drkepper
123601
4792
342
10 second ninja
Any use of the swastika is strictly forbidden
Wolfenstein: The New Order US
Wolfenstein: The New Order Germany
Every single reference to Nazis was completely removed from the game. The bad guys were called "The Regime"
South Park The Stick of Truth
In typical Trey Parker and Matt Stone fashion, black bars that clearly show "we had to censor some shit" are enough to get around the German censor rules.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Adventure game
It actually doesn't take that much to get around the censors
Call of Duty: Finest
In more recent games, Hitler's face is no longer acceptable.
Team Fortress 2
Germany is pretty strict about violence in gaming, but one loophole is to turn people into robo
Team Fortress Pyro - US
This means people can't explode into blood and guts
Team Fortress Pyro - Germany
Instead, they blow up into sparks, metal, and oil.
Command and Conquer: Generals
Even command and conquer games have to turn their real people into robots.
C&C Generals
Honestly, sometimes these work arounds are a bit silly.
Saints Row: The 3rd
Sometimes features from games are removed, in the German version of Saints Row 3, the ability to use people as human shields is limited to gang members. You cannot use civilians or cops.
Call of Duty: World at War
Rather than removing the Nazi from the Nazi Zombie game mode in CoD the mode was just removed completely.
Resident Evil 4
The censors don't particularly like meaningless violence, which may be why the Nazi Zombie mode was completely removed. The German censors determined that the RE Mercenaries mode didn't have an actual narrative and meaningless blood and guts.
Silent Hill
Blood and violence in general is just toned down.
Silent Hill
Bulletstorm
Another example of gory scenes being toned down.
Left 4 Dead
Censorship applies to box art as well.
This wasn't even televised in most areas of Germany.
Letoxx
Most of the above pictures are BS.
luminousbeing
Are you not going to link the Dorkly article this came from? http://www.dorkly.com/post/80945/germany-censorship
drkepper
woops good call.
usersubbordercontrol
So is mechahitler allowed?
mordaedil
Did seriously 90% of you miss the fucking joke?
badabumm07
thats why i buy my game keys abroad :-)
RememberTheC4nt
In Germany video games does not count as art. That's why they are able to censor the Shit out of it.
RememberTheC4nt
But you can buy the American version (most of the time the American (uk) version is stored in a locked box.
ncmetalguitar88
This is why they make such weird sex stuff
drkepper
You think German sex stuff is weird? You're shitting me.
ncmetalguitar88
Well there is something fishy about the Japanese stuff
RebelReis
I feel like your saying Americans are into some hard core violence.
pugofstardock
The use of Swastika and Nazi symbolism in general is forbidden in germany. To stop the few idiots from using it for Propaganda.
BillyRex
Actually it is allowed in movies, since the story is set and not changeable. This does not count for games, since you can influence it.
Swodan
Are we all just going to ignore the Trump is Hitler reference? That shit is gold
BellerophonM
Wait can I turn on Germany mode in TF2 that looks awesome
BillyRex
Actually yes. You can activate the low violence version somewhere.
almightyblob
You forgot to mention that in TF2, the players disintegrate into rubber duckies, unicycles and balloon animals, making it so much funnier
BillyRex
I actually thought that was a normal thing, until I saw a screenshot with the gore. Since then I found it even funnier. It actually fits.
SwarmLord
Only with Pyrovision enabled.
almightyblob
No, it's the default in the German version. It's been this way since launch.
friggoff52
Germans are the nazis of censorships
MetalSkeletal
Oh Jew!
amars1111
Oh nein you didnt
Mobileuserwholikestoberandom
jandermannderkann
But we can have naked women in games, so we got that going for us, which is nice!
gaenaralhonk
Pretty sure the Saints Row one is wrong, though. I'm german and I don't recally being unable to use anyone as a shield.
slurpnutcuz
its almost like they are ashamed or something
raidleadergutts
Which is absolutely ridiculous and idiotic.
RogerInVegas
Mommy look, I'm killing my ancestors zombies in call of duty
asm80dfa8sdfj
You say that as if it's a reason. As an American, I kill so many Americans in GTA. And "ancestors" in Red Dead Redemption.
