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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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So if they are going to ban violent video games i suppose they must be about to ban violent films to??? I would'nt agree with either but theres no point in being half hearted about it. Disturbed childhood's would probably be more to blame but i can't imagine they are about to ban violent criminals from having kids?? I know which i think would be more effective!
Posted by: smithreques on Tue Jun 09 04:53PM | Report abuseive been playing these types of games since i was 8 and ive never hurt anyone i know the difference between the game world and the real world i know what is right and wrong these kids obviously dont in the end its down to the parents if a 12 year old is playing an 18 rated game then shame on the parents
Posted by: mattyg21118389 on Tue Jun 09 04:54PM | Report abuseSo if they are going to ban violent video games i suppose they must be about to ban violent films to??? I would'nt agree with either but theres no point in being half hearted about it. Disturbed childhood's would probably be more to blame but i can't imagine they are about to ban violent criminals from having kids?? I know which i think would be more effective!
Posted by: smithreques on Tue Jun 09 04:54PM | Report abuseI started using peer to peer back in 98 and they are still trying to close it down and I will predict this will be met with the same failure. Hey you politicians, how is the war on drugs going; you guys still fighting that one to and that started in the sixties.
Posted by: jerry_springer_room on Tue Jun 09 04:54PM | Report abusethis is stupid
Posted by: clanfergie on Tue Jun 09 04:54PM | Report abusei think its a really good idea to ban violent games
Posted by: zaarahbano on Tue Jun 09 04:54PM | Report abuseNo. All of these killings were done by people who were underage and shouldn't be playing the games anyway. I've played all of these games and don't find myself killing anyone.
Posted by: ihearmonkeys on Tue Jun 09 04:54PM | Report abuseThis is a great policy and once its in place hopefully the rest of Europe will follow.
Posted by: dinger180 on Tue Jun 09 04:54PM | Report abuseViolent games do not make people commit crimes, in fact they destress a lot of people who would otherwise do something violent. What next, ban violent films? Then what? Ban Tom and Jerry cartoons. Ooh lets ban Youve Been Framed for encouraging people to have accidents.......
Posted by: geoffrey.kirk2 on Tue Jun 09 04:54PM | Report abuseFor goodness sake do your research properly! Rob Cowell 2009
Posted by: robertcowell565 on Tue Jun 09 04:54PM | Report abuse