Most people who aren’t German politicians will tell you that Germany’s reaction to so-called “killer games” is childish and ludicrous. Gamers, the gaming press and developers have all voiced dismay over Germany’s treatment of the game industry, and now Electronic Artshas chipped into condemn the nonsensical behavior of the Fourth Reich.
“What we’re doing here is censorship,”ragesEA executive VP and GM of international publishing Gerhard Florin. “And nobody complains. When we talk about games here it’s about violence or their alleged addictiveness, and not about their cultural status. The few good studios are asking themselves why they should stay here anyway.”
However, Marek Brunner, head of Germany’s USK rating board,has defendedthe way he operates, and has stated that the country won’t move to a more sensible PEGI system: “It’s hard when half-truths are being used. They say the USK does this wrong, the USK does that bad and why doesn’t this get a rating?” He adds that Germany’s legal authorities get in the way of game ratings, and that it’s not the USK’s fault.
Whoever’s fault it is, something should change before Germany finds itself without a game industry. Censorship is definitely what’s happening in Germany, and it’s simply incredibly stupid.