Rasdwatrium
Ashamed? More like "interested in not getting that shit back into the civilized world OH FUCK WHAT IS TRUMP DOING THERE?" or something..
Victim42
I'd much rather live in Germany than US.
sogermanithurts
Let's switch :)
Victim42
Well, I didn´t say I live in US :-)
WoopDeFrickenDoo
Germans are pretty well known for being up front about WW2. I think this is to prevent Nazism from ever coming back. I read an article about
xedative
Personally, I don't understand how it's supposed to stop people. There are millions of Nazis around the world.
WoopDeFrickenDoo
some foreign politician visiting Germany, and the first thing his hosts wanted to do was take a trip through Auschwitz.
chicktracy
I think its good, because even now there are some fuckheads who would like to put muslims and brown people in camps.
StarGhost
I don't mind the censorship at all now because those examples are from older games. at the moment they don't censor as much as in the past
CerocMiedema
Hey Usa. We can drive on the fucking autobahn fast as we can. Motherfuckers.
deinfavorit
And our cars don't have to purpose of hitting people. Looking at you Mustang.
WoopDeFrickenDoo
you're just jelly
schlurbi
I understood that reference
tortillaboy
American muscle, fuck yeah!
Kerokuy
At least in germany we can say fuck and things like that on TV without being censored.
MouseDenton
Thing is, Europeans tend to censor violence, while the whole thing is flipped between them and us for sex.
drkepper
I recommend flipping it for sex every now and then.
Voidkom
Not really, violence is not censored anywhere outside Germany in europe.
DHReaver
Looks like you failed to recognise that Europe has many different approaches to this. Most of Europe is down for whatever.
irbones
As someone from England, no idea what you're talking about, mate.
Deadpoolio7
GTA is from our wonderful British Isles after all
summitshow
Well.. US censorship for "foul language" is just embarrassing.. Come to Sweden, we don't have censorshit... Compared to other nations.
AgolfHiller
No problem with violence or sex in the Netherlands, not sure what you're talking about
CorneliusCardew
Tf2 isn't even that violent as games go either
Skuldi
It differs per nation. I've not seen any videogame censorship in my country. (NL)
Czck
South Park the stick of truth was censored throughout all of Europe. Germany's version was super censored though
davesrandomstuff
For the UK, console versions had some censorship, but the Steam version was uncensored. Maybe a failed attempt at getting pegi 16 rating?
Czck
No it was voluntary by the south park creators to get the game in every European country. Germany's had slightly more due to nazis
PastaPriest
A swastika isn't exactly violence. It's a symbol.
Hembrent
Hotline Miami, Sweden. Ain't no censoring nothing here.
dbba
Suits me, I prefer to see more sexy time and less blood and gore, and I know which is healthier anyway
AlwaysTrustTheManInABigWhiteVan
Have you tried mixing them both though?
IAmNotASkeleton
Blood and gore, since it'll get you more protein for nourishment.
LoveIsWhatMakesASubaruASubaru
"Healthier"
Snarkoleptic
Sex is great exercise and has very few drawbacks. Violence is a drawback in and of itself.
LoveIsWhatMakesASubaruASubaru
"Taking things out of context"
Rasdwatrium
Do you know how HARD it is to axe a body several times? Quite a workout I say!
PublicClassMiloImplementsPerson
Not sure why this has so many upvotes when it's clearly incorrect. No offense, but you have no idea what you're talking about.
Cere4l
not in ANY european country ive been to cept germany.
bolharr2250
I'd love to have access to these in the US as someone who doesn't like violence in otherwise good games
TwistedAttitudes
I mean... you could just get them imported from germany somehow right? would prob be super expensive though
Inkcat
I'm pretty sure you could willingly download them from Steam with some changes, if you wanted to.
Hippychicka
The end just made me blow air out of my nose. So funny
3YearsaLurker
The blood in Team Fortress 2 always looked too orange to me, I swear
HitlersArtCritic
Always thought it was just the art, didn't think of the color much.
Quaxx
On the other hand the USA banns for nudity are rediculous for germans
asm80dfa8sdfj
For the record, they aren't banned, it's just that most developers aim for a really open rating like Teen/Pegi13 so they can sell more games
Shinlos
Nudity is actually Teen rated in germany, if no sexual act is shown. There are Boobs on afternoon TV.
