Violent Games In Germany To Be Banned?

[[JiF]Sgt Shellshocked]

I just read this article about a proposal to ban violent games in germany (on the Yahoo news site)

http://uk.videogames.games.yahoo.com/blog/article/3870/

Can any of our German members shed any more light?

[[JiF]zougathefist]

This issue has come up in the UK before when James Bulger was killed, but then it was 'Video Nasties' that were to blame,
instead of banning video games they could try restricting access to guns

After the Hungerford & Dunblane Massacres, The UK govt. banned private ownership of Centre-Fire Semi-Automatic Rifles, then banned private ownership of Handguns/Pistols.

The ban was so strictly enforced that the Olympic shooting team was forced to practice in France because it was illegal to have the guns in the UK, this has relaxed a bit since.

The pistol ban makes very few exceptions for people to own a cartridge handgun legally. This has resulted in the near complete cessation of recreational and competitive target shooting with handguns in Great Britain; Britons who wish to participate in these activities must now do so in Northern Ireland or abroad in countries such as Belgium, France, Switzerland, the USA and the Isle of Man, where gun ownership is less restrictive.

An agreement was made in September 2008 whereby the short-listed British Olympic pistol team for the 2012 Olympics was to be granted short-term Section 5 exceptions and be allowed to import their pistols and store them at a certain, secure site for the duration of the games.

If violent games made people violent,then there would only be about 30-40 people left alive in Europe by now
this smells of knee-jerk reaction

[[JiF]Blind Trooper]

I always found these stories amusing. In order to stop more gun crimes, they pass a law saying no one can have access to guns or violent video games or whatever. But...see, I don't think their logic is working like most people's. A criminal, by definition, breaks laws. Just because you tell him he can't own a gun doesn't mean that's going to stop him. Just means he has to be more clever then your average police officer. All that law does is strip everyone else of firearms, making them easier targets.

A good example is actually in Britain. As Zouga pointed out, they hardcore restriced guns there. It's true, gun-related crimes (accidental or otherwise) cut nearly in half. And all the other types of crime sky-rocketed, especially home robberies. Because while you still have knives and such to defend yourself, the common thief (if even half-way resourceful) can easily overpower them with some fairly common stuff. And if half-way intelligent, they can get a handgun off the black market and ta-da! The home owner is screwed three which ways to Sunday.

[[JiF]Djsmg]

Do not even get me started on the Canadian Gun Registry...

Anyways isn't this treading awfully close to politics?

[[JiF]Sgt Shellshocked]

My intention when opening this topic was to try and get an idea of the impact to the BF1942 (and BF1943) gaming community and not to delve into the politics.
What is the impact for German hosted BF1942 servers and players, what impact will there be on the release of BF1943 in Germany?
Will BF1942/1943 be subjected to scrutiny under any new German proposals? Can any of our German members shed any light?

[[JiF]Lt Gav]

I too am very curious as to what the German stand point will be on this. It seems to me one of those knee jerk reactions that we get to crimes in the UK. Something else is to blame other than that which the current government oversees. So start blaming something else other than the system that actually fails the perpetrators of crime.
By the way I still get access to shooting handguns in the UK. My friend has a legally owned set of shotguns, rifles & pistols. I love shooting the Magnum! Just call me Harry

[[JiF]zougathefist]

I still get access to shooting handguns in the UK. My friend has a legally owned set of shotguns, rifles & pistols

Gav The Gansta

My response was not really meant to bring politics into the thread, its just something that I was reading the other day and this reminded me

BF1942 had issues in Germany before that delayed its release,
you may be aware of the blanket ban on Nazi related material in Germany, well that is why there are no Swastika's in the EA release game - look at the flags and insignia on the soldiers and vehicles. EA had to recode them to release the game in Germany.

Personally I think the voice of reason might come into play and this will not go thru, think how many upset 'future voters' (kids) and game distributers/makers will be put out by this. plus it will be entirely unworkable, people will be able to order the games on line and get them posted, or just download them thru proxy servers.

get one of our german members to start a petition and I'll sign it!

[[JiF]FrenchAfroman]

I dont think they will be able to pass the laws, but who knows. german politician are starting to anoy me, they are also about to make paintball illegal

[[JiF]Lt Gav]

Yes I saw the paintball thing in the news last week. Too bad!!