How to buy english version as German?

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Agga36

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Hey, I have the german Version of HOI3. I have heard that there is a english Version which is much better.
With Hoi4 I will not do the same mistake again and buy the germen Version.
So, how to get the english Version? (Yes I have Steam)

Happy New Year!!!
 

Jamey

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Presuming that you are German, it would be a violation of German law to sell you an uncensored version. I don't know if it would likewise be a violation of German law to possess one.
 
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Happy New Year!!!
I don't believe it's 2016 in Germany just yet...

I'm not sure what exactly is censored in the German Hearts of Iron III compared to the standard version. But presumably you'd be able to get the english version from Amazon or any other retailer that deals with physical copies. However do note that if you do so you may be violating German law. Again I'm not too sure how censorship + HoI IV work together.

Paradox Staff will be able to help you with this one.
 
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You would have to make Steam think you are in a neighbouring country I think, not sure how to change this.

I think it is just changes to remove any Nazi symbols or references, didn't they call Adolf, Hitter or Hiller or something?
 
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I am german and will surely buy the english version. Fuck the german laws.Theyre so dumb. Its fucking 70 years since the war, EVERYONE knows that Hitler was a bad person, so why do we have to ban the name and picture of Hitler in video games???? Then pls ban it from books, wikipedia and everything else in the world too.
 
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I am german and will surely buy the english version. Fuck the german laws.Theyre so dumb. Its fucking 70 years since the war, EVERYONE knows that Hitler was a bad person, so why do we have to ban the name and picture of Hitler in video games???? Then pls ban it from books, wikipedia and everything else in the world too.

In case you actually want to know why Nazi imagery in games isn't allowed in Germany, here's the relevant entry from the Strafgesetzbuch (Criminal Code):

http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stgb/__86.html

Here's the important part:
"(3) Absatz 1 gilt nicht, wenn das Propagandamittel oder die Handlung der staatsbürgerlichen Aufklärung, der Abwehr verfassungswidriger Bestrebungen, der Kunst oder der Wissenschaft, der Forschung oder der Lehre, der Berichterstattung über Vorgänge des Zeitgeschehens oder der Geschichte oder ähnlichen Zwecken dient."

What this basically means is that displaying Nazi imagery is only allowed if it's for the purposes of education, research, or art. The underlying issue here is that games are not considered to be art by the German law, and as long as this doesn't change, the ban on displaying Nazi imagery will apply to them.


All of that being said, you should just let this thread die now, as it'll just be closed otherwise. Here's a quote from the forum rules:

"NOTE: There will not be any swastikas in the game. It IS illegal to show them in Germany and various other countries. Same goes for other Nazi symbols (e.g. related to the SS) or Nazi propaganda material, including songs etc. Any links posted to a mod which includes a Swastika or other illegal Nazi symbols will be deleted. Any threads that complain about this issue will be closed."
 
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In case you actually want to know why Nazi imagery in games isn't allowed in Germany, here's the relevant entry from the Strafgesetzbuch (Criminal Code):

http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stgb/__86.html

Here's the important part:
"(3) Absatz 1 gilt nicht, wenn das Propagandamittel oder die Handlung der staatsbürgerlichen Aufklärung, der Abwehr verfassungswidriger Bestrebungen, der Kunst oder der Wissenschaft, der Forschung oder der Lehre, der Berichterstattung über Vorgänge des Zeitgeschehens oder der Geschichte oder ähnlichen Zwecken dient."

What this basically means is that displaying Nazi imagery is only allowed if it's for the purposes of education, research, or art. The underlying issue here is that games are not considered to be art by the German law, and as long as this doesn't change, the ban on displaying Nazi imagery will apply to them.


All of that being said, you should just let this thread die now, as it'll just be closed otherwise. Here's a quote from the forum rules:

"NOTE: There will not be any swastikas in the game. It IS illegal to show them in Germany and various other countries. Same goes for other Nazi symbols (e.g. related to the SS) or Nazi propaganda material, including songs etc. Any links posted to a mod which includes a Swastika or other illegal Nazi symbols will be deleted. Any threads that complain about this issue will be closed."

This thread doesn't complain about the issue of allowing swasticas ingame nor is it complaining about the German law. This rule does not apply here.
 
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LordOfWar16

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Presuming that you are German, it would be a violation of German law to sell you an uncensored version. I don't know if it would likewise be a violation of German law to possess one.
Buying the uncensored version is perfectly legal. You only cant actively advertise those games or versions of them that are on the index. The USK cant put games on the index, that does the BPjM (Bundesprüfstelle für Jugendgefährdende Medien). In theory you could go to any retailer and they could sell you indexed uncensored games from under the desk, but nobody does that since that is a bit silly to stock products you cant advertise. Amazon however can and does let you buy uncensored versions of games perfectly legaly online. The only difference is that those are PEGI versions from Austria (german) or the UK (english) for example.

The USK doesnt have the power to ban games in germany. That is actually prohibited by law.

Ist das Zensur?
Nein, denn die Anbieter reichen ihre Titel freiwillig ein. Ein Computerspiel kann prinzipiell auch ohne Kennzeichen erscheinen. Ebenso frei sind Erwachsene in ihrer Entscheidung, was sie spielen. Für sie ist der Zugang zu nicht gekennzeichneten und auch zu indizierten Spielen legal. Aus diesen Gründen kann nicht von Zensur gesprochen werden, die nach Artikel 5 des Grundgesetzes ohnehin verboten wäre.

To quickly translate that: videogames can be released without an usk badge. Other than that adults are free in their decisions in what they play. For them the access of indexed games is legal. Because of that it cant be called censorship, which is prohibited by law anyway.


Hey, I have the german Version of HOI3. I have heard that there is a english Version which is much better.
With Hoi4 I will not do the same mistake again and buy the germen Version.
So, how to get the english Version? (Yes I have Steam)

Happy New Year!!!

If you buy the international version you can simply activate it on steam and you have the uncensored version on your account even as an german. Its highly unlikely that there will be an region lock on it. Region Locks are usualy put on keys from cheaper price regions like russia or asia for example. Hearts of Iron III didnt had an region lock either.
 
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Actually §86 StGB (german criminal code) does not apply in this case but rather §86a (see here [german]). This law basically outlaws "emblems of unconstitutional organizations" which applies to the usual logos/emblems like the swastika, the SS-runes, the SA logo and so on.

After a bit of reading I found that (to my surprise) "head pictures" (portraits) of Adolf Hitler are considered forbidden "emblems" as mentioned in §86a (see here on page 14 under chapter 3.2.4 [german]). This does not apply to other famous political figures of the Nazis however (e.g. Goebbels).

I personally don't mind them changing the portraits in some way, because it would make me uneasy to stare at a picture of Adolf Hitler for hours on end.

By the way: This means using swastikas or portraits of Adolf Hitler in a game will make it illegal in Germany. This has nothing to do with the USK mentioned above, it is simply a criminal offense in Germany to distribute such a game. If you like the current law or not, it is simply that: current law.
 

wright1331

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blah blah blah."
way to tell the German guys, what the German laws are... are you that lame?? lol

Anyway,
Steam see's IP and can see where the CC is from, and that is how they know where you are, or where you "aren't"
 
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