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German gamers face jail for acts of virtual violence

Started by Mr. Christopher, December 12, 2006, 09:35:44 AM

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Mr. Christopher

December 12, 2006, 09:35:44 AM
Good news for video game henchmen, I suppose.

http://technology.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1969921,00.html

QuoteGerman gamers face jail for acts of virtual violence

Tuesday December 12, 2006
The Guardian

Players and creators of video games could face imprisonment for acts of virtual violence under draft legislation being drawn up by two of Germany's state governments.

Politicians in Bavaria and Lower Saxony have proposed a new offence that will punish "cruel violence on humans or human-looking characters" inside games. Early drafts suggest that infringers should face fines or up to 12 months' jail for promoting or enacting in-game violence.

The scheme comes in response to a shooting last month in the town of Emsdetten on the Dutch border, where Sebastian Bosse, an 18-year-old games fan, stormed into his former school and wounded 37 people before killing himself.

The incident caused outrage and the bill's sponsor, the Bavarian interior minister Günther Beckstein, claimed there was a direct connection between Bosse's actions and his love of the game Counter Strike. "It is absolutely beyond any doubt that such killer games desensitise unstable characters and can have a stimulating effect," he said.

Germany already has drastic censorship laws for games, and industry officials are preparing organised protests against the proposals. Research has yet to show a link between violence in video games and violent acts in the real world.
Why are there so many songs about rainbows and what\'s on the other side? Rainbows are visions, but only illusions, and rainbows have nothing to hide.

Sosthenes

#1
December 12, 2006, 09:41:13 AM
In other news, if anyone knows of a nice country to move to (with jobs, please), do tell ;)
 

rcsample

#2
December 12, 2006, 10:49:11 AM
Coming soon:

QuoteGerman gamers face jail for acts of virtual traffic violations

Tuesday December 12, 2007
The Guardian

Players and creators of video games could face imprisonment for acts of virtual traffic violations under draft legislation being drawn up by two of Germany's state governments.

Politicians in Bavaria and Lower Saxony have proposed a new offence that will punish "excessive speed and erratic driving" inside games. Early drafts suggest that infringers should face fines or up to 12 months' jail for promoting or enacting in-game traffic violations.

The scheme comes in response to an incident last month in the town of Emsdetten on the Dutch border, where Mario Andretti, an 18-year-old games fan, drove his car at speeds in excess of the speed limit.

The incident caused outrage and the bill's sponsor, the Bavarian interior minister Günther Beckstein, claimed there was a direct connection between Andretti's actions and his love of the game Need For Speed. "It is absolutely beyond any doubt that such racing games desensitise unstable characters and can have a stimulating effect," he said.

Germany already has drastic censorship laws for games, and industry officials are preparing organised protests against the proposals. Research has yet to show a link between traffic violations in video games and traffic violations in the real world.

 

JongWK

#3
December 12, 2006, 11:04:41 AM
Quote from: SosthenesIn other news, if anyone knows of a nice country to move to (with jobs, please), do tell ;)

What's your profession?
"I give the gift of endless imagination."
~~Gary Gygax (1938 - 2008)

Sosthenes

#4
December 12, 2006, 11:25:15 AM
Quote from: JongWKWhat's your profession?
IT (programming), so no chance on any "alien with special abilites" laws.

I just hope this won't get much further. Not that I'm such an avid gamer, but we've got enough stupid laws here anyway. Beckstein is the typical right-wing asshat looking for excuses to hunt for some votes and get his catholic conservative agenda moving. No Gears of War for us...
 

Settembrini

#5
December 12, 2006, 12:11:45 PM
This won´t happen.
Only elderly and uniformed people who aren´t computer savvy would vote for that shit, or stand up for it.

Wait, our country is full of them.
Aieee!

EDIT: I wonder if i may continue to play EUII. I mean, it is called a "god-game" after all. What will catholic bavaria think about those?
If there can\'t be a TPK against the will of the players it\'s not an RPG.- Pierce Inverarity

Sosthenes

#6
December 12, 2006, 12:20:49 PM
Quote from: SettembriniEDIT: I wonder if i may continue to play EUII. I mean, it is called a "god-game" after all. What will catholic bavaria think about those?
Hey, don't forget Lower Saxony, conservative dipshit-ism isn't limited to those wearing lederhosen.

And you don't need to worry. It's not an American game, Bavaria could conquer the rest of Europe in it and no typical player will ever wreak havoc. They're too much occupied with finding historical errors in the game and correcting them.

I'll predict that soon Jack Thompson will make his voice heard. Mark my words.
 

Settembrini

#7
December 12, 2006, 12:31:44 PM
QuoteHey, don't forget Lower Saxony, conservative dipshit-ism isn't limited to those wearing lederhosen.

German conservatism is utterly fucked up at the moment. Aimless, confused with leadership that is occupied by holding the shebang together.
If there can\'t be a TPK against the will of the players it\'s not an RPG.- Pierce Inverarity

Sosthenes

#8
December 12, 2006, 12:38:32 PM
Quote from: SettembriniGerman conservatism is utterly fucked up at the moment. Aimless, confused with leadership that is occupied by holding the shebang together.
The usual way to distract from bad leadership: Ban something.
(Sorry guys, we really can't start a war. I honestly wonder why the French do get the bad reputation when there's a much easier target.)
 

JongWK

#9
December 12, 2006, 12:45:51 PM
Quote from: SosthenesIT (programming), so no chance on any "alien with special abilites" laws.

The IT market is red-hot in Uruguay, especially in Free Trade Zones like Zonamerica. Odds are you could get a good job here.
"I give the gift of endless imagination."
~~Gary Gygax (1938 - 2008)

joewolz

#10
December 22, 2006, 12:20:09 AM
I propose we set up a foundation to send violent video games to Bavaria.

If any Germans on this board want a PC game, let me know.
-JFC Wolz
Co-host of 2 Gms, 1 Mic

Sosthenes

#11
December 22, 2006, 01:45:39 AM
Not for me, I already had the police show up once because of something forum-related ;)
 

J Arcane

#12
December 22, 2006, 10:44:05 PM
THe funy thing is, most of the other Germans I've spoken to on vidgame boards basically laughed at it.  Most of them import all their games from further east in Europe to save money anyway, the grey market is apparently huge there.

Some game devs have said they're looking into relocating though, like Crytek, and there's more behind them I'm sure, as there's a fair lot of game developers in Germany as I understand it.  Which means they'd basically be kicking out a whole industry.  

So Germany stands to lose money from it's economy, money on taxes for enforcement, and all for a law everyone is going to circumvent anyway.

If I didn't know any better I'd say they were borrowing pages from the US' "War on Drugs" playbook.
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Sosthenes

#13
December 23, 2006, 06:50:24 AM
Once again, board members aren't exactly the norm. The casual gamer _will_ suffer.
 

Settembrini

#14
December 25, 2006, 01:53:01 AM
Won´t happen.
We have a constitution after all.

I do think it´s the first small step to the gerontro-wars. Were the active and outnumbered younger people fight the increasing hordes of the elderly, uninformed and senile.

Only a person who doesn´t play computer games at all could pass such a moronic law.
If there can\'t be a TPK against the will of the players it\'s not an RPG.- Pierce Inverarity
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