Which country is the worst place to be a gamer?

Brazil: PS3 costs US$600 360 and Wii cost US$500 Games are US$100 Damn import taxes.Wassmansdorff

^^^ THIS is the majior problem in many countries. They Tax the hell out of game as they do not see them as worth anything to the society, and see them as a way to make money off of gamers. Game indurtry needs to make games a world wide event with studioes around the world and make consoles from around the world so countries will at least see them as a way to creat jobs and have some influence in the whole process.

Ive had a few WOW guildies from korea that cant even raid because there lag is so bad, they complained about australian gaming the whole time they played.

Ive had a few WOW guildies from Australia that cant even raid because there lag is so bad, they complained about australian gaming the whole time they played.

China has a ban on the Xbox, so I'd imagine they've also banned a bunch of other games as well. Don't know if they have PS3s and Wiis over there though.

Venezuela

You can go to jail fro buying or even owning games like GoW, MW2, Killzone, and any other M rated or even T rated game.

Japan because they love JRPG/Animesque gamesBanjo_Kongfooie

Any third world country probably. Here in Guatemala most are resellers and the prices are obviously higher. Almost everything in English, probably just FIFA games are in Mexican Spanish. Since most is resellers only what they import is what you get(they don't import everything). Of the first world probably S. Korea. Most of their games are in Japanese and there are problems with their rating system, somewhat like Australia.

Definitely australia, they get so many games banned, and even when they do get a game, it takes forever for them to actually get the game.

Why are so many people saying Australia? I live there, and hardly any games are banned! (the good ones anyway)

It is. Germany's up there too. Then again, Germany has an 18+ rating! :lol:

Hexagon_777

Don't kid yourself. Look up first what we in Germany get stuck with for 18 ratings. The vast majority of 18 rated games here in Germany are heavily censored versions of existing titles, and many shooters don't even make it here. Some companies (like Microsoft) have even refused to release titles in Germany if they don't get rated and declined to release censored versions, simply because they usually don't sell. 19 games were indexed (banned for sale in the open, so they're sold much like porn DVDs in the US) in 2009 alone, with three of them being outright ban candidates (in fact, I think Left 4 Dead 2 and Modern Warfare 2 have been banned outright now in their uncensored versions).

Interesting to note is that, in some cases, the MA15+ Australian release is identical to the German USK 18 release.

That's not where it stops though. Gamers in Germany are regularly discriminated against and are always portrayed by the media as being anti-social, violent, sociopaths (of course, egged on by the government). Germany is the only country in Europe that refuses to recognise computer and video games as an artform (again, we have successive governments to thank for this) and numerous German-based development studios have been bombarded by the press and government, and in some cases even harassed.

The media are permitted to use World War 2 material to portray the Nazis, providing that they don't glorify them or play down the atrocities. The one medium that this does not apply to is gaming, in which it is forbidden to talk about Nazis, use the Swastika or even show Adolf Hitler The Nazis in WW2 games like Medal of Honor are not Nazis, but "Germans".

It's nothing to do with the German bureaucracy's aversion to violence - Quantum of Solace, the movie, got rated 12, the game got rated 18 for the same level of violence.

Australia's got it easy in comparison.

Australia. It's not even a contest.

DarkLink77

even tho its silly i think in general SCEE really need to get their act into gear.Compared to SCEA the storefront is Appaling to no end.The PS1 classics consist of a fair amount of disney shovelware and games people aint heard or dont care bout.

Cause seriously Where the heck is my Grandia,RE1,2,3,Crash 2,Tomb raider 2 and 3 :( and Tomb raider 1 is current PS+ exclusive which is balls.

[QUOTE="millerlight89"]

[QUOTE="SpiritOfFire117"]I was thinking of some third-world septic colony, but that works too. :P

DarkLink77

I'm pretty sure it's worse to be in Zimbabwe, D.R. Congo, Somalia, Ethiopia and so on... than it is to be a gamer in Australia.

[QUOTE="Zombl337"]I would say Austrailia & Germany for the fact that so many games (mostly violent such as Dead Rising & Gears of War) have been banned. I mean they couldnt even release less gory versions for them at least?! (or did they release "cenesored" versions??!?!)Hexagon_777

Australia due to censorship.fabz_95

Yeah and Germany got it bad as well, even worse I think. 'Oh noes ! If we show a swastika in this game there is a high chance World War 3 will break out !!!!"

Definitely australia, they get so many games banned, and even when they do get a game, it takes forever for them to actually get the game.

WiiMan21

Games rarely get banned here, and many (non-Nintendo) big-budget games get released here before the rest of the world due to timezone differences. The biggest problem is the inflated prices, that's why piracy such a popular choice here.

Australia and they don't even allow fireworks :oX360PS3AMD05

Where do people get these misconceptions? Fireworks are legal if you acquire a permit, it's so drunken idiots don't go blowing their hands off. Firecrackers are easily obtained, though.

I hear Austrailia is pretty bad. Germany is up there too, with their strict ratings and censorships on games. But they can import PAL games from other european countries. And yeah, North Korea for obvious reasons. :P killerfist

The Philippines.

The gaming society here is a joke.

DoTA(WC3) and cheap MMORPG players FTL

joopyme

This. Is. Too. True.

They even say you suck if you don't play DoTA.

It's not cool bro, and our breed of "proper" gamers is both small and dying.

[QUOTE="killerfist"]I hear Austrailia is pretty bad. Germany is up there too, with their strict ratings and censorships on games. But they can import PAL games from other european countries. And yeah, North Korea for obvious reasons. :P Hexagon_777

Isn't that considered a crime to import stuff that is banned ?

