Seems Sega know that the upcoming Aliens vs Predator is so violent, and packed with so much gore, that they're not even going to bother submitting it to the USK, Germany's classification board.

Rationale being that the USK, with a reputation for being sticklers for the ol' killerspiel, would only force sweeping changes to the game, changes Sega didn't want to part with, so they're instead just going to save some cash and not bother localising or distributing the game in Germany at all.

Aliens vs. Predator: Too gory for Germany? [PC Games Hardware]

Says the publication:

Our reviews are tough, but fair. We will not give up our independent scores for the sake of a timely review. This holds true for "Assassin's Creed 2″. The publisher asked us to guarantee the score 'sehr gut' [very good], otherwise we would not receive a review copy, thus we will publish our review in next month's issue. We'd be more than glad to give the game a 'sehr gut', but only if it deserves it.

I've sent an email over to Ubisoft's PR to give them the courtesy of a response. Any that comes will be printed here.

But despite the fact this behavior has strong precedent, keep in mind this boils down to he-said Ubi-said. And it boggles the mind, from what we've all seen so far, that Assassin's Creed II would need such strong-arming to get a good score. But who knows. There is a ton of money riding on a game's Metascore, providing motive enough.

Ed's note: Kotaku received an early retail copy of the game and the note it came with only mentioned a feature of the game and the embargo date. No mention of review score at all.

Ubisoft Demanding High Scores for Early Assassins Creed 2 Reviews? [wearetheinternetz, thanks Lorand K.]

PC Games Hardware benchmarked both the uncut Left 4 Dead 2 and the censored German demo using to a 60-second demo sequence from the second chapter of "The Parish." The sequence involves a ton of common infected as well as multiple Boomers and a Spitter. The setup: Radeon HD 5870 used to display the demo at 1680 by 1050 with maximum details, "4x MSAA and 16:1." I can't quote what that means exactly but "the setting is quite challenging for the CPU."

Here's what they found:

The direct comparison between cut an uncut version reveals huge differences in performance. It doesn't matter if we use a dual-core E6600 or quad-core Q6600 processor, the less violent version of the demo runs about 40 percent faster that the uncut version. Furthermore the difference between the two uncut results (dual-core vs. quad-core) is bigger, too, what indicates a higher CPU workload.

This isn't just a trivial difference, PC Games Hardware points out owners of the cut version may play on "uncut" servers. So, "a scene that lags in the uncut version might be running smoothly in the cut version - especially in Versus Mode this could make the difference between death and survival."

That said, someone with a full version may also reduce the depiction of violence through the game's command console.

Left 4 Dead 2: Unfair Performance Benefits with Cut Version? [PC Games Hardware via Blue's News]

This comes in the wake of a school shooting earlier this year. The mass media drummed up links between that shooting and counter strike.

The game trashing group used a swastika in its logo, equating that with the image of a CD/DVD.

So how'd the game toss go? By the looks of the above clip, not so well. The footage is from early afternoon — perhaps all the "killer game" trashers showed up in the evening?

Thanks Rafael for the tip!

The site goes on to link the group's upcoming weekend event to a school shooting that occurred earlier this year.

While I don't want to disrespect an anti-violence movement that's a direct response to the tragedy, I have a serious problem with the thought of an activist group trashing video games. The wanton destruction (or junking) of any entertainment media for no better reason than it might have something to do with something people don't like reminds me of book-burning — something the Nazi party encouraged.

That nasty association only got worse when I read this next paragraph:

GP reader Matthias noted that one image used in the group's promotion for the event appears to use a modified copy of an image designed to aid Germany in ridding use of the swastika, substituting a CD or DVD for the Nazi symbol.

Really, activist group? You couldn't think of a more productive thing to do with video games?

German Group Plans Killer Game Drive [Game Politics]

The news, sourced back to 4players.de (translation) attributes a statement to Activision saying that "although it is not a conspicuous element in the normal game ... we have decided to take this game immediately from the German market."

Whether that means the content isn't in the game but is on the PC version for modders to exploit, or if it's a swastika as part of a background somewhere, who knows.

Planet Wolfenstein notes that the Wolfenstein teams from Endrant and Raven already have been laid off, putting a revised localization into doubt. Update: Raven's workforce reductions were across the board, not specifically targeting the Wolfenstein team.

Update: Via twitter, Kotaku reader Spunior pointed me back to one of the sites also linking to 4player.de. Schnitterbericht has a ton of screenshots showing differences in the U.S. and German versions of Wolfenstein. The final one (scroll alllllll the way down) shows a faint swastika at the bottom of a poster. If that really triggered a voluntary recall, Mein Gott in himmel!

