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Here is the article off special reserve news
"Yes, ALL computer games. In an effort to crack down on internet gambling, the Greek government have made playing videogames illegal.
As unbelievable as it may sound, this is entirely true - playing videogames in Greece is now illegal, and is punishable by a three-month jail sentence and a fine of up to 10,000 euros. But why in the name of the Mario did this happen? Well, the government of Greece decided that internet gambling needed to be stopped in its tracks, and passed a law (called Proedriko Diatagma 174) forbidding anyone playing any form of electronic game anywhere in the country. Unfortunately, the wording of said law contains the phrase "electronic mechanisms and software," which means that Greek police are obliged to uphold the law and bust those little games-playing perps.
So how could something like this happen? To a whole country? According to the English-language Kathimerini newspaper over in Greece, the Greek government are "incapable of distinguishing innocuous videogames from illegal gambling machines." It's absolutely insane, if you think about it. Now, having a games console in Greece is illegal. Taking a handheld console ie. Game Boy on your holiday to Greece will not be allowed. Even carrying a mobile phone containing an electronic game (ie. every Nokia phone ever) is against the law. It's insanity gone mad! And we thought the Greek government were alright, when they locked up those planespotters!
Of course, it's more serious than it seems at first. Webmaster of top Greek website Gameland.gr says: "What do [the Greek government] have to say to companies who have hundreds of people working in the gaming industry in Greece ie. Nortec the Nintendo representative, Microsoft Greece, Sony and of course, their distributors when their companies will have to send those people home, due to their loss of business subject?" If the law is to stand, then thousands of people will be out of job, and if the law is to be properly upheld by the public, it'll require major work on their part not to end up breaking the law by sneaking a quick game of Tetris on your lunch break.
The Greek embassy are a little confused by the affair. "We are aware that the legislation has gone through," they said, "but at this time, there is no comment about any of this from Athens. People should respect the law." Can this law really be taken seriously? Will police really act if you're caught with a copy of Quake on your home PC? Or will it be overturned in a matter of weeks when government officials realise just how ridiculous it is? We're hoping the latter, but seeing as two cases of illegal gaming are already being brought to court in the next few weeks, we suspect it may end up being slightly more serious.
One wonders what the Daily Mail, who are opposed to both Greece and videogames, will have to say?"
What do you think of that! I think its just plain stupid how can they stop games in the whole country this must be some sort of sick joke right........
"Yes, ALL computer games. In an effort to crack down on internet gambling, the Greek government have made playing videogames illegal.
As unbelievable as it may sound, this is entirely true - playing videogames in Greece is now illegal, and is punishable by a three-month jail sentence and a fine of up to 10,000 euros. But why in the name of the Mario did this happen? Well, the government of Greece decided that internet gambling needed to be stopped in its tracks, and passed a law (called Proedriko Diatagma 174) forbidding anyone playing any form of electronic game anywhere in the country. Unfortunately, the wording of said law contains the phrase "electronic mechanisms and software," which means that Greek police are obliged to uphold the law and bust those little games-playing perps.
So how could something like this happen? To a whole country? According to the English-language Kathimerini newspaper over in Greece, the Greek government are "incapable of distinguishing innocuous videogames from illegal gambling machines." It's absolutely insane, if you think about it. Now, having a games console in Greece is illegal. Taking a handheld console ie. Game Boy on your holiday to Greece will not be allowed. Even carrying a mobile phone containing an electronic game (ie. every Nokia phone ever) is against the law. It's insanity gone mad! And we thought the Greek government were alright, when they locked up those planespotters!
Of course, it's more serious than it seems at first. Webmaster of top Greek website Gameland.gr says: "What do [the Greek government] have to say to companies who have hundreds of people working in the gaming industry in Greece ie. Nortec the Nintendo representative, Microsoft Greece, Sony and of course, their distributors when their companies will have to send those people home, due to their loss of business subject?" If the law is to stand, then thousands of people will be out of job, and if the law is to be properly upheld by the public, it'll require major work on their part not to end up breaking the law by sneaking a quick game of Tetris on your lunch break.
The Greek embassy are a little confused by the affair. "We are aware that the legislation has gone through," they said, "but at this time, there is no comment about any of this from Athens. People should respect the law." Can this law really be taken seriously? Will police really act if you're caught with a copy of Quake on your home PC? Or will it be overturned in a matter of weeks when government officials realise just how ridiculous it is? We're hoping the latter, but seeing as two cases of illegal gaming are already being brought to court in the next few weeks, we suspect it may end up being slightly more serious.
One wonders what the Daily Mail, who are opposed to both Greece and videogames, will have to say?"
What do you think of that! I think its just plain stupid how can they stop games in the whole country this must be some sort of sick joke right........
couldn't we just read this in the normal news forum thingy?
it's pathetic isn't it.
