Tag Archives: school shooting

German retailer Galeria Kaufhof has pulled violent games and DVDs from its shelves in the wake of a recent school shooting that left 15 dead.

The store will no longer stock films or games sold with an 18-plus rating at all.

“I think (Kaufhof’s decision) is a complete overreaction … it borders on impulsive hysteria,” said Stephan Reichart, boss of German game developer association, GAME.

“It would be sufficient if retailers made sure their cashiers don’t sell this material to young people.”

There have been fresh calls to ban violent games following the killings. The shooter was known to have played Far Cry 2 and Counter-Strike the night before committing his crimes.

More on Reuters.

GamePolitics has learned that Hans-Dieter Schwind, the president of the German Foundation for Crime, wants a ban on violent games after yesterday’s shooting rampage by teenager Tim Kretschmer.

Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann is also demanding discussion on a ban on “so-called killer games” to be renewed, and in Strasbourg, European representatives have voted in a resolution to prevent retailers from selling adult-rated games to minors.

Romandie News is reporting that the European Parliament is contemplating “severe sanctions” towards retailers who sell adult games to minors, or “owners of Internet cafes that allow children to play games unsuitable for their age group”.

More through here.

A German teenager who killed 16 people in a shooting rampage was a Counter-Strike fan, according to reports.

An acquaintance of Tim Kretschmer has said the two of them would play Counter-Strike together in person and online.

Speaking with the Associated Press, the unidentified teen said that Tim was a quiet, reserved person who “was good” at the game.

Tim was also a very good physical shot, who used to target practice behind the house and shoot plastic balls with an air rifle. Six hunting rifles in his home were under lock and key, but the 9mm Beretta he used on the victims was kept in a bedside drawer.

He was also reportedly depressed, and, according to another acquaintance, had sent a letter to his parents a few weeks prior to the event saying he was “suffering@ and couldn’t “go on”.

German political officials have been discussing violence in games a lot lately, and the Counter-Strike bit will certainly add to it.

Counter-Strike made similar headlines two years ago when press focused on the VA Tech shooter being a fan of the game.