SomewhatOxygenated
Nazi symbolism in games isn't strictly banned either, you just get a mature rating and that limits how you can advertise them.
AmArschdieRaeuber
also how you beep out cursing is really weird. Or when somebody writes f**k
asm80dfa8sdfj
Nudity and some obscured sex is allowed in 'M'ature games, and full visible sex/porn is allowed in 'A'dults 'O'nly games.
BlackPanther01
I like how you were downvoted for not feeding the circlejerk.
asm80dfa8sdfj
Happens all the time. I really only speak to clear up factual inaccuracies, for the most part. People don't tend to appreciate that.
asm80dfa8sdfj
This comment is no longer in the negatives though, the truth has prevailed! :P
TheresAGermanWordForThat
Unless you're RTL2.
GentlemanScientist
Swearing? Nope. Sex? Jesus is watching! Full-on firefights with people dying left and right? Daytime television!
WubbaLubbaDubbDub
Ok, guess I'll go watch game of thrones now. Too bad nudity is banned in USA
GentlemanScientist
I didn't say that you didn't have it, just that your priorities are a bit weird.
StarsandStones
Remember, it's not television it's HBO!
WubbaLubbaDubbDub
Thank you HBO marketing bot!
GentlemanScientist
http://satwcomic.com/anything-but-that
Quaxx
http://weknowmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/true-story-neil-patrick-harris.png
xIIPuppetIIx
God I haven't seen that mother fucker in years. Litterally years.
reediculous84
My user name is relevant finally
KharnApproves
It's fucking 2016. Can we all figure out how to spell?
Comingin2014
Thank you! I've seen this so many times lately. What the fuck! It's ritarded.
KharnApproves
well plaied.
junkhacker
and the censorship will never go away, because no politician is going to be the one to champion a call to allow gore and nazi stuff.
mybliss
All they need to do is change the category games are under. Change it from Toys to Art and problem is solved.
Horsed
It's more that no game company has the balls to go to curt and try to establish games as art like movies, which are allowed to show this
Porecomesis
Not that gore and nazi stuff are essential to art.
Horsed
Just think of this: If movies had the same rules as games Schindlers list would be banned
Porecomesis
I've never watched that, honestly.
SwarmLord
I think that there's a difference between a movie based on history and a game mode where you just shoot at nazi zombies.
Horsed
That opinion is totally fine...but no one looks what the game is about just the checklist: swastika?->ban
Horsed
Indiana jones as movie-> free for kinds >12 years. Indiana jones point & click -> not even for adults
Horsed
No, but I still like inglorious basterds, which is art but as game would be censored/banned
Horsed
I mean banning games where you play as nazi is perhaps not fine but understandable but things like wolfenstein where you are the resistance?
DarkUranium
It's also that censoring it is kind of like pretending it never existed. That, and illegal things are often considered as cooler by kids.
havald
Thank you! This! Not the state has to take the initiative, companies have to and the odds for winning aren't that bad tbh. But the costs...
MapleLeafEagle
How about "free speech"?
spamandcrap0
ChumbaWumba just started playing in my head
FindYourChillMate
This isnt free speech you moron
questionableanswers
We had almost unlimited free speech. Only led to massive propaganda, more radicals on the left and right. And you know, Hitler.
MapleLeafEagle
I mean, things other than free speech were involved: WWI, horrible economy, nationalism in general.
questionableanswers
A lot of nations had to deal with that. But allowing people like hitler a platform was a mistake.
MapleLeafEagle
So people with dangerous ideologies should not be allowed free speech? Who decides what a dangerous ideology is?
GoogleAutocorrect
You win some and you lose some
drkepper
I didn't post a picture about it, but if a game doesn't follow the censorship law they are put on "The index" Media on the index is not
drkepper
illegal to buy/sell, but it is illegal to advertise them. They are basically treated like porn and need an "Adult" section. It's technically
drkepper
illegal to publish a list of games on the index because it's a form of advertising. This means you can't put it in a list online or in store
drkepper
This makes these games extremely hard to sell so most stores won't try. It's a de-facto ban, much like an unrated film in the US
FatalBazooka
In general gore is ok but the game may be blacklisted. Those can't be advertised or openly displayed it in stores, only upon request.
