Looks like Germany got fucked

[Foo]

German release of Quake IV

The checksums of the pak files to be copied for the German version of Quake 4 are below. Note that it will only work in multiplayer with other german copies of the game.

So the german game is presumably a toned down reduced blood version of events, so much so that they use completely different assets.

The problem with this is that, therefore, german copies of the game fail the pure test on non-german servers, and vice versa. So to get that rating German gamers have been pretty much totally cut off from the rest of the world?

That's fucked up. Also very ironic. These extra measures against violent media in Germany are a response to the world wars (AFAIK), and yet the effect in this case is to isolate German gamers.

Oh well. All the previous iterations of the Quake series got banned in deutschland, so I guess this is a step forward in a small way.

[dzjepp]

I imagine a lot of Germans will buy it and then use the "hehe" version.

[R00k]

I didn't know the other Quakes were bant in Germany. !

[Dave]

I'd use the hehe version, but my PCI video card won't even start it to begin with

[mjrpes]

These extra measures against violent media in Germany are a response to the world wars (AFAIK), and yet the effect in this case is to isolate German gamers.

That could be a good thesis for a paper on the subject.

[Foo]

If I was doing something that touched on politics/sociology. Sadly I'm stuck with Computing.

[Todtsteltzer]

Hmm, it seems I have to look for a US or UK version then (or have to buy both versions (UK/US and german) if I want to join a server running a german version :icon33:). Pretty stupid!

[_borsdy]

linky?

[Foo]

link for what?

[duffman91]

Yeah, but at least their version of the game is fueled by the blood of jews. :icon34:

[Foo]

LOL CONTROVERSY.

I really dont know how to interpret that. It doesn't even make sense.

[cyxxon]

I am German, and I got the UK version of the game, because I knew things like this would happen. Not the pure server incompatibility, but the toned down effects and the like. Happens all the time, and I don't play their game (they = censorship dudes). Just sucks big time. But then again, this was very clear from the beginning, Activision announced that Quake4 would be cut and get a rating of 16, when everything else liek this gets a rating of 18...

Anyway, order the 18+ UK version for like a euro or 2 more, and of you go. I did it at okaysoft.de, never had problems with them, got my copy on tuesday.

BTW: Quake 1 back then was "put on the index" one week or so after release, meaning forbidden to sell and make available (ie commercials or showroom) to minors, so they just put a cart full of boxes in the shop where I bought it the first week and made huge sales.

Quake 2 never saw an official release in Germany due to id's trackrecord, they just didn't bother cutting it or whatnot, so you had to import it. That was 1997, remember, internet shops weren't that common. I found a local retailer who ordered it in batches of 10 from the US (10 customers paid, he ordered and phoned when the boxes had arrived).

Quake 3 I do not remember, don't own it, no SP = no buy for me.

[Foo]

Thanks for the info!

Am I right in thinking this level of censorship dates back to the post-WW2 times?

It just seems so backwards.

[cyxxon]

I guess it is kinda related to WWII, yep. It is all about not exposing the youth to too much violence, no matter the costs, even if this produces this kind of weird results for the community. The german regulation institutions are still drilled to be very sensitive with these matters, that's where it comes from.

Worst thing to me though is WWII games, because you are not allowed to display swastikas except in documantaries or works of art. Too bad works of art includes movies, but not games - too much entertainment, not enough making-you-think. So RtCW and CoD are the same here in Germany, but the flags and such got exchanged with some random other motives.

That reminds me: with RtCW and ET they were probably aware of pure server problems and made all multiplayer skins devoid of swastikas, so the US version does not have real nazi skins on the axis teams like the German version.

Bad thing about this withthe swastikas is it's much worse than the blood n gore thing. Importing a US RtCW can get you big fines or jail time, it is not a "Kavaliersdelikt". Hope they never track me down...

[Foo]

That seems highly fucked up, but I don't have any (valid) perspective on it.

Again, thanks for the info.

[chopov]

I didn't know there is a german version of Q4. I just went to my shop and bought it: it is an "international" version with different languages like english, spanish and italian on it (although no german). Maybe they sell now the "original" version until it gets banned and then change to the "german version"...?

[cyxxon]

Yeah, just saw that Karstadt and Saturn here in Bielefeld had the UK-version on their shelves, but labelled as such (on the price tag).

Nonetheless Activision has announced a cut german version to be released later, rated 16+.

[Nightshade]

I thought they removed the swastiks and replaced them with pictures of David Hasselhoff?

BECUASE GERMANS LOVE DAVID HASSELHOFF.

[rebb]

That's fucked up. Also very ironic. These extra measures against violent media in Germany are a response to the world wars (AFAIK), and yet the effect in this case is to isolate German gamers.

"Toning down" violent games has few to do with any kind of "response to the world wars" ( only the banning of Nazi Symbols has to do with it - but those are the shit everywhere else it seems :icon27: ).

It has to do with keeping supposedly too violent media from being accessed by consumers who are too young - which *theoretically* is a good thing.

The main "Game-Banning-Craze" in Germany was in the 90ies when Games like Wolfenstein ( contained Nazi Symbols, as well as Humans being shot at ) and Doom came out and pretty much every kid played them ( me included ).
At some point some concerned parent must have seen these violent games being played and then asked them to be banned ( something you can see going on in other Countries too now .. *slurps some hot coffee* ).
It caused quite an uproar among gamers and gaming magazines back then.

It isnt that huge a concern any more tho, theres ESRB Ratings and the like, and one can always just order an "Uncut" Version over the Net. Thats what i do at least.

Also, beware the 'Hoff ! http://www.johnwoolf.com/images/hassel.gif

[Foo]

Oh sheet hypnohoff

Tx for info.

[Capt.Oldschool]

It has to do with keeping supposedly too violent media from being accessed by consumers who are too young - which *theoretically* is a good thing.

Yeah really... because many of us are homicidal maniacs from playing quake. Violent movies and video games create real-life murders and violent behaviors. It's a well-documented fact.
Also, when a man beats his wife, it's always cause he saw it being done in a movie and he thought it was cool. :icon26:

[Foo]

Did you miss the 'too young' part?

[R. Tetzlaff]

That German teenie edition isn´t even out yet, everyone here can buy the UK version of Quake4 since last wednesday, if he´s at least 18 years old.

[TwR|Slice]

I'm from Germany too and i bought the Quake 4 (UK-Import) version.
I Thing it will be the same as FarCry in Germany, they sold a version of FarCry where you were able to "gore" it. This version was sold first but the censorship dudes banned this version and then CryTec must create a new version (I got the first version ).
And i think it will be the same with Quake 4, First they sell the UK-Version and then the German(We hate violence)-Version.
What i think now is that after one week a gore-patchwill be available and then all german versions will be fully compatible with other servers.

And because of the WWII thing, i would say that this is not because of the Worldwar, i think ist because of littleton(the school massacre)and they are afraid to have this in germany.

I hope u understand what i wanted to say but my english was not used for a long time

[Guest]

Ich mag Speck.