Germany's strict censorship laws have reportedly claimed another victim, and it's a biggie - next month's Call of Duty: Black Ops.

German punters hoping to get hold of the PC version of the shooter won't be able to play PAL versions imported from other EU territories, meaning they'll have to make do with a cut, localised version, according to PC Games (via MCV).

The nation's censorship laws require that stringent content checks be made, especially in the case of war games - the use of Nazi symbols such as swastikas in games have resulted the likes of Wolfenstein being pulled from shelves.

According to the reports, the Steam network will only authorise fully localised German versions of Black Ops, meaning copies imported from other EU territories won't be playable.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/ar ... ?id=272385

I sometimes wonder if Germany's censorship laws on the Nazis etc only create more interest

All this will do is boost piracy.

I don't understand this "must have no blood" stuff that Germany wants. Next, they'll want all guns to be replaced with walkie-talkies!

+1

I don't remember the history books mentioning that WWII began because of Hitler's addicition to video games.

FFS, this is stupid.

This is why the German Counter Strike players used to be so good... There were no death throes, no blud spurts, hit targets disappeared, meaning a lot less processor and graphics load, meaning less lag.

It is usually the blood that causes games to need amending for the German market.

National sozialist symbolism in films and games isn't a problem, if they are put in a historical context, it is only if the are used in a modern situation or to glorify national socialism that the authorities will step in.

stupid germans, swastika symbol was taken from the traditional hindu peace symbol

It was around 12000 years ago, before its use in Hinduism. Like many symbols, it has been used again and again for various purposes.

Stupid Germans? There are many Germans who are not stupid. Germany had many top physicists during the prewar period and they had the leading rocket scientists. Hardly a nation of dunces. The problem was during the thirties the world was suffering from the depression and the economic problems. They united behind the government against the causes of their problems which they believed to be Jews and communists. There are many parallels with today with how a society vilifies a segment of the community to unite through the current mess. Today it is Muslims, foreigners and the unemployed who are the scapegoats. Even though they are not the problem the politician use them as whipping boys for their own agendas.

Australia will probably ban/heavily modify it too.

Indeed, however the Nazi version was inverted from the original.

No doubt. They've developed very odd attitudes recently.

Yes very as if they have taken some dodgy research as true.