In a press release on February 14, 2007:
“The debate about violence in computer games must not go too far. Adults must have the right to look at tastelessness or trash or to play corresponding games within the framework of the statutory provisions. Freedom of expression and artistic freedom are among the fundamental rights enshrined in the Basic Law. Artistic freedom is not tied to the quality of the work. Artistic freedom also applies to computer games. ”
Good Ten Years later
Today, anyone doubts that computer games are naturally a cultural asset. And some of the pearls among computer games are even works of art. The German Computer Games Award has long been established and from autumn of this year, it may finally be part of the federal government’s cultural department.
Training professions have long been established in the computer game industry, and academic training for computer game developers takes place at colleges and universities. Even if, by international comparison, few young people are being trained in Germany for the growing computer games industry and there are often complaints about a shortage of skilled workers.
In an international context, German computer game companies compete with Japanese, Canadian, and US developers who are looking for qualified workers and – according to the industry’s complaint – all too often lose out. Barriers are often the language and visa requirements. But authors, composers, designers, and other cultural workers also earn their bread with computer game developers.
The pimply pubescent boys,
As the media liked to describe the computer gamers in their early years, have long since grown up. You are still playing, alone, with friends or even family. Girls and women have also successfully discovered computer games for themselves. And that this year’s Gamescom, the world’s largest trade fair for interactive consumer electronics, was opened by Chancellor Angela Merkel, shows the league in which computer game developers and publishers are now not only playing but also selling on video games (eg. sell rust items, CSGO skins, etc.).
It is about an economically important market that is still one of the growth industries. In addition to the importance of computer games as a driver of innovation and an economic factor, the Chancellor also underlined her status as a cultural asset.
At first glance,
When it comes to computer games, “everything seems to be fine”. The tiresome debate about “killer games” is over, the German Computer Games Award is established and on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Computer Games Museum, a congress and an exhibition are taking place in Berlin that is explicitly dedicated to computer games as a cultural asset.