EA calls German ratings "censorship"

By Robert Purchese Published 24 August, 2009

USK under fire from fervent Florin.

EA Euro-boss Gerhard Florin has publicly demanded that Germany ditch its USK rating system and adopt PEGI instead.

This would allow publishers to suggest ratings for games, he reckons.

"What we're doing here is censorship," Florin, talking about the current system, told Spiegel Online, "And no one complains.

"When we talk about games here it's about violence or their alleged addictiveness, and not about their cultural status. The few good studios are asking themselves why they should stay here anyway."

USK bigwig Marek Brunner disagrees, naturally - and told Eurogamer Germany there are "no plans" to move to a PEGI system.

"It's hard when half-truths are being used," said Brunner. "They say the USK does this wrong, the USK does that bad and why doesn't this get a rating?"

Brunner added that blaming the USK without acknowledging the role that the BPjM (Bundesprüfstelle für jugendgefährdende Medien - the government's Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons) has on game ratings - is wrong.

Apparently there's quite a lot of interference from criminal law too - before USK even gets a look at the games.

Germany remains one of the stricter territories in Europe, enforcing a no-blood policy that has stopped many titles, like Gears of War 2, from entering Germany's shops.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (49) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • The_Bloody_Kettle #1 3 years ago

    'no blood'? wow.

    that's a little over the top.
    Even as a child I wasn't scared of blood.

  • Quak #2 3 years ago

    They just took censorship a little too far in a desperate attempt to make sure they don't slaughter another 6 million Jews and cause 40+ million deaths worldwide.

  • lucky_jim #3 3 years ago

    "..one of the stricter territories in Europe..."

    Aren't they the strictest? I can't think of one that's stricter off the top of my head, but it'd be interesting to know.

  • Fab4 #4 3 years ago

    EA in 'claim to moral high ground' shocker.

  • TheWretched #5 3 years ago

    Sadly, this won't happen, as long as our government is besieged by all those old farts, that have no idea about games.

    I have NO problem whatsoever with the USK. They do a good job per se, but all the cut down games (Fallout 3 NO BLOOD, NO GORE, Bioshock NO BLOOD, CoD5 NO Nazi Zombies, L4D NO GORE etc) just aren't what they are meant to be. And I am 27 years old. Why do I have to import my games as an adult, just to play them as they are meant to be?

    There's NO censorship in books or music here in Germany, only with movies and games, just for the sake of "protecting the youth". But why then are games like F3 cut down? Those games are NOT meant to be played by children AT ALL.

  • coomber #6 3 years ago

    That's the biggest problem, TheWretched. Governments are run by people who still don't understand that playing computer games is not a hobby aimed at children. It's like the movie industry consisted of nothing but Disney films for 50 years and then someone comes along and makes Reservoir Dogs. They need to realise adults are the main consumers - then Germans might get treated like adults by their government.

  • X201 #7 3 years ago

    Businessman wants all countries to be one homogeneous mass so that he can ship the same product with the minimal hassle to himself.

  • JahB #8 3 years ago

    well it is censorship - i remember living in germany when half life came out, and instead of fighting soldiers you were fighting cyborg robots. it totally ruined the game, so i imported a proper copy

  • peteb #9 3 years ago

    @TheWretched

    And they still want to go even one further than that! Incidentally, anyone know whats the latest on that new law thats being proposed to ban killerspiele (hate that term) outright?

    I live here too, in Munich, the heartland of old farts. (And great beer).

  • dingo75 #10 3 years ago

    German hardcore adults like me are ordering everything in the UK / US so I couldn't give a rats' ass what happens or doesn't happen here with the USK.
    Until Germany dares to question EU law (no customs control for postal shipments between EU members) I will get every game I ever want in the uncensored UK version incl. right now Wolfenstein with all the "bad" symbols in it.

    Also the UK retail sector should be quite happy about the USK because they are responsible for quite some sales to Germany I can imagine (would be interesting to see some figures).

  • Collymilad #11 3 years ago

    So backward.

    "Until Germany dares to question EU law (no customs control for postal shipments between EU members) I will get every game I ever want in the uncensored UK version incl. right now Wolfenstein with all the "bad" symbols in it. "

    Well I wouldn't worry as the idea of a member state challenging the EU dictatorship is laughable, and the idea of a state getting what IT wants is even more so.

  • kingnothing12 #12 3 years ago

    'Don't mention the war. '

    I mentioned it once, but i think i got away with it.

  • UncleLou #13 3 years ago

    I feel a little sorry for the USK. They're usually under fire for allegedly being too generous from politicians and the like, now they're under fire from the other side as well. Caught between a rock and a hard place.

    That there's a general "no blood" policy is nonsense, however. And it should always be stressed that games (some very rare exceptions aside) don't get outright "banned". Microsoft could publish Gears of War 2 here if they wanted, and every adult would be allowed to buy it. Now you could argue that advertisment restrictions etc. come close to real censorship, but I doubt the hardcore porno business really has trouble finding their customers, to name a branch that has to live with the same restrictions.

