View Full Version : New Law In Germany - I Cannot Shoot A Sprite
AngelfireUk83
12-13-06, 05:22 AM
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36326
As the (long) title goes there maybe a law starting up in Germany that if you shoot a computer character or chainsaw, punch or whatever. The German government will send you to jail of recieve a fine because of your nasty act of violence this is there way of stopping young children committing violent crimes.
freakdiablo
12-13-06, 05:30 AM
Ya, I was just reading about this. And it wasnt even like they were easy going before. Didnt in the german version of CS:S when you shot someone they didnt die? I think they just kneeled down and put there hands behind their heads as if to say 'I surrender'
SeasonalEclipse
12-13-06, 06:00 AM
Wow.. thats lame.
deathman20
12-13-06, 07:29 AM
All I can say, I feel sorry for anyone that enjoys games if it goes into effect. Let alone game companies, thats going to hurt there end.
Sorry ot say though how the hell do they plan to enforce this? What if someone plays the game they will instantly know? They'd have to beable to see such acts and people will just make sure to either turn down the volume and make sure all shades are pulled down so no one can hear it.
hUMANbEATbOX
12-13-06, 09:42 AM
Sorry ot say though how the hell do they plan to enforce this? What if someone plays the game they will instantly know? They'd have to beable to see such acts and people will just make sure to either turn down the volume and make sure all shades are pulled down so no one can hear it.
its thought crime ;) and the guilty will wear it plain as day on their faces.
/\\/3|2o
12-13-06, 09:48 AM
thats socialism for ya.
Owenator
12-13-06, 02:14 PM
Maybe they send you to virtual jail. Kinda like Second Life?
Personally I'd commit virtual suicide and then switch to a squeeky clean new virtual life!
Shinobi13
12-13-06, 02:33 PM
Please don't use language like that on these forums. "Gay" is not to be used as an insult here --David
deathman20
12-13-06, 02:35 PM
Crytech is the one I was thinking of as the big developer over there. And if it happens they will leave the country. Thats just sad shutting out businesses like that.
Just think probably 80% of games will be basically banned on the spot. Most Real Time Strategies all have killing in it that I know of. FPS's byebye, Role Playing alot will be gone. Only games that I can think of sticking around are, puzzle games, educational games, card games, and racing games that have well 95% chance they won't be effected.
IKIKUINTHENUTZ
12-13-06, 02:38 PM
This a joke right?
lol secret lanparties or boarder hopping just to play a game on a laptop lol
ACHTUNG!!!
Will we hear the Boots marching again???
This is worse then socialism...this is absolutely extreme, this is against everything I know and believe. I can not understand how this "law" could be passed by a group of sane people. I guess I am culture bound.............
Do you know if the new "law" will affect the SOFA folks in your country???
I can try to get a job in Germany and you can come on base to frag at my place .....if this law does not affect SOFA people.
sephiroth_749
12-13-06, 02:50 PM
that seems really stupid i think it would be up to the parents to teach there kids right from wrong
SteveLord
12-13-06, 03:27 PM
This is the new millenium...many parents dont take responsibility anymore or raise their kids with discipline and respect. =(
Its the whole "blame movies, video games and internet' for (insert problem here)
This has to be a joke. Little kids know that games aren't real. I've never seen a kid actually pick up a gun or go beat someone up as a result of playing a video game. I can't believe that they think a child or even an adult could translate virtual conduct to real life. It just doesn't make any sense. It seems in all countries, government likes to blame violence on video games, music and movies rather than the individual themseleves or the parents if it's a child.
It doesn't take a village to raise a child, it takes one or two people called parents.
I really hope crytech dont get hit by this too hard, there have been some quality fps games out of germany...theyl all just have to move to my house for safe keeping :D
Seriously tho, what is Germany so afraid of...yes violence is a problem, but any human prone to violence will almost inevitably be drawn to it...even if every possible 'extra' stimulus is banned or taken away. Sadly I think post war paranoia/shame still plays a large part in the introduction of this law :(
Oh noooooooooooo. What is there to be afraid of? It's a game.
