• gamescom 2009

    GamesCom Is Coming And We're Going

    With less than two months until Europe tries to transplant the tremendous success of the Leipzig Gamescon to the more centrally located Cologne Gamescom, the festival's backers tell us things are looking good. More »
    06/23/09
    0
    81

    Comment by Blue Wizard 422: All of the hair on that magnificent creature is used to keep him warm on cold, lonely Colorado nights. 13 Responses | Other threads

  • germany

    German Pols Push to Ban Development of Violent Games

    Germany's latest demagogue tantrum against "killerspiele" - violent video games - could be shrugged off as hot air, except for the fact it would ban even their development. So Germany-based Crytek would have to move. More »
    06/06/09
    0
    197

    Comment by Allcars: I'm pretty sure 4chan had alot to do with this. I do remember a post by this killer the night... 22 Responses | Other threads

  • germany

    Nazis Vs. Bomberman

    Former German politician Martin Budich is in hot water for invoking violence...against Nazis...with Bomberman. More »
    05/15/09
    0
    94

    Comment by The Forgetful Brain: You can tout various Freedom of Speech rights all you like, but it escapes me how KKK and Nazi parties... 24 Responses | Other threads

  • activision

    Guitar Hero: Van Halen Confirmed By Ratings Board?

    While Activision's plans for a Guitar Hero game highlighting the music and career of Van Halen is a poorly kept secret, the publisher hasn't yet officially announced it. But the German game ratings board has. More »
    04/17/09
    0
    113

    Comment by Jezuz: So, anyone else getting really bored of this genre of games? It's like WW2 games. They were awesome for about... 13 Responses | Other threads

  • controversies

    German Cops' Union Boss Issues Tired Plea to Ban Games

    Heini Schmitt (pictured), head of the Hessen German Police Union, spouts ignorance about "killerworlds" and "killergames," two terms I've never heard before, but apparently describe a grave public health and safety menace in Germany. More »
    03/22/09
    0
    131

    Comment by SprinklesTDD: My gosh how some people need to just grow up and learn about what they're attacking. It's people like this... 21 Responses | Other threads

  • violent video games

    German Retailer Drops Violent Games In Wake Of Shootings

    Following last week's tragic shooting rampage in Germany that left fifteen dead, German retailer Galeria Kaufhof is pulling violent films and games from their store shelves. More »
    03/20/09
    0
    100

    Comment by Lev_Astov: Wow, let the anti-anti-gaming flame fest begin! Personally, I'd like to go over there and give them a piece... 8 Responses | Other threads

  • art

    I Am 8-BIt? More Like Ich Bin 8-Bit

    i am 8-bit is as influential as gaming art shows get. But it doesn't just influence artists. It influences art shows. Even German art shows. More »
    03/18/09
    0
    13

    Comment by KamikazeSailor: Post-it notes? Really? Yah, think I'm going to pass. I Am 8-Bit is a cool show, but I don't know about this... 3 Responses | Other threads

  • violent video games

    German Chancellor Eyes Video Games in Wake of Shooting

    More details of the shooting linked to video games over in Germany: The shooter was playing Far Cry 2, and Chancellor Angela Merkel is considering what could be done to limit access to violent games. More »
    03/15/09
    0
    176

    Comment by Kalapusa: Oh god... I had forgotten how embarrassing Bush was. He was like that awkward uncle you had to keep an... 26 Responses | Other threads

  • crime

    German Gunman Already Linked With Gaming

    In case you missed the news earlier today, German teenager Tim Kretschmer went on a shooting rampage. Killed fifteen people. And already, attempts are being made to link the atrocity to gaming. More »
    03/11/09
    0
    216

    Comment by Bialia: Surveys show that 97% of children or more play video games. It's worth mentioning like it's worth mentioning he used conditioner... 52 Responses | Other threads

  • ea

    So Dead Space Was Banned, Well, Nowhere

    In September, something smelled fishy. EA went out of their way to say that Dead Space had been "banned" in Germany, Japan and China, when really, nothing of the sort had transpired. More »
    12/17/08
    0
    87