    I doubt many people would call it "censorship" that you see no advertisements for pornos in teenager mags, or that minors can't enter the store rooms where pornos are sold.
    Edited by UncleLou at 24/08/09 @ 15:05

  • peteb #14 3 years ago

    Until Germany dares to question EU law (no customs control for postal shipments between EU members) I will get every game I ever want in the uncensored UK version. "

    This actually makes me feel much better! :)

    /Keeps doing what he's been doing

  • X201 #15 3 years ago

    A buried comment for raising a valid intelligent point about the man's probable motivation.
    Nice one lads. I'm only 4 behind the stereotypical "All Germans are Nazi's " post

  • Physically_Insane #16 3 years ago

    "Bundesprüfstelle für jugendgefährdende Medien"

    Spelling in Germany must be tough.

  • optimusprym8 #17 3 years ago

    The main problem with USK is that there are no clear guidelines as to how they decide what rating a title should receive, unlike PEGI that clearly breaks it down to what type of content will result in a 7+, 12+, 16+ etc

  • UncleLou #18 3 years ago

    "Bundesprüfstelle für jugendgefährdende Medien"

    Spelling in Germany must be tough.

    It's spelled like it sounds. ;p

  • IneptPercy #19 3 years ago

    I did wonder why my copy of gears of war went to Germany when i sold it on ebay, all makes sense now.

    I do think they are going to far in some ways but on the other hand does the system over here (UK) work? We put an 18 on the front of GTAIV and say its up to adults to make there mind up if they want to play it. Sounds fair until you realise that every 12 year old in the country is playing it (not strictly speaking).

  • riz23 #20 3 years ago

    Having put the BBFC to bed, publishers are turning their attention to the last remaining independent ratings body they cannot control. That's what this is about, not how USK actually rates things.

  • Drakron #21 3 years ago

    I take government regulation over self-regulation.

  • UncleLou #22 3 years ago

    Having put the BBFC to bed, publishers are turning their attention to the last remaining independent ratings body they cannot control. That's what this is about, not how USK actually rates things.

    I think it's also a counter-reaction to the insane plans of the Interior Minister's conference. (Which would indeed be censorship, which is why I don't like it when people use it for the current system, because we're now running out of words).

  • jack_klugman #23 3 years ago

    Why not just take the blood out?

  • HermitArcader #24 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:17:39 22-12-2011

  • Wobble #25 3 years ago

    you know who else liked censorship...

  • UncleLou #26 3 years ago

    "you know who else liked censorship... "

    Don't be a tard.

  • Retroid #27 3 years ago

    "you know who else liked censorship..."

    The last several Tory governments! ^_____^

  • SuperBas #28 3 years ago

    Banning violent videogames and paintball in Germany was a smart move, or else they might be tempted to murder with the easily accessible guns they have there.

  • rashes #29 3 years ago

    "Why not just take the blood out?"

    Why not just take the blood out of Reservoir Dogs?
    Then everyone can enjoy it.

  • Quint2020 #30 3 years ago

    That no blood thing is nuts, I never knew that.

    Note to self: Never live in Germany.

  • Branoic #31 3 years ago

    I say good enough for 'em - we've all seen what happens when the Germans get a taste for blood...

  • UncleLou #32 3 years ago

    That no blood thing is nuts, I never knew that.

    It's also not true.

  • davisorle #33 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 20:44:35 16-04-2012

  • KDR_11k #34 3 years ago

    Yeah, I wouldn't blame the USK, anything with a USK rating is sold in stores. BPjM indexing is effectively a ban because the "no advertising" rule is way too vague.

    BTW, just for an example of the ratings: Company of Heroes is rated 16 and the mineflail nazi shredder is fully intact (flying blood and limbs).

    well it is censorship - i remember living in germany when half life came out, and instead of fighting soldiers you were fighting cyborg robots. it totally ruined the game, so i imported a proper copy

    My uncensored US version was bought at a local department store...

    The main problem with USK is that there are no clear guidelines as to how they decide what rating a title should receive, unlike PEGI that clearly breaks it down to what type of content will result in a 7+, 12+, 16+ etc

    From what I understand they don't just look at the content but also the context, especially things like what's used to motivate the player in the game (e.g. is the player's goal to kill people in the most brutal way possible like in MadWorld?).

  • UncleLou #35 3 years ago

    Yeah.

    Which is why GTAIV got an USK 18 rating (uncut, with blood and all) and is openly displayed in shops and advertised (as opposed to no rating, in which case the advertisment etc. restrictions are in effect).

    That is all a bit confusing, but it's just not true that there's a general "no blood" rule or something similar.
    Edited by UncleLou at 24/08/09 @ 16:58

  • KDR_11k #36 3 years ago

    UncleLou: AFAIK no rating doesn't immediately lead to a restriction, it means the game CAN be indexed by the BPjM but not that it will be. Of course console companies prevent you from releasing unrated games for their systems just like they prevent AO rated games in the US.

