Legal Niches

1,378 Game Courts Controversy in Germany

By james_fudge

A new game called "1,378 (kilometers)" is ruffling feathers in Germany because of its controversial subject matter that opens old wounds about Cold War-era Germany. The game's title, 1,378, refers to the length of the wall that used to divide East and West Germany during the Cold War. The game lets up to 16 players take on the roles of East Germans trying to escape into West Germany or as the guards that were ordered to shoot anyone that tried to escape.

Jens Stober, a 23-year-old media art student at the University of Design, Media and Arts in the city of Karlsruhe designed the game. He said that his intention was not to offend, but to teach young people about German history.

"In the game, you ask yourself: 'What would I do?'" said Stober. "You may come to the conclusion that you would not shoot at your fellow countrymen and women." Read More

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Full post as published by GamePolitics.com on October 02, 2010 (boomark / email).