Surprise! Gears banned in Germany
by Richard Mitchell 
{ Oct 18th 2006 at 3:45PM }
Another day, another violent game banned in Germany. It seems that Gears of War -- like Dead Rising before it -- has effectively been banned in Germany. This requires some explanation, as the game isn't technically banned. Basically, the ratings board -- charmingly named Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle -- refuses to dole out a rating at all. As a result, German stores will be unable to sell the game. It sounds worse than it is, though, because real German gamers know they can always import from Austria.
Microsoft could retool the game and make it suitable for impressionable young Germans, but that would cause Live compatibility issues with other versions. Hence, banned.
So, any bets on which game will be banned next? Our vote: Viva Piñata. Seriously, you can beat innocent piñatas to death in that game. It's sick.
[Thanks, Bobby]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
stranger @ Oct 18th 2006 5:17PM
i feel sad 4 the people of germany.
and i dont they will be banned Viva Piñata because they are going to ban more violence games such as barbie!
KineticOnline @ Oct 18th 2006 4:41PM
COD3 has to be banned its obviously going to be way too bloody, violent and anti german for the USK.
skyman8081 @ Oct 18th 2006 5:21PM
1: You're right, but for the wrong reason.
Germany has strong hate-speech laws which have come to mean that publically displaying anything related to nazism is banned. Depending on who is interpreting the laws there, merely having swastikas in the game would have it banned.
Although it is unlikely this will happen, given that we would know if Germany was effictively banning a large portion of video games that are currently available.
rooot @ Oct 18th 2006 5:44PM
greetings to our german friends from austria :)
paul from germany @ Oct 18th 2006 6:42PM
i hate it when they do that...
*sigh*
import2nersi @ Oct 18th 2006 9:56PM
to #6
that comment was completely uncalled for... I believe the one to blame for that travesty in Hitler... not the entire nation of Germany...
import2nersi @ Oct 18th 2006 9:58PM
whoops... looks like someone else found that guys comment terribly wrong too... it needed to be deleted...
Exra @ Oct 18th 2006 10:06PM
The fact that my comment was deleted proved my assertion.
And to the new # 6 dont give me that crap...I live in the U.S. yes...but pretty much my entire white side of my family(I'm half black/white)is german ....I dont want to risk getting an I.P. ban..but I will say that the german people had no opposition when they thought they were actually going to take over Europe.
import2nersi @ Oct 18th 2006 10:59PM
i just do not think its fair to judge someone by what their nation's sick leader believes in... i.e. Bush/Americans... btw im not calling bush sick... that was towards hitler...
Max Howell @ Oct 19th 2006 5:44AM
When people get close to starvation, they become desperate enough to think anything is justifiable. Germany at that time, was pretty close.
Everyone is 5 meals away from killing their neighbors. Unfortunate and most likely true fact.
Anyway, I hope i haven't fanned any flames here..
Insomnious @ Oct 19th 2006 11:00AM
I'm certainly not from Germany, but it looks like a country which is trying to avoid the wrongs many of it's citizens committed during a certain historical period. Which is applaudable, but perhaps a little patronising towards it's current citizens.
Maybe some other countries should review this process.