We've emailed Activision for comment. Should any be provided, it'll be updated here.

Sell Stop in Germany [4players.de, via Blue's News]

In Australia and Germany, two markets where classification authorities (for varying reasons) run a tight ship, Blizzard will "have to change blood if [they're] going to sell there". We'd presume that means either tone it down or, like other games have done recently, change its colour.

For China, though...things aren't as easy. In fact, they're so hard the game may never be released there, Blizzard's Jay Wilson telling Wired "China's going to be hard for us. Because a lot of the restrictions there are really… we may not be able to do them. It may not be possible."

Why Designer of Gory Diablo III Lets His Daughter Play [Wired]

Electronic Arts' top many in Germany, Gerhard Florin (pictured) says enough is enough. In an interview last week with Spiegel, Florin called Germany's USK rating system "censorship" and called on the country to use the PEGI ratings, used across the rest of Europe.

What we're doing here [with USK rating] is censorship. And no one complains. When we talk about games here it's about violence or their alleged addictiveness, and not about their cultural status. The few good studios are asking themselves why they should stay here anyway.

The boss of the USK noted that the government's (gotta love this title) Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons often is what's stepping in against violent games before they get to the ratings board.

"It's hard when half-truths are being used," said USK's Marek Brunner. "They say the USK does this wrong, the USK does that bad and why doesn't this get a rating?"

EA: German Ratings are 'Censorship' [GamesIndustry.biz via Game Politics]

Last year's big German games show, the Games Convention in the city of Leipzig, attracted 203,000 people over the course of the show. This year's big German games show, Gamescom, attracted more, with organisers claiming 245,000 visitors popped into the show last week.

That's more than the Tokyo Game Show can manage. Making this the biggest gaming show on the planet. So: success!

There were also 17,000 trade visitors, along with a whopping 4000 people strutting around wearing "MEDIA" badges.

Germany is. It's overtaken the UK in the past few months, as British game sales suffered due to a lack of "blockbuster games" and increased prices, courtesy of the Pound's currently weak value.

Germany's market, however, has continued a slow, steady increase. Also up are Portugal, Sweden and the Netherlands, while France and Spain join the UK as markets on the decline.

Wonder how that whole "lack of blockbuster games" thing will go down in a few weeks when FIFA 10 is released...

Deutschland bei Videospiel-Verkäufen die Nummer 1 in Europa [Media Control, via Joystiq]

UPDATE - The data is wrong! Totally wrong! GfK - who supplied the numbers that formed the basis of the presser - now say a day later that the figures were compiled using "incorrect data", and that the United Kingdom is still Europe's #1 games market.

Today Bethesda confirmed that WET, Wheelspin and Medieval Games will all be playable at the show and that they will be talking up Brink.

Ubisoft's list of games at Gamescom includes Avatar, RUSE, Silent Hunter 5, Red Steel 2, Rabbids Go Home, Academy of Champions and Assassin's Creed 2.

With games like Modern Warfare 2, RAGE and APB on the offering as well, it looks like the show will have something for everyone. And don't forget Sony is holding a three-hour press conference. EA and Microsoft also plan to make announcements at the show.

If this proposal passes, Crytek will be forced to leave its native Germany.

Sixteen interior ministers met in early June to form a proposal that would ban the product and distribution of games "where the main part is to realistically play the killing of people or other cruel or un-human acts of violence against humans or manlike characters."

The goal is to push through proposal into law by September of this year.

"A ban on action games in Germany is concerning us because it is essentially like banning the German artists that create them," Crytek boss Cevat Yerli stated. "If the German creative community can't effectively participate in one of the most important cultural mediums of our future, we will be forced to relocate to other countries."

A petition against this act has been signed by 64,000 Germans — something that will cause the government to officially review this game ban proposal.

"The current political discussion will deprive German talent of its place on the global game development stage," explained Yerli, "and deprive German consumers of entertainment that is considered safe and fun around the world."

Germany has traditionally had strict standards and regulation of what it considers excessively violent video games. Many Germans seem fed up with this attitude handed down from upon high as evident by a recent protest in the German city of Karlsruhe, which attracted an estimated 400 gamers.

'Killerspiel-Diskussion': Crysis-Schöpfer Cevat Yerli droht mit Abwanderung aus Deutschland - Seite 2 [PC Games via Edge]

Why the decline? Well, it's all in the name. Last year's Leipzig Games Convention was a showcase for all things gaming, from consoles to handhelds to the PC. But this year, the bulk of the industry has committed to the rival Games Com show in Köln, leaving Leipzig to pay host to a show about...online gaming.