  • IneptPercy #37 3 years ago

    Why am I on -1 for my above comment? Or is it one of the 12 year olds mentioned who did that? To make my point without upsetting any more GTA playing 12 year olds.

    As an adult currently all the rating systems don't bother me as the most any of them go to is 18, But in Germany things a cut anyway which would annoy me.

    But as said there is always a chance an under 18 could get an 18+ rated game, where in Germany that isn't as much of a problem.

    How about 2 versions of a game? Just using a recent Film, Bruno had a 15 and 18 version. So the same could be done with some games to make a 'lessor' violent/swearing version if possible.

  • peteb #38 3 years ago

    @KDR_11k

    Crackdown is a case in point with context. Overall it looked a lot less realistic than GTA's violence, but the fact that you could pick up pedestrians bodies and throw them around meant it wasn't rated by the USK.

  • X201 #39 3 years ago

    @IneptPercy: God knows, probably same reason that my first comment in this thread got as low as -9

    EDIT:And the subsequent complaint has now been buried to -2
    Edited by X201 at 24/08/09 @ 17:08

  • skillian #40 3 years ago

    How about 2 versions of a game? Just using a recent Film, Bruno had a 15 and 18 version. So the same could be done with some games to make a 'lessor' violent/swearing version if possible.

    This is done pretty often for markets like Germany - see the above poster's comments regarding Half-Life, the suicide bomber removal in C&C3 or the edits in TF2.

    Although these are more just cuts and stuff rather than a fully-realised different version of the game.

  • mizcicz #41 3 years ago

    yeah thats clever...no blood in videogames...slaughterhouses are ok...pheeeew...f&%K them

  • mukki #42 3 years ago

    well I am complaining
    German game censorship sucks f**king a**

    opps that was censored... :)
    well I also order all my games via the UK but the problem is DLC for them, say gears 2 is not available in the German xbox live... which also sucks

    and honestly if one looks at games art or at least a narrative interactive experience the
    tweaking and cutting that takes place to get a game here really does suck....

    and now that Germany seems to be biggest game market in europe let us hope that publishers dont start changing games from the start to get the sold here...

    bahhh I say

    and yes sucks is the word of the day

    sucks sucks sucks!
    Edited by mukki at 24/08/09 @ 19:04

  • BlackKraken #43 3 years ago

    Im afraid we're going to have to tolerate these sorts of things until games are recognised as an entertainment medium rather than just toys for kids.

    Or live in a society where us gamers will have to illegally buy games from a shady dealer on a street corner in Camden.
    "Pssst, hey mate, got Gears of War 9 here, 2000 quid. Fell off the back of a hover truck, wink wink, nudge nudge."

  • pinochet_cz #44 3 years ago

    And..is it anything else?
    Do you want to save our childs? Give then white shirts and reason to live? Do you know where this ends?

  • Drakron #45 3 years ago

    "Im afraid we're going to have to tolerate these sorts of things until games are recognised as an entertainment medium rather than just toys for kids. "

    That is what the BBFC did and yet what happened?

  • smelly #46 3 years ago

    See the thing is.. in germany you could have mario being sucked off by peach - and that'd pass no problems.

    Wouldnt be allowed in uk - So does that mean the uk ratings are "censorship"?

  • smelly #47 3 years ago

    >Why not just take the blood out?

    The german ratings have had this for years.. we used to just make the blood green.. sorted.

    it's only a few red pixels - doesnt change the game any.


  • gaselite #48 3 years ago

    It's like the movie industry consisted of nothing but Disney films for 50 years and then someone comes along and makes Reservoir Dogs.

    What?

  • FromTheLandUnknown #49 3 years ago

    Too much censorship always go hand in hand with high average stupiditiy in a given community.

    But Germans should be used to mutilate works of art by now, they are doing it with every dubbed film version, with impossible sound effects which seem they are made with tin trash cans and alike. Obviously they made spelling too difficult even for themselves, so they must watch every film like very little children their cartoons do-dubbed.
    But this does not enable them to respect their language enough. They use with increasing regularity so much words from English in their media, be it newspapers or TV, that it borders on awkward. But that is "modern" in Germany now.

    Many friends from Germany, which I wisit on a regular basis, (I lived there once) are appauled with this practice and are trying to change it.

    It is not the point that one can get the games from abroad, BECAUSE THIS MIND CONTROL CANCER WILL SPREAD ALL OVER EUROPE, if we do not speak against it. Rating sistem yes, but censorship above 18 rating no.

    And @Quak, it would be not so amiss, if this WAS a "desperate attempt to not slaughter another 6 million Jews and cause 40+ million deaths worldwide", but I fear that some of them support this kind of mind control, because they can not do that anymore.Others, that are also supporting it, are just stupid.

    And do please click on the minus sign, I know that truth hurts.

    And nice greetings to all my German friends, and to those, that think this post is anti German - it is not.No nation is immune to stupidity and sadism, and that is, what I speak against.