Germany on the verge of total ban of all video games

[GodsOneMistake]

Fuck, that would suck to live in Germany. Are they so cautious about these kind of things because of that little incident 60ish years ago. Well than this is a great way to make sure that, that never happens again, taking away rights always works out. (Severe amounts of sarcasm)

 

[Computer-Noob]

Maybe we should ban religion because another crusade might start.
Lets also ban going outside so people who are mentally unstable dont have a chance of killing anyone else.
Hell, lets ban food because murderers eat it to survive. That'll stop em.



You might as well be hearing any of the above statements...Thats how ridiculous the idea is. Not like its going to get through, but thats just my thoughts.

 

[Zombie_Fish]

How extreme is this ban, as people have argued before (I'm not one of these people) who argues that Mario Brothers and Crash Bandicoot are violent games.

 

[Cpt. Red]

Maybe we should ban religion because another crusade might start.

Please can we? (Unfortunately only half joking )

 

[Labyrinth]

This will never pass the parliament.

Funny, I said that about the Aus Government's Internet filter. Look at what happened there [http://causticcontents.blogspot.com/2009/05/government-blocks-on-my-internet.html].

 

[Pendragon9]

RIOT! Tell the germans to riot if this passes!

 

[Simalacrum]

bloody hell, I feel sorry for Crytek

 

[DannyBoy451]

It'll never pass, don't worry.

 

[Jerious1154]

They'll never go through with it. The backlash would put the current German government out of power and send shockwaves through the country politically speaking, since no-one is going to support it in the public. Plus, it'll be too great a loss of revenue for the country's gaming industry, the government would have to be idiots to do that in this economic climate. There's no way they can do it without commiting social and political suicide.

I think you are overestimating the political power of gamers. A vast majority of voters don't play video games and couldn't care less whether they're allowed or not.

I still don't think it's going to pass though, I don't believe that a majority of the German parliament is that stupid. Although I could be wrong.

 

[ChromeAlchemist]

This will never pass the parliament.

Funny, I said that about the Aus Government's Internet filter. Look at what happened there [http://causticcontents.blogspot.com/2009/05/government-blocks-on-my-internet.html].

Exactly. People are drawing parallels to their own countries policies and laws. Bear in mind that Germany is heavily censored as is, and we know this.

The censorship agency they created (which has a name too long to post, oh shoot I'll do it anyway: Bundesprüfstelle für jugendgefährdende Medien or BPjM) exists to protect minors from what they perceive to be 'harmful content', and I forgot what article of German law it was that said something along the lines of 'freedom of expression and artistic freedom are not without limits'.

Couple this with the years of officials making a push for this kind of thing, and the outright vilification of games in media throughout much of the western world, and it's not at all impossible to imagine a ban of violent games.

 

[crazy-j]

as fellow gamers and nerds we cannot leave our german brothers to face this tyranny alone, i call for a crusade! TO ARMS!!!!!

ehem anyway.. i seriously doubt this law will actually be passed and if it does the civilian opposition would be pretty fierce (or so i assume) so it would probably be lifted. and if not well then i think it would be time to bring out that shotgun we all keep incase of a zombie invasion...

 

[mythbuster343]

This will never pass the parliament.

I agree. theres no way with the economy a it is that they would stop selling video games, even if its just the violent ones.

Plus, people there would just go to some other country and get it. This way, they don't even get taxes on the game.

 

[PumpActionJesus]

that so wouldnt happn, warcraft 3 has like a bazillion germans on it. There would be rallies in the streets the likes of which germany has not seen before.

 

[Vanguard_Ex]

I checked Chip Online and sure enough...

http://www.chip.de/news/Innenminister-Killerspiel-Verbot-beschlossen_36791376.html

But this'll never pass.
It'd be madness.

It'd be Sparta

Sorry, I just had to.
There's no way this would stick even if it passed. Hell, it might actually cause other real problems in exchange for attempting to prevent problems by cutting off something which they're not even sure is the cause. For example, where are the kids who usually play games going to go? Outside. Where they could join gangs. And vent their frustration upon the world. Just sayin'

 

[Le_Lisra]

It may not pass parliament, but even if it did it would probably end up before our Supreme Court who'd then at least make it more sensible.. never aussume however that something mad might not pass parliament, it didn't work with the new BKA (federal police) act, which made me despair even more of my gouvernemt than usual.

The sheer fact that the ministries decided this is painful for the whole country.

I'll wont be affected whatever happens, cos of my relocation, but still.. sad, sad time to be (half) german.

 

[UsefulPlayer 1]

I guess they're going with the "games make crazy people" rationalization, instead of the ever so simply "crazy people play games."

 

[Ashbax]

Shouldnt this be in gaming discussion?

And if this passes Im gonna nuke germany,

 

[j0z]

If by some miracle they do pass this, then the backlash would make the American Prohibition pale in comparison.
If one thing is guaranteed to make something popular, then it is banning it, works every time.

 

[Lord Beautiful]

...
...
I'm not quite sure what to say.
...
Captain, can you help me out a bit?

Spoiler: ...

Well said.