Wired has an excellent piece up on the current state of fear surrounding violent video games in Germany and the nation's efforts to ban content that doesn't mesh with its modern pacifist streak. Not unlike North American politicians, a number of German pols are looking to increase limitations on the sale of violent video games, an agenda they want to spread continent-wide to other members of the European Union.

Germany is no stranger to effectively banning games with objectionable violent content, as the software ratings board has denied ratings in the past to games like Dead Rising and Gears of War. Games like Manhunt and Counter-Strike are often blamed for societal ills and violent outbursts in European youth.

Sensible course of action to protect children or the work of agenda driven, headline grabbing politicians? Surely there must be some middle ground between government regulation and free-for-all skull splitting game access by 8-year olds. Michael McWhertor

German Past Haunts Gamers' Future [Wired]

Contact information for this author is not available.