Association for Germany's video and computer players

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Association for Germany's Video and Computer Players eV
(VDVC)
logo
legal form registered association
founding July 12, 2009
Seat Karlsruhe
purpose The VDVC is an association for video and computer players.
Chair Patrik Schönfeldt, Gabriel Zöller (Treasurer)
Members 1200 (as of 07/2015)
Website vdvc.de

The Association for Germany's Video and Computer Players (VDVC) is an association that represents the interests of German video and computer players. It is the first association of its kind for digital games in Europe. In addition to individuals, its members include associations that organize LAN parties . The resolution was passed on December 21, 2019.

Purpose of the association

The association represents the (socio-political) interests of the German PC and video gaming community externally. In particular, the association represents the interests of video and computer players vis-à-vis developers, publishers and dealers of video and computer games as a consumer association. In addition, the association is committed to promoting the protection of minors and the media skills of players and non-players. This includes education about the techniques, risks, possibilities and opportunities of new entertainment media. The association promotes the exchange and understanding between the players. The VDVC eV sees itself as a partner for society, politics and industry in order to clarify and resolve existing conflicts around the topic of digital games in a constructive dialogue.

history

After the rampage in Winnenden in March 2009, there was a broad social discussion about the effects and spread of entertainment software - especially computer and video games - and in particular the degree of violence it depicts. Citizens' groups were founded which, together with smaller parties, demanded a complete ban on the production and distribution of violent interactive media. The killer game debate about violence in games was often reactionary or polemical and not scientifically founded. Game developers based in Germany openly considered relocating their companies to other European countries. LAN parties were canceled with reference to the rampage after municipalities had banned the organizers from playing violent games.

In their hobby, gamers felt they were exposed to defamation and general condemnation, which is why a petition to the Bundestag with over 50,000 signatories against a ban on violent video games was heard in a hearing and nationwide demonstrations took place. The initiators of these demonstrations decided to set up an interest group for players. The association was founded in Karlsruhe in July 2009 and announced at the same time at demonstrations in Berlin, Cologne and Karlsruhe. Under the impression of events that had been banned shortly before, the association was joined in particular by clubs that organize LAN parties.

In October 2009, a citizens' initiative planned to collect and dispose of computer games in Stuttgart. Due to the planned incineration of the data carriers, comparisons with the German book burning were quickly made . As a counter-action, the VDVC held a vigil nearby and found that hardly any games were given. As a result, the tone between local opponents and supporters of games becomes more conciliatory.

At the end of 2010, the general assembly of the VDVC spoke out in favor of expanding the association's orientation to include consumer protection issues after the discussion about the killer game debate had subsided. In addition to some broadcast complaints about exaggerated media reports and misrepresentations, the VDVC took part in the Internet Dialogue of the black and yellow federal government in 2011. When concerns about the game distribution software Origin from Electronic Arts arose at the end of 2011 , the VDVC took part in the round table on the software.

In some cases, the association has also taken legal action. In 2015, for example, he filed a constitutional complaint against a tightening of the ban on depictions of violence . However, this was formally rejected due to the lack of evidence from the constitutional judges' point of view that the plaintiffs were personally affected. In 2018 it was announced that a complaint had been filed for the depiction of an anti-constitutional symbol in the Bundesfighter II Turbo . The aim was to have the legality of the socially adequate representation of relevant symbols in digital games clearly clarified in a court case. The Stuttgart public prosecutor's office did not start any investigation. Although no legal proceedings took place, the Supreme State Youth Authority decided on August 9, 2018 that the application of the regulations on social adequacy at games would henceforth be taken into account in the approval tests of the USK . Since this decision, anti-constitutional symbols can also be used in a socially appropriate manner in digital entertainment media.

The general assembly decided on December 21, 2019 to dissolve the association. The reason for this is the "effort to maintain the legal structure". In the long term, the board of directors “no longer wanted to guarantee that legal obligations would be met”. The underlying community should remain private as a discussion space for members.

activity

The VDVC collects the gaming behavior and opinions of video and computer players in Germany in annual surveys. In addition, censorship statistics are updated annually for the decisions of the classification organizations on the basis of court judgments , decisions of the Federal Testing Office for Media Harmful to Young People and classifications by the USK . Political parties were asked about their attitudes towards video games during the 2013 federal election.

