bought the trademark to GamerGrampa already. ;-)

(just kidding, but I am in it for the long haul and I fully intend to do this as long as I'm needed.)

And if it's not games that continue to suffer from the generation gap, some other new exciting technology will undoubtedly surface and draw attention away. True, game's aren't entirely out of "danger" yet, but I believe in time, it'll be SomethingElsePolitics and SomethingElseDad to whom the interested look for information... but of course, by the time that happens, GP and GD will probably have moved on for their own, possibly entirely unrelated reasons, so we've got nothing to fear there.