All violent video games to be banned in Germany

[fmc83]

Hm. I think we have to get some things straight here. I was wondering why I haven't even heard about this. A quick google research told me the story is already ten days old (5th of june). And the uproar of the gaming community is surprisingly low

1. about freedom of speech
You can basically say everything you want to say if it's not a against the constitution. Well the holocaust denial is actually a crime. Some restriction is good in my eyes. It prevents idiots to spread their bs.

2. Not want to get in a debate about gun ownership, so let's just say, that the homicide rate in germany is 0,98 in 100.000 while it's 6,1 per 100k in the USA.

3. Why does this come up now? Somebody already answered: nationwide elections in September.

4. What happened to the paintball-ban? It never happened nor ever will! It was dropped where it came from.

5. The conference of the state ministers of interior can agree on whatever they like (its their freedom of speech) but the law has to pass a) the Bundestag (national parliament) and b) the Bundesrat (slightly comparable to the US-Senate)

6. There is no majority for this total ban in the Bundestag. Just the christ-democrats for it. Greens, social-democrats, socialists and liberals against it.

7. Even the hard-liner german minister of interiors said in april, that banning wouldn't work and makes no sense.

8. So if 6. and 7. don't apply and it actually really gets past, I would bet, that this will become a case for the Federal Constitution Court

10. As far as I would think even Nintendo would go to court. Have you ever looked on your wii cases? Guess what: all EU-wii-games are assembled in Germany (even my Madworld-copy which isn't even sold in Germany)

11. This then might even become a case for the European Union Court, because developers can't be hindered to do their job in the EU and they're able to choose where ever they'd like to do it.

12. No, this won't lead to different laws in other European countries, why should it?

13. The article itself is somehow clueless. World of Warcraft is rated "12 years or older" in Germany, so no: it won't be banned

14. But hell yeah, even if I'm wrong on all of my points here, I still don't give a sh... about it. One hour drive by car to Austria, one click to British websites and voila my game is on the way.