So much for remaining neutral—a pair of Swiss resolutions dealing with violent videogames have been passed by the country’s National Council.
As detailed last month, the first resolution, proposed by Christian Democratic Party member and National Councillor Norbert Hochreutener, would make it illegal to sell PEGI 16 or 18-rated games to minors, while a second resolution, backed by Social Democrat Evi Allemann, called for a complete ban of violent and adult-themed videogames.
German site Games Markt (translated) notes that the passing of the motions will simply kick off the process of designing the actual legal framework surrounding the two measures.
Alleman’s proposal passed with a 19-12 vote, while it appears Hochreutener’s measure garnered 27 backing votes.
A translated passage from Alleman’s motion offers:
The Federal Council is asked to submit to Parliament a statutory basis, which allows the manufacture, touting, importation, sale and distribution of game programs, to prohibit, in which cruel acts of violence against humans and humanlike creatures for the game success.
|Via MCVUK|
Comments
Re: Swiss Pass Violent Game Bans, Actual Laws to Follow
I don't think there are enough Swiss gamers in Switzerland to oppose this law. But again here we go in a round about way to ban all violent video games again........
Humanlike creatures?!?!?! What?! They are kidding right? B/c wouldn't that mean zombies and aliens? (Being sarcastic).
"It's better to be hated for who you are, then be loved for who you are not." - Montgomery Gentry
Re: Swiss Pass Violent Game Bans, Actual Laws to Follow
Re: Swiss Pass Violent Game Bans, Actual Laws to Follow
1) Germany couldn't prevent people from importing these games that Schwitzerland now are trying to ban the Swiss from importing. 2) Germany couldn't do this because they're member of the EU.
3) In the EU, there is a general rule of free trade e.g. free trade of goods and services. As such, Germany can't ban importing what they consider violent games. 4) Swiss have an associaton with EU, I think?. As such, they can't do this either. 5) They can prohibit the sale of 16+ and 18+ games to minors - just as Germany, Finland, and the UK does.
And again, what is is violent game? Is it GTA IV, or is it Mass Effect 2, or is it the Indiana Jones Lego games? And who is to decide this?
Re: Swiss Pass Violent Game Bans, Actual Laws to Follow
Germany does have a ban on importing certain games for anything else but purely personal use. This is not in conflict with EU regulations.
Re: Swiss Pass Violent Game Bans, Actual Laws to Follow
Swiss is not part of the EU, because that would align them with EU, breaking their neutrality. So they can ban whatever they want freely in that regard.
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Re: Swiss Pass Violent Game Bans, Actual Laws to Follow
At least in Switzerland anyone can call for a national referendum on any legislature, provided they get 50,000 signatures on a petition within 100 days, so if enough people were against it they they could trigger a referendum. That might be enough to overturn the law, or at very least raise awareness about the issue.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland#Direct_democracy
Switzerland is a pretty awesome place overall, this is just a bad decision by a few people in power.
Re: Swiss Pass Violent Game Bans, Actual Laws to Follow
I'm guessing Switzerland is yet another country that doesn't have Free Speech protection hardwired into a constitution of some sort, easily foiling censoring attempts like this one. Have I mentioned how much I love living in the US?
Re: Swiss Pass Violent Game Bans, Actual Laws to Follow
The Swiss Constitution also guarantees Freedom of speech and Freedom of information for every citizen. I reckon it won't be long before this is overturned on that basis
US democracy is by no means perfect. Unlike many European countries you don't have proportional representation, and unlike at least one European country you can't vote your ruling party out at any time if they're screwing the pooch.
Freedom of speech is hardwired into a number of constitutions that have proportional representation and the right to hold an election at any time. Scotland, for example - and the Scots have a system that guarantees healthcare for all. The US is okay, but I wish it had more freedom and a more responsive and representative government.
Re: Swiss Pass Violent Game Bans, Actual Laws to Follow
I'm not saying the US is perfect. I'm just saying that I'm noticing a lot of countries aren't so gung ho about freedom of expression, or have it contitutionally protected in some way. The UK doesn't, Australia. Greece, or Germany either. Yeah, they try to support free speech as much as possible, because it's popular, but it also seems much easier to chip away at those rights in those contries, than in countries where it's a contitutional issue. I was just curious how things were for the Swiss.
Jeez, I forgot I couldn't be proud of being an American in any way, without being seen as an ignorant, nationalist, "Ugly American" stereotype. I'll be more clear in the future.
Re: Swiss Pass Violent Game Bans, Actual Laws to Follow
Free speech does have constitutional protection in Germany. It just doesn't have unlimited protection. Which admittedly isn't much of a protection. (The German constitution also guarantees freedom of TV and radio broadcasts since 1949. It still took three decades and the equivalent of a Supreme Court decision to legalize private TV stations.)
Re: Swiss Pass Violent Game Bans, Actual Laws to Follow
We better be careful in dealing with Switzerland, we might lose their valuable knife, clock, and cheese technology.
Re: Swiss Pass Violent Game Bans, Actual Laws to Follow
Well its one thing to restrict voilent games, but theres no way they can trully banned them all together without some back slash.
http://www.magicinkgaming.com/
Re: Swiss Pass Violent Game Bans, Actual Laws to Follow
I hope in the end it fail because of gamers and free speech defender protest against this bill.
Re: Swiss Pass Violent Game Bans, Actual Laws to Follow
Oh boy just wait till this spills over to other media....
Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! CP/IP laws should not effect the daily life of common people! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
I have a dream, break the chains of copy right oppression! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/2011/12/31/what-is-cigital-disobedience/
Re: Swiss Pass Violent Game Bans, Actual Laws to Follow
It's a slippery slope. First they ban games that are violent, then they can ban games that feature minarets!
---You are likely to be eaten by a Grue.
Re: Swiss Pass Violent Game Bans, Actual Laws to Follow
I wish I could just click "like" around here, like on facebook, instead of actually replying to generate my approval for certain comments.
---
Fangamer
Fangamer
Re: Swiss Pass Violent Game Bans, Actual Laws to Follow
It's pretty bad when a Christian Democratic Party member is more reasonable than a Social Democrat. Just wow Switzerland.
Re: Swiss Pass Violent Game Bans, Actual Laws to Follow
Damn you can't even import. They are going to what Germany tried to do a few years ago IIRC.
Re: Swiss Pass Violent Game Bans, Actual Laws to Follow
So it's all right to sell a game depicting cruel actions to non-humanoid entities?
Re: Swiss Pass Violent Game Bans, Actual Laws to Follow
And there wasn´t anybody to opposse to this?
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Re: Swiss Pass Violent Game Bans, Actual Laws to Follow
IF not someone better say something.
Saying nothing is worse than doing something and failing.