http://news.com.com/2100-1040-956357.html
In Greece, playing a shoot-'em-up video game could land you in jail.
The Greek government has banned all electronic games across the country, including those that run on home computers, on Game Boy-style portable consoles, and on mobile phones. Thousands of tourists in Greece are unknowingly facing heavy fines or long terms in prison for owning mobile phones or portable video games.
Greek Law Number 3037, enacted at the end of July, explicitly forbids electronic games with "electronic mechanisms and software" from public and private places, and people have already been fined tens of thousands of dollars for playing or owning games.
I know Greece is a long way off, but does anyone have any thoughts about governments just slapping a hasty, ill thought law up there?
Is the Greek government really unable to distinguish between a game and gambling? Can anyone really be that dense? IMO, they're just being lazy and decided to get rid of all electronic entertainment at once. In a way, very much like the phrase "Kill them all and let God sort them out".
I really hope that if the case gets as far as the EU court, someone comes to their senses. This is just too ridiculous to let stand.
In Greece, playing a shoot-'em-up video game could land you in jail.
The Greek government has banned all electronic games across the country, including those that run on home computers, on Game Boy-style portable consoles, and on mobile phones. Thousands of tourists in Greece are unknowingly facing heavy fines or long terms in prison for owning mobile phones or portable video games.
Greek Law Number 3037, enacted at the end of July, explicitly forbids electronic games with "electronic mechanisms and software" from public and private places, and people have already been fined tens of thousands of dollars for playing or owning games.
I know Greece is a long way off, but does anyone have any thoughts about governments just slapping a hasty, ill thought law up there?
Is the Greek government really unable to distinguish between a game and gambling? Can anyone really be that dense? IMO, they're just being lazy and decided to get rid of all electronic entertainment at once. In a way, very much like the phrase "Kill them all and let God sort them out".
I really hope that if the case gets as far as the EU court, someone comes to their senses. This is just too ridiculous to let stand.
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