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Geek Culture / Is CoD WaW sold in Germany or Japan?

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AJ Schaeffer
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Posted: 14th Apr 2011 02:45
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I don't want to start flame wars or be rude, but i must know.
Are games like this banned in germany and japan? Please don't yell at me if this is extremely wrong of me to even bring this up...
...im just curious...

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heyufool1
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Posted: 14th Apr 2011 03:20
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I know Nazism is illegal in Germany so I wouldn't be surprised. As for Japan, maybe.

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Vent
FPSC Master
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Posted: 14th Apr 2011 03:22
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I know World at War was banned in Japan, I don't know if it still is. Germany also has a lot of anti-Nazi laws, so some games with Nazi references aren't sold there, but I think World at War is, I really don't understand what is allowed and what isn't in Germany, with their anti-Nazi laws.

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crispex
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Posted: 14th Apr 2011 05:47
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Media depicting Nazi's in Germany must have the swastika reversed for it to be able to be sold, even then it's difficult. It was not sold mainstream in Japan, but could be imported legally from other vendors.

I just now realized I've had a typo in my signature for the past 3 years.
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lazerus
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Posted: 14th Apr 2011 14:45
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Its all down to how they want there next generation to see themselves. I mean all the 'Allies' games are Pro killing the 'evil' men, who are country men of respective nations. So its pretty wise not to sell it there.

"The sins of the fathers shouldnt be passed to the sons" type deal.


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_Pauli_
AGK Developer
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Posted: 14th Apr 2011 15:02
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COD: World at War is sold here in Germany (like most other WWII games) but with slight changes. All svastikas have to be removed and usually replaced by a cross.

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entomophobiac
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Posted: 14th Apr 2011 16:18
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Quote: "Media depicting Nazi's in Germany must have the swastika reversed for it to be able to be sold"


This is an American print law and has nothing to do with Germany, from what I know. Everything depicting nazism is illegal in Germany, down to the melodies and texts of songs like the Horst-Wessel Lied.

Germany has a board that decides on a per-game basis whether the game is rated or not. And a game that isn't rated can't be sold over a counter. I.e., a consumer must jump through hoops to find it.

Typically, the board chooses not to rate games with content that is even remotely close to illegal, but it all comes down to the whims of the board's members in the end.

Not entirely dissimilar to the way it works in Australia, from what I understand.
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crispex
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Posted: 14th Apr 2011 22:28
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Quote: "This is an American print law and has nothing to do with Germany, from what I know."


Wrong. Many film makers have been arrested in Germany for having normal swastika's for WWII movies. All of them HAVE to be reversed or replaced by another texture otherwise it's a criminal offense.

I just now realized I've had a typo in my signature for the past 3 years.
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entomophobiac
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Posted: 14th Apr 2011 23:53 Edited at: 14th Apr 2011 23:54
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So, who were these "many film makers" then? I know Der Untergang (The Downfall) was made in Germany, along with a series of other films, without anyone being arrested. In fact, the best World War 2 period films are all German, in my opinion.

In an educational and fictious contexts, it's perfectly legal, but may affect restrictions. Film isn't affected as much as games, however, because of the whims of the board.

It would be interesting to learn what you base this on, though. I'm by no means a Germany expert.
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crispex
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Posted: 15th Apr 2011 03:18
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Der Untergang had special permission because of the nature of the film, and how it was actually a German filmmaker and actors who played in it. For example, some scenes of Valkyrie have the swastika's reversed (the scenes filmed in Germany). Not to mention, a lot of film makers simply get fined.

It really depends on the nature of the film. If a film like Inglorious Basterds was filmed in Germany, they might have less tolerance. It's sorta like a "speeding" situation. If you have a good reason for speeding most police officers are willing to work with you but if you are speeding simply for the joy of speeding, then you might have a different attitude toward the approach.

I just now realized I've had a typo in my signature for the past 3 years.
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entomophobiac
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Posted: 15th Apr 2011 10:16
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Quote: "For example, some scenes of Valkyrie have the swastika's reversed (the scenes filmed in Germany)."


This is because it's an American film. It has nothing to do with Germany. The original it's based on, called Stauffenberg in German, is not just a much better film, it's also German and it's also depicted with some measure of historical accuracy.

There are many WW2 films made in Germany, as I said, and there are no reverse swastikas necessary in either of them.

But about the Basterds and similar films, it's basically the same as for video games. A real shame, too, as it's as close to censorship that you can get in the day today.
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FLAME123
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Posted: 18th Apr 2011 14:40
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Apparently in the German version the Swastika's are faded out

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