A Sproing in the Step

It's completely privately-owned.

Yes, it's something that we're very happy about. We can make strategic decisions that will pay off in two years even if they lower our bottom this year, and that's something we've done frequently - we've invested into things we feel are important, and then two or three years later we reap the benefits.

In terms of the consumer market in and of itself, it's not really relevant, but it's economically part of the entire German distribution structure - it's the same outlets as in Germany. There are very few publishers that have their own distribution - most of it just serviced from Germany.

I think part of what makes Austrian developers successful over time is that there is no domestic market, there are no domestic publishers with the exception of Koch Media... although they're based in Germany.

It forces you to be export-orientated from day one, and to most people if I already have to go abroad it doesn't matter - if I go to Germany or the UK. So most Austrian developers - there aren't so many - but they've been very successful.

It doesn't affect us at all, because the Austrian laws are completely different to Germany. I have an opinion on it, which is that I think violent games are fun, and I like to play them, but there are certain types of games and a level of violence where I wonder if the industry really needs it. My personal opinion on that is that it doesn't.

It is subjective, and also very cultural, because what is acceptable to you and me might not be acceptable to our parents, or whoever. And what is acceptable to the general American public isn't acceptable to the German general public.

I think it makes sense that we're having the controversy about it, I think it makes sense that we discuss things, and I think it's great that console manufacturers react to that and put age management systems in their consoles. I think that's the way to go.

Do I think that the German government is pushing things too far when being so forthright in complaining about this? I fully agree. Do I like Saw? No. But would I want to live in a place where it's forbidden to make it? I'm not sure.

I think of course there is a responsibility at retail, and I think retailers could be doing more about that - but then on the other hand we're also facing more digital distribution, so the retailers that actually could do a lot of this job won't be able to do so much of that in the future.

I think, or I hope - let's put it that way - that in ten or twenty years this is going to be less of an issue, because we all grew up with it and we know how to deal with it. My kid will certainly play responsibly because I know what he can play, and what he can't play.