Venezuela Bans Violent Videogames

Andy Chalk

Andy Chalk

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Nov 12, 2002
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Venezuela Bans Violent Videogames


Venezuela has followed through on a plan to ban violent videogames, passing a law that will slap hefty jail terms on anyone who produces, imports or sells them.

Venezuela, one of the most dangerous and crime-ridden nations on the planet, began taking steps to ban violent videogames and toy guns earlier this year [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/94229-Venezuela-Moves-to-Ban-Violent-Games]. The bill received final approval in late October and will go into effect in three months; anyone violating the new law faces a punishment of three to five years in jail.

What exactly will constitute a "violent" videogame wasn't made clear; GamePolitics [http://gamepolitics.com/2009/11/05/venezuelan-game-ban-okayed-gamer-reacts] says the final decision over which games will be banned will rest with the country's "consumer protection society." Advertisements for toys of a "military" nature will also be banned.

The plan, apparently, is to cut back on activities that might encourage the development of "aggressive" tendencies in Venezuelan children and youth, which will in turn help bring down the country's out of control violent crime rate. The government in Venezuela no longer releases regular murder statistics but opponents of President Hugo Chavez claim that over 100,000 people have been murdered since February 1999.

The government disputes that figure, of course, but I don't think anyone will argue that the situation isn't bad and getting worse. Will a ban on violent videogames make any difference at all? I wouldn't hold my breath.

Source: RIA Novosti [http://en.rian.ru/world/20091030/156644731.html]


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Dogstile

Dogstile

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Now more people are going to get killed because their psychos have nothing to distract them!
 
chromewarriorXIII

chromewarriorXIII

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HardRockSamurai said:
Great. Like we really need another Australia...
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From the sounds of it, this is worst then Australia. Let's just hope that the rest of the world doesn't follow through on this.
 
orangebandguy

orangebandguy

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I thought it ended with Mercs 2, I guess they're a little sensitive about a game that encourages you to destry the entire country of Venezuela.
 
Chipperz

Chipperz

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Well, good to know that they're tacking the real causes of crime, and not those silly little annoyances like gangs and drugs. Phew, for a second there, I was worried someone might get their hands on something like Halo, think it was real, and start bombing stuff in case the Covenant are inside it!
 
uppitycracker

uppitycracker

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When all it takes is looking out the window to see a world full of violent behavior, and the adults yer surrounded by leading violent lifestyles, removing violent games from the mix becomes an exercise in futility.
 
lazy_bum

lazy_bum

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And thus children that was how the the well meaning but ultimately blind gorvernment of that country kissed goodbye to freedom.

Laws such as this give the country a dangerous presidant. limiting personal freedoms in this way is a slippery slope. might start off as something that looks harmless but well meaning, but how long before travel is limited and curfews are put in place and media come under direct government control, all in the name of stopping the violence?

Yet another socialist leader has started on the road to tyranny, whether or not he realises it. Such a shame.
 
The Lizard of Odd

The Lizard of Odd

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As this is more than likely not going to help their plight, it is actually probably a good thing for the american gaming industry. When people cry out against violent games claiming they cause shootouts and murders, we have something to point to and say, 'Are you so sure?'

On the other hand, if they country makes a complete reform and becomes a safer, happier place . . . we may have to face some alternate viewpoints as facts. :p I highly doubt it however.

I think part of the problem with what people deem 'violent' is that there is no separation of types of violence. Personally I would much prefer to see a young teen playing LFD2 than GTA4. Why? Even though LFD2 is much more bloody/gory, the attitude is one of basic human survival against a monstrous threat. GTA tends to encourage thoughts of violence against other normal humans purely for entertainment. I know plenty of perfectly normal, peaceful adults who have fun playing GTA, this isn't a statement against it. What I AM saying is that I think it's the attitude of the violence that matters most.
 
Lord Mountbatten Reborn

Lord Mountbatten Reborn

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He is crazy, crazy Hugo! Hugo Hugo Chavez! [http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/Gordon/]

Ever since the uproar he caused over the Mercenaries 2 thing I have looked upon him with a very low opinion. He has doomed his country.
 
Royas

Royas

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lazy_bum said:
And thus children that was how the the well meaning but ultimately blind gorvernment of that country kissed goodbye to freedom.

Laws such as this give the country a dangerous presidant. limiting personal freedoms in this way is a slippery slope. might start off as something that looks harmless but well meaning, but how long before travel is limited and curfews are put in place and media come under direct government control, all in the name of stopping the violence?

Yet another socialist leader has started on the road to tyranny, whether or not he realises it. Such a shame.
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Hugo Chavez is, I believe, about as far from well meaning as you can get. He's borderline sociopathic, uses lies even when the truth will work, and is essentially a dictator, not a socialist. He's not on the road to tyranny, he's zooming down it happily at about 90 mph.

I'm not too worried about this setting any kind of international precedent. Most countries with any kind of real democracy aren't going to be using Chavez' administration as an example of how to do things. The nations that will already have civil rights and freedom issues, so no real change there.
 
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