    Comment by ceooflhm: Clever marketing. Tell a consumer they cant have something then they will want it more. 7 Responses | Other threads

  • Runes of Magic

    Runes Of Magic Publisher Sets Up Shop In San Francisco

    Next time we want a hands-on with a Frogster product we might not have to travel to Germany, as the Berlin-based online game publisher announces the founding of Frogster America in San Francisco. More »
    12/10/08
    0
    15

    Comment by Ranger33: I don't see why people get upset about it ripping other games. It looks decent, has tons of features, and... 3 Responses | Other threads

  • germany

    Sonic The Hedgehog, The Chessboard

    "Chess" is the last thing that comes to mind when someone mentions Sonic the Hedgehog. There are other things we think of first. Regardless, leave it to the Germans to make a Sonic the Hedgehog chess board. More »
    12/02/08
    0
    97

    Comment by Locke562: How do you tell the difference between your pieces and your opponents? 19 Responses | Other threads

  • left 4 dead

    German Left 4 Dead Cover Is Only Half-Censored

    Earlier this week, we noticed that the German box art for Left 4 dead had been edited. Some gore removed, an extra digit added. Well, EA have let us know that only one of the game’s boxes has been edited. The game’s other box – yes, it’s shipping with two covers - is OK! Turns out the game will ship with a paper sleeve. This sleeve, which is all you’ll be able to see when looking at the game on a store shelf, has the edited image. But when you get the game home and remove the sleeve, you'll see the actual DVD case, which has the regular, thumbless, geddit-zombies-eat-thumbs cover. From humourless to efficient! We've run the gamut of German stereotypes in less than a week.
    10/28/08
    0
    46

    Comment by neojam: Unfortunately it doesn't change the fact, that the game itself is still censored... :( 7 Responses | Other threads

  • left 4 dead

    Even Germany's Box Art Is Censored Now

    [UPDATE - EA contacted us to let us know the German version has two covers; a paper sleeve and the actual DVD case. Only the paper sleeve features this edited box art]The Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle, or USK, are Germany's classification board. And as you may already be aware, they're a conservative bunch, banning games that even Australia let slide. But this, this is new. Witness Germany's box art for Valve's upcoming zombie co-op shooter, Left 4 Dead. Notice anything, uh, different? More »
    10/27/08
    0
    151

    Comment by Cheesewheel: I've always felt sorry for gamers in Germany. They miss out on so much due to ratings boards and their... 8 Responses | Other threads

  • gears of war 2

    Gears Of War 2 Not Being Released In Germany, Japan

    Predictable. And in more ways than one. According to Microsoft, Gears of War 2 won't be seeing a release in either Germany or Japan, thanks to the game's level of violence and gore. Seeing as the first one wasn't released in Germany, that's no surprise. But Japan? Why isn't it being released in Japan? The first one was, despite its "Z" (adults only) rating, and it did pretty well for a Western game, selling over 30k units. Heck, Microsoft even held a Z-rated party last year celebrating the fact they release adults-only games. So what gives? More »
    10/22/08
    0
    99

    Comment by Poison: Since I'm in Germany, this makes the decision NOT to get the game much easier. ;) 9 Responses | Other threads

  • madworld

    MadWorld To Be Released In The US And...Uh...

    Platinum Games' MadWorld looks great. Really getting the most out of that Wii hardware. Should be a blast! But if you live in Japan, Australia or Germany, be warned: you may be on the outside looking in on this one. While the game is to be aggressively geared towards the American market, it won't - as we've pointed out - even be shown at TGS, and releases in other "sensitive" markets - like Germany and Australia - are "not part of Sega’s strategy right now". Bummer. Best you Germans and us Australians can hope for is that the classification boards go easy on it on the grounds it's "comic" violence. More »
    10/03/08
    0
    66

    Comment by Ratfoot_Revived: Boy am I glad I don't live in either of those countries even though they will probably survive a lot... 5 Responses | Other threads

  • dead space

    Dead Space Ban: Fact or Fiction?

