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The Unfriendly Side of German Game Development

Posted by Zonk on from the not-so-good dept.

As hysterical as American media and politicians can get over 'violent' videogames, the folks making games in Germany have it a whole lot worse. Tim Partlett (a developer at Crytek) shared his experience with the Quarter to Three forums, describing what it's like to be raided for making a videogame. He describes what it's like to be hated for your job, and laments the attitude of the nation towards his chosen line of work. From the article: "At the time of the (2002 Erfurt school) shooting, we were already in development of Far Cry ... We were just across the state border from Erfurt in northern Bavaria. Tensions in the region were high ... In 2004 the Bavarian authorities sent in the state troopers... When the small tech team appeared to inspect our computers, they were accompanied by over one hundred flak-jacketed riot police, all armed with Heckler and Koch sub-machine guns. It was a total overreaction... They arrived first thing in the morning, and kicked down our doors. They even raided the nearby private residences ... I was caught just outside the office ... We were all shepherded into our Mo-Cap room, and there we were forced to remain until questioned, prevented from leaving by dozens of armed guards."

10 of 176 comments (clear)

  1. Interesting by badenglishihave · · Score: 5, Funny

    This explains why those villains in Far Cry all look like Germans.

  2. Obligatory by inviolet · · Score: 4, Funny

    Für die Kinder, Kamerad!

    --
    FATMOUSE + YOU = FATMOUSE
  3. Another Obliatory.. by me_mi_mo · · Score: 2, Funny

    We Germans are not all smiles...

    1. Re:Another Obliatory.. by Rude+Turnip · · Score: 2, Funny

      What do you expect from a nation whose language has no translation for the word "fluffy?"

      --
      Bill Clinton: Pimp we can believe in. - The Shirt!!!
    2. Re:Another Obliatory.. by heinousjay · · Score: 2, Funny

      Thank you, kind sir. I was in danger of laughing, and it would be most unfortunate for me to find something humorous. Without your service in destroying my mirth, I could, even now, be in a good mood. I shudder to consider the consequences.

      --
      Slashdot - where whining about luck is the new way to make the world you want.
  4. Nobody by MoOsEb0y · · Score: 3, Funny

    expects a Spanish^H^H^H^H^H^H^HGerman inquisition!

  5. I liked Austria's better by Palshife · · Score: 5, Funny

    And this is how we develop games in Germany, Herr Jones. *punch*

    --
    Attention deficit disorder is a complicated issue, spanning several major... HEY LET'S GO RIDE BIKES!
  6. Over one hundred flak-jacketed riot police by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    They were probably worried about those jumping mutants with those fucking arms that seem to reach out forever. I hate those!

  7. In Fascist Germany by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    In Fascist Germany game plays you

  8. Re:Who did this? by vega80 · · Score: 5, Funny

    When they came for the videogame developers, I did not speak out. Then they came for the violent videogames, I did not speak out. Then they came for the videogames with sex, I did not speak out. Now I have nothing to play but Nintendo videogames. Apologies to Martin Niemöller.