German Government Bans "Crackdown" for Xbox 360
German Government Bans "Crackdown" for Xbox 360
January 9, 2007
Numerous sites have reported that the German government has effectively banned Crackdown
, an upcoming cops-and-robbers shooter published by Microsoft for the Xbox 360. Crackdown thus joins Gears of War and Dead Rising as 360 games unwelcome in Germany.Perhaps not coincidentally, German politicians are currently debating a crackdown of another sort. Proposed legislation would make creators, distributors and even players of violent games subject to legal penalties which could include jail time.
As detailed by GameSpot, the USK, Germany's ratings board, has refused classification of Crackdown, which means that it cannot be sold to minors or via online orders. In addition, it cannot be displayed in stores or advertised.
Of the German government's decision, Microsoft told GameSpot:
Microsoft respects the decision of the German ratings board - the USK - not to provide the title with a rating. While Microsoft will continue to follow its policy of not publishing unrated titles, we remain committed to delivering Crackdown and other top-quality entertainment experiences to age-appropriate audiences around the world.
Set for a late February launch in North America, Crackdown will carry an M-rating from the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, and Use of Drugs.
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Posted 11/07/09 at 10:58am
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:56am
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:51am
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:48am
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:11am
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:07am
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:05am
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:03am
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:56am
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:45am
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:37am
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:36am
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:32am
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:30am
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:44am
JDKJ: And it isn't yet clear what type of ammunition Hasan used. It's strange that he purchased a gun but didn't purchase ammunition for it at the same place and time. Especially because the calibre required is peculiar to the actual gun.
JDKJ: And it isn't yet clear what type of ammunition Hasan used. It's strange that he purchased a gun but didn't purchase ammunition for it at the same place and time. Especially because the calibre required is peculiar to the actual gun.
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:40am
JDKJ: We can sit here all day and debate the relative merits. However, I think the events of recent days suggest that an FN Five-Seven ain't exactly the same as that Daisy BB gun you got for Christmas when you were a kid.
JDKJ: We can sit here all day and debate the relative merits. However, I think the events of recent days suggest that an FN Five-Seven ain't exactly the same as that Daisy BB gun you got for Christmas when you were a kid.
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:38am
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: tumbling can be quite dangerous. However, the rounds that commonly tumbled were variants of the SS90. Civilian ammo tends to tumble far less commonly.
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: tumbling can be quite dangerous. However, the rounds that commonly tumbled were variants of the SS90. Civilian ammo tends to tumble far less commonly.
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:33am
JDKJ: I understand that while they don't have much expansion effect, they tend to "yaw" on impact. Yaw can be almost just as damaging as mushrooming.
JDKJ: I understand that while they don't have much expansion effect, they tend to "yaw" on impact. Yaw can be almost just as damaging as mushrooming.
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:30am
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: Except when one considers the lack of expansion for the 5.7, it basically ends up leaving a far smaller hole.
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: Except when one considers the lack of expansion for the 5.7, it basically ends up leaving a far smaller hole.
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:29am
JDKJ: But if the latter's travelling at close to twice the speed of the former, there's a compensatory effect on the weight difference.
JDKJ: But if the latter's travelling at close to twice the speed of the former, there's a compensatory effect on the weight difference.
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Comments
I wonder why they do this. Dead Rising and Gears of War being topsellers and all. It's a measure to somewhat protect their corporate image I guess.
Anyway, sad to see yet another top-title for the 360 not (easily) available in Germany.
Considering the outlawing of violent games, this is all a knee-jerk populist reaction from the media-attentionwhoring German politicians. It's got nothing to do with the actual problems at hand, that cause things like the recent school shootings.
I have to hope for the reasoning ability of my government not to pass such an outright stupid law...
If this law is passed, I might well consider moving out of the country. Not beacuse I'm such an uber-geek and can't live without my precious gory games, but because such an act would show that our government does everything for a little media attention.
nice discussion around here, well I am german and in posession of GoW and DeadRising and i really enjoy it.(ordered on e-seller)
what is true is, that we got hell conservative politics, especially in bavaria which see no other reaction on amok-idiots and school-raiders then forbidding "killer-games" as they call it.
why?? well they looked on the computers of the school raiders after they committed suicide and what they found? Counterstrike (xtraLOL)
And thats, what the whole avalanche started.
I hope they will enable a real discussion about it one day, instead of barkin one-way decissions that wont help a sh*t.
thx
and greetinx from old europe ;)
So....it's possible to receive jail time for playing a violent video game? Wow, that's ridiculous.
Back on to the topic, I still think no one's actually trying these games out before they rate the game, and they're basing their decision on word of mouth.
Anyways, I'm glad to see that the game's not 'banned', just 'really, really restricted,' though that in itself shouldn't have happened in the first place. Seriously, is there some part in this game where the cop busts out a chainsaw and goes to town on the bad guys that I just haven't seen?
Lmao, I actually must have missed that joke.
Well I guess you could say that. Its not on the "banned list", you just have to be 18 to buy it, and it cannot be publicaly advertised or displayed. Personaly I dont think its fair, I wouldnt say they banned it.
It looks to me like "crackdown" is a game thats target audiance appears to be players under the age of 18 which is why they dont want to rate it. Bottom line is if you want to buy it you still can.
Thompson should move to Germany. :p
Now, how the heck did the USK come to this decision? Granted, I haven't seen a whole lot of gameplay footage for Crackdown, but what violence I've seen seems blatantly exaggerated, almost cartoony. Far from the fairly realistic bloody stuff you'll find in GoW or Dead Rising. Then again, seeing all the fun stuff the ESRB has it pegged for, I might just be missing all the gorey stuff. Has anyone been able to see any of the stuff the ESRB's seeing?
So the word "banned" is actually a bit inaccurate.
Honestly, the last thign we need is amm for the anti gamers to eat up. "Look, they ban these games in Germany." Well we aren't Germany.
To get your rating refused it doesn't have to be graphic. In this case the violence was probably considered "problematic" for some strange reason nobody really gives a fuck about.
i agree...