Dead Rising banned in Germany
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Jul 17th 2006 at 2:55PM }
Gaming Bits reports that Germany's software rating organization, the Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK), would not approve Capcom's upcoming zombie hack-n-slasher Dead Rising. If upheld, this would mark the first instance in which an Xbox 360 game has been banned in any territory/region.As of this post's publishing time, Dead Rising is still listed on the German version of Xbox.com, although the release date (or 'Veröffentlichungsdatum') has been changed to "TBD."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Shagi @ Jul 17th 2006 3:02PM
Nuttenfickers!
minus_273 @ Jul 17th 2006 3:04PM
holy shit are Unterhaltungssoftwareselbstkontrolle and Veröffentlichungsdatum real german words?
DG @ Jul 17th 2006 3:06PM
One guy cutting off another guy's head with hedge clippers? You better believe that's NSFW!
Shagi @ Jul 17th 2006 3:18PM
Perhaps Germany has banned this game beacuse of the main characters poor fashion sense. Look at those sports socks how awful, geez.
ymmv @ Jul 17th 2006 3:20PM
minus_273, yes, those are real German words. And they're not the longest word in the German language by far. Dutch is just as good at this with words like "Arbeidsongeschiktheidsverzekeringspolis" or "Gewasbeschermingsmiddelverpakking". In both languages it's _very_ easy to string along nouns like these to create humongous words that still make sense.
I wonder if there's going to be a special German edition with all the zombies replaced by aliens who bleed green blood. This ploy has worked in the past for other games!
lothar @ Jul 17th 2006 3:25PM
@ #2
I think those words are:
Unterhaltungssoftwareselbstkontrolle = Very
Veröffentlichungsdatum = Cool
LOL
Siraris @ Jul 17th 2006 3:26PM
I'm surprised any of these countries get anything done trying to pronounce those words.
soco @ Jul 17th 2006 3:28PM
unless something changed, Condemned was the first 360 game to not be approved. it didn't get a rating. however, as with all games like this, the Germans just import them from Switzerland or Austria, or in the case of Condemend, they can also grab the US version :)
Chris @ Jul 17th 2006 3:34PM
Good job every game from Capcom so far has been region-free on the Xbox 360.
Fear not Germany, thou shall kill zombies.
check out www.play-asia.com
Advanced @ Jul 17th 2006 3:38PM
Nice... one of the most violent countries in the history of the world can't play a Zombie game.
Isn't it ironic..... don't ya think... Its like raiiiin on your wedding day....
sorry, got carried away.
Sturek @ Jul 17th 2006 3:43PM
Yeah real words, but the unterhaltungs... is usually referred to as the USK. But Veröffentichungsdatum is a real word consisting of two words Veröffentlichung (publication) and Datum (date), so the date of publication. Yeah we love to combine many words into one huge word ;)
The game is not banned though ! Capcom decided not to release it. But it will be avaiable in game stores. The original post is a bit contradictive (from: http://www.gamefront.de/), but Germans (above 18, that's what the lack of approval means [http://helliwood.mind.de/~usk/main/show.php?id=1] Keine Jugendfreigabe means 18+ only, though it sounds like a ban) will be able to buy the Austrian/Swiss version with German subtitles.
I think Capcom has done this, because the game could've been put on the "Index". If put on the Index, a game is basically treated like porn and dead.
Not sure how it will work though, do the game stores import the game ? First I thought it will still be released in Germany, I've personally senn and bought lots of games that weren't approved/had no Jugendfreigabe (Far Cry, Resident Evil 4) in an ordinary electronics store. But gamefront.de is usually a reliable source and they should know the German laws...strange that Capcom decided to do this. On the other hand we still don't have Phoenix Wright, though it's out in the rest of Europe, so who knows what is really going on in the German games industry....
Bob422 @ Jul 17th 2006 3:50PM
"Nice... one of the most violent countries in the history of the world can't play a Zombie game. Isn't it ironic....."
What has stuff that happened 60+ years ago to do with videogaming in Germany today? Oh, wait, it doesn't have shit to do with it.
BPM? @ Jul 17th 2006 3:52PM
Hmm, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Germany use PAL? Then, it wouldn't be as simple as importing a US version.
Unless, that is, they have an HDTV. I believe that the HD standard pretty much replaces all other video signals (NTSC, PAL, and SECAM). I may be wrong, though.
Optimus @ Jul 17th 2006 3:55PM
Dieses ist nicht gut.
J.Goodwin @ Jul 17th 2006 3:56PM
Has a lot to do with it. What happened sixty years ago is what informed the entire legal process that goes about rating films and movies and banning things for content (particularly display of Nazis and their emblems in games).
But hey, if ze Germans want to be hopelessly unprepared when the zombie hordes DO attack...more power to them, I guess.
J.Goodwin @ Jul 17th 2006 3:56PM
There are at least three major HD standards (US, Europe, Japan).
flyNN @ Jul 17th 2006 4:01PM
OK, I'm going to put on my politically incorrect hat--
You're telling me that a country that once supported the attempted genocide of an entire people has a problem with a simple videogame where you kill Zombies? Are they afraid the Zombies represent dead Jewish people?
