thoughts on banning games

[john121]

I was thinking the other day about all the banned games that I can remember, even ones that were effectively deemed "pure evil" and realized that this actually makes great publicity. I still remember playing the demo of postal and part of postal 2. I wish now I bought it when I saw it.. can't find it ANYWHERE now. here's a list that I've come up with of banned games, and ones that have been taken off the shelf because of worried mothers. Interesting that Doom got alot of flak, but Doom 3 has not.

Doom and Doom 2
Postal 1 & 2
phantasmagoria 1-3
Duke Nukem 3D (i think)

the man's game (might be in the future.. get it while you can!)

anyone care to add to this list?

 

[Dalamari]

All those games are old, at the time they were released they were really taking risks, now with games like Max Payne and baby killing and GTA w/ drug use and crime, Doom 3 is a "Gone with the Wind" in a sea of "American History X"

 

[Epyon]

Postal 2 got banned? I thought they were trying to get it banned, but couldnt.

 

[Drizz]

There won't be any banned games nowadays. People have gotten desensitized. No one gives a shit anymore.

 

[smwScott]

Postal is just retarded. I mean, since when did sticking your gun barrell up a cats ass and using it as a silencer become a gameplay mechanic? The game is pure trash, right there with BMX XXX. The only people who could like either of those games are immature kids and rednecks.

Anyway, when you say banned do you mean in Germany? Because that's the only major country I know of that actively bans games. As far as the US there are some games that take a lot of flack from conservative nut jobs, but it's illegal to ban it. They are working on making it illegal to sell the games to minors though.

But more to the topic, I believe that more mature games are a good thing for games. I never did like that Nintendo crap, where you played some plumber that had to jump on little red things or whatever. I only became really interested in games with things like MGS and Max Payne. Also, games like Mafia, GTA, Splinter Cell, etc. are some of my favorites. There are some non-serious no plot games that I find amusing, but they're hardly memorable.

Games with more mature content are simply better. It goes for movies too, such as American History X and Pulp Fiction - two of my favorites.

 

[Kangy]

The best way to encourage something is to try and stop the use.

 

[KagePrototype]

I remember Greece made a new law that banned something or other (I can't remember the specifics), but apparently the wording resulted in two men being arrested for playing Counter-Strike. I can't remember the exact details, but I do remember the law was pulled or reworded or something.

Bah, I'm being so vague.

 

[Yuri]

I remember that Manhunt was "banned" from some store when that kid was killed by the other kid for no reason. And the murderer had reportedly "once seen the game, maybe even played it." (Disclaimer, not actual quote)

And Scott, I liked Mario Bros.

 

[Gajdycz]

I remember Greece made a new law that banned something or other (I can't remember the specifics), but apparently the wording resulted in two men being arrested for playing Counter-Strike. I can't remember the exact details, but I do remember the law was pulled or reworded or something.

Bah, I'm being so vague.

thats exactly whats happened, they were limiting internet cafes, and 2 ppl were playing cs

 

[Cybernoid]

I was thinking the other day about all the banned games that I can remember, even ones that were effectively deemed "pure evil" and realized that this actually makes great publicity. I still remember playing the demo of postal and part of postal 2. I wish now I bought it when I saw it.. can't find it ANYWHERE now. here's a list that I've come up with of banned games, and ones that have been taken off the shelf because of worried mothers. Interesting that Doom got alot of flak, but Doom 3 has not.

Doom and Doom 2
Postal 1 & 2
phantasmagoria 1-3
Duke Nukem 3D (i think)

the man's game (might be in the future.. get it while you can!)

anyone care to add to this list?

To my knowledge, no game has been banned or pulled in Finland to date, so I can't really comment. There's really no legal basis for banning a game while violent tv shows and movies remain at large.

 

[Cybernoid]

It goes for movies too, such as American History X and Pulp Fiction - two of my favorites.

Both of which contain gay rape. Coincidence or not?

 

[Feath]

The Greek Government made a law that banned ALL computer games in public places. It was meant to be a law that just banned online gambling games, but you know what Governments are like. The law has changed now.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2238242.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2249656.stm

Manhunt wasn't banned, just some stores stopped selling it in order to look good. That didn't prevent the game selling out in all the stores that did sell it.

And Doom 3 did get some flak. On the day it was released I saw a Sky news report on it. Apparently it's been described as the most violent game ever. The report also said that you used chainsaws and violent weapons. It didn't mention what you killed with this weapons (probably to make people at home you were killing children and kittens or something).