Here is the article off special reserve news
"Yes, ALL computer games. In an effort to crack down on internet gambling, the Greek government have made playing videogames illegal.
As unbelievable as it may sound, this is entirely true - playing videogames in Greece is now illegal, and is punishable by a three-month jail sentence and a fine of up to 10,000 euros. But why in the name of the Mario did this happen? Well, the government of Greece decided that internet gambling needed to be stopped in its tracks, and passed a law (called Proedriko Diatagma 174) forbidding anyone playing any form of electronic game anywhere in the country. Unfortunately, the wording of said law contains the phrase "electronic mechanisms and software," which means that Greek police are obliged to uphold the law and bust those little games-playing perps.
So how could something like this happen? To a whole country? According to the English-language Kathimerini newspaper over in Greece, the Greek government are "incapable of distinguishing innocuous videogames from illegal gambling machines." It's absolutely insane, if you think about it. Now, having a games console in Greece is illegal. Taking a handheld console ie. Game Boy on your holiday to Greece will not be allowed. Even carrying a mobile phone containing an electronic game (ie. every Nokia phone ever) is against the law. It's insanity gone mad! And we thought the Greek government were alright, when they locked up those planespotters!
Of course, it's more serious than it seems at first. Webmaster of top Greek website Gameland.gr says: "What do [the Greek government] have to say to companies who have hundreds of people working in the gaming industry in Greece ie. Nortec the Nintendo representative, Microsoft Greece, Sony and of course, their distributors when their companies will have to send those people home, due to their loss of business subject?" If the law is to stand, then thousands of people will be out of job, and if the law is to be properly upheld by the public, it'll require major work on their part not to end up breaking the law by sneaking a quick game of Tetris on your lunch break.
The Greek embassy are a little confused by the affair. "We are aware that the legislation has gone through," they said, "but at this time, there is no comment about any of this from Athens. People should respect the law." Can this law really be taken seriously? Will police really act if you're caught with a copy of Quake on your home PC? Or will it be overturned in a matter of weeks when government officials realise just how ridiculous it is? We're hoping the latter, but seeing as two cases of illegal gaming are already being brought to court in the next few weeks, we suspect it may end up being slightly more serious.
One wonders what the Daily Mail, who are opposed to both Greece and videogames, will have to say?"
What do you think of that! I think its just plain stupid how can they stop games in the whole country this must be some sort of sick joke right........
"Yes, ALL computer games. In an effort to crack down on internet gambling, the Greek government have made playing videogames illegal.
As unbelievable as it may sound, this is entirely true - playing videogames in Greece is now illegal, and is punishable by a three-month jail sentence and a fine of up to 10,000 euros. But why in the name of the Mario did this happen? Well, the government of Greece decided that internet gambling needed to be stopped in its tracks, and passed a law (called Proedriko Diatagma 174) forbidding anyone playing any form of electronic game anywhere in the country. Unfortunately, the wording of said law contains the phrase "electronic mechanisms and software," which means that Greek police are obliged to uphold the law and bust those little games-playing perps.
So how could something like this happen? To a whole country? According to the English-language Kathimerini newspaper over in Greece, the Greek government are "incapable of distinguishing innocuous videogames from illegal gambling machines." It's absolutely insane, if you think about it. Now, having a games console in Greece is illegal. Taking a handheld console ie. Game Boy on your holiday to Greece will not be allowed. Even carrying a mobile phone containing an electronic game (ie. every Nokia phone ever) is against the law. It's insanity gone mad! And we thought the Greek government were alright, when they locked up those planespotters!
Of course, it's more serious than it seems at first. Webmaster of top Greek website Gameland.gr says: "What do [the Greek government] have to say to companies who have hundreds of people working in the gaming industry in Greece ie. Nortec the Nintendo representative, Microsoft Greece, Sony and of course, their distributors when their companies will have to send those people home, due to their loss of business subject?" If the law is to stand, then thousands of people will be out of job, and if the law is to be properly upheld by the public, it'll require major work on their part not to end up breaking the law by sneaking a quick game of Tetris on your lunch break.
The Greek embassy are a little confused by the affair. "We are aware that the legislation has gone through," they said, "but at this time, there is no comment about any of this from Athens. People should respect the law." Can this law really be taken seriously? Will police really act if you're caught with a copy of Quake on your home PC? Or will it be overturned in a matter of weeks when government officials realise just how ridiculous it is? We're hoping the latter, but seeing as two cases of illegal gaming are already being brought to court in the next few weeks, we suspect it may end up being slightly more serious.
One wonders what the Daily Mail, who are opposed to both Greece and videogames, will have to say?"
What do you think of that! I think its just plain stupid how can they stop games in the whole country this must be some sort of sick joke right........