So some Publishers don't want money from german customers?

[DanTheKraut]

Was going to buy Wolfenstein but "prohibitrunincountries = DE" (I don't like the nazi friendly "german version"), was happy that Dead Rising 3 is coming for PC but "prohibitrunincountries = DE". So you can't even install and start both games with a german IP... awesome!
It would be nice to know what Publishers think when making such a decision? I mean they have no clue about german laws that's for sure but don't they notice that in the year 2014 I don't need to buy a game to play it?

Why are honest customers treated like that? As a pirate I wouldn't have that problem just install and play...

Also why does Steam offer such a regionlock for customers even Microsoft's XBox One is regionlockfree so why isn't Steam?

I own both games but I'am not happy about the latest decisions regarding regionlocks!

[Black Blade]

From what i know it is the law, and they cant pass that what ever they like it dose not matter

And if you mean you can play with out buying as in pirateing then know, they try to block it and doing it will harm them, but even so they cant change what your law says, and that is all the story

[DanTheKraut]

Publicado originalmente por Black Blade:

From what i know it is the law, and they cant pass that what ever they like it dose not matter

The is no law in Germany which forbids buying, owning and selling of games, movies and so on. As an adult I can own everything here completely legal! The only 2 things which are banned in Germany is youth- and childporn anything else is allowed.

And even Steam would really enforce the german youth protection law right that would need a age verification and every game which isn't USK-rated would be automatically rated 18 which would lead in losing money because all the kids couldn't buy these games...

[Black Blade]

Publicado originalmente por DanTheKraut:

The is no law in Germany which forbids buying, owning and even selling of games, movies and so on. As an adult I can own everything here completely legal. The only 2 things which are banned in Germany is youth- and childporn anything else is allowed.

Well i do not know much abut your country laws.. so i guess it may be better if you search as i do think i seen a few posts like these in the past and there was someone that dose understand in these replaying at least to one of them

[DanTheKraut]

Publicado originalmente por Black Blade:

Publicado originalmente por DanTheKraut:

The is no law in Germany which forbids buying, owning and even selling of games, movies and so on. As an adult I can own everything here completely legal. The only 2 things which are banned in Germany is youth- and childporn anything else is allowed.

Well i do not know much abut your country laws.. so i guess it may be better if you search as i do think i seen a few posts like these in the past and there was someone that dose understand in these replaying at least to one of them

I studied law (was part of my main study) believe me there are no laws which are saying "you are not allowed to own and buy this or that" except the law about child- and youthporn (§184b and 184c StGB).

[Black Blade]

Publicado originalmente por DanTheKraut:

I studied law (was part of my main study) believe me there are no laws which are saying "you are not allowed to own and buy this or that" except the law about child- and youthporn (§184b and 184c StGB).

You know i was rethinking these.. did you not post abut these like 2 times all ready in the past?

[DanTheKraut]

Publicado originalmente por Black Blade:

Publicado originalmente por DanTheKraut:

I studied law (was part of my main study) believe me there are no laws which are saying "you are not allowed to own and buy this or that" except the law about child- and youthporn (§184b and 184c StGB).

You know i was rethinking these.. did you not post abut these like 2 times all ready in the past?

Not that I know.

[Satoru]

Publishers are complying with German Law

No company wants their game to end up on "the list" of censured games. So they make cut versions to avoid this possibility

Want to complain? Tell your government the law is garbage

[jarl]

Yer that or just comply your law. Somehow it's illegal to use RPG's here in the streets, I so much want to but I just cant, end of bloody story.

[DanTheKraut]

Has nothing to do with our law as I said before. You can even read it on the USK (German rating board for PC Games) website

Who thought of the idea of age rating for computer games?
This was a political decision enshrined within the German Children and Young Persons Protection Act (JuSchG) in 2003 and providing a legal basis for the labelling of games. The consequence is that games may not be sold or supplied to children and young persons or presented on screens. Is this censorship?No, publishers submit their titles voluntarily. There is no reason why a computer game should not appear without a rating symbol. Adults are also free to decide what games they play and have legal access to unrated games and to games which have been placed on the index of media deemed unsuitable for children and young persons . For this reason, there can be no question of censorship in this regard. Censorship is in any case prohibited pursuant to Article 5 of German Basic Law.

http://www.usk.de/en/service

I do not need to complain about any garbage law because you can read the truth above ;)

I wouldn't even care about a cut version (I import my games anyway) and even a activation lock isn't a big deal but that I am not even allowed as a customer to install and start a game which I can legally buy, own and sell just shows Publishers can't read!