INere
This comment needs to go to the top.
FatalBazooka
You can read more about this at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Department_for_Media_Harmful_to_Young_Persons
Crimx42
To clarify, Germany bans Swastikas and Nazism in "Toys" since they are meant for children, and all video games are classified as "Toys".
Muldini
Nonsense. Nazi imagery is banned in general, with the exception being art/history. That's why games don't have it, but movies (art) do.
TheLaughingGod
bullshit, we bann the public display of the swastica outright. because we will not tollerate it beeng used for propaganda and the only
TheLaughingGod
way to prevent it is to ban nationalist imigary all together
VoidIncarnate
So... no Swastika Dildos, then?
revcleo
they're just impractical, you can't fit the bend inside.
pugofstardock
If you keep them hidden its ok
StephanieWasTheTrueVillainOfLazyTown
I know a few places to hide them ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
BewareTheJabberwockie
They are trying not to glorify Nazism in any way basically I believe.
Akhormenet
Which makes removing the swastikas from Wolfenstein seem all the more ridiculous when the whole game revolves around murdering Nazis.
RecurringNightmare
yeah it looks silly when the nazis are the bad guys, but considering the hype around bad guys like darth vader its not entirely dumb
RecurringNightmare
also u have to consider that its tax funded, they dont have time for in-depth analysis...just remove the stuff from ur game and be save
BewareTheJabberwockie
Imagine making a game where you're a cop hunting down kids who are shooting up a school... it still glorifies the offenders even if they're>
BewareTheJabberwockie
>portrayed as the bad guy. It makes them 'memorable'. Thats why I think its them just trying not to glorify it in anyway.
Akhormenet
To glorify is to describe or represent as admirable, especially unjustifiably. So depicting them as evil is definitely not glorifying them.
Bassi1990
That is not entirely true. The use of Swastikas is possible in a work of art. However no company to this day went to court over (1/2)
Bassi1990
"are video games art?" Rather than taking the risk of going to court they censor the games preemptively. (2/2)
AtLeastWereNotDetroit
Til
Drewscifer
So did they miss out on Kung fury?
sslih
Kung Fury never "released" in germany, it has no USK either (basically german age rating)
Horsed
Movies are art and art is free
Drewscifer
Cooking is art yet there is a curious lack of free pizza
Horsed
Not free as give away but free as in "no book burning"
IceVamp
Didn't know, thanks.
Xenarion
Even mature and adult games?
randomhero13
no publisher wants to go to court to get (pc)games classified as art,then you could use the swastika. maybe they are afraid of bad publicity
IAmNotASkeleton
What about swastika dildos?
tacosforeverymeal
Possibly a loophole
Skush123
Completely wrong. They are forbidden unless it counts as art, which Video Games don't. Movies do.
nebworb
Even in the US swastikas are censored in kids shows, i.e. the curse mark seal on Neji in Naruto.
RhealityBytes
I was under the impression that there was a more universal ban on Nazi Imagery then just toys
magamilk
There are lots of German movies about Nazism. A recent one called "Look Who's Back", based on like-titled book, is about Hitler.
Zahnradfee
Thumb of rule: If you use Nazi Imagery because you think the Nazis were awesome, it's forbidden. If you use it to educate or satirize them,
Zahnradfee
Oh, lol, I just realized: I meant Rule of Thumb. ^_^° ... I'll see myself out...
Zahnradfee
it's mostly ok. But the line is sometimes hard to draw. See this incident (which happened in the city where I live):
Zahnradfee
http://forward.com/news/breaking-news/170561/jewish-writer-tuvia-tenenbom-in-hot-water-for-nazi/
hahayeahlol
than*
Crimx42
No, because they don't the impression that they are denying World War 2 happened. Nazi rallies and such are illegal tho.
SuckAnElf
That's good to know cause that's definitely the impression I was getting from this post haha
FlyingDogOfDoom
Genuinely curious, how do things like the 1936 Olympic Bell fit into this? The swastikas around the base were edited away IIRC.
Icedpryo
Then why can you kill people in real life at 17 but not in video games?
3YearsaLurker
Is Nazi imagery also banned games that are rated 18+ ?
