News: "Violent" Video Games To Be Banned In Venezuela

[News Bot]

An anonymous reader writes "The country that has bought Sukhois, tanks and 100,000 AK-103's, is planning to build a manufacturing plant of Russian rifles, and oppresses peaceful marches has decided to ban 'violent' video games because they 'promote violence and can alter the behavior of children.' The new legislation in Venezuela says, 'The violence found in video games is translated into the real world.' This new law affects people who sell, 'use,' produce, import and distribute these games. Video games as a whole have been labeled as 'a consequence of savage capitalism' by PSUV (United Socialist Party of Venezuela), which is the political party led by Hugo Chavez. Days before this law was approved by the National Assembly, Chavez promoted the use of traditional toys like the Yo-Yo and Trompo, and suggested that electronic toys like 'the Nintendo' be put aside because they promote 'egoism, individualism and violence.' Just today the AFP released a report showing Caracas as the second most violent city on the planet — even more violent than Baghdad. I guess all those violent gangs in Venezuela are addicted to video games."


Read more of this story at Slashdot.

[News Bot]

Bill outlawing sale of objectionable games and toys gets first approval from National Assembly.




El presidente no le gustan videojuegos.

Following in the footsteps of China, Germany, Japan, Brazil, and Australia, Venezuela is considering a ban on games it deems excessively violent. This week in Caracas, lawmakers voted in favor of a bill banning the sale of violent games or toys, reports Reuters. The bill was drawn up by legislators who believe getting rid of violent games will help reduce crime in the robbery-plagued country.

On Wednesday, the National Assembly announced that the game-ban bill passed its first vote in the legislative body. It must pass a second vote and be signed into law by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez before it can take effect. However, no time frame has yet been determined for the second National Assembly vote.

This isn't the first time Venezuelan lawmakers have taken aim at games. In 2006, backers of Chavez decried Electronic Arts and Pandemic's Mercenaries 2, which was set in Venezuela and where players take on "a power-hungry tyrant" in control of the country. At the time, it was decried by one legislator as "a justification for imperial aggression."

Ironically, many lawmakers in that "imperial aggressor" have themselves been trying to restrict access to violent games. Recent years have seen failed attempts to ban their sale to minors in a number of US states, from left-leaning California to conservative Oklahoma.


Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot

"Venezuelan violent game ban advances" was posted by Brendan Sinclair on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:01:20 -0700


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[BlkRb0t]

It would be more wise to ban violence altogether. Why ban the intermediaries?

[TheOneOmega]

Yeah, this probably is not too effective at reducing violence.

[Radioactive Foot]

It's ridiculous to even suggest that banning games = reduction in violence. Games act as an outlet for aggression and frustration as well as offering a social setting for young people to get to know each other and not spend their time raping old ladies. Some people (Governments) are too stupid to warrant an insult.