German Game Developers Blast Retailer's Decision to Drop 18+ Games

March 20, 2009

As GamePolitics reported yesterday, German retailer Galeria Kaufhof is dropping 18+ video games and movies from its inventory in the wake of last week's horrific school shooting.

Reuters has reaction to the move from Stephan Reichart, who heads G.A.M.E., a trade association which represents German game developers:

I think (Kaufhof's decision) is a complete overreaction... it borders on impulsive hysteria. It would be sufficient if retailers made sure their cashiers don't sell this material to young people.

Since 17-year-old Tim Kretschmer's rampage, reports have emerged indicating that he played the first-person shooters Counter-strike and Far Cry 2.

Comments

Re: German Game Developers Blast Retailer's Decision to Drop

Last time an issue was made of 18+ games at these stores and how they no longer carried them, I walked over to check and found them all still for sale. Sometimes what they do is they pull them for a couple weekes and then put them back out after the media furry ends.

I wonder if this is not the case now...

~Weatherlight~

~Weatherlight~

Re: German Game Developers Blast Retailer's Decision to Drop

Knee jerk reaction much Germany? Better go check the yard for your baby.... you threw it out with the bath water.

Re: German Game Developers Blast Retailer's Decision to Drop

hahah thats so funny ..... go man hit it hard


Re: German Game Developers Blast Retailer's Decision to ...

Now, if the game industry really wanted to stand up for it'self, it would blacklist these retailers and either:

(a) no longer sell them mature games in the future, so when the backlash wears off they pay a price for participating.

or

(b) no longer sell any games to these retailers.  reward retailers who didn't behave this way with merchandice to sell and punish retailers who did by taking away thier products.

The game industry has increadable economic muscles that it never seems to want to flex.

Re: German Game Developers Blast Retailer's Decision to Drop

It was also revealed that Tim Kretschmer ate breakfast cereal.

EVERY SINGLE MORNING.

In fact, an autopsy has shown that Kretschmer had Fruit Loops the very morning of his shooting rampage.  In light of this, grocery stores have decided to stop discontinue cereal sales.

 

Andrew Eisen

Re: German Game Developers Blast Retailer's Decision to Drop

I know it's stupid, but we do have to remember that blaming games gives people comfort.  The idea that some wackjob can just randomly go on a killing spree is scary.  The idea that that wackob was created in some way makes people feel better.  If their actions are provoked by something, then you can prevent it from happening again by banning whatever was the cause.  It gives weak people control over the uncontrolable.

Unfortunately for them, games aren't at fault.  So removing violent games from stores isn't going to do anything except make the scared people feel like they did something, until the next rampage.

Re: German Game Developers Blast Retailer's Decision to Drop

*nods*  Understanding that people derive comfort from this blame game is critical to fighting it.

Re: German Game Developers Blast Retailer's Decision to Drop

Does it really matter that you can't buy them in stores, can't you still get them on Steam?

---You are likely to be eaten by a Grue.

---You are likely to be eaten by a Grue.

Re: German Game Developers Blast Retailer's Decision to Drop

Maybe I'm not reading this right, but this is just one store not selling them. So you don't even need to use steam, just head in to Game.

This is one store attempting to earn brownie points from "worried parents" (who apparently are not worried enough to enable the age restrictions on a console or monitor what little Jimmy does).

-- Add a marker to the start of your signature.

--
A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body. Benjamin Franklin

Re: German Game Developers Blast Retailer's Decision to Drop

And here in lies the problem. Parents don't believe that it's their job to make sure everything their kids do is appropriate, they believe it's the government's job.

---You are likely to be eaten by a Grue.

---You are likely to be eaten by a Grue.

Re: German Game Developers Blast Retailer's Decision to Drop

Not all parents - just bad ones.

My main point however is in this case it is not the government, it is one or two shops. The one in question here has virtual no real estate dedicated to games anyway.

--
A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body. Benjamin Franklin

--
A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body. Benjamin Franklin

Re: German Game Developers Blast Retailer's Decision to Drop

Depends how Steam run their business- I believe Doom is unavailable over XBLA in Germany, indicating MS are willing to bend over to individual countries, maybe Valve are the same.

/b

Re: German Game Developers Blast Retailer's Decision to Drop

Ok, anyone in Germany willing to point out if you can still get Farcry 2 and Counterstrike on Steam?

---You are likely to be eaten by a Grue.

---You are likely to be eaten by a Grue.

Re: German Game Developers Blast Retailer's Decision to Drop

" It would be sufficient if retailers made sure their cashiers don't sell this material to young people." Agreed. If they havent sold their games to minors, nothing is gonna change. But whatever, there is no Galeria in my city anyway. I'll just contiue to shop from amazon.co.uk. I think as soon as politicians realize that many gamers are adults that can vote and are economically relevant, they'll stop f***ing with us.

 
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