Brazil bans popular video games seen to incite violence

[the_ultimate_evil]

Brazil bans popular video games seen to incite violence

Fri Jan 18, 4:38 PM ET

RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - Brazil this week imposed a ban on popular role-playing computer games "Counter-Strike" and "EverQuest," claiming they incited violence and were "harmful to consumers' health."
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The federal prohibition on the sale of the games was being applied across the country, the official consumer protection agency in the central state of Goias said on its website Thursday.

Both games allow players, typically teenage boys, to connect online to fantasy worlds where they interact with other players, form groups and carry out joint missions usually involving combat.

"Counter-Strike," a first-person-view shoot-'em-upper based on the motor powering the popular "Half-Life" game, requires participants to choose a role as either a masked terrorist or an anti-terrorist officer before going forth with an ever-sophisticated array of weapons.

An adapted version in Brazil permitted players to take on the perspective of either a police officer or a narcotrafficker in Rio de Janeiro's infamously crime-ridden slums.

"EverQuest" is a swords-and-spells game in the mold of "Lord of the Rings" in which human or elvish or other imaginary characters go on joint adventures to gain treasure and increase their avatar's abilities.

Both began in 1999 and have since developed huge worldwide followings.

Some psychologists have described them as addictive as drugs. A few players have turned professional, earning money from powerful characters they sell, or from the auction of hard-to-win virtual items.

The ban was ordered in October 2007 by a Brazilian federal court, but was not immediately implemented.

The judge, Carlos Alberto Simoes, ruled that the games encouraged "the subversion of public order, were an attack against the democratic state and the law and against public security."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080118/tc_afp/brazilcomputergamelaw

yeah ok

 

[bullets]

Thats nonsense I'm going to march in there and waste whoever bans video games duke nukem style.

 

[terry78]

Yet going around topless, and having shows on network tv featuring nudity is perfectly fine, yet violence is viewed as horrible. It's like Bizarro America.

 

[Dangerous]

Duke Nukem Rules.

 

[Addendum]

Brazil should just stick to futbol, carnival, and leaving the rainforest and video games alone.

If someone wants to run around thinking they are a mage or wood elf, then let them have their bags of holding and sticks they call wands. No matter how many times they cast Magic Missile or Mordenkainen's Faithful Watchdog they're not real weapons

And Counter-Strike could be seen as a useful tool in the "war on terror" if you buy into that neo-con view

 

[FreeRadical]

This reminds me of the video game laws in Germany.

The humans in Turok: Dinosaur Hunter on the N64 were replaced by robots....

 

[Mr Sparkle]

The humans in Turok: Dinosaur Hunter on the N64 were replaced by robots....

in the future, the robots will cite this as one of the reasons for their bloody uprising.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Brazil has nothing better to do?

 

[Mr Sparkle]

well, they ain't playing video games, they gotta kill their time somehow.

 

[Obi-Ron]

Yet going around topless, and having shows on network tv featuring nudity is perfectly fine, yet violence is viewed as horrible. It's like Bizarro America.

Sadly, you're right. I wish it was more like that here.

 

[Addendum]

I should be a football coach because I excel at Madden, no wait. I should be a pro skater because I'm good at the Tony Hawk games.

 

[SoulManX]

Yet going around topless, and having shows on network tv featuring nudity is perfectly fine, yet violence is viewed as horrible. It's like Bizarro America.

And porn...

 

[SoulManX]

in the future, the robots will cite this as one of the reasons for their bloody uprising.

t:

 

[Captain Planet!]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080118/tc_afp/brazilcomputergamelaw

yeah ok

 

[Addendum]

in the future, the robots will cite this as one of the reasons for their bloody uprising.

http://www.robotmarketplace.com/video_oldglory_hi.html

For when the metal ones decide to come for you - and they will.

 

[hammy]

It will be interesting to see what effect, if any, this has.

 

[\S/JcDc\S/]

Yet going around topless, and having shows on network tv featuring nudity is perfectly fine, yet violence is viewed as horrible. It's like Bizarro America.

Sex=life

Violence=death