    Remember the recent news that Dead Space has been banned in China, Japan, and Germany? Well, GamePolitics isn't buying it, saying the news doesn't pass the 'smell test' for a variety of reasons. Dead Space cleared both Australia's 'notoriously censorious' OFLC and the UK's BBFC (the same commission that banned Manhunt 2); Germany perhaps makes sense, but "Japan? The home of Resident Evil?"; and, oh yeah, the lack of any word from EA on the issue: More »
    09/07/08
    0
    61

    Comment by chaos242: I thought that decapitations of humans or human-like things weren't allowed in Japan... 12 Responses | Other threads

  • microsoft

    These Days, Exclusives Are A "Little Less Important"

    Germany's Xbox 360 product manager Boris Schneider-Johne slightly mehs exclusives. They are so not important. While exclusives were more important in the 1980s and 1990s, he says, they are not anymore. Explains Schneider-Johne: More »
    09/02/08
    0
    52

    Comment by TheAngryHeretic: I know I will get a lot of hate for this, but the importance of exclusives going away is a... 6 Responses | Other threads

  • Games Convention 2008

    Leipzig GC Sets New Attendance Record

    While the food was certainly better than E3's, there's one other thing about Leipzig that trumps LA's resident trade show: it's open to the public. And the public, they come in droves. Indeed, this year's Games Convention set a new record for attendance, 203,000 people passing through the Leipziger Messe's doors over the course of the show. That's a lot of people. More than TGS, even.
    08/25/08
    0
    24

    Comment by MisterKIKI: They had the GC opening symphony concert in Leipzig too. I went in 2004 and it was awesome! Didn't get... more » | Other threads

  • Games Convention 2008

    It's Not Games Convention Until The Stripper-Mobile Arrives

    So I was sitting outside this afternoon, enjoying a cart-bought sausage in a bun between Games Convention appointments, when this car / boat thing comes pulling round the bend, filled with hooting, whistling, scantily clad women. It was like the world's most tawdry ice cream truck, only they gave out coupons for a local strip club instead of ice cream, and as you can see in the photo above, the kids don't seem all that interested. The expression on the blue-shirt guy's face is just priceless. He cares not for your booty, shaken, stirred, or otherwise. Not that most of the pics I snapped were from the back, because I simply refuse to be the guy running through the parking lot chasing a boat full of half-dressed females - mainly because it involves running. At least it wasn't as personal as last year.
    08/22/08
    0
    75

    Comment by Wizzard: Degradation! Hooray! more » | Other threads

  • Games Convention 2008

    Germany - Ich Leibe Es!

    Behold my first attempt to get in touch with my German heritage. Aside from the whole Games Convention 2008 thing, I think the most exciting thing for me about being in Germany was the chance to try new food. Upon arriving at the Frankfurt airport this morning I eagerly sought out German culinary delights. This is all I could come up with. Note that a McCroissant is polygonal ham and bad cheese on hard bread. Yum. More »
    08/19/08
    0
    144

    Comment by Soldier_CLE : The Wrath of PONG: @pr1m8: True on spellings :) For me though, I've also noticed that when UK and US troops worked together, they... more » | Other threads

  • Games Convention 2008

    Games Convention 2008 - The Adventure Begins

    I've never been to Germany, but my father says it was nice. More »
    08/18/08
    0
    48

    Comment by Kohath: Two words: Exit row. I'm the same height and I refuse to take international flights for work unless I get an... more » | Other threads

  • littlebigplanet

    LittleBigBlockOfFlats

    There are many, many ways you could tart up a dreary, Communist-designed block of old flats in Eastern Germany. You could knock them down, for starters. Or, if that's a little drastic, you could always give them a new coat of paint. Or you could overboard and cover the entire side of the building in a LittleBigPlanet motif ahead of the Leipzig Games Conference, which kicks off next week. Up to you. More »
    08/15/08
    0
    57

    Comment by devilhunterx: The one on the right in the 1st pic has a Kratos tattoo more » | Other threads