I play probably more shooters than anybody I know, and I'm more mentally stable than half the kids that keep their anger pent up against those that wrong them. I see nothing wrong with killing PIXELS.
I don't think the socialist party will be in power much longer in Germany once they get down the line to german death metal.
7
BIG BROTHER COMING AROUND THE CORNER HERE TOO JUST WAIT AND SEE! LOLOL
And it is not stupid it is tyranny,Big Bro,Big Government,They just want to make sure we are safe! lolol yeah I'm sure!
/\\/3|2o
12-13-06, 07:27 PM
And it is not stupid it is tyranny,Big Bro,Big Government,They just want to make sure we are safe! lolol yeah I'm sure!
Yeah I cant stand it when I am told by my government that I dont know how to live my life. Government is supposed to protect us but... dang... theres a limit!
striker85
12-13-06, 08:23 PM
This is what happens when parents get lazy and want the government to take over their job of taking care of the kids. rid-goddam-diculous.
DarkVirusVx
12-13-06, 08:30 PM
This is the new millenium...many parents dont take responsibility anymore or raise their kids with discipline and respect. =(
Its the whole "blame movies, video games and internet' for (insert problem here)
You for got music, that damn rock and roll messes with peoples heads.
So it says law, so has it already been passed?
I'm not up on there goverment system.
This is an outrage! These sprites need to be dealt with one way or the other. I can see how it would be easy to miss the little b@stards with a bullet and kill an innocent passerby but they have to leave the German people with SOME way of dealing with them. If sprites are allowed to breed without some sort of population control all of europe will be overrun with buzzing fairies. Theres nothing they love more than annoying pranks. They steal cigarettes out of peoples mouths, yank candy from the hands of babies, hide car keys, pee in your cheerios when you're not looking, and just really **** me off. Where I live it's no holds barred. Last time I caught one I yanked it's wings off and fed it to my cat. I suggest you all do the same before you're overwhelmed by pesky miniature flying forest spirits that would love nothing more than to see you have a nervous breakdown as a result of their constant badgering. You've been warned.
XxNightfirexX
12-13-06, 10:56 PM
This is an outrage! These sprites need to be dealt with one way or the other. I can see how it would be easy to miss the little b@stards with a bullet and kill an innocent passerby but they have to leave the German people with SOME way of dealing with them. If sprites are allowed to breed without some sort of population control all of europe will be overrun with buzzing fairies. Theres nothing they love more than annoying pranks. They steal cigarettes out of peoples mouths, yank candy from the hands of babies, hide car keys, pee in your cheerios when you're not looking, and just really **** me off. Where I live it's no holds barred. Last time I caught one I yanked it's wings off and fed it to my cat. I suggest you all do the same before you're overwhelmed by pesky miniature flying forest spirits that would love nothing more than to see you have a nervous breakdown as a result of their constant badgering. You've been warned.
Now that's the laugh I've needed all day! Thank you very much.
I have nothing to really add to the discussion though. The points have been made as to the stupidity of such laws. Just remember, when this starts (continues) happening over here, we have not only the right to question the actions of our government, but the duty to do so.
Wolverine690
12-13-06, 11:50 PM
ACHTUNG!!!
Will we hear the Boots marching again???
This is worse then socialism...this is absolutely extreme, this is against everything I know and believe. I can not understand how this "law" could be passed by a group of sane people. I guess I am culture bound.............
Do you know if the new "law" will affect the SOFA folks in your country???
I can try to get a job in Germany and you can come on base to frag at my place .....if this law does not affect SOFA people.
This law or any German law really doesn't affect anyone on US soil which Embassies & Military Bases are considered in other countries. But step out off the base or embassy & you are SOL....
and yeah this is totally rediculous (sp?), Humans are by nature violent creatures...we always have been & probably always will be...we are drawn to it like moths to a flame...what keeps us from just blowing ourselves up is common sense. While not everyone has this & some people just don't care and some people are just crazy SOB's.
