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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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Well meaning I'm sure but unworkable. Games produced elsewhere will simply be disseminated over the internet in Germany, and will precipitate a rise in piracy. Worse still, a ban will probably bring young people face to face with ever more violent video games through illicit downloading which is unregulated. It's a fact of life that governments are increasingly irrelevant when it comes to digital technology, the best they can hope for is a compromise with game developers.
Posted by: g_morris23 on Tue Jun 09 04:52PM | Report abusewaste of time are they going to ban violent films aswell dont think so this is just another pathetic spur of the moment decision
Posted by: lilygracebigstuff2 on Tue Jun 09 04:52PM | Report abuseFor god sake, this is ridiculous. They are taking it too far. That man who shot 15 people obviously had problems anyway, people are so quick to blame video games for every problem that involves @#$% and young adults. Some really good games come from Germany, do they really want to pull themselves out from such a rich and blossoming medium?
Posted by: rjwc1993 on Tue Jun 09 04:52PM | Report abuseBollox
Posted by: alanwooldridge on Tue Jun 09 04:52PM | Report abuseThis is ridiculous. Anyone who is capable to go on a school rampage clearly already has something wrong with them, and it is about time polititians stopped using the gaming industry as a scapegoat. I play all of these violent games, and I certainly don't walk away wanting to massacre people. If violent games really were to blame, there would be millions of murderous killers, not a handful.
Posted by: gregory_oconnor on Tue Jun 09 04:52PM | Report abuseWhat about the children?! Won't somebody please think of the children!?
Posted by: the_sugar_baron on Tue Jun 09 04:53PM | Report abusePersonally I think it is absurd. This always happens when one metally ill person goes beserk and people get killed, they try to put the blame on something. I myself play FPS video games and have never shown any desire to 'gun down' innocent people. I think they should look at the real reason why this young man did those things instead of spoiling everyone elses fun. Would they do the same if he used a car to mow people down? I think not! sort it out Germany, don't let them treat you like children!
Posted by: pmcarwithen on Tue Jun 09 04:53PM | Report abuseI guess that the politicians need to address the quality of their research because evidence actually dictates that it is not the observation of third party violence that causes a devevleopment of aggression in an inividual especially children. It is a combination of experiencing violence or aggression within a framework of significant others, e.g., mums dads brothers sisters and the those who show love in some way and observing third party violence where it might be taken to be acceptable.
Posted by: robertcowell565 on Tue Jun 09 04:53PM | Report abusethis is the biggest load of bull i have ever heard if u wanna ban these game ban them making ps3 xbox 360 etc.........any1 who plays a game then shoots some1 isnt fucking right in the head to start of with
Posted by: small_paul_79 on Tue Jun 09 04:53PM | Report abuseThey are going too far with this. Everyone knows that violent computer games don't make people commit crimes!
Posted by: donald.summers on Tue Jun 09 04:53PM | Report abuse