Headquarters | Berlin, Germany |
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Area served | Germany |
Services | computer game ratings |
Website | http://www.usk.de/ |
Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (Self-Monitoring of Entertainment Software, abbreviated USK) is the organization responsible for computer game ratings in Germany.
Freigegeben ohne Altersbeschränkung gemäß § 14 JuSchG (Without age restrictions)
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Freigegeben ab 6 Jahren gemäß § 14 JuSchG (Restricted for those below the age of 6)
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Freigegeben ab 12 Jahren gemäß § 14 JuSchG (Restricted for those below the age of 12)
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Freigegeben ab 16 Jahren gemäß § 14 JuSchG (Restricted for those below the age of 16)
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Freigegeben ab 18 Jahren gemäß § 14 JuSchG or Keine Jugendfreigabe gemäß § 14 JuSchG (Restricted for those below the age of 18)
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In the German gaming community, the USK is very unpopular and often accused of censorship, since games that are refused classification may be listed on the List of media harmful to young people (colloquially known as the “Index”) by the Bundesprüfstelle für jugendgefährdende Medien (BPjM). This process is known as “indexing”, upon which the titles may only be sold on request to adults over the age of 18, and are not to be advertised in retail stores or any other media. It is forbidden to supply them to minors. Hence, games with a USK 18 rating are not necessarily uncut, due to distributors striving for a rating. For example, the German version of Grand Theft Auto III does not feature headshots and is less gory, as well as having some weapons or their special effects removed. Some publishers like Microsoft choose not to cut their games (e.g. Gears of War) for a rating and do not release these games in Germany at all.
Unrated games are treated like titles with a USK 18 rating (educational software excluded), as long as they are not indexed.
Up to April 1, 2003, any game with a USK rating could also be indexed.
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