It looks like some people in Germany really do have it in for gaming. As I’m sure you already know the sale of violent games is banned over there, however a recent proposal by 16 Interior Ministers could see that the law be expanded to also cover the production and distribution of violent video games. This would result in studios such as Germany based Crytek having to either outsource development (of their violent games) to other countries or even move the entire studio abroad.
It isn’t just the idea itself that seems idiotic to me, once again these politicians are attempting to link violent video games with various school shootings, most prominently the shooting occurring on March 11th in Winnenden. Hmm, wouldn’t that be the shooting involving “true gun fanatic” Tim Kretschmer that seemingly learned how to use guns via games rather than the massive stockpile of weaponry around his home.
I wonder if this little debacle could have anything to do with the fast approaching elections this September. What better a way to appeal to the idiotic masses than place blame on something that is easily controllable (video games) than something that isn’t fully understood (the human psyche). I hope that eventually people realise that they don’t need a scapegoat to blame tragedies on, or to utilise to push your political agenda. Try the more novel approach and find out the facts and tell the truth, you might just feel better about yourself.
Via GamesPolitics
I’m living just South of Germany’s border and still, after observing this debacle for more than a decade I’m amazed at how overly simplistic those dumb people are. Yeah, Timmy killed them because Farcry 2 told him to do it! Of course Bild Zeitung! Just please don’t mention how the guy was a total social outcast able to count his friends on a fingerless hand. Ah well, dumb me, he had friends after all! I’ve forgot how he was allowed to use his daddy’s guns at the shooting range. The same dad who “forgot” to lock up a certain gun used a day later to kill over a dozen people. Along with over 4500 bullets good ole’ dad had lying around. I’ve never heard someone accusing the dad of much wrongdoing even though he pissed straightly on several gun laws.
Or to keep it short (and myself from smashing my keyboard through a windows as it’s clearly upsetting me): Dump politicians and other selfproclaimed savers of the youth will ban ANYTHING remotely dangerous as long as they don’t have to even mention the big pink elephant sitting in the middle of the living room: People being forced to live as a social recluse because don’t (want to) fit into our oh so friendly society.
To correct something: The guy only had about 200 bullets with him at the day of the shootings, the 4500 bullets mentioned were part of his daddy’s personal “armory”.
I’m also german and all I can say “It’s a shame what’s currently happening here” It’s not only that some of the gov. want to fight those “Killergames” they also going one step further and saying “Players of Shooter games are as bad as people doing child pronography” that’s so … I do not find any words for this. It’s a pain in the ass how politicans using a super election year with such slogans to put their face in the media. At the moment I couldn`t vote any politician because everybody is going like crazy. How can I as a elector give my voice to such dump people ?