I mean NO offense to Jewish or German people !!!
soco @ Jul 17th 2006 4:07PM
most european TVs can display NTSC, in fact it's very similar to PAL60. so for most people, it's just a matter of getting a region free game.
Dracula Jones @ Jul 17th 2006 4:23PM
One of the screenshots depicted a zombie that looked strikingly similar to David Hasselhoff getting decapitated with a 9-iron, hence the ban.
Dirk Dorkelson @ Jul 17th 2006 5:02PM
"OK, I'm going to put on my politically incorrect hat--
You're telling me that a country that once supported the attempted genocide of an entire people has a problem with a simple videogame where you kill Zombies?"
With the caveat that I'm not readily familiar with contemporary German culture, may I put forth the theory that societies are often shaped by their negative reactions to tragic events in their history? I mean, maybe Germans as a society shun violent media in the same way that people in the U.S. have reacted to school shootings by putting forth all sorts of crazy theories about how violent video games are ruining our kids.
M.C. Hampster @ Jul 17th 2006 5:14PM
Oh you crazy Americans! You people are such prudes, always getting yourselves concerned with censorship and protecting children. You need to join the rest of the world and grow u....
Oh, what? This is Germany. Never mind.
Froghourt @ Jul 17th 2006 5:39PM
Ahhh those crazy Germans.
I wonder what Capcom will do to release it in Germany. They could remove the blood and the gore, but then the game would only be a shell of what it once were. And I doubt that will sit well with German gamers.
Contra666 @ Jul 17th 2006 6:22PM
Unterhaltungssoftwareselbstkontrolle means Entertainment software self control (regulation)
As ymmv says, in German words are put together frequently to give a specific meaning.
GSI @ Jul 17th 2006 7:51PM
Bah...what a bunch of wimps. I swear...cause a World War and now even imaginary violence is too violent. lol
Insomnia Bob @ Jul 17th 2006 9:56PM
A word on the german language. They don't really come up with 'new' words, like a lot of languages. They just string a ton of the old words together. So, the word for 'airport', ends up being something like 'placewheremetalshipsoftheskyland'. Or, such is my understanding. I could be totally wrong. Half a semester of german will do that. Well, that, and tell you how to ask where the bathroom is. And what Arschefick means.
About the game, it is a little weird that this game is going to be banned, as I understand it, Dead Rising is basically standard fare as far as it's violence quotient. Any solid reason for the ban, Joystiq? Or is Germany just that conservative now?
Paul @ Jul 17th 2006 10:10PM
And remind me, is this the country that didn't stop it's leader from creating a massive genocide situation in Europe?
Bah. The Holocaust Museum shows images that are ten times worse than any graphics in that game.
Andrew @ Jul 17th 2006 10:46PM
Isn't it funny that in so many games, the two best types of bad guys to endlessly slaughter are zombies and Nazis.
And now in Germany, you can't get either!
Mirko @ Jul 18th 2006 3:18AM
It's not banned.
It's just not approved for minors. If you are (or look) 18+ and able to ask the clerk in the video game store of choice, you will be able to get the game.
A "ban" in Germany means all copies of the game would be confiscated and destroyed. That usually happens to Nazi-related material.
SPILLOUT @ Jul 18th 2006 5:32AM
I've read till reply 25 or so and it's very funny that some kiddies try to turn this into a german-bashing. Those little prude Americans who aren't able to say they want to go to the toilet when they want to go to the toilet (they prefer bathroom) and scream when there is one little sexual bit in a video game.
But it's ok when you discuss with a folk who attacks other countries, kills lots of other people and isn't popular in the rest of the world. But wait. This ist America nowadays!
Ottmar @ Jul 18th 2006 5:47AM
Alright, let's set some things straight:
1. The USK (instituted by the game publishers) got an advance copy of Dead Rising for review and found it violent enough so that it COULD be "indiziert" (don't know the appropriate word in english) by the BPjM (Bundesprüfstelle für jugendgefährdende Medien - roughly translated "Federal Bureau for protecting the Youth) which is a government organization. If it actually was "indiziert" it would be illegal to display the game anywhere where it was accessible to minors as well as run any advertising for it.
2. Capcom could still release the game if they wanted to take the risk of "Indizierung", it could be presented to anyone, but you had to be 18+ to buy it. They just don't want to take it, it seems.
3. This has happened to other games before that, most notably Resident Evil 4, God of War (both re-reviewed later and released as "must be 18 or over" which means no danger of "Indizierung") and Condemned. Note that none of these games were BANNED, they just weren't released for fear of not being able to advertise them.
4. You may buy imported versions of these games if you are 18+ (have to be an adult since these versions weren't reviewed by the USK).
5. This whole thing has NOTHING to do with the Nazi-past of WWII Germany but instead with a School shooting in the town of Erfurt in which 17 people died. The assailant was reported to be an avid Counterstrike player (later proven wrong) and german politicians pushed for a ban of violent games. The gaming industry instituted the USK and it's binding age recommendations to prevent this complete ban.
