14 DAY TRIAL // Maybe you haven't heard it yet (this isn't exactly the freshest of news, but we have to share it with you even if it's a little bit late), but Clive Baker's Jericho has been banned in Germany. According to several gaming websites, Codemasters has also refused to edit the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the team-based FPS horror title, for its German release, leaving Germany's console gamers with no choice but to move to another title of the genre, or play Jericho on the PC.
It's not going to be long before they hack this one too, but we certainly don't encourage anyone to mod their Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 console to play the game. It's the same thing as the console version and given that it's a FPS, you might just find the controls a lot easier through mouse and keyboard play. This is the reality so just face it and move on.
Now, as stated above, Codemasters' decision of not changing the game's content (console version) follows German ratings board USK's refusal to rate the game in their territory. Here's what the developer had to say:
"Following a review by the USK ratings board, which declined to give an official rating, Codemasters has decided not to change the artistic vision of the renowned author and film-maker Clive Barker though cuts and extensive changes", the company told GamesIndustry.biz.
"Codemasters respects Mr Barker's creative ideas, despite the German distribution and marketing consequences for the title. Therefore Codemasters will release only the PC version of Clive Barker's Jericho in its original form for adult gamers and Clive Barker fans."
There's a free demo of the game up on XBL Marketplace, just in case you haven't downloaded it yet, so you can see for yourselves what the Germans aren't getting. The game's full version is due for release in Europe on October 26. The PS3 demo for the game should be climbing up PS Store's index of demos this week.