Let's make one thing clear: These games aren't being "forbidden". They're being put on an index, after which it is not allowed to a) advertise for them in publications available to kids, b) display them on store shelves, since kids could walk by. In theory, any adult could walk right into a video game store, ask for an indexed game and acquire it, however. So how does a guy know he wants one of these indexed games? Because games get only indexed post-release, so the mags can cover 'em up to that point just fine.

In practice, however, game publishers usually chose (!) to alter their content so they don't get indexed and can sell more easily to non-adults. Others, like id Software, don't - and you can still buy the indexed version, provided you're old enough (18 years).

Just wanting to make sure that everybody knows there is absolutely *no* "censoring" going on here. The system is mostly designed to give the decision of whether or not kids should be exposed to these games strictly into the hands of their parents, by making it impossible for the kids to go out and buy the stuff themselves.

So who decides what gets indexed? A jury at a government institution, consisting of media experts, representatives from youth centres, etc. Take note: This jury only acts after having received a formal request from a youth office or a similar institution. And those listen to actual parents. So this is not a government gone crazy.

And it's not totally conservative, either: "Counter-Strike", for example, was not indexed - despite a lot of criticism from parents and the media - because the jury decided that it's a game about tactics, not violence.

Now, is it just, is it perfect? That's open to discussion. But let's get the facts straight first, alright?


This comment was edited on Apr 1, 19:09.