Posted on

Germany Restricts Crackdown Sales

Along with Gears of War and Dead Rising before it, Germany’s USK has decided not to rate the video Crackdown. The result is not a total game ban. However, the game cannot be sold to minors, cannot be marketed in Germany and stores cannot display it on racks. Rather, it can only be sold to adults from under the counter.

Dale’s Comment: Crackdown has been one of my most enjoyed 360 games in the first quarter of 2007. Importantly, the May 16 Halo 3 public demo of will only be available to a select few and those that purchase specially marked Crackddown units. There will be more than a few disappointed minors in Germany looking forward to playing the Halo 3 public demo.

Sources: GameSpot | GamePolitics.com | Business Week

Posted on

Proposed German Law would Criminalize Violent Video Game Makers and Gamers

This story has been floating around the gaming sites for weeks. I haven’t covered it because I can’t imagine that such a proposed bill will ever become law. But, since the L.A. Times is now covering it, I thought I’d at least mention it in passing.

A proposed Bavarian and Lower Saxony law would impose fines and possible jail sentences for up to one year on game developers, distributors and game players of games in which the goal is to inflict “cruel violence on humans or human-looking characters.” This is so broad so as to include a huge swath of popular video games today.

Dale’s Comment: As a blog policy, I typically don’t comment on draft bill because most of them never become law. If you are interested in this type of coverage, GamePolitics.com is for you! Again, I will be flabbergasted if such an extreme law ever sees the light of day in Germany. Of course if this amounts to anything I’ll cover it here.

Sources: L.A. Times | GamePolitics.com | Gamasutra

Posted on

Gears of War Denied Rating in Germany

Once again Germany’s USK has decided not to rate a violent video game. This time the highly anticipated game, Gears of War. This does not result in the game being banned. It prevents Microsoft from marketing it in Germany. Stores cannot display it on racks. Rather, it can only be sold under the counter.

Sources: Gamasutra | GameIndustry.biz | GameSpot | Next Generation | CVG | Fox News | Portal IT | Pro-G | Hexus | Gears of War | GameDaily.biz | TeamXbox | Xbox 360 Fanboy

Posted on

Dead Rising Denied Rating (and Possibly en Route to being Banned) in Germany

Capcom’s forthcoming Xbox 360 exclusive, zombie-slasher, Dead Rising, was denied an age rating and while not yet banned, this sets up the possibility of it being banned by another department of the German government. The game is set for release in North America in September. Previously Germany had banned Doom 1, Doom 2, Manhunt and Command an Conquer.

Update – Jul 26, 2006: As per this joystiq article, the game will not be banned, but will simply be unrated.

Sources: Xbox 360 | 1Up.com | Joystiq 1 | Joystiq 2 | Gamasutra | GameIndustry.biz

Update Sources: GamePolitics.com | Joystiq

Dale’s Comment: Given Australia’s penchant for banning violent video games, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this game banned their before long.