God Of War will not get officialy released in Germany

[Tatsu]

This is roughly translated from the German gaming mag Maniac:

Sony will not release God Of War in Germany. The FSK (the office that makes the decision which games suits which age) refused to give a rating to the game because it contains too much violence. This means it didn't get a "suitable for 18 or older" or any other rating. Sony's politics are not to realese games that don't qualify for a raiting because with games like this it might be the case that they get indicated later on. Sounds like a huge turn-down for German players but it's not as bad as it sounds. God Of War will sure get a PAL release in several other countries in Europe so the German gamers can order them from neighbourhood countries like Switzerland or Austria since it's not forbidden to sell the game or anything similar.

Interesting news, what do you think about it? As much as I know the release in Switzerland will not be a problem and I think that I will get my hands on this game.

[Cthulhu]

The Japanese release of this GoW is expected to be highly edited when it is released as well. Japan has gotten -really- strict about excessive violence and any sexual material whatsoever. Damn you CERO.

[robotriot]

That's the reason why I bought an US copy of the game ... it's really a ridiculous policy :P

[Sniderman]

Stunning to see the U.S. have LESS censorship than other countries for a change. :eek 2:

[Tatsu]

As long as it's about violence and not sex I'm not too surprised about it...

[robotriot]

Germany is notorious for censorship in games and movies when it comes to violence ...

The first game that was banned (you could still buy it in theory, but no advertising in magazines etc was allowed, and the game couldn't be displayed publicly in a game store) was this one: http://www.vgmuseum.com/images/c64/bluemax.html

Yes, Blue Max for the C64. Doh :P

[Promophile]

Lucky Germany. Its not like they're missing much. In Ultima Online when it was first released around 1995ish after you killed another player you could cut them up and make jerky out of them. Well after the game was released in Germany they demanded this feature be taken out, so jerky ended up becoming a REALLY rare item worth alot of money.

[Graham Mitchell]

Germany is notorious for censorship in games and movies when it comes to violence ...

The first game that was banned (you could still buy it in theory, but no advertising in magazines etc was allowed, and the game couldn't be displayed publicly in a game store) was this one: http://www.vgmuseum.com/images/c64/bluemax.html

Yes, Blue Max for the C64. Doh :P

Why Blue Max? Because of the historical content?

[robotriot]

Afaik it was just because the "realistic" depiction of war seemed offensive back then.

[pragmatic insanester]

add that notch to another of germany's closing fist against culture that doesn't reach the zionistic apologetic status.

[sharp]

add that notch to another of germany's closing fist against culture that doesn't reach the zionistic apologetic status.

Sorry this is a complete different issue, censorship on a videogame or against culture which defends national-socialsm. Sorry but I can completly understand a ban on such things in a country with such a history.

Oh and the German Authorities maybe banned more rightwing stuff, it also banned leftwing bands. And even nazi's are allowed to walk demostrations, ok they sometimes can't complete them as riots start, but they have the right to demonstrate.

Oh and if you kew a bit more of history you wouldn't write this. If you want to live in a world without zionism I can maybe recommand you to move to North-Korea.

(Oh and I'm no zionist or pro-Israel person, but this complete crap)

[davidleeroth]

It's the ninjas, I tell you. They're back from the sewers.

[hydr0x]

It's the ninjas, I tell you. They're back from the sewers.

LOL

[lendelin]

"Not suitable for 18 and older." Sure, treat adults like kids. :)

It is the result of the 'concerned' educational radicals in Germany, plus the longstanding strong role government and centralized institutions play in politics in Europe. Europeans accept and expect from the government to play a much more activist role when it comes to other areas as well.

Even lil' Mega Man shooting robot frogs was under suspicion to be too violent back in the days.

[Tatsu]

Just for the record, it was Sony's decision not to bring the game out in Germany, not some law or some resolution form the governement. Sure, maybe it would have been indicated, but we can't say that for sure. And it is also not forbidden to play the game or to buy it. So no need to bitch about German governement.

And "not suitable vor 18 or older" was a rough translation done by myself. Maybe it's said otherwise.

[robotriot]

Well, from what I know every game has to be rated by now (even retro games can't be sold in theory, because they don't have a rating yet), so of course it would have been banned.

[Tatsu]

I don't know much about that to be hones. Just the article I've read about God Of War in the Maniaca magazine. It sounded a bit different but maybe I've missread it.

[lendelin]

Just for the record, it was Sony's decision not to bring the game out in Germany, not some law or some resolution form the governement. Sure, maybe it would have been indicated, but we can't say that for sure. And it is also not forbidden to play the game or to buy it. So no need to bitch about German governement.

And "not suitable vor 18 or older" was a rough translation done by myself. Maybe it's said otherwise.

Yep, but we also know that Sonys decision was an anticipated reaction to stricter regulations in Germany regarding game violence and a much stricter public attitude filled with stereotypes about 'violent' games. Otherwise, I can't imagine that Sony would pass on selling a sure bestseller in Germany.

Btw, I love to bich about the German government/politics. Fischer? BRRR Schroeder? BRRR ..and then this terrible dumb little Lady, Claudia Roth....brrr