The in game footage of Doom 3 that they showed consisted of a multiplayer game. You saw other players in the background but the player actual playing it seemed to moving around using only the keyboard (not the mouse). He had a pistol and every now and again shot a few shots at a wall (As you can expect if you play without the mouse). It seemed to run like a slideshow with an awful framerate. I'm not making any of this up.

 

[dart321]

It's a scary thought that one day I might be more embarrassed to go into a video store and rent a game as opposed to renting porn. Crazy times.

 

[ZeeM]

Yeah, it was really stupid banning all the games. Actually, they didn`t ban computer games only in public places but EVERWHERE and EVERY type of video game (even on mobile phones). However they changed it later (after arresting lots of ppl and closing some net cafes)...
Those days, I went to a local net cafe for q3. I remember some signs hanging on the walls saying "Computer gaming not allowed" while 99% of the pcs were running cs

 

[Feath]

Gamers in Greece are preparing to fight legislation which bans them from playing any electronic game in public.

The Greek Government has banned games on computers and consoles like the Xbox and Playstation in places like internet cafes.

That's from the links I posted. I thought it was every game, but that's not what the link says.

 

[CrazyHarij]

Banning a game is a good way to make it's popularity go through the roof.

 

[moondynejoe]

here in Australia we have had the odd run in with the censors. GTA3 was initially banned but got a release when the prostitute bashing scene was removed.

It alway amuses me how ill informed the people are who want to ban games. In my local newspaper recently a woman (some religous organisation of course) wrote in and described Doom3 as a "murder simulator". How the HELL (pun intended) can you murder a zombie, she obviously hadnt played the game or even seen it or she would realise that in fact the point of the game is to prevent hell bieng unleashed, something I thought a godnut would approve of.

Another good one. In the same newspaper (different edition) someone tried to describe resident evil. this is what she said (paraphrazing) "the point of the game involves diliberately realeasing and infecting people with the EBOLA virus" What the hell!!!!!!!!, the whole point of the game is to prevent the worldwide spread of the T virus you moron.

They like to gloss over the point that the motivation in these games is usually to save the world/people but of course this hasnt the same sensationalist impact.

makes me angry i dont comment on existentialism because i know nothing about it, the least they could do is extend us the same courtesy about games.

rant over.

 

[oldagerocker]

The media don't like us playing games, because then we aren't reading the papers and watching the telly, and the gaming industry is fast growing, media is fast to put it down any way they can. Also the paper would say something as stupid as that, it's what their target audience want to read afterall... a typical familly, who'se parents read the paper would stick the societies 'christian' morals and stop their kids playing the games. Making them feel in control and they feel good about their parenting after reading the trash in the paper.
anyway, im going to shut up, im not making sense... it's 4:30 Am here and i havent slept... argh!

 

[Kyorisu]

Never trust the media. Only trust your student run newspapers.

 

[Asuka]

It's a scary thought that one day I might be more embarrassed to go into a video store and rent a game as opposed to renting porn. Crazy times.

Lmfao. I can see that happening.

 

[Cole]

If a game is to scary for you then dont play it.
If you dont want your kid to see it.
Say "IF U PLAY THAT GAME I WILL TAKE MY SOUL CUBE AND KILL YOU!"
Or something...umm near that..

 

[Brian Damage]

here in Australia we have had the odd run in with the censors. GTA3 was initially banned but got a release when the prostitute bashing scene was removed.

It alway amuses me how ill informed the people are who want to ban games. In my local newspaper recently a woman (some religous organisation of course) wrote in and described Doom3 as a "murder simulator". How the HELL (pun intended) can you murder a zombie, she obviously hadnt played the game or even seen it or she would realise that in fact the point of the game is to prevent hell bieng unleashed, something I thought a godnut would approve of.

Another good one. In the same newspaper (different edition) someone tried to describe resident evil. this is what she said (paraphrazing) "the point of the game involves diliberately realeasing and infecting people with the EBOLA virus" What the hell!!!!!!!!, the whole point of the game is to prevent the worldwide spread of the T virus you moron.

They like to gloss over the point that the motivation in these games is usually to save the world/people but of course this hasnt the same sensationalist impact.

makes me angry i dont comment on existentialism because i know nothing about it, the least they could do is extend us the same courtesy about games.

rant over.

Yup. And I've lost count of the number of times I've seen the rough phrase "So [insert word here], it was banned in Australia!", or a variation of it, in a overseas magazine... sometimes as part of the advertising...

 

[B_MAN]

the only game i agree with banning anywhere is postal 2
its just over the top... i mean peeing on people's corpses? and settings innocent people ablaze?
just plain mezzed up