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Jericho Won't Be Edited For Germany
Despite the loss they'll be taking in German game sales, Codemasters has made the decision not to make substantial changes to their title Jericho after the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions were banned from commercial release in Germany. "'Following a review by the USK ratings board, which declined to give an official rating, Codemasters has decided not to change the artistic vision of the renowned author and film-maker Clive Barker though cuts and extensive changes,' said the company in a statement sent to GamesIndustry.biz." For a sense of what the fuss is about Rock, Paper, Shotgun has an analysis of the demo.
From either of the linked articles, I have no idea what the objectionable content is. It sounds violent, but what FPS isn't? Can anyone provide more info?
So you've get to avoid the effort (and cost) of making up new textures, possibly changing the geometry in places, localizing in German, and just as possibly avoid having to alter whatever there is in the way of storyline. The casual German gamer gets shafted, but the rest probably do a bit of illicit footwork, heading out into other EU countries to get copies there. The publisher still makes some sales, avoids shelling out for otherwise unnecessary work, and German retailers get pissed off at the government for making them lose out on sales. Sounds like a financially responsible plan to me, on the part of the publisher and developer.
Refusing a rating is the USK-equivalent of an AO rating, it's probably the console manufacturer deciding they don't want that "rating" on their system which is why the PC version is unaffected.
Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
Game Publisher: This is a sophisticated game with mature content intended for an older audience. We're not marketing this game to children.
Ratings Boards: Games are only played by children. This game has sophisticated, mature content that is inappropriate for children. We ban this game and swear vendetta against your families.
Game Publisher: What if we make the "blood" green . . .?
Ratings Board: You're right, this game isn't for children. Consequently you aren't allowed to sell it to them.
Console Manufacturer: Releasing an adults-only game on our platform is against our family-friendly policies!
Yes, Sony actually refused to sell God of War at first because it got the same rating, citing their "family friendly" policies.
Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
If I recall, Germany has (or used to have) specific rules about the depiction of blood. You can release a game which kills thousands without remorse, but you can't release a game that has one guy who loses a finger in a bloody mess.
I had heard rumors that there were some arcade games which had a "blood" switch for this reason, as well as general public appetites. I haven't seen any concrete examples of this, though.
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Changing games is vandalism. Don't treat adults like children. Greetings from Germany!
It just means: the game must not be sold and advertised to minors. You can buy it, you can play it if you're an adult. At least the PC version. Some console manufactures have their own policies that forbid selling non rated titles, but this is not law it's just their policy.
On second thought, let's not go to Camelot. It is a silly place.
It's questionable whether they could get such a law past the courts since it's effectively censorship which is still unconstitutional. The exception for the protection of minors does not cover preventing sale to adults and I doubt they could present a regular violent videogame (i.e. one that's within current laws) as a serious threat to society. Since there is no real distinction between media when it comes to that it would be a carte blanche to prevent any mention of violence in the media, enough to run a new holocaust and prevent anyone from talking about it.
Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
Well, EU has both more people and a larger economy than the USA. Germany alone is just a portion of it though, but your post does feel like flamebait.
Actually I think he meant that its easier for us europeans to purchase the game in a different country, with different laws (and, that we are much more used to doing just that), not that Europe is not a market worth selling to.
At least, thats how I read it.
I think the point is that if you live in the US and some stupid federal law bans something you'd like to get, you're basically screwed unless you live near the Mexican or Canadian border (and most people don't). In Europe, however, physical distances are comparatively small and so if your own so-anti-fascist-that-it-borders-on-fascism government decides to ban something, it's a couple of hours on the train at most to get to a more free-thinking nation where you /can/ get the contraband.
sigs are hazardous to your health
You should be hired as foreign markets consultant. You have the subtlety and skills to make big money.
It's hilarious how quickly that "Who you talkin about?" reaction gets triggered in Europeans anytime an American says anything that *might* be negative about Europe
To the Europeans: slow down and read what he actually wrote! Carefully. He's only saying: for Europeans the average distance to the next country is much smaller than most Americans can imagine.
Okay?
Europeans have the same difficulty imagining how big the U.S. is. Just an example: California, the 3rd largest state has a land area 10% larger than Germany.
San Francisco values: compassion, tolerance, respect, intelligence