The problem isn't violence on tv, video games internet whatever it is the parents fault & societies fault...there is no real discipline anymore...schools can't wack the buttoms of little punks in school anymore, and parents can't really do the same anymore for fear of being sued or turned in for child abuse. But looking back to when this stuff was accepted we didn't have kids going into schools & shooting up the place & we didn't have a lot of the probs we have today...this is not to say all our probs are a result of this but I think a lot of them are...people just have no respect or discipline anymore...
People just need to get their heads our of the arses & stop blaming everything but themselves...
I have nothing to really add to the discussion though. The points have been made as to the stupidity of such laws. Just remember, when this starts (continues) happening over here, we have not only the right to question the actions of our government, but the duty to do so.
yeah if that happens I'm so going to be writing our government officials & telling them to take a flying leap...lol
And the Europeans give us crap about our Government!? Wow GOOD GAME Germany, you can drive 100+ MPH on the Autobahn but do not kill computer generated images!!!
If you do you will be jailed to spend some quality time with Hans in brown town.
InThrees
12-14-06, 12:34 AM
The German version of the EFF needs to sue to make sure the lawmakers include print and video (tv and movie) fiction.
Writing about hurting someone or filming a fake scene where someone gets hurt is every bit as bad as not-doing it in a video game.
(which, let's face it, isn't bad at all if you're a sane person who understands that parents should be parenting kids, and not the government.)
When I read stuff like this, it makes me wonder that maybe Germany is overcompensating. Perhaps paying a penance for past wrongs.
We all know in the past that a certain German ruler had no problem killing 6 million people. Maybe this is how they make up for it, or something.
I sometimes get the sense of that as well Oni. Some of the rhetoric that comes from their Chancellor and the people it is like they are trying super hard to distance themselves from any hint of their past.
HarlanC
12-14-06, 02:36 AM
They say that violence in games creates violent kids and or people...I disagree to the max. I find killing people in a game helps me relax if I am getting angry...:cool:
I sometimes get the sense of that as well Oni. Some of the rhetoric that comes from their Chancellor and the people it is like they are trying super hard to distance themselves from any hint of their past.
You say that as if Americans were in a position of vast moral superiority when it comes to killing ethnic minorities or committing war crimes.
By the way, America is a socialist country, too. The free market doesn't decide how large our military spending is, or how much to spend on road construction--the government does. That's socialism, not capitalism.
I think this is probably good news for the rest of the world, though. After everybody sees how stupid (and in practicality unenforceable) this is, then similar laws in other countries won't be called for. I mean if you're in Germany, just drive over to Denmark, Poland, Austria or other neighboring country to get a version of the game that isn't gimped. Alternatively, I'm sure there will be unauthorized patches of the game that undo any politically correct castration.
This looks to me to be less about distancing themselves from the past and more about political grandstanding to "think about the children of this country." That's the same thing that politicians everywhere grand stand about, you know?
klingens
12-14-06, 06:19 AM
It's nice how people talk BS when they don't have a clue. This isi NOT a law. yet.
While there is a chance it becomes a law, that chance is very very slim fortunately. Even if it does, it will probably be found unconstitutional. That would suck tho since it'd mean it'd be on the books for at least a year or two until our version of the Supreme Court strikes it down.
Two ministers of the Interior of 2 german states (we have states just like the US. 16 of them, not 50) proposed it as a kind of free publicity stunt of the "save the children" type after some 18 year old ran/tried to run amok in a school again. THe parliament which has to bring such a law in and decide on it, is less than pleased with the minister's suggestions.
Yes their suggestion is stupid, impossible to enforce and totally useless. As if politicians didn't propose that kind of bills 365 days a year in every country.
As for the socialism bit: anytime an USian says that something is "socialist" he's talking out of his ass. Always. 100 years of brainwashing did a tremendous job there.
SteveLord
12-14-06, 03:09 PM
When this topic comes up, I really am annoyed by certain comments...mainly the "well i play shooter games and i know they arent real and i know that i wont hurt anyone because of it" types.
Just because YOU play the bloodiest games and think YOU'RE perfectly fine and won't ever re-inact what you see, doesn't mean it hasn't happened or will happen the future with someone else. You know why I believe this? When I see people willing to shoot someone or be shot by someone else for a PS3, iPod or XBox...something as stupid as this happening in the world...I believe it.