  • Savage Moon

    Savage Moon Is A New Game For The PS3

    And that's all we know! Because all we know is that a rating for the game has turned up on the website of the Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (ie the USK, ie Germany's classification board), it's got a 12 rating, it's only for the PS3, and it is, apparently, a military strategy game. Seeing as we've never heard of this before, odds are good that it's a PSN title. Odds are equally good that we'll be seeing it at some stage during Sony's lone ranger press conference at Leipzig next week. More »
    08/14/08
    0
    26

    Comment by Zombie16[THC]: Man after that poor showing of a Starship Troopers game way back when I hope this one kick's ass. I... more » | Other threads

  • europe

    Capcom Knows Importance of Foreign Business, Opens New French Subsidiary

    Europe, Capcom's looking at you. That's right, you. The company announced that it established a new local French subsidiary called "Capcom Entertainment France, S.A.S." and has funded it 100 percent through it's continental subsidiary company CE Europe, Ltd. Established with €37,000 in capital, the focus of this new subsidiary is improving local marketing and direct game software sales. Besides France, Capcom also has subsidiaries in England and Germany. According to Capcom: "From now, the foreign home console market is anticipated to expand, and to accomplish future business growth, it's extremely important to strengthen our overseas sales network." With all the cold shoulders and looks of indifference Europe gets from most Japanese companies, sure nice to see someone is serious about the European (and international) market. More »
    07/03/08
    0
    11

    Comment by SarcasmOD: @Leolio: First of all, calling Europe a single video game market is foolish considering the large number of countries and... more » | Other threads

  • leipzig

    Leipzig Not Moving, We Are Very Confused

    We. Are. Confused. 2008 was supposed to be the last year the Games Convention was held in Leipzig. Starting next year, we were meant to get a bigger, badder European show in the more travel-friendly city of Cologne. We were happy with this news, we'd accepted it, were reading up on Cologne seeing who does the best fry-up breakfast. But now the organisers of Leipzig have announced that they'll be staying on, and will be holding another Games Convention in 2009. Which, if we're not mistaken, will give us two tradeshows in Germany next year. And we all know that, in the interests of good business, there can (and shold) be only one. More »
    06/27/08
    0
    18

    Comment by Talleh: There can only be one! more » | Other threads

  • clips

    Europeans Find Good Use For Wii Fit Board: Controlling WoW

    Anyone still using their Wii Fit Balance Board? Matthieu and Simon, students at German Research Centre For Artificial Intelligence, are! They've got the board hooked up to a PC via Bluetooth and are using the Nintendo peripheral as a World of Warcraft movement controller. Nice to see some folks still using the Balance Boards innovating. More »
    06/17/08
    0
    37

    Comment by jaronimo: i know, i'm a little late to the party.. just wanted to mention that anybody can do what those two... more » | Other threads

  • wii remote

    Wii Remote Graf Mod Looks Truly Exciting

    And no, not because it raises the prospect of a Wii port of Mark Ecko's Getting up. It's because, when I look at this excellent, home-made modification - crafted by German uni student Martin Lihs - that sees a can of spray paint turned into a fully-functioning Wii Remote, I think of a Wii version of Jet Set Radio (with 1:1 tagging), then I get a little giddy, then I get a little dizzy, then I need to go sit down for a bit. More »
    06/06/08
    0
    34

    Comment by motogp: @khdownes: The creator still gets the credit.So dont worry.Its his invention after all more » | Other threads

  • sales charts

    Conan Conquers GTA In Europe

    Now to be honest, the latest game sales charts out of Europe show Funcom's PC MMO Age of Conan beating out Grand Theft Auto IV in only two of three countries charted, the odd country out is Spain, which - no offense to our Spanish readers - is the European country I forget exists nine times out of ten. Face it, you guys are quiet over there. You and Portugal, just kicking back on the beach, playing Wii Play and Mario Kart. More »
    05/30/08
    0
    68

    Comment by usaevo8: I rather enjoyed the "misleading" Beastmaster picture... its all about nostlgia. more » | Other threads

