Man...that is just overcompensating for something else...perhaps something they did a long time ago. They need to get over the whole "Violent games causes violence" regime. That just makes it worse...because people are now going to break the law and import the violent games (they did already...but not all people)...just great. How to lose revenue 101...by Germany.

Surely this is some kind of joke? How can this 'law' be anything constitutional???

"Violent games lower the inhibition level for real violence..."

That is such BS. I've watched my sig loop probably a hundred times and I still feel sick in the stomach when I see a fish being gutted :(

We are talking about Germany here.  Germany isn't exactly know for freedom of speech.  In fact, it may have the worst freedom of speech laws of any Western developed nation.

Okeydokey...Awesome sig. I have watched it over 200 times since you put it up.

I know, but a complete ban seems irrational, to what degree is a game considered 'violent'? From the wording you could put up a case for banning game like Rachet & Clank! This cannot be on face value, there has to be something I'm missing.

Huh? Could you elaborate that a bit?

holy nanny state batman

Germany's fascist history has led them to ban talking or writing about certain things. Denying the holocaust, praising the nazis, etc. can get you fined or even jail time. Now obviously it's pretty retarded to do either of those things, but Germany (many countries actually) don't exactly have the history of defending free speech, no matter how ugly, that the US does.

In an exchange during the Marc Lemire case, lead CHRC investigator Dean Steacy was asked "What value do you give Freedom of Speech when you investigate?" Steacy responded: "Freedom of Speech is an American concept, so I don't give it any value. It's not my job to give value to an American concept."

 

That quote is from a Canadian news story, but it's the same point. 

Thanks & sorry for my misleading question - being a German, I already knew that. I was just curious to hear what he thinks or knows about freedom of speech in Germany...