XBOX-HQ.COM - Jericho Horrifies German Ratings Board

Germany's games ratings board has declined to grant Clive Barker’s gory horror FPS Jericho a rating, effectively banning the title. Publisher Codemasters told Next-Gen it won't be editing the game to secure a German release.

Germany’s ratings board, the USK, has refused to grant the game a rating due to its depiction of “brutal scenes”, as first reported via German news outlet Heise, meaning the title won’t be available in shops or over the Internet when it launches next month.

Codemasters told Next-Gen that it was sticking to its guns, having decided not to modify the game’s content in order to secure a German release. In a statement the publisher said:

"Following a review by the USK ratings board, which declined to give an official rating, Codemasters has decided not to change the artistic vision of the renowned author and filmmaker Clive Barker though cuts and extensive changes.

"Codemasters respects Mr Barker’s creative ideas, despite the German distribution and marketing consequences for the title. Therefore Codemasters will release the PC version of Clive Barker’s Jericho in its original form on the 26th of October for adult gamers and Clive Barker fans."

The US version of the Mercury Steam developed game, which is scheduled for release on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC on October 23, with a demo due this Thursday on PC and 360, is currently listed as Mature on the ESRB's website on account of its 'Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes and Strong Language'.

Germany has a history of clamping down on violent games. Other titles previously banned in Germany include Gears of War and Manhunt 2. In March the German Conference of Interior Ministers (IMK) passed a motion to ban ‘violence glorifying games’. The banning of the production of ‘violence dominated games’ is also now on the cards, much to the irritation of locally-based games companies. Last month it emerged that Far Cry and Crysis developer Crytek had threatened to leave Germany if games restrictions were further tightened.

News-Source: http://www.next-gen.biz