End the violence (in videogames)

Tue Jun 09 09:57AM by Yahoo! UK Games Editor

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According to several internet sources, including this one Germany's 16 Interior Ministers are rallying to completely stamp out violent videogames.

The online edition of German news magazine Der Spiegel has revealed that interior ministers urged against ‘Killerspiele' (killer games) during a conference held last Friday. Although details are only being shared in English via online translations such as this, it seems clear that German ministers are now serious about preventing another incident like Winnenden on 11 March where a 17-year-old shot 15 people. The previous evening the shooter had been playing the game "Far Cry 2".

Spiegel Online details that the ministers have appealed for "an explicit production and dissemination ban as soon as possible", preventing the development and distribution of all games considered to be violent within Germany.

The Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK) software ratings board already stands in the way of many violent games being released in Germany. The blockbuster "Gears of War" series for Xbox 360 is among them. However the key issue with the latest appeal to the Bundestag, the German equivalent of the British Parliament, is that violent videogames may not be produced on German soil. This would be hard on German based developer Crytek, coincidentally responsible for the original "Far Cry".

Winnenden isn't the first tragedy to move government officials against violent games, and especially those that involve shooting other people. The Columbine High School massacre of 1999 brought that same year's E3 videogame convention under US government scrutiny, forcing first-person-shooters - in particular ultra-realistic ‘simulation' Soldier of Fortune - behind closed doors, viewable by appointment only. In the case of Columbine it was id Software's "Doom" held responsible.

Do violent videogames beget violent gun-toting youths? Are the German ministers over-reacting, or even acting to be seen to be acting? If the German ministers' appeals are accepted, and if the decision proves to be popular overseas, it's likely that UK MPs will see vote-winning opportunities in this country too.

Prudence or politics? You decide.

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User comments

  • (1)

    what a load of boll ocks

    Posted by: brett_messruther on Tue Jun 09 04:36PM | Report abuse
  • (2)

    I don't think it's the games that cause the problems, if you consider the sheer number of how many people play these games (several hundred thousand in some cases) compared to how many of these shootings etc have taken place i think it is unfair to blame the video games. I'm not trying to take away the fact...these shootings are tragic and i do feel for any that are involved or have lost people but I just don't think you can blame the video games companies.

    Posted by: euan_t001 on Tue Jun 09 04:45PM | Report abuse
  • (3)

    video games dont make killers.... retards

    Posted by: bonghead8 on Tue Jun 09 04:47PM | Report abuse
  • (4)

    Could everyone please just take responsibility for their own actions?

    Posted by: homeallsummer on Tue Jun 09 04:47PM | Report abuse
  • (5)

    Its stupid, plenty of inteliigent people an enjoy shooting games without going mental. A knife is a lethal weapon, but are you going to take knives out of kitchens, because a few loonies hurt people with them? No Exactly my point!

    Posted by: zosososo658 on Tue Jun 09 04:47PM | Report abuse
  • (6)

    It's quite amazing how out of touch with any form of reality the average politician is. I don't recall many video games being around when the worse of Europe's killing was going on...both world wars were caused by politicians by the way. When they've banned all these games and people still die, what will they turn to?

    Posted by: korat102 on Tue Jun 09 04:47PM | Report abuse
  • (7)

    Good idea!! Who needs those "games" anyway. Games should be fun and playing war, killing people isn't fun.

    Posted by: birgitmorris on Tue Jun 09 04:48PM | Report abuse
  • (8)

    Like i've said many times before, If people can't tell the difference between real life and games then there are some serious mental issues. Violent games are just a scapegoat for skirting round other issues with children's behavior

    Posted by: daledastud on Tue Jun 09 04:48PM | Report abuse
  • (9)

    BS Columbine was not caused by violent video games

    Posted by: daanish_1000 on Tue Jun 09 04:48PM | Report abuse
  • (10)

    wtf is this bullshit? video games dont cause violence, cant these people get it? if they sat down and actually played the f****** game, then i bet they wouldnt be spouting this crap. How are idots like this in government?

    Posted by: a13xbro on Tue Jun 09 04:48PM | Report abuse