While the UK enjoys fairly liberal (in a wide context) rules on what can and can't be included in games, other European states haven't been able to enjoy quite the same level of freedoms.
In Germany, specifically, many top games, including Gears of War, and Wolfenstein have been refused ratings by their equivalent of PEGI, the USK. While be refused a rating doesn't prevent the game from being sold, it does mean that the game can't be advertised or displayed in stores - meaning that if a customer wants to buy a game, they have to specifically ask for it. Awkward, we'll sure you'll agree.
Last year, a motion emerged from Germany's Interior Ministers, looking to take the legislation one step further. The new law would have banned not only the sale of "violent" video games (which is bad enough - as how do you define "violent"?), but also the production of violent games within Germany. This rule, it was feared, would lead to several large German development houses having to either relocate the development of their more violent games, or simply leave the country altogether.
As may have been expected, the motion gathered quite a lot of controversy, eventually gathering some 73,000 signatures from disgruntled players - and employees of games companies - who were worried about what the new law would mean.
Yesterday, it was announced that the Government would not be proceeding with the new legislation, but, listening to the voice of the signatories, would instead promote a greater public awareness of the current PEGI rating system - which, in all honesty, should be enough to prevent young children from playing violent games anyway. If it's an 18, a ten year old shouldn't really be playing it in the first place.
The senior Vice President of EA, Dr Jens Uwe Intat said, in a comment to Gamesindustry.biz "The German decision is a very welcome step as we encourage policy makers to better understand the reality of today's videogame market and give games the same respect as books, films or music."