Birki69 @ Jul 18th 2006 6:17AM
conclusion:
it's been pulled by capcom, because they didn't want to get onto the "index", because if this would happen, not only selling, but also posession of the game would be illegal in germany. By not releasing it over here, the game will not be checked if its suitable for "the index". And to make one thing clear, pornography is no reason to get onto that index, it's just for things like very detailed/brutal content (realistic, not comic brutality) and right wing propaganda. to get a porn movie onto index in germany, it has either to include one of the things mentioned above, or include things considered pervertive in Germany, which as far as i know only includes sex with animals & children
Gerald @ Jul 18th 2006 8:11AM
comment #31 is mostly right, only the first sentence is wrong: It's not illegal to sell or own "indexed" games (or other media) in germany, you are not allowed to advertise them - including putting them on display on shelf - or sell it to minors (below 18).
Just to repeat it one more time:
Dead Rising is NOT banned in Germany. Capcom may choose to not publish it in germany due to the danger of not being able to advertise it and being ignored by some large retailers, who refuse to sell violent games. Its is no problem to import or order this game from online shops (age verification needed).
Gonzo @ Jul 18th 2006 11:32AM
That's fine,
as long as they agree to take their fecalfelia movies out of American porn shops. Just the cases on some of those are enough to make you want to puke.
But comeon, zombie slaughter bad, cleveland steamer good? Who decides all this? Sounds like something stupid enough that our own FCC would approve.
Sagan @ Jul 18th 2006 12:36PM
Omg I don't believe the comments... IT'S NOT BANNED ffs... Capcom chose not to release it because it could happen that advertising the game is forbidden. Which is comparable to what happened to GTA:SA in the Hot Coffee thing in America - The game isn't banned, but since it's hard to sell it the publisher will just not release it.
But that hasn't happened. Capcom could have sold the game normally in stores. They were just afraid of it happening. A lot of games get "no rating" and get sold normally in stores. Almost all games which are only about killing zombies or people get 18+ or no rating. I don't know, why Capcom pulled the game. They should have known that they would get this rating. If they didn't then they are just stupid.
And once again the game is NOT BANNED. Please correct this Joystiq.
Matt Z @ Jul 18th 2006 4:26PM
According to the Guiness book of records. Germany has the stricted video game laws.
Basically you can't have anything even REMOTELY human being killed in the game. Either they have to be changed into alien's or look as far from human as possible.
This is also why games like Turok and some others had "Green Blood" in them.
I think Germany will end up getting a version of the game that has Zombies that look more like they just stepped out of House of the Dead 2 than the american version.
Slashy85 @ Jul 19th 2006 6:20AM
Boris Schneider Johne (Xbox Marketing Manager Germany)in his blog:
Dead Rising is not banned (yet)
To my English-language readers and co-bloggers: Dead Rising from Capcom is not banned in Germany. I know, the German system is complicated and unique, so you might get confused - but before you just take a news item for granted, how about asking somebody from Germany to get the facts straight?
USK, the equivalent to ESRB or PEGI, has decided to give Dead Rising no age rating at all because it might, and I need to stress might, get “banned” in the future due to its violent nature. For the time being that only means two things:
1. The game can not be sold to minors and can not be sold via mail order - but it still could be advertised and shown openly.
2. Microsoft does not allow software companies to publish “unrated” games on Xbox 360 (in the US, every 360 game has to have an ESRB rating) - and in Germany we have the unique situation that a game can be denied a rating by USK, making it technically an unrated game. So Dead Rising can not be published in Germany.
Now, what CAN happen is that the BPjM could “ban” the game (I’ll stick with the word “ban” although it is literally wrong, as it is not a real ban of the game but more a ban of the promotion of the game). It can do that with unrated games only. When this “ban” happens, the game still can legally be sold “under the counter” to adults but any kind of advertising, including just showing it in a store, is forbidden. To get such a “ban” though the game must be available on the german market first, then a youth organization can apply for such a “ban” and this whole process can take several weeks. There is no way to “ban” a title before it even is released.
The Catch-22 in this is that BPjM can not “ban” any rated games. So if USK gives the game a rating, it is out of BPjMs reach. This in the past has led to some heated discussions about games that politicians said should have been “banned” but couldn’t. Therefore USK is under the pressure of not rating a game if they see the possibility that somebody will ask for it to get “banned” in the future. And as this dilemma only happens to a minimal amount of games published (less then a handful a year out of several hundred releases), this problem is not high on the agenda.
So Dead Rising could be legally sold in Germany, but won’t be published. Yeah, I know this sucks. Tell our politicians please.
Xbox 360 with its unique parental control system would make titles like Dead Rising permissible even in a strict market like Germany. All it would need is an official age rating of any kind. The situation of a game having no age rating at all is weird and not very customer- or publisher-friendly. On the other hand, Microsoft (in my view) can not loosen the tight rule of requiring every game to carry a proper legal age rating - because that would immediately undermine the Family Settings feature and make the situation in the long term worse rather than better. The Family Settings in Xbox allow adult players to enjoy the content they want while protecting children from inappropriate content. And all that is tuned to the local standards by using the local age rating systems. Now we just need a legal rating for every game and we’re fine.
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