For any Germans that missed this post, here is a bit more information.

Today, 03:44:31

#1

Pharamond  Community Manager     Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Where the penguins roam free

A Clarification For The Germans Hi everybody, We just want to clarify what we've said about the servers, especially regarding Germany. As the German players well know, there are fairly restrictive laws on content and violence in that country. We're working very closely with USK to make sure that adults can get the full Age of Conan experience, but at the same time, we have to follow the laws of Germany when it comes to selling the game. Since we don't know what our rating is at this point, we haven't finalized our plans for Germany yet, and didn't want to promise something we couldn't deliver or something that wouldn't get past the ratings board. The way it stands now, if you buy the version of the game sold in Germany, you will get one that complies with the requirements of the USK and laws of Germany (whatever that may be once we get rated). Our other option was creating Germany-only servers, which German players didn't want and which we definitely didn't want, and the reaction to that was partly why we took the step of inventing the technology so they could play with all of Europe. Of course, if you buy a version of the game from a different region, you'll get that version of the game. Hope that clears some things up. __________________ Shannon 'Pharamond' Drake Community Manager – Funcom

There's hope for you guys yet!

i would hate to live there

While i can say its a noble thing for Germany's government to try and do, i believe it was stupid at that. Controling the market and deciding what the public can or cannot see. I never realized Germany had communist / dictatorship rulings where they can deny their public rights to products on the international market and then openly tell them they're free and unrestricted with a straight face.

In my opinion it shouldn't be the government who controls who sees what, it should be the parents who take responsibility. Of course, parents in any country don't seem to do such. We have kids playing murder games and bloody games at the age of 6. My god people..
So in a sense, I can understand why they did it.. but i still don't think its fair.

Good luck to you Germany.

As for the others, For those participating in the US elections coming up soon, if i'm not mistaken I believe Hillary (don't know about Obama) has the same idea as Germany on her mind.

edit: typo.

Originally posted by Eichenkatze

While i can say its a noble thing for Germany's government to try and do, i believe it was stupid at that. Controling the market and deciding what the public can or cannot see. I never realized Germany had communist / dictatorship rulings where they can deny their public rights to products on the international market and then openly tell them they're free and unrestricted with a straight face.

In my opinion it shouldn't be the government who controls who sees what, it should be the parents who take responsibility. Of course, parents in any country don't seem to do such. We have kids playing murder games and bloody games at the age of 6. My god people..
So in a sense, I can understand why they did it.. but i still don't think its fair.

 

Good luck to you Germany.

 

As for the others, For those participating in the US elections coming up soon, if i'm not mistaken I believe Hillary (don't know about Obama) has the same idea as Germany on her mind.

 

 

edit: typo.

yes yes she does.. i very much hope she does not win!

Anybody know what kind of laws(in Germany)  they're talking about? And what laws Hillary wants to adopt here in the US?

Thanks

Originally posted by achellis

i would hate to live there

The country is quite nice, actually.

Once you realize that there's no law stopping you from buying PC games from other countries in the EU, it's just like any other EU country.

For those that don't know, there's very strict laws regarding violence, occult imagery, and references to WW2 in Germany for their games.  The most well known example was the German version of the stand alone Counterstrike box.  The blood was removed, and the guns were changed to fire paintballs (impact decals were changed), and when a player was "killed", they kneeled down and put their hands on their head.

They're not as strict with violence anymore, but it is still very easy to end up with a designation that requires your game to be sold only in "adult" stores (i.e. porn shops).

Swastikas are still a very, very big no-no, though.  This is why you often see the Iron Cross instead of a swastika on German flags in games like CoD---this is so that they can sell one version worldwide.

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Our other option was creating Germany-only servers, which German players didn't want and which we definitely didn't want, and the reaction to that was partly why we took the step of inventing the technology so they could play with all of Europe.

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erm... I may translate it wrong, so please correct me then:
There won´t be any localized servers, because the german players DON´T WANT it? Whom did they ask? A counterstrike clan full of 16-20year old freaks?
So they invent the technology for english standard EU-servers?

Well, for me a game has more flair, if I can play it in my home language. Even Anarchy Online had a german server. But again, perhaps I translated something wrong or out of context.

Originally posted by Herodes

 

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Our other option was creating Germany-only servers, which German players didn't want and which we definitely didn't want, and the reaction to that was partly why we took the step of inventing the technology so they could play with all of Europe.

---

 

erm... I may translate it wrong, so please correct me then:
There won´t be any localized servers, because the german players DON´T WANT it? Whom did they ask? A counterstrike clan full of 16-20year old freaks?
So they invent the technology for english standard EU-servers?

Well, for me a game has more flair, if I can play it in my home language. Even Anarchy Online had a german server. But again, perhaps I translated something wrong or out of context.

The big difference is that AO didn't have any content (to my knowledge) that would have resulted in a smack-down from the USK.

Most MMOs have German-only servers, because there's no content that needs to be edited.  AoC is full of content that would arouse the USK's attention.  I think that the opinion of the German players not wanting German-only servers comes from the forums and beta testers, most likely.

Originally posted by Herodes

 

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Our other option was creating Germany-only servers, which German players didn't want and which we definitely didn't want, and the reaction to that was partly why we took the step of inventing the technology so they could play with all of Europe.

---

 

erm... I may translate it wrong, so please correct me then:
There won´t be any localized servers, because the german players DON´T WANT it? Whom did they ask? A counterstrike clan full of 16-20year old freaks?
So they invent the technology for english standard EU-servers?

Well, for me a game has more flair, if I can play it in my home language. Even Anarchy Online had a german server. But again, perhaps I translated something wrong or out of context.

Well not everyone has the same preference when it comes to the servers. I for one prefer  EU-wide english servers, not localized ones, even though my native language is german.

Always hated localized servers and probably always will

Originally posted by achellis

i would hate to live there

Its about like living in a dry county, or a state where fireworks or gambling is not allowed. Quick trip over the border and you're all set. Enterprising companies are often "nice" enough to build right on the edge of the line by the highways.

@ corun:
It is okay. But you have to admit, that the vast majority plays on localized servers.

Some years ago I tried to convince 2 friends, who played DAoC, to play EVE. "Well, yes it sounds nice. But english, you know, is not my strongest side...". Bah, we´ll see.

Of course, if you buy a version of the game from a different region, you'll get that version of the game.

Yay,

Originally posted by corun

 

 

Well not everyone has the same preference when it comes to the servers. I for one prefer  EU-wide english servers, not localized ones, even though my native language is german.

Always hated localized servers and probably always will

French will demand their own servers. They always do.