Germany's Interior Ministers Ask Bundestag For Total Ban on Violent Games

June 5, 2009

It appears that Germany's 16 Interior Ministers have banded together to ask the Bundestag (Germany's equivalent of Parliament) to ban the production and distribution of violent video games. Moreover, the ministers hope to see this accomplished before Germany's new elections take place on September 27th.

Although we're hampered a bit the language barrier, GamePolitics has received this information today from three German readers. Their accounts appear to coincide with this Google translation of a Spiegel Online report.

The move comes during a scheduled conference of interior ministers. School shootings, in particular the March 11th rampage committed by a 17-year-old in Winnenden, were prominently mentioned in relation to the group's demand for a ban on violent games.

If passed, such a move would affect not only German game consumers, but German game developers such as Crytek (Far Cry, Crysis). Under the proposed law, Crytek would apparently need to outsource development of violent games or even relocate its operations to another country.

Comments

Re: Germany's Interior Ministers Ask Bundestag For Total ...

Submitted by Chaplain99 on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 16:38.

Who the heck are you replying to?  <.<

"HEY! LISTEN!"

"HEY! LISTEN!"

Re: Germany's Interior Ministers Ask Bundestag For Total ...

Submitted by Saxy on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 22:36.

Apparently, a fake JT...

Re: Germany's Interior Ministers Ask Bundestag For Total ...

Submitted by Adrian Lopez on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 15:33.

Heil Deutschland!

Re: Germany's Interior Ministers Ask Bundestag For Total ...

Submitted by Pixelantes Anonymous on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 15:18.

You know, I think they should just require labeling them with something that would clearly identify them as undesirable.

A yellow badge would probably be ok.

-- http://pixelantes.blogspot.com/

http://pixelantes.blogspot.com/

Re: Germany's Interior Ministers Ask Bundestag For Total ...

Submitted by KayleL on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 22:11.

Nice joke. I wonder how many people would fully understand it.

Re: Germany's Interior Ministers Ask Bundestag For Total ...

Submitted by Saxy on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 22:15.

Is it a Nazi Joke?

Re: Germany's Interior Ministers Ask Bundestag For Total ...

Submitted by Elestia on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 22:57.

If you paid attention to history class, yes.

Re: Germany's Interior Ministers Ask Bundestag For Total ...

Submitted by gamegod25 on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 21:14.

yeah like a yellow star or something

Re: Germany's Interior Ministers Ask Bundestag For Total ...

Submitted by Alyric on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 20:40.

Best. Comment. Ever.

Re: Germany's Interior Ministers Ask Bundestag For Total ...

Submitted by thefremen on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 15:12.

 Considering how hard Germany has been hit by the depression it seems very odd anyone in the government would be saying "Oh no thank you we couldn't possibly use your tax revenue".

Re: Germany's Interior Ministers Ask Bundestag For Total ...

Submitted by Valentia X on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 15:08.

If this goes through, I expect an outflow of game industry types flowing to new countries. Wouldn't blame them in the slightest.

 

What are the odds of a black-market game-sale cropping up?

 

 

 

------

hc svnt dracones

---- hc svnt dracones

Re: Germany's Interior Ministers Ask Bundestag For Total ...

Submitted by sqlrob on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 17:45.

I think the odds of a black market are near zero.

Things follow the course of least resistance. Piracy is easier.

 

Re: Germany's Interior Ministers Ask Bundestag For Total ...

Submitted by anver on Sat, 06/06/2009 - 05:53.

Actually, assuming the ban goes through in Germany and only there, it's rather likely. Many German gamers buy from other countries or online if they're gimped by the edits made. In GTA 3, for example, you can't kick people when they're down, which makes melee near useless and one mission very difficult. Solution? Buy it in Austria.

Re: Germany's Interior Ministers Ask Bundestag For Total ...

Submitted by Hitodama on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 05:25.

Is that in just one version? That's rediculous!

Re: Germany's Interior Ministers Ask Bundestag For Total ...

Submitted by Father Time on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 16:54.

