Germany lifts Doom sales ban after 17 years

[Silver Knight]

A German ban on selling Doom to teenagers has been lifted after 17 years.
The classic video game was put on an index of controlled titles in 1994 as it was deemed likely to harm youth. Like pornography, sales of the violent shoot 'em up were restricted to adult-only stores. The rules have been relaxed because officials believe that Doom is now only of artistic and scientific interest and will not appeal to youngsters. However, one version of the game remains on the index because it features Nazi symbols on some levels.


The restrictions on Doom and Doom II officially expired on 31 August following a meeting of the Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons (Bundesprufstelle) earlier in the month. The Bundesprufstelle reportedly decided to reconsider the game's status following an appeal by Bethesda Softworks, the current owner of iD Software, which created Doom. Bethesda argued that the game's crude graphics had been surpassed by many modern titles and, as a result, the violence it depicted had far less of an impact. In a document detailing its reasons, the Bundesprufstelle said its original decision was not solely based on the graphic quality of the game, although it noted that most mobile phones now supported far more realistic images. The panel explained that it was originally concerned because the story played out in Doom involved a relentless cycle of gunplay and "bloody sadistic" violence. The Bundesprufstelle said it had relaxed the restrictions because Doom was now "mainly of historical interest" and was far less likely to be played by children. Not least, it added, because much more realistic and challenging games were more widely available.


Some members of the Bundesprufstelle panel wanted to keep the restrictions in place but were outvoted by those deeming it acceptable. If Doom goes on sale in Germany it will still only be available to those aged 16 or over. The adults only rule was beginning to look like an anomaly because other versions of Doom games, such as one for the Game Boy Advance, had previously been approved in Germany. Restrictions on "Doom II - Hell on Earth" have also been lifted. However, the panel decided to maintain controls on the American version of Doom II because it incorporates two levels from Wolfenstein 3D which makes use of Nazi symbols including swastikas.





http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14748027


Silly Germans. To think you had to walk into a adult store to buy the game... *Man walks in... so er.. you got that you know... doom game.. yeah...  Oh and sluts gone wild too please, while your at it.*

[Knife_cz]

Germans and their restrictions..

[Andrew Weasley]

Thats crazy. To think of my childhood without Doom... that would suck.

[RaptorKiller]

Geez people, calm down. It's just a community thing. Gore in video games is a no-no here.
It's like nudity in the USA, drug abuse in Australia and gambling in Greece.

[Frostee]

Geez people, calm down. It's just a community thing. Gore in video games is a no-no here.
It's like nudity in the USA, drug abuse in Australia and gambling in Greece.

It is June 2012, and you post in a thread from September 1st, 2011. Get out.

[Tom]

Geez people, calm down. It's just a community thing. Gore in video games is a no-no here.
It's like nudity in the USA, drug abuse in Australia and gambling in Greece.

It is June 2012, and you post in a thread from September 1st, 2011. Get out.

Who the fuck cares about necro post anymore. Seriously.

[Ket]

Who the fuck cares about necro post anymore. Seriously.

Omg u noob Tom, we wunt those posts so we get kewl purple names n shit.


Now seriously, Tom's right. It's hard to be a newfag and you all know it.

[Bl★ck Star]

Geez people, calm down. It's just a community thing. Gore in video games is a no-no here.
It's like nudity in the USA, drug abuse in Australia and gambling in Greece.

It is June 2012, and you post in a thread from September 1st, 2011. Get out.

Who the fuck cares about necro post anymore. Seriously.

I DO

[RaptorKiller]

Geez people, calm down. It's just a community thing. Gore in video games is a no-no here.
It's like nudity in the USA, drug abuse in Australia and gambling in Greece.

It is June 2012, and you post in a thread from September 1st, 2011. Get out.

If you find necroposting that horrible don't bother viewing it then.
I was just speaking out, so replying to it just to get off topic is just as bad (even unnecessary). You get out.
And for the rest, I apologize if my bump annoyed you (, but apparently Frostee is the only one who thinks it's necessary to act like a douchebag. )