-Caveat Lector- from: Game Developer August 1999 600 Harrison Street San Francisco, CA 94107 415.905.2200. www.gdmag.com ----- Killing Games: Violence vs. Censorship >From a German's perspective, the current U.S. discussion about violence in videogames is best described as deja vu. U.S. game developers have often considered German legislation to curtail the effects of violent videogames on the public inadequate and inconsistent � now that the U.S. Congress is contemplating similar regulations, the industry proves unable to take a stand for itself. I describe the German law in some detail in an article on Gamasutra.com, and it was my 1998 investigation into this topic that got me invited to climb onto this soapbox. German history holds a number of lessons on violence and censorship alike, and German legislation echoes that history. It strives to prevent exposure of minors to content that might be "ethically disorienting." In addition, criminal law prohibits "glorification of violence," be it in print, on the big screen, or on the little screens of TVs and PCs These laws have to coexist with Germany's constitution, which ostensibly denies all censorship, and legalistic tap dancing still surrounds this issue today. Ironically, these laws, which were conceived with vivid memories of the Nazis' use of entertainment for propaganda purposes, also remind us of the inevitable contradiction between censorship and freedom of expression. To make the problem worse, laws are executed by fallible individuals, and the power of censorship is easily abused. (A German public prosecutor's indictment of Art Spiegelman's Maus as Nazi propaganda is a recent case in a string of embarrassing examples.) In addition, the means to prevent minors from exposure to "harmful" material (such as the Index, which imposes restrictions on sales and advertising) are rapidly losing effectiveness in the Internet age. In the U.S., the advent of the Internet gave birth to the Communications Decency Act and its similarly flawed offspring. In Germany, attempts have been made to apply said criminal law to all kinds of location-based entertainment: video arcades in general, laserdromes, paint ball, and online multiplayer games in particular. Unlike the Index, criminal law applies to adults and minors alike. Mere possession of MORTAL KOMBAT or WOLFENSTEIN 3D, the only two games that have been confiscated under this legislation (as opposed to hundreds merely put on the Index), is illegal. Games never had much ground to stand on in Germany. Homo ludens, the 11 player of games" is considered a liability in a society which favors games about economy, and criticizes literature as an escape from reality. Being a writer of fantasy and science fiction, I have been accused of "escapism" numerous times � a truly German objection against entertainment of any kind. Against this backdrop, it's difficult to make a case for an incriminated game based on its merit. This, however, is the ultimate consequence of rating content: You have to prove your work's relevance and value. In a way it seems appropriate that the unquestioned pursuit of visual realism has brought the current turmoil upon the industry � media goons thrive on images. Photorealism has no inherent value, neither with respect to art in general, nor for game design in particular � quite the contrary, visual detail is often paid for by sacrificing me play. Yet, the much debated statement "a game is not a simulation" does not seem to be an issue when it comes to anatomical correctness. Personal preference, however, should never lure one into accepting false accusations and double standards. The influence of game violence on children of all ages has yet to be understood, as the few serious researchers out there would readily admit, placing the ongoing blamestorming on shaky ground. Nonetheless, a videogame bill recently proposed in Pennsylvania by State Senator Jack Wagner (D � Pittsburgh) takes aim specifically at games' biggest asset � their interactivity. All of a sudden, active participation in cartoonish violence passes as shooter training, with multiplayer games presumably being the worst. Some claim that the alleged hypnotic effects of all entertainment are amplified by interactivity. That, if nothing else, should meet vocal opposition from all game developers. History offers many lessons about the penalty of keeping silent at the wrong time. Every so often, there comes a moment when you have to stand up for what you stand for. Being vocal about the technology and standards you require, while keeping quiet in the face of unfounded public criticism of the art you believe in, is a double standard in itself. In Germany, we've seen it all � publishers abandoning controversial writers, products quietly withdrawn from the market, prejudice leveraged against competition, abuse of the law for personal crusades, and courts judging the quality and relevance of a work of art by weighing it against its alleged offensiveness. Freedom is often stripped from the individual with the empty promise of public protection. No rating system will ever suffice to appease the driving force behind censorship: the primal urge to protect us, minors and adults alike, against the evil inside. It's not the goal, it's the means that have to be questioned, and we are the ones to do it. Don't expect anybody else to speak on our behalf. The witch-hunts are not over yet. Ignore the henchmen at your peril. * Bernd Kreimeier is a writer, physicist, and coder, mystified by the intricate delusions we call 'reality. Share your personal waking dream at [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----- Aloha, He'Ping, Om, Shalom, Salaam. Em Hotep, Peace Be, Omnia Bona Bonis, All My Relations. Adieu, Adios, Aloha. Amen. Roads End Kris DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. 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