The fact that anyone would say something like this, in an attempt to delcare their maturity...infact does the opposite.
deathman20
12-14-06, 03:55 PM
The fact that anyone would say something like this, in an attempt to delcare their maturity...infact does the opposite.
Well when someone says something like that it does show they know right from wrong and what they think of the others is more or less idoits, messed up, addicts and need to get intouch with the real world. While the maturist of us might act sane theres always a trigger that can set us off to do something like going on a rampage.
Its just sad that when they go to court or the case is brought up in court they don't take the responsibility themselves but blame the games they played. Which of course acts negatively against the company that made such game then brings out the people that know little to nothing about the industry today to go out and collect everything they can that was brought up to an act of violence. Then goes to court trys to make a law to shut down the companies, seal all the software up that is catagoriezed as such and throw it into a vault and throw away the key.
You say that as if Americans were in a position of vast moral superiority when it comes to killing ethnic minorities or committing war crimes.
By the way, America is a socialist country, too. The free market doesn't decide how large our military spending is, or how much to spend on road construction--the government does. That's socialism, not capitalism.
I think this is probably good news for the rest of the world, though. After everybody sees how stupid (and in practicality unenforceable) this is, then similar laws in other countries won't be called for. I mean if you're in Germany, just drive over to Denmark, Poland, Austria or other neighboring country to get a version of the game that isn't gimped. Alternatively, I'm sure there will be unauthorized patches of the game that undo any politically correct castration.
This looks to me to be less about distancing themselves from the past and more about political grandstanding to "think about the children of this country." That's the same thing that politicians everywhere grand stand about, you know?
Sir,
I take exterme offense from your comments.
1st: I am not a socialist and I will not except socialist positions on governance. While there may be certain aspects of our (USA) government that mimic socialism (graduated tax code was invented by Karl Marx), I believe you are 100% wrong in saying that military spending is socialist. Without strong national defense (spending) there is no NATION. there can be no country without Defense (spending the appropriate amount (%) of GNP or GDP to defend your life style)).
2nd: The advent of the European Union negates your argument that those who live within Germany can simpely drive to another part of Europe to play such FPS (known for their violence) since when one EU country adopts a law related to trade (such as importing, exporting a certain product) all others are obiligated to follow (slippery slope)......
twEEkerAreUs
12-15-06, 09:06 AM
It's nice how people talk BS when they don't have a clue. This isi NOT a law. yet.
While there is a chance it becomes a law, that chance is very very slim fortunately. Even if it does, it will probably be found unconstitutional. That would suck tho since it'd mean it'd be on the books for at least a year or two until our version of the Supreme Court strikes it down.
Two ministers of the Interior of 2 german states (we have states just like the US. 16 of them, not 50) proposed it as a kind of free publicity stunt of the "save the children" type after some 18 year old ran/tried to run amok in a school again. THe parliament which has to bring such a law in and decide on it, is less than pleased with the minister's suggestions.
Yes their suggestion is stupid, impossible to enforce and totally useless. As if politicians didn't propose that kind of bills 365 days a year in every country.
As for the socialism bit: anytime an USian says that something is "socialist" he's talking out of his ass. Always. 100 years of brainwashing did a tremendous job there.
Don't be clogging my Internets now you (Deutschlander) Seriously (USian)? Lmao. It wasn't just 100 years FYI.
LOCKED
/\\/3|2o
12-15-06, 10:02 AM
You say that as if Americans were in a position of vast moral superiority when it comes to killing ethnic minorities or committing war crimes.
By the way, America is a socialist country, too. The free market doesn't decide how large our military spending is, or how much to spend on road construction--the government does. That's socialism, not capitalism.
Wow. Unbelievable... ummm, I really dont know how to respond to that without getting in an all out arguement, so I'm just going to let it go.
Neuromancer
12-15-06, 10:27 AM
You say that as if Americans were in a position of vast moral superiority when it comes to killing ethnic minorities or committing war crimes.