Err normally I would say very high but then with Germany banning sales I doubt that comapnies would be willing to make games in German so there's probably going to be a black market but only amongst Germans that can speak languages besides German.

----------------------------------------------------

Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.

---------------------------------------------------- Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.

Re: Germany's Interior Ministers Ask Bundestag For Total ...

Submitted by xMrAx on Sun, 06/07/2009 - 00:44.

 Here comes the mafia lol

Re: Germany's Interior Ministers Ask Bundestag For Total ...

Submitted by beemoh on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 18:39.

There are a decent handful of German-speaking countries in Europe that would probably still be able to justify the cost of localisation without Germany itself.

Then again, an awful lot of Europe is multi-lingual.

/b

Re: Germany's Interior Ministers Ask Bundestag For Total ...

Submitted by MonkeyPeaches on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 15:07.

Because we all know there would be no real life violence if there were no violent video games. (sarcasm)

Re: Germany's Interior Ministers Ask Bundestag For Total ...

Submitted by Ashkihyena on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 19:48.

If it wasn't for those damn vidya gaymes, World War II would've never happend.  /sarcasm.

Re: Germany's Interior Ministers Ask Bundestag For Total ...

Submitted by JustChris on Sat, 06/06/2009 - 03:01.

Besides, violence copied by violent media is inferior to the original violence. Violent media is a observation of real life violence. It's like making a photocopy of a photocopy :p


GameSnooper

Re: Germany's Interior Ministers Ask Bundestag For Total ...

Submitted by 1AgainstTheWorld on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 15:21.

Yeah, I remember when violence first started.  It was in 1971 not long after Computer Space was first created.  All the people with spaceships started shooting at each other after playing the game.  Now nobody has spaceships anymore because they were all destroyed.  Look at how our utopia's crumbled.  Now we can only play pretend spaceships.

But seriously?  Germany, define "violence".  Most games involve SOME form of conflict, as do films, books... anything entertaining, really.

Re: German Interior Ministers Ask Legislators For Total Ban ...

Submitted by Chaplain99 on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 15:01.

Psssst...Crytek...

-points to Charlotte, NC-

You are welcome here anytime, dudes.  ^^

"HEY! LISTEN!"

"HEY! LISTEN!"

Re: German Interior Ministers Ask Legislators For Total Ban ...

Submitted by treydawg on Sat, 06/06/2009 - 11:35.

come to michigan. detroit or the metro detroit area. stardock is here.

Re: German Interior Ministers Ask Legislators For Total Ban ...

Submitted by chadachada321 on Sat, 06/06/2009 - 14:26.

Agreed. Actually, Ann Arbor is really booming right now and has lots of people that want to be engineers and the like (with U of M right there). Anywhere in South-East Michigan would be awesome.

-If an apple a day keeps the doctor away....what happens when a doctor eats an apple?-

-Optimum est pati quod emendare non possis-It is best to endure what you cannot change-

Re: German Interior Ministers Ask Legislators For Total Ban ...

Submitted by KaylaKaze on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 16:36.

Screw that. They can come here to Cary and hang out with Epic.

Re: German Interior Ministers Ask Legislators For Total Ban ...

Submitted by Vake Xeacons on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 16:48.

I'd invite them to California, but we'll have to wait until we get rid of Schwartzeneggar.


Re: German Interior Ministers Ask Legislators For Total Ban ...

Submitted by olstar18 on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 22:26.

I've got a pool of molten metal in my backyard you can use.

Re: German Interior Ministers Ask Legislators For Total Ban ...

Submitted by killatia on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 16:51.

Come to tampa, florida crytek. We'll give you all the orange juice you want ;P

http://www.magicinkgaming.com/

http://www.magicinkgaming.com/

Re: German Interior Ministers Ask Legislators For Total Ban ...

Submitted by HarmlessBunny on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 20:24.

Here in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada has plenty of room :)

 

We only have Bioware here, I am sure there is room for more :D

==============

James Fletcher, member of ECA Canada

Re: German Interior Ministers Ask Legislators For Total Ban ...

Submitted by Saxy on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 22:13.

Come down to ole Chatternuga, because we have...

uhh...

there were those things...

...