At the national level, the VDVC takes part in surveys on draft laws such as the State Treaty on Youth Media Protection . At the EU level, the VDVC is registered as a lobby organization and participated, among other things, in the consultation on the reform of copyright law. In addition, the position of consumers is represented in direct contact with video game providers.

organization

The association is structured as an association. All active club members are volunteers. Membership is free, but voluntary contributions are possible. The members are divided into ordinary, youth and corporate members. Members' meetings are mostly held online, as members are not centrally organized locally in Germany.

Other associations in the field of video and computer games

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Patrik Schönfeldt: General Assembly decides to dissolve the association |. Accessed January 2, 2020 (German).
  2. ^ Statutes of the VDVC from October 2012 (PDF), VDVC eV, accessed on July 25, 2015
  3. ^ Benjamin Jakobs: VDVC: Association for Germany's video and computer players founded. In: Eurogamer . July 27, 2009, accessed October 23, 2019 .
  4. ↑ Peter Steinlechner: Free voters demand the renunciation of "killer games". In: Golem.de . July 10, 2012, accessed October 23, 2019 .
  5. ^ Action alliance Winnenden calls for a ban on killer games. July 5, 2010, accessed October 23, 2019 .
  6. ↑ Killer game debate - game associations demand apology from Bavaria's interior minister ( Memento from March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
  7. ↑ Game geniuses threaten to emigrate , welt.de, accessed on July 29, 2015
  8. ↑ LAN party canceled due to "killer games" , heise.de, accessed on July 29, 2015
  9. ↑ No ban on the production and distribution of "killer games" , golem.de, accessed on July 29, 2015
  10. ↑ "We're not gunmen!" , zeit.de, accessed on July 29, 2015
  11. ↑ VDVC in an interview - We spoke to the founders of the game club , GameStar.de, accessed on July 29, 2015
  12. ↑ VDVC: In conversation with Patrik Schönfeldt , derwesten.de, accessed on July 29, 2015
  13. ↑ founding of VDVC , VDVC.de, accessed on July 29, 2015
  14. ↑ Alliance wants to publicly destroy "killer games" , Welt.de, accessed on August 13, 2015
  15. ↑ PDF - Background and course of the discussion about violent video games in Germany , page 169 ff., Stigma-videospiele.de, accessed on September 29, 2015
  16. ^ "Killerspiele" collection in Stuttgart: Versöhnliches Conclusion - Golem.de , golem.de, accessed on July 29, 2015
  17. ↑ General meeting emphasizes consumer protection , vdvc.de, accessed on August 13, 2015
  18. ↑ Participant list Dialog Internet ( memento from 23 September 2015 in the Internet Archive ), Internet editorial office of the Federal Ministry for Family, Seniors, Women and Youth, accessed on 13 August 2015
  19. ↑ Round table on EA Origin - "That was bullshit, and we know that too." , GameStar.de, accessed on August 13, 2015
  20. ↑ EA Origin - Round Table Report , ElitePVPers.com, accessed August 13, 2015
  21. ^ Constitutional complaint against the portrayal of violence. In: GamesLaw. March 14, 2017, accessed June 27, 2019 (German).
  22. ↑ Patrik Schönfeldt: Social adequacy at the USK: Reaching the goal with the test balloon? In: VDVC. August 13, 2018, accessed June 27, 2019 (German).
  23. ↑ Freedom of Art - Will Nazi Symbolism be Allowed in Games Soon? Accessed June 27, 2019 (German).
  24. ↑ NS symbolism: USK will consider social adequacy in the future. Retrieved on July 10, 2019 (German).
  25. ↑ Alexander Bohn-Elias: Finally experience Wolfenstein like everyone else - you know what has to happen now, right? In: Eurogamer.de. June 27, 2019, accessed June 27, 2019 .
  26. ↑ Survey on usage behavior and views of video players, VDVC.de, accessed on August 13, 2015
  27. ↑ VZeSta 2014: There is no censorship? , VDVC.de, accessed on August 13, 2015
  28. ↑ Election test stones: Positions of the parties on video games , VDVC.de, accessed on September 9, 2015
  29. ↑ JMStV: Questionnaire Citizen Participation (2014) , VDVC.de, accessed on August 13, 2015
  30. ^ Statement on JMStV reform , VDVC.de, accessed on August 13, 2015
  31. ↑ EU transparency register http://ec.europa.eu , accessed on September 9, 2015
  32. ↑ Articles submitted as part of the consultation , ec.europa.eu, accessed on 9 September 2015
  33. ^ Statutes of the VDVC from October 2012 , VDVC.de, accessed on July 25, 2015