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Chancellor Merkel is opening gamescom for the first time

O

oti

Banned
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Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel will open gamescom, the world's largest event for computer and video games, for the first time on Tuesday, 22 August 2017 in Cologne. This was announced today jointly by Koelnmesse, organiser of gamescom, and the German Trade Association of Interactive Entertainment Software (BIU) as gamescom sponsor.
”We consider it a great honour and a sign of recognition that Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel will this year participate in the opening tour of gamescom", says Felix Falk, Managing Director of the German Trade Association of Interactive Entertainment Software (BIU).
”The visit of Dr. Merkel underlines the importance of the games industry for the cultural, digital and business location of Germany. Whether virtual reality, gamification or 3D simulations: the technologies of the games industry already play a central role in the digitalisation and networking of the economy and society. Germany needs a strong games industry in order to also secure itself a top position in the digitalised economy."
The agreement to attend was also received very positively by the organiser of gamescom, Koelnmesse GmbH: ”The participation of the Chancellor is a sign of great appreciation for us", says Gerald Böse, President and Chief Executive Officer of Koelnmesse GmbH.
”With her visit she honours the development of gamescom into one of the most successful and largest events in the German trade fair system. gamescom is today the world's largest event for computer and video games. She emphasises the position of Koelnmesse as one of the leading trade fair organisers worldwide in the digital media and entertainment segment."
gamescom is the world's largest event for computer and video games and Europe's most important business platform for the games industry. Last year, 345,000 visitors from 97 countries came to Cologne to inform themselves about the highlights and trends of the 877 exhibiting companies from 54 countries. Together with the gamescom city festival in the Cologne city centre, gamescom moved more than a half a million people to and within the Rhine metropolis.
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http://news.gamescom.de/en/2017/06/chancellor-merkel-is-opening-gamescom-for-the-first-time/

I guess things have changed since the whole Killerspiele discussion a few years ago.
AKA German F2P industry is booming
 
W

Wind's Howling

Member
Gaming events being opened by anyone with political movements is a good thing. You hear so many complaints from political spokespersons that say that "gaming is evil and is the reason why kids are violent"

This makes them show that gaming is relevant for their country's economics more than they thought it would.
 
I

Imp the Dimp

Member
Acceptance of video games has definitely increased in Germany in the past years. Violent outbursts by adolescents are rarely, if ever attributed to video games these days. I honestly think this is a nice and useful gesture and sends positive signs to the general populace. With virtually everybody having smart phones, video games have permeated basically every demographic in the past years.
 
Caayn

Caayn

Member
I wonder if something similar will happen for E3 next year. Trump ? :p
Rivyn said:
Gaming events being opened by anyone with political movements is a good thing. You hear so many complaints from political spokespersons that say that "gaming is evil and is the reason why kids are violent"

This makes them show that gaming is relevant for their country's economics more than they thought it would.
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My thoughts exactly, although "games are evil" is more an USA thing. Although it could be a publicity stunt for the election. Either way, this is good.
 
S

SolidSnakex

Member
Rivyn said:
Gaming events being opened by anyone with political movements is a good thing. You hear so many complaints from political spokespersons that say that "gaming is evil and is the reason why kids are violent"

This makes them show that gaming is relevant for their country's economics more than they thought it would.
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Isn't that largely an American thing spurred by guns rights groups trying to shift the blame away from guns at any cost?
 
W

Wind's Howling

Member
SolidSnakex said:
Isn't that largely an American thing spurred by guns rights groups trying to shift the blame away from guns at any cost?
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Germany is the one country in Europe that changes the color of blood in videogames into green, blue or what else.

There is also a ban or huge alteration on games like Wolfenstein where you kill Nazi's. So no, just because you don't hear them politics shouting as fanatically as the American politicians, doesn't mean they don't think the same.
 
H

Hektor

Member
SolidSnakex said:
Isn't that largely an American thing spurred by guns rights groups trying to shift the blame away from guns at any cost?
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Nope. Germany was extreme about that a decade ago after a school rampage.

A lot regularely talked openly about banning them, about how counter strike awards the player points for blowing up grannies with grenades and how these so called "killerspiele" (murder games) train kids in gun usage. It was insane.
 
S

scamander

Banned
SolidSnakex said:
Isn't that largely an American thing spurred by guns rights groups trying to shift the blame away from guns at any cost?
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So called "Killerspiele" have been a convenient scapegoat in Germany, whenever a culprit of a killing spree did play violent games.

"Yes, he did murder his classmates because of these horrific games and not because he failed the A levels and lost his previous graduation in the process thanks to stupid state laws."
 
N

nOoblet16

Member
Rivyn said:
Germany is the one country in Europe that changes the color of blood in videogames into green, blue or what else.

There is also a ban or huge alteration on games like Wolfenstein where you kill Nazi's. So no, just because you don't hear them politics shouting as fanatically as the American politicians, doesn't mean they don't think the same.
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It's because the laws were not updated to account for games, not really because they don't like games. For instance, blood, Nazi symbolism and imagery are all fine in movies and TV shows as it falls under art, but those laws were never updated to include games.
 
S

scamander

Banned
nOoblet16 said:
It's because the laws were not updated to account for games, not really because they don't like games. For instance, blood, Nazi symbolism and imagery are all fine in movies and TV shows as it falls under art, but those laws were never updated to include games.
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Blood is fine in games as well and is very rarely censored in Germany these days. If it IS censored, it's prematurely done by the publisher, because they fear they won't get a USK rating and don't want to pay twice for the rating.

Sesuadra said:
I'll still not vote for your horrible party.
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Hyperbole, much?
 
P

pswii60

Member
Seems strange given that videogame development is pretty much dead in Germany, and has hardly been a home to many notable videogame developers in the past. Probably the most notable is Factor 5 and Crytek. Yager too. But even Crytek is now on its last leg.
 
Yoshi

Yoshi

Headmaster of Console Warrior Jugendstrafanstalt
nOoblet16 said:
It's because the laws were not updated to account for games, not really because they don't like games. For instance, blood, Nazi symbolism and imagery are all fine in movies and TV shows as it falls under art, but those laws were never updated to include games.
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Blood obviously is fine as well, just Nazi symbolism is not, because games are not regarded as art (and outside of that or historic contexts, the symbolism is banned in Germany).
 
W

wbEMX

Member
Rivyn said:
Germany is the one country in Europe that changes the color of blood in videogames into green, blue or what else.

There is also a ban or huge alteration on games like Wolfenstein where you kill Nazi's. So no, just because you don't hear them politics shouting as fanatically as the American politicians, doesn't mean they don't think the same.
Click to expand...

nOoblet16 said:
It's because the laws were not updated to account for games, not really because they don't like games. For instance, blood, Nazi symbolism and imagery are all fine in movies and TV shows as it falls under art, but those laws were never updated to include games.
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The only thing that gets censored now is Nazi symbolism. Since Mortal Kombat X and DOOM got released here uncut the floodgates have been opened in terms of violence. But censoring Nazi symbolism is bad enough in the case of Wolfenstein. The laws basically prohibit us right now to shoot Nazis. That has some unfortunate implications.

pls let me shoot nazis in wolfie 2, merkel-senpai. =(
 
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