[QUOTE="Hexagon_777"]It is. Germany's up there too. Then again, Germany has an 18+ rating! :lol:jamyskis

Interesting to note is that, in some cases, the MA15+ Australian release is identical to the German USK 18 release.

That's not where it stops though. Gamers in Germany are regularly discriminated against and are always portrayed by the media as being anti-social, violent, sociopaths (of course, egged on by the government). Germany is the only country in Europe that refuses to recognise computer and video games as an artform (again, we have successive governments to thank for this) and numerous German-based development studios have been bombarded by the press and government, and in some cases even harassed.

The media are permitted to use World War 2 material to portray the Nazis, providing that they don't glorify them or play down the atrocities. The one medium that this does not apply to is gaming, in which it is forbidden to talk about Nazis, use the Swastika or even show Adolf Hitler The Nazis in WW2 games like Medal of Honor are not Nazis, but "Germans".

It's nothing to do with the German bureaucracy's aversion to violence - Quantum of Solace, the movie, got rated 12, the game got rated 18 for the same level of violence.

Australia's got it easy in comparison.

[QUOTE="Hexagon_777"][QUOTE="Zombl337"]I would say Austrailia & Germany for the fact that so many games (mostly violent such as Dead Rising & Gears of War) have been banned. I mean they couldnt even release less gory versions for them at least?! (or did they release "cenesored" versions??!?!)dkjestrup

[QUOTE="dkjestrup"][QUOTE="Hexagon_777"]At least German gamers can get their games from the United Kingdom which doesn't employ censorship of games and is ridiculously cheap compared to Germany. That is, if they are informed enough. Which friendly neighbour can Australian gamers import from to get cheap, uncensored games in a language that they speak?Hexagon_777

Their not significantly cheaper, in fact their usually more expensive (even if only by a couple more dollars). Australian gamers should either import from Hong Kong or buy through Steam if a game is edited, they'll save more money that way.

[QUOTE="Hexagon_777"][QUOTE="killerfist"]I hear Austrailia is pretty bad. Germany is up there too, with their strict ratings and censorships on games. But they can import PAL games from other european countries. And yeah, North Korea for obvious reasons. :P R4gn4r0k

Canada. You have to play games as a gamer in Canada? How can anything be worse than that? [spoiler] Clearly I'm joking, Please mods I am greatly sorry for having a sense of humor(potentially bad) [/spoiler] jg4xchamp

And evreything gets overdubbed in to Canadian! :cry:

[QUOTE="Hexagon_777"][QUOTE="dkjestrup"] Uhhh.... New Zealand? Seriously, you're that uneducated? We're like RIGHT next to Australia. hypoty

That is very unfortunate with the German government being full of backwards folk. Still, you guys can import from the UK without facing scrutiny, correct? It's good to be in the EU. I will gladly provide you with UK websites that won't rip you off and provide uncensored games to boot if you want.

Hexagon_777

Actually most people get their indexed wares from Austria, as Austria is often the only country with companies that allow for bank transfers from German bank accounts. Besides, not everyone here speaks English as well as I do :)

Also, I don't have a credit card or Switch card, so I'm usually stuck with Austria, except perhaps for PayPal and eBay (which I often use to import games out of the UK).

Germany doesn't permit the sale or advertising of banned games but gamers can still import these games from what I know.

Hexagon_777

The 'banning' of any media is illegal in Germany (the last time anything was 'banned'/verboten was during the Third Reich) so the government gets around this by 'indexing' (Indizierung) or 'confiscating' (Beschlagnahme) products. It's a unique idea - you're allowed to own the material, but you either have to know it exists first without being informed of it (indexing) or have to obtain it without buying it while you're in Germany (confiscation).

Now, technically, it is illegal for any company around the world to deliver indexed games to an address in Germany without conclusive proof of age (obviously next to impossible, although an expensive system to achieve this has been introduced), confiscated games are not allowed to be delivered full stop. In practice, however, there's no stopping it. The post secrecy act (Postgeheimnis) makes it illegal for any post to be opened or scanned except by the recipient unless the authorities have good reason to suspect it being illegal. A DVD case is not such a reason. Also, buying games within the EU is subject to the free trade area agreement (Schengen) and so the German government would be in violation of EU law if they prevented anyone from buying from the UK. They tried this by threatening Amazon UK and failed miserably.

[QUOTE="Hexagon_777"]That is very unfortunate with the German government being full of backwards folk. Still, you guys can import from the UK without facing scrutiny, correct? It's good to be in the EU. I will gladly provide you with UK websites that won't rip you off and provide uncensored games to boot if you want.jamyskis

Australia, Ugh its a technical backwater. Our country is way to conservative and with the liberals possibly getting into power i can't see it changing any time soon :(walkingdream

They won't, the NBN will go a head as planned and the Coalition and Greens will block the net filter in the senate. Then all we need is an R18+ rating for games and we'll be set.

[QUOTE="Hexagon_777"]Germany doesn't permit the sale or advertising of banned games but gamers can still import these games from what I know.jamyskis

Now, technically, it is illegal for any company around the world to deliver indexed games to an address in Germany without conclusive proof of age (obviously next to impossible, although an expensive system to achieve this has been introduced), confiscated games are not allowed to be delivered full stop. In practice, however, there's no stopping it. The post secrecy act (Postgeheimnis) makes it illegal for any post to be opened or scanned except by the recipient unless the authorities have good reason to suspect it being illegal. A DVD case is not such a reason. Also, buying games within the EU is subject to the free trade area agreement (Schengen) and so the German government would be in violation of EU law if they prevented anyone from buying from the UK. They tried this by threatening Amazon UK and failed miserably.