  • no nintendo at gc

    Nintendo Not Attending Leipzig This Year

    We just got a press release from Nintendo of Europe, announcing that Nintendo will not be attending the Games Convention in Leipzig later this year. Seems that recent events like local shows and roadshows (for both the public and media) have "led to many positive experiences", so after E3 they'll be sticking to more of those, and ditching their presence at Europe's largest gaming expo. Strange move, what with Leipzig attracting around 185,000 people last year and all, but whatever. While they stress the decision isn't a criticism of Leipzig, it's important to note that at the conclusion of the presser, Nintendo Germany's Dr. Bernd Fakesch iterates that this decision applies only to GC 2008, the last year it'll be held in Leipzig. As for next year's bigger, better, badder Games Con in Köln, they say they'll "evaluate" the decision next year. Right. Poor Leipzig. What'd it ever do to you, Nintendo? More »
    05/23/08
    0
    51

    Comment by Ryuk: Right. Nintendo doesn't want to show up to the biggest game conference show in Europe of the year. Way to prove... more » | Other threads

  • army of two

    Army Of Two Refused Classification In...Yes, Germany

    Last time I ever give the USK (Germany's classification board) any credit. German gaming site areagames is reporting that the Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle have refused EA's Army of Two classification, effectively banning the title from retail sale in the country. A quick search of the USK's website seems to confirm this, as the title doesn't turn up in classification searches (nor do other "banned" titles like Dead Rising). Anyone able to point out what makes this so different from the 1,943 "men with guns" games they've seen fit to OK over the past twelve months? More »
    03/06/08
    0
    103

    Comment by GOLD5: @FranUnFine: Guess they should get rid of DOA and Soul Calibur too, because there's nothing like annoying your fallen-down enemy... more » | Other threads

  • leipzig

    Leipzig Might (*Might*) Still Go Ahead in 2009

    Well, somebody doesn't know when they're beat. Despite the announcement of a new major international games show in 2009, which is backed by the German industry and will be held in the city of Cologne, the organisers of the Leipzig Games Convention just don't know how to quit. A Leipzig spokesperson has told Eurogamer.de:
    steht die Games Convention 2009 weiterhin im Kalender (For now, the 2009 Games Convention is still on the calendar).
    Defiant! Though to be fair, they say they'll be taking a longer look at the show's survival prospects after speaking with publishers at this year's show, where they'll no doubt be told thanks, really, it's been a great seven years. More »
    02/29/08
    0
    29

    Comment by sloner: "And she's OK!" more » | Other threads

  • grand theft auto iv

    GTA IV Cleared For German Release

    Germany, it's OK. Despite the USK banning games like they were going out of style throughout 2007, they've managed to see fit to OK Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV for release. Sure, it's got itself a retail-unfriendly 18+ rating, but a release is a release. With Australia and now Germany - the West's two toughest nations when it comes to classification - having signed off on the game, Rockstar must be breathing one deep, raspy sigh of relief. More »
    02/28/08
    0
    44

    Comment by CanaryWundaboy: Even if they German ratings systems have been altered, changed, or are regarded as safe or w/e, the fact remains... more » | Other threads

  • germany

    Leipzig Officially Moving To Köln

    Those German insiders were right on the money: the Leipzig Games Convention is moving, and in the process getting a new name: Games Con. From 2009 the show - renamed because it lets them use the popular "GC" acronym even though the Leipzig team refused to relinquish the name "Games Convention" - will be held in the western city of Köln, which will not only increase the number of public visitors but also make it easier for industry types to get to the show. Which is all well and good, but "Leipzig" had a warm ring to it that the cold, teutonic "Köln Games Con" just can't match. More »
    02/22/08
    0
    44

    Comment by freekdeman: @ camaway I fear you`re right. A lot of people from the industrie are in doubt where to go. Köln... more » | Other threads