So now I only have 4 options
2 I can't post here, leaving Germany and living in another country or staying in Germany and dealing with the lack of knowledge from Publishers.

[Donitsi]

"Wolfenstein (Uncut) Banned because of Nazi references..."

"§ 86a outlaws the use of symbols of unconstitutional organizations, § 130 Volksverhetzung (agitation of the people), and § 131 instructions for crimes. In the official lists, these three sections are always bundled, so any action game that contains swastika flags and/or any depiction of Adolf Hitler) is listed alongside racist propaganda pieces."
-Wikipedia

Pirates don't have to follow any laws but game publishers MUST. As for Steam being regionfree... I don't know. Ask from Valve. Maybe it's to prevent people from buying game for cheaper price from other country and make profit?

[Kesac]

It's probably this law.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strafgesetzbuch_section_86a

[DanTheKraut]

Publicado originalmente por Tulipunahapero:

"Wolfenstein (Uncut) Banned because of Nazi references..."

"§ 86a outlaws the use of symbols of unconstitutional organizations, § 130 Volksverhetzung (agitation of the people), and § 131 instructions for crimes. In the official lists, these three sections are always bundled, so any action game that contains swastika flags and/or any depiction of Adolf Hitler) is listed alongside racist propaganda pieces."
-Wikipedia

Pirates don't have to follow any laws but game publishers MUST. As for Steam being regionfree... I don't know. Ask from Valve. Maybe it's to prevent people from buying game for cheaper price from other country and make profit?

I don't pirate games. It would be easier if I would do so but I pay and play.

Publicado originalmente por Kesac:

It's probably this law.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strafgesetzbuch_section_86a

German adults are allowed to buy, own and to sell indexed or confiscated movies, games, music and so on it's a decision from the Federal Court of Justice of Germany | reference number: I ZR 18/04

[HLCinSC]

From what I understand you can buy the uncensored version if you are an adult in Germany. I think there are age verification requirements though and Steam does not have an actual verification system as anyone can put whatever age they want without having to verify it.

[crunchyfrog]

Publicado originalmente por DanTheKraut:

Publicado originalmente por Black Blade:

Well i do not know much abut your country laws.. so i guess it may be better if you search as i do think i seen a few posts like these in the past and there was someone that dose understand in these replaying at least to one of them

I studied law (was part of my main study) believe me there are no laws which are saying "you are not allowed to own and buy this or that" except the law about child- and youthporn (§184b and 184c StGB).

The law in question is that which covers content in media. It's a pretty wide brush, from what I understand, and you can dispute it all you like, however it IS there.

What you also have to factor in is that - rightly or wrongly - companies tend to err on the side of caution. So, even if a law does not strictly apply to them, they don't want to tempt fate.

Ergo, you have this issue and it very much has been an issue for over 20 years that I'm aware of. One doesn't have to look far for other examples - look at the recent issues with all Wii U users not being able to access mature content on the shop after a certain watershed, regardless of what European country you live in.

Sorry, but you should be directing your chagrin at your government.

EDIT:
This is the law you need to be enquiring about.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundespr%C3%BCfstelle_f%C3%BCr_jugendgef%C3%A4hrdende_Medien

[cinedine]

Publicado originalmente por HLCinSC:

From what I understand you can buy the uncensored version if you are an adult in Germany. I think there are age verification requirements though and Steam does not have an actual verification system as anyone can put whatever age they want without having to verify it.

Mainly this. The question in digital sales is who is the actual seller. Valve provides a platform and manages transactions and generally act as a reseller, but you can also say you're directly purchasing from the publisher. You might argue they want to secure their interest in not getting sued here.

I'm all for only offering USK-cuts to German accounts on Steam in accordance with the youth protection. But if I take the effort and import an uncut game, have my age legally verified and might even have to pick it up from customs in persona - why should I be locked out of it?

Regarding the "you can own everything as an adult": seized games (or other media) have to be imported in person (vs delivery) and you can't sell it in Germany - ever.