Literally, the only problem is that there’s no simple, easy and fast solution to prove your age on the internet. That’s where work has to be done and it’s being done already, just not fast enough.No. There is a German institution called "Kommission fuer Jugendmedienschutz" (KJM) which dictates acceptable controls. Nothing any console manufacturer does in that regard is today enough for the KJM, but some German websites like GamersGlobal.de use KJM-approved controls.
The problem is that these controls are nearly excluding anyone who doesn't have a German passport or something they call "Personalausweis". At least very often there are no other possibilites to access content there. You only can and have to prove your age by providing information through such documents. Yet interpretations vary: Sony for example seems to think that they are allowed to sell age-restricted stuff on their German PSN store when somebody has paid for it. Hence they give away some demos only to PlayStation-Plus-subscribers.
The German adult industry is using paid services, and so forth. These services are supposing youth protection but are indeed in need of heavy fees on a monthly basis, blocking content that would otherwise be free.
Nintendo of Europe should really move away from Grossostheim, and out of Germany.
In that regard things can only get worse - Electronic Arts is already working together with the KJM or mainstream lawyers on several projects because the German video game industry is far from criticizing this situation around youth protection (Jugendschutz) in Germany. Most of their representatives are applauding those laws. Like the adult industry, they may also see a business opportunity there. These are dangerous conditions any liberal-minded European should be aware of while most Germans are accepting the conceptions of "Jugendschutz" by the state for historical reasons without questioning them one bit.
Nintendo's actions today could only be the start of something that is getting far worse next-gen. This could easily be the beginning of the end for free gaming in Europe. Anyone should be aware of the threat German youth protection is to European gaming. And if not today, then tomorrow -
I’m also pissed that I cannot download all the Demos from the German PSN but I’m also able to understand that it’s the best solution we have in terms of protection of the youth. These rules exist, like I mentioned, in every country I’ve ever been to in my life. You’ll have to show identification everywhere in order to do/get things that are not allowed to be done/had under a certain age. Why should I not show any identification when buying stuff online when I have to do so when I buy the same content in a store?
You have to prove your age literally everywhere. Sometimes, it’s possible to make assumptions about your age (is here by car, must be 18, for example) but sometimes it isn’t. All that has to be improved is the way to prove your age online.