  • leipzig

    Leipzig Looking More And More Likely To Move

    The show, that is. Not the city. Rumours have been all over the place lately surrounding the future of the Leipzig Games Convention, fuelled by this piece from a German financial paper that reckons the show will be moving to Köln in 2009. It's not the first time the show's been rumoured to be on the move, but it's definitely the most convincing, and is helped along today by further news that a "senior German industry source" has told videogaming247 he's "99% sure" the show will be moving, citing the need for better air links and accommodation options as the show grows in size and importance. More »
    02/14/08
    0
    22

    Comment by maiky-nisute: getting more central to the rest of gaming europe is a smart move the Greece French Italy UK Belgium and... more » | Other threads

  • sales charts

    German Hardware Sales Show 360 Isn't Their Cup Of Tea

    Courtesy of GfK, some sales numbers are in for one of Europe's most important gaming markets: Germany. Covering the holiday sales period (Nov-Dec), they show that while some consoles (like the Wii) performed as expected, others did not. Just look at those 360 numbers, for example. Dire. More »
    02/11/08
    0
    105

    Comment by Jaml: Im german and the only thing that stops me and others i know from buying a 360 is the RROD. I... more » | Other threads

  • nintendo

    New Mario Kart Wii Info "Speculation" And "Rumor"

    According to a recent issue of German gaming mag NMag, upcoming Wii racer Mario Kart Wii will have at least 32 tracks, will feature Baby Peach and Boo as drivers, will use snaking and have controls that are reminiscent of Excite Truck's. Not so! Well, maybe. Nintendo points out: More »
    01/30/08
    0
    37

    Comment by Strangelove: @dowingba: Like. I was giving an example. Obviously it wouldn't be a clone, and the karts and Wiimote handle very differently... more » | Other threads

  • games and music

    Fantasy Metal Meets Sacred 2

    Blind Guardian is a German symphonic fantasy metal band that's been around for over twenty years, who find inspiration in the works of Tolkien, Stephen King, and Michael Moorcock. Having lived in fantasy worlds since its inception, the members of the band now get to appear in one, as a special partnership between the band and Ascaron Entertainment has been announced. Xbox 360 and PC title Sacred 2 will feature both cameo appearances by Blind Guardian and an all-new track recorded especially for the game.
    "We are very proud of the cooperation with 'Blind Guardian' and look forward to providing the band with a virtual stage in our game. For many years I've been a big fan of the band, and I'm sure the new SACRED 2 - Fallen Angel-themed single will be a hit with fans too", says Holger Flöttmann of ASCARON.
    Sounds like a bunch of kids making each other's dreams come true, doesn't it? Sweet. Hit the jump for more details on this match made somewhere in the Misty Mountains. More »
    11/05/07
    0
    51

    Comment by Tei: I loved Sacred 1. Is a diablo-ish game with a huge map, tons of quest, tons of interesting classes, and... more » | Other threads

  • censorship

    German UT3 Lacks Corpse Desecration

    With Germany keeping a close eye on violent video games, Midway Germany had to make a few small modifications to the country's version of Unreal Tournament 3 to obtain a 16+ rating and avoid the mighty Deutschland banhammer. While the majority of the game remains intact, a few choice changes involving dead people had to be made.
    We had to make some minor changes to the game to get an age rating at all. [...] The biggest change is that you can't shoot already dead people (and they won't explode into thousand parts) and that ragdoll is disabled for dead people as well.
    So no mashing corpses into a fine paste or bouncing them around the map with shock waves after they're dead. Could have sworn the actual killing people was what Germany had a problem with. Go figure. More »
    11/05/07
    0
    39

    Comment by onikuwagata: It's about as bizarre as the ban on skeletons in Chinese games. Zombies are okay, but skeletons are immoral. more » | Other threads

  • we do

    Wonder Why Germany Bans Games?

    Sure, Germans love banning games. But, why? German fella 3r0t1c n3rd over at game blog Destructoid does a great job explaining the situation. Let's dive right on in: More »
    08/27/07
    0
    80

    Comment by cpmui99: The Germans' policy of banning games that their government finds distasteful effectively forces the view of the people in power... more » | Other threads