Crimx42
Remember, I wasn't the one who wrote it. I think it's dumb to be honest. It especially blocks Educational Video Games.
96DAWn
Since they're not considered art, yes. Movies, paintings and the like may show nazi symbolism, but video games aren't considered an art form
FatalBazooka
Yes but not in movies since movies are considered to be art. I've always imported games from Austria in my youth, illegal AF tho.
NecaZombie
that is sooo hard core :D , upvote for bravery
OmegaK2
the law behind this: StGB §86a https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strafgesetzbuch_section_86a
whichfckingusernameisnottaken
For most of the cut games there is an uncut 18+/Index version. And it is allowed to sell uncut US-Versions. Same for Movies.
Crimx42
Simple establishment statement. "ALL VIDEO GAMES ARE TOYS". Whether or not you can't sell it to kids isn't relevant.
scarcloud
Swastikas and Nazi symbols in general are banned in Germany, simply because everything regarding Third Reich is declared a hate symbol.
ali4z
So no swastika dildos then?
mechanimated
To be fair I can see why. It's just smart. You can put 18+ on the box but we all know damn well 12 year olds are playing COD.
SirFormidio
Sounds like a bullshit archaic rule.
Muldini
that's because the "toys" explnation is bullshit.
NexiKuro
It's identical to America's ban on Kinder eggs, "all candies are for kids of all ages" Kinder eggs are 3+ due to small objects inside them.
5outof7deadlysins
That's just sad, and that's a big issue not letting them become art and being classified as toys
SlightlyNormal
Something can be both toy and art. And let's not kid ourselves, vast majority of games are primarily toys and nothing else.
SharkoutofWata
As an avid gamer of the AAA drivel given year in and year out, I have a hard time thinking of games as art...
SightlierGravy
Clearly you haven't played a Yoko Taro game. If I couldn't call them art then I'd have no idea what to call them. They're something.
Sauroctonus
Games as a whole aren't exactly, art. But games can be works of art. The evening news isn't art, but a TV show can be a work of art.
ekzeko
I don't get the downvotes... I get the indie sensibilities but buck for buck, The vg world is overwhelmingly financing drivel.
5outof7deadlysins
There are more games out there besides AAA, and AAA games are focus on cheap strategies just for sales. Check out ExtraCredits in youtube
linkyu
Well, 18+ toys ARE a thing...
3YearsaLurker
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Br0doSwaggins
So do Germans still get to watch Raiders of the Lost Ark?
deinfavorit
Yes, also Inglourious Basterds, Iron Sky and Schindlers List.
YeOldeInternetTroll
Yes, because movies are classified as an art form while video games are classified as toys. Even those rated for adults.
PoopholeAintALoophole
Wow. As an American, TIL. Thanks.
cantthinkofonebutok
what about southpark thats an adult show
Beezlebubble
The South Park pic was from a game, not the show.
cantthinkofonebutok
oh ok did not know that thanks
NotTimon
The TF2 one isn't true, there is just a mode that turns everyone into robots accessible through consle commands.
GentlemanScientist
Well, yes and no, originally there was the child mode that turned all gore to springs and cogs and balloons and unicycles, later they 1/2
GentlemanScientist
added the Mann versus Machine game mode which included robot skins for all characters. 2/2
BillyRex
Actually the image is irritating. We have no gore, so that is correct. But they are still humans. But the C&C one is correct.
drkepper
The German version has this mode enabled always and the console command in US versions allow you to toggle it. There are all kinds of things
OmegaK2
It doesn't, the robots are from man vs machine that was released several years after TF2. The DE version only has the non-gore body parts
AfroSamuraiRM
He's not talking about the models, he's talking about the gib effects. He just used the wrong picture.
drkepper
accessible in the console for other retail versions. For example, in L4D you can enable 2 player split screen on the PC version via console
NotTimon
I mean I lived in Germany for more than a decade and I'm pretty sure my German TF2 dudes weren't using robots.
AfroSamuraiRM
Because he's not talking about the MvM models. He's talking about the gib effects and all that. Look at the Soldier Trailer pic, explains it
drkepper
I admit the 1st picture is misleading but your version of TF2 has exploding blood and guts? If you google censored TF2 tons of shit comes up
FindYourChillMate
Dude deal with it. You are wrong