... Come down, because you won't have any local competition!

Re: German Interior Ministers Ask Legislators For Total Ban ...

Submitted by BearDogg-X on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 22:19.

Crytek should set up shop in Louisiana. Tax breaks, and all the crawfish you can eat.

Geaux Saints, Geaux Tigers, Geaux Hornets, Jack Thompson can geaux chase a chupacabra.

Geaux Saints, Geaux Tigers, Geaux Hornets. Solidarity for the Saints = No retreat, no surrender. Even through the darkest days, this fire burns always.

Re: German Interior Ministers Ask Legislators For Total Ban ...

Submitted by HarmlessBunny on Sat, 06/06/2009 - 08:05.

Crap...you win. Mmmmm crawdads....

==============

James Fletcher, member of ECA Canada

Re: German Interior Ministers Ask Legislators For Total Ban ...

Submitted by Chaplain99 on Sat, 06/06/2009 - 08:17.

Charlotte's in the middle of trying to attract Apple Co.'s business.  It's not a huge step to go from enticing one tech giant to getting a company like Crytek on board.

Also...and this isn't something I see as a selling point, but apparently...we has NASCAR... <.<;

 

"HEY! LISTEN!"

"HEY! LISTEN!"

Re: German Interior Ministers Ask Legislators For Total Ban ...

Submitted by MonkeyPeaches on Sat, 06/06/2009 - 11:46.

Come to Wisconsin, and get all the beer, cheese, brats and motorcycles you want.

Re: German Interior Ministers Ask Legislators For Total Ban ...

Submitted by Austin_Lewis on Sat, 06/06/2009 - 12:31.

Also, you'll be in one of the most boring states in the country!

Re: German Interior Ministers Ask Legislators For Total Ban ...

Submitted by MonkeyPeaches on Sat, 06/06/2009 - 13:46.

never heard of Summerfest have you?

Re: German Interior Ministers Ask Legislators For Total Ban ...

Submitted by Bennett Beeny on Sat, 06/06/2009 - 17:15.

There may be a good reason for that.

Re: German Interior Ministers Ask Legislators For Total Ban ...

Submitted by MonkeyPeaches on Sun, 06/07/2009 - 05:58.

Summerfest is America's Largest Music Festival and is held in Milwaukee.

Re: German Interior Ministers Ask Legislators For Total Ban ...

Submitted by Chaplain99 on Sun, 06/07/2009 - 09:09.

Well, I'm originally from Chicago, so I'd URGE Crytek to go there, but Charlotte has...um...crap...

...y'know what?  Crytek, go to Chicago.  I'll meet you there.  ^^

"HEY! LISTEN!"

"HEY! LISTEN!"

Re: German Interior Ministers Ask Legislators For Total Ban ...

Submitted by Hitodama on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 05:22.

Can I be the most strange one and ask them to come to Dothan, Alabama?

Re: German Interior Ministers Ask Legislators For Total Ban ...

Submitted by xMrAx on Sun, 06/07/2009 - 00:42.

 Come to Texas. Good incentives and other game companies to work with. You can join Bioware, Retro, Gearbox, id software, 3D Realms, and Pi studios down here. The more the merrier.

Re: German Interior Ministers Ask Legislators For Total Ban ...

Submitted by a_pink_poodle on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 22:52.

Forget that noise! Come to Seattle, WA! We got coffee and lots of clouds!

Re: German Interior Ministers Ask Legislators For Total Ban ...

Submitted by Saxy on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 22:13.

Come down to ole Chatternuga, because we have...

uhh...

there were those things...

...

... Come down, because you won't have any local competition!

 
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E. Zachary Knight: If the videos are of sufficient quality that people subscribe and watch regularly, then those let's players are providing a service that people want. That is the heart of capitalism. That is not something that should be shamed.05/17/2013 - 8:06am
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E. Zachary Knight: The 50th person to jump off a bridge is just as dumb if not dumber than the 1st.05/16/2013 - 10:03am
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IanC: Frostbite is coming out on iOS devices. Yet the Wii U cant handle it? *coughbullshitcough*05/15/2013 - 2:31pm
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