Gamers have been arrested for playing Counter-Strike

Greeks fight computer game ban
source- BBC @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2238242.stm



Gamers in Greece are preparing to fight legislation which bans them from playing any electronic game in public.

The Greek Government has banned games on computers and consoles like the Xbox and Playstation in places like internet cafes.

The legislation came into force at the beginning of August as part of a policy to clamp down on illegal gambling in the country.

But the law has been criticised for not making a distinction between interactive gambling and computer games.

"Theoretically the police can arrest you if you are using your PC for playing games or if your employer catches you playing chess or backgammon on Yahoo," said a statement from the Greek Internet Café Union which is fighting the ban.

Officials have told the BBC that even though the law bans the playing of games on PCs and consoles at home it will only be pursuing gamers who flout it in public places such as internet cafes.

LAUGHABLE

The first case of its kind will come before the Greek courts next week following the arrest of two people who allowed gamers to play the popular online game, Counter-Strike.

They face fines of 150,000 euros (£95,000) and up to 12 months imprisonment.

"The whole matter could remain in the sphere of comedy if it didn't concern directly the employment of thousands of people," said the Greek Internet Café Union.

"In China they prohibit access to political sites, in some other countries prevent connection to sites of sexual content and in Greece it is illegal to use personal computers and games consoles for playing games," it continued.

If the letter of the law is enforced, the union said the next stage would be to ban the selling of games and legal action against Microsoft to remove games from the Greek version of Windows.

But officials say they have no plans to ban the import of consoles or to take legal action against Microsoft's operating system.

Online voices

The gaming community has accused the government of taking the country back to the 1970s when individuals were arrested for playing cards at home.

Along with owners of Greece's many internet cafes, it is determined to make its voice heard.

Greek gaming site www.gameland.gr has launched an online petition against the ban and has had 14,000 signatures so far.

A gaming tournament planned in Greece this week has been relocated to Oslo.

 

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Damn, that sucks! :bugeye:

 

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Greece was always a messed up place. Geez, arrested for playing counterstrike!? That is the most retarded thing I've ever heard.

Next thing I'll be hearing is Greece sending assassins over to Kasparov.

 

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THANK GOD i'm not in Greece

 

Theres a petiton you can sign to help these poor bastards, now if only I can find it. I'll post it when I find it, ok

 

Every one don't let our fellow gamers miss out or we will be next

*points at the mointior*

 

what's the difference between games & sports?

i mean, a game of chess, would that be illegal?

 

well if you play it in real life then that will be ok but if you play it in a game like the p.c then you will get your ass busted by the greek police

 

so we should all start playing CS in real life?

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well you can

there a progamme in Bravo and it about the americans elites do a mission against each other and if they lose one of the soliders will be voted out like big bro

 

well i'm sure they don't really kill each other, do they? what's used for weapons? paintball guns or something?

man, such chaos in greece. no cs. :bugeye:

 

No they use tag weapons (a small laser and special armor which can sense if you got hit). Pretty funny show.

 

Lets appeal to the UN for sanctions against Greece. I mean banned from CS tournaments, that’s a human rights violation. Maybe we can get em banned from the Olympics too.

Seiously though, Thor, please find that thing so we all can sign it.