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Germany Video Games Law?

Discussion in 'Game/SP News & Comments' started by chevalier, Dec 13, 2006.

  1. chevalier

    chevalier Knight of Everfull Chalice ★ SPS Account Holder Veteran

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    It looks like Germany is going to beat American legislators to video game laws. Here's a piece of what Financial Times says:

    Virtual hit men in Europe’s largest video games market could soon find themselves behind real bars if German regional politicians have their way.

    Under new legislation drawn up in reaction to a shooting at a school last month, developers, retailers and players of videos featuring “cruel violence” could face up to a year in jail.

    The bill - unveiled this week by the states of Bavaria and Lower Saxony and due to be presented to the national parliament next year - is already raising the alarm in the 2m strong German online gaming community.


    Read the rest at Financial Times.
     
  2. Sir Slayer Gems: 1/31
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    It's the same as always. Something bad happens and people will try to place blame on anyone or anything else than themselves. "It's no our (parents + teachers) fault, it's those bloody games our innocent kids are playing!"
    Let's hope it's just a false alarm and the situation will calm down again. Germany is quite a big producer of good pc games, many of them from the fantasy genre (Spellforce, Gothic). It would be a shame if they were forced to produce only 100% politically-correct, "Nintendo-compatible" games. As if we didn't have enough of those.
     
  3. Colthrun

    Colthrun Walk first in the forest and last in the bog Veteran

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    Why doesn't this apply to violent TV too, I wonder?
     
  4. Aikanaro Gems: 31/31
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    That's disgusting.

    Edit after reading the article: That's really, really disgusting. I was thinking that only obscure games where torture and stuff is the focus would be banned - but it seems to have a much wider focus than that.

    Good thing there's the internet. People can always pirate what they can't get legally.
     
  5. Ziad

    Ziad I speak in rebuses Veteran

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    It's a shame people should have to go to this extent to play a game. I thought we were supposed to discourage piracy, not encourage it.
     
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