By the way, America is a socialist country, too. The free market doesn't decide how large our military spending is, or how much to spend on road construction--the government does. That's socialism, not capitalism.
I think this is probably good news for the rest of the world, though. After everybody sees how stupid (and in practicality unenforceable) this is, then similar laws in other countries won't be called for. I mean if you're in Germany, just drive over to Denmark, Poland, Austria or other neighboring country to get a version of the game that isn't gimped. Alternatively, I'm sure there will be unauthorized patches of the game that undo any politically correct castration.
This looks to me to be less about distancing themselves from the past and more about political grandstanding to "think about the children of this country." That's the same thing that politicians everywhere grand stand about, you know?
Socialism a definition
Any of various theories or systems of social organization in which the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy.
Now it can be argued that the US has socialist tendencies because we have limits on capitalism. We severly tax products that are harmful to people, we say unions are good, and we decide that one company can not own everything.
(EDIT: This is actually termed convergence theory. The idea that capitalism and socialism coeixt in a single political system. In hte case of the US, it refers to minimum wage, welfare, unemployment compensation etc.)
Saying that the US governement decides how big the Military is or they use a tax to build highways, is not declarations of socialism. If you look at the roles of government (any governement) it does precisely fit that description though.
Banning video games because it might trigger someone to act badly, is no different then censoring movies or books because it might cause subversive thought. Or removing automibles, because some people use them as weapons. (Because you know, rush hour can make people snap :) )
SteveLord
12-15-06, 12:58 PM
Well when someone says something like that it does show they know right from wrong and what they think of the others is more or less idoits, messed up, addicts and need to get intouch with the real world. While the maturist of us might act sane theres always a trigger that can set us off to do something like going on a rampage.
I put them in the same category as people who say things like "well the game works fine for me, it must be your computer or you must be a newb"
JenBell
12-15-06, 01:24 PM
ok u each country has there own laws and some of them are crap but u survive...this law though totally kills off so many games. The best games involve killing something...right? Look at gears of war, hl2/CSS, d3, fear and u can forget all about crysis (when it comes out)...rpg's...oh well. Personally...good for them...I dont see the console/game market getting any bigger for them in the long-term.
The free market doesn't decide how large our military spending is, or how much to spend on road construction--the government does. That's socialism, not capitalism.
There is an economic reason behind this. The free-market does not operate efficiently when there is a possibility of a "free-rider problem" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_rider_problem) (Wikipedia - also easily found in any economics textbook). Military spending is a "classic" example of this, with highway maintenance also under this.
hitbyaprkedcar7
12-16-06, 04:14 PM
A quote to sum it all up. Forget who said it, the exact words, etc, but here it is.
"If video games affected the way kids think and act, then we would all be running around eating cherries, and dancing to repetetive electornic music"
You say that as if Americans were in a position of vast moral superiority when it comes to killing ethnic minorities or committing war crimes.
By the way, America is a socialist country, too. The free market doesn't decide how large our military spending is, or how much to spend on road construction--the government does. That's socialism, not capitalism.
I think this is probably good news for the rest of the world, though. After everybody sees how stupid (and in practicality unenforceable) this is, then similar laws in other countries won't be called for. I mean if you're in Germany, just drive over to Denmark, Poland, Austria or other neighboring country to get a version of the game that isn't gimped. Alternatively, I'm sure there will be unauthorized patches of the game that undo any politically correct castration.
This looks to me to be less about distancing themselves from the past and more about political grandstanding to "think about the children of this country." That's the same thing that politicians everywhere grand stand about, you know?
My comment was about Germany distancing themselves from their past. I said nothing to the likes of "The US is so perfect we have a squeeky clean past and we have nothing to hide! Shame on Germany." You are just throwing out some generlized attack on me that is not even relevant to what I said. Try to follow a conversation. The USA does not try to overcompensate for our past mistakes. IE Slavery (thanks Portugal) was a terrible part of our past but no one alive today had anything to do with it. My point is, for example, Germany would probably have passed laws for reperations for slaves (or decendants?). See the overcompensation is what im talking about. Germany is overcompensating. Now you either agree with me or you don't.
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