Welcome to your... DOOM?

Imagine growing up and never having played Doom... That was the harsh reality for teenagers in Germany throughout the entire time that Doom has been around - until now.

17 years after Doom was first released Germany may now be able to sell Doom in any store they so please soon. Doom and Doom 2 were both classified as "Media Harmful to Young Persons" placing them in the same category as porn in Germany and getting them pulled from shelves across the country. Recently, Bethesda decided to try and appeal the decision and it was overturned. Although Bethesda has not given details as to when the games will go on sale in Germany we do know it will be soon. Of course it will have any references to Nazism removed as those images are banned it will still have all the great gameplay that we all know and love.

Now imagine all the fun that could have been missed out on if the same ban were placed in the US? Not just on Doom but any game that depicts any kind of fantasy violence? It was my understanding that the censorship is a little more lenient in Germany. This may only apply to TV I guess. I do know that GTA 4 has a huge following in Germany and it makes me question why Doom?

In any case this is a small victory for the industry. It's kind of like giving the censor board the finger. I know that I have a different mindset when it comes to these issues but it kind of is ridiculous to want to ban a game that does not clearly show violence to other humans but to fictional monsters that are trying to find a way of attacking earth. It's science fiction at its best.

Society has the tendency to want to censor so many things. Literature, movies, art. There is no media that will ever be free of being criticized and have work that is deemed obscene. There are schools that are banning books that go against certain morals of the community. Animal Farm should not be banned from high school reading. It is one of the best stories I have ever read. Such as Doom is one of the best games I have ever played. Both great works in their own artistic media. One for great writing and symbolism of how corruption is brewed in government circles and how such acts along with greed and ignorance can bring down a Utopian society, the other for showing that the bravery of one individual can overcome obstacles to help bring peace to the world that he knows and loves by doing the right thing.

Unfortunately this is the war that must be fought everyday. Just be grateful that there are those who choose to go against such views and introduce to the world what their imagination has to offer. Thanks id for introducing us to one of the bravest space marines that even Master Chief will salute.