A show you have to attend in person, about online gaming. No wonder nobody turned up. Indeed, when you put it that way, 43,000 is pretty damn good, all things considered.

Again, same caveat applies. Retailer listings of unannounced products should always be considered suspect, no matter how much everyone's talking about them or sending them around.

Update: This is a f—-ing fan-made picture. Not uploaded by Amazon itself. Disregard pretty much everything I said above.

PlayStation 3 Konsole slim [Amazon.de, thanks Will P., s m, others]

Googling the product code number does not show anything else but this listing on Amazon.de.

Retailer listings of unannounced products are always fishy. Ditto for this.

PlayStation 3 Konsole slim [Amazon.de Thanks, Daniel!]

But it's one the German people are beginning to hit back against, as evidenced by this protest in the German city of Karlsruhe, which attracted an estimated 400 gamers.

Sure, 400 people may not sound like much, but this is a protest, not a cosplay event. Do any of you know 399 other people who would be willing to stand outside and wave placards and get angry at anything?

German Gamers Stage Protest March Against Govt. Crackdown on Violent Games [GamePolitics]

After months spent tweaking and polishing the game play and overall experience of their massively multiplayer take on the Conan universe, Funcom is just about ready to pack their updates into a much more expansive format. Speaking to Eurogamer, Funcom director of communications Erling Elllingsen reveals that a dedicated team has been working on the expansion since the game launched, and that the core changes will continue with its eventual release.

"We are bringing a lot of that into the expansion as well," said Ellingsen of the core changes, "making sure we build upon the strengths of the game and stay true to the original vision we have always had for Age of Conan. I think players will be pleased!"

At this point I don't think it's so much about pleasing existing players as it is drawing in new players. Hopefully the expansion will have some of that as well. We'll find out come the GamesCom show in Cologne Germany next month.

Age of Conan expansion reveal soon [Eurogamer]

Held by German firm International Forum Design, WiiSpray was one of 377 finalists in the prestigious awards, from a total 1,368 entires coming in from 24 countries. So for it to win one (it picked up a "product interface" gong) was pretty damn impressive!

So to WiiSpray's creators, Martin Lihs and Frank Matuse: congratulations! Maybe the award is enough to convince somebody at Sega tha ta Jet Set Radio remake would be a good idea.

To see what WiiSpray looks like in action, you can watch the below vid.

» Wii Spray honered with iF design award [WiiSpray, via GameSpot]

The 2009 Gamescom already has 300 exhibitors registered from 25 countries with more than 40 percent of them coming from abroad. The event, which will fill the 120,000 square meters of exhibition space at the Koelnmesse Trade Fair Tower, runs from Aug. 19 to Aug. 23.

"These figures confirm that Cologne's trade fair centre, with its international network, its infrastructure and its connection to international transportation routes, is the ideal location for the games industry's leading trade fair," said managing director of Koelnmesse Oliver P. Kuhrt.

Among the confirmed developers for the show are Activision Blizzard, Capcom, Electronic arts, Microsoft, Square Enix, Take Two, Konami, Sony, Warner Brothers, dtp Entertainment, NCsoft and Funcom.

The show will also have gaming zones focused on different themes including, lifestyle, sport, action and adventure and E-Sport.

Finally, the show is going to trop and beat the cosplay world record, hoping to gather more than 400 cosplayers to the event. Yes, cosplayers in inhibition-free Germany!

Will Kotaku be there, oh we'll be there alright. Though no promises about drunken renditions of Hungry Like the Wolf.

The interior ministers of Germany's 16 states have unanimously asked the German legislature to ban outright the distribution, sale, and development of violent video games. Such games have been a big part of the national conversation since a 17-year-old went on a gun rampage March 11, killing 15. Naturally, the shooter owned a shooter - Crytek's Far Cry 2 - and playing it for two hours before the killings was enough to link games to the tragedy.

The demand is definitely politically timed - the interior heads want it ASAP, before German elections Sept. 27. Again, this is (snicker) a Far Cry from legislation introduced to parliament, but it was enough to fire up German readers who sent it to us, who already point to the country's extremely strict youth protection laws, and are generally disgusted by lawmakers' tendency to blame technologies they don't understand.

Germany's Interior Ministers Ask Bundestag For Total Ban on Violent Games [GamePolitics; also tipped by reader Michael J.]