Germany calls for all European Countries to ban Violent Video Games

[ThumbBot]

The German government is seeking to ban violent video games across all 27 countries of the European Union.

Germany is currently presiding over the European Union, and are taking initiative in implementing a ban. But the European Commission has also called to have violent games banned throughout the European Union. “Protection of children cannot have borders,” said the European Justice minister on Tuesday.

The German government has also proposed a national ban on all games depicting violence towards human characters.

Posted by Rusalka Clarke

[Rodi]

Protecting the children? I thought violent games were for adults. Do we need protection as well?

Ah well, we all know how fond the Germans are of making things entartet. Increased regulation; fine. But banishing things... we're not living in the third reich, sister.

[hermes]

Rodi:

we're not living in the third reich, sister.

That was low. Apart from that I agree totally - the germans really have some crazy things going on with violent video-games. Go video-game lobby!

[Rodi]

Come on, what's a discussion worth without some juicy allusions to the second World War?

[Redwall]

I always thought that once somebody invoked Godwin's law the discussion was over.

[Rodi]

I'm certainly not letting my actions be decided by a Wikipedia article.

[Cellardoor]

The problem with this sort of blinkered view of video games is that if you let the banning commence where will it end?
Would the european union begin a ban on violent horror films?
The simple solution for this is to enforce age restriction on the sale of violent games, not to ban them outright.
Love it as much as I do I don't think I could live in a world where all games are essentially like Nintendo's in-house products. I can happily play Animal crossing & pokemon but I like to mix it up occasionally and wouldn't want to lose gaming experiences like Dead Rising or Gears of War.

[Marek]

OK OK let me try!

If you play violent video games, you are a neonazi.

[Rodi]

Perfect!

[hermes]

Rodi:

Come on, what's a discussion worth without some juicy allusions to the second World War?

Not much I guess, its just recently that everytime there is a news-story involving germany someone has to comment something in the veins of "like hitler HAHAHA" - so I'm just a bit tired of it - it's too easy.

[adfegg]

One German I know who wouldn't be happy with the ban is Uwe Boll. Without violent games, how would he make a fortune from crappy films?

You don't suppose that's why they're trying to ban them, do you? Some misguided attempt to make amends for unleashing Raging Boll upon the world?

[Kluf]

Rodi:

I'm certainly not letting my actions be decided by a Wikipedia article.

Hey, I'm from Germany, and I have provoked Godwin's Law myself, actually. Yeah, and it worked that way, but the discussion partner was an ignorant bastard anyway.

Otherwise, don't take those intentions too seriously over here. Those suggestions come from politicians who have never heard from a concept called "rational thought" before, are mostly over 60 and just too frustrated that their hands are too shaky so that they could play one of those games properly.
It's no wonder, there was a school shooting recently over here and every one flipped out and lost themselves in actionism.
Now there was the case of two teenagers murdering a married couple. Of course the so-called "Killerspiele" were to blame because they had Final Fantasy VII installed on their computers!!!
Next time turn-based strategy games will be the seed of all evil...because the way how the numbers count down as more soldiers get murdered is just humiliating!!

[Rodi]

Well, our own minister of Justice(?) is on the case as well, so that's bleh.

More disturbing of course is Merkel's intent on pushing the European constitution through that the Netherlands and France strongly and successfully opposed a few years back. I guess the will of the people isn't of any value to politicians anymore.