Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video Games

August 27, 2009 -

While Venezuela has been the (unwilling) setting for at least one violent video game (Mercenaries 2: World in Flames), lawmakers there are moving ahead with plans to ban violent games and toys.

The effort, reports Reuters, is aimed at reducing an unprecedented wave of crime and violence. According to Reuters, dozens of people are murdered in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas every week.

A measure detailing the proposed ban passed Venezuela's National Assembly this week. In order to become law, the game ban bill would need to be voted on a second time and then signed into law by President Hugo Chavez.

If passed, the video game ban would not be the first time that the Venezuelan government has targeted a form of media in response to social issues. In 2008 the government banned The Simpsons as unsuitable for children.

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Comments

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by axiomatic on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 11:20.

Make up your mind governments! Are gamers too fat and too lazy to commit a crime or are gamers really hardened criminals in the making? Your flip flop wishy washyness on this issue have us all confused.

I have a feeling that it's both, and that they interchange the accusations as needed behind the podium to scapegoat particular issues.

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by Ashkihyena on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 21:22.

Cause you know, that works so well. /sarcasm

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by Mad_Scientist on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 16:49.

As much as I'm not a fan of Chavez, is there any indication that he has so far had much, or any, involvement in this effort to restrict games?

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by Snipzor on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 16:09.

I blame the nuclear bunker busters.

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by Mycroft Holmes on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 17:02.

Nuclear bunker busters don't decapitate repressive regimes,
Presidents do.

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by Lcpuche on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 14:52.

Chavez is a phenomenal moron. Im from Colombia, and the guy has done nothing but bring bad reputation to south america.

i didn't expect any less.

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by Wormdundee on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 14:46.

I see crime getting worse if they do this. Less things for young people to entertain themselves with, means they'll go out instead, possibly get caught up in gangs, etc. If your country is entrenched in violence you want to INCREASE the avenues of entertainment so that people don't go around smashing windows just because they're bored.

Remember this post if this bill passes, I'm predicting a statistically significant increase in violence. Or at the very least, there will be zero decrease.

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by JustChris on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 12:03.

Many people still don't realize it, but indoor, relatively tame activities like playing video games do not go well with gangs.

If video games are still considered a nerdy hobby, do you think hardcore gangs are going to have an interest playing them? I could totally not picture a bunch of shirtless guys with chains and tattoos grouping up in somoene's home to play video games for hours. Shooting with virtual guns won't thrill them because they're already using the real thing.

GameSnooper

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by Wormdundee on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 14:27.

Well, I think you're agreeing with me here. I didn't say that gangs would decrease if you kept videogames around, I said they would increase if you took video games away.

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by hellfire7885 on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 14:01.

Well, Chavez wanted MErcenaries 2 banne,d now he can make that a reality. Seriously, if you get scared that a video game might incite people to overthrow you, then people might already be thinking about it.

As for the ban, ya, taking away more things that can keep youth off the streets and away from negative influences if a GREAT idea, crime lords won't get more access to them at all.

I look forward to laughing when these people are left scratchign their heads as to why this didn't work, or, if crime gets worse.

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by JustChris on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 13:17.

What's the deal with this country? The violence problem is gradually turning it into another Colombia! They're doing away with several forms of entertainment. First music promoters are reluctant to book big events after the crazy nightclub shooting two years ago, and now they want to remove this.

GameSnooper

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by sortableturnip on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 13:17.

With a per capita income of $13,500, who can afford video games there???

Sortableturnip's Law: As an online discussion of video game violence grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Jack Thompson approaches 1

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by Conster on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 12:18.

Maybe he should've given those weapons to the police instead of the FARC.

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by KayleL on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 12:08.

Crime wave? That country looked unstable to begin with. I can't say for sure because you could never trust news (especially fox news) when it comes to imagery.

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by Speeder on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 11:39.

Chavez dissapoint me...

He had everything to show how a left government should work, but instead he decided to imitate Stalin...

WHYY WHYY SO MANY LEFT GOVENRMENTS IMITATE STALIN???? THAT GUY SUCK! (btw: Stalin imitators list: Venezuela, the deposed guy in Honduras, dunno why US want put him back btw..., China... altough they are learning and steering away from that, Cuba, North Korea).

Chavez is a bright guy, done some particularly stuff, but he is letting his cold war view cloud his mind and he is imitating stalin :( At least he made the good deceision of inviting Russians to protect South America from the US. :)

criadordejogos.wordpress.com

--- Maurício Gomes twitter.com/agfgames

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by Zerodash on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 15:15.

Perhaps its because leftist policy cannot work without Stalinist oppression. It's no different than a right-wing government working without Taliban-style oppression.

The left and the right are different sides of the same coin. An evil, vile, and oppressive coin.

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by ZippyDSMlee on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 15:56.

Zerodash

I think its simpley easier to not spare the rod, you gain power with a gaol in mind then when you have it it becoems easier to just relax and stay in power above the commen folk. Its happening right now in the US with the increaseing noble status of our public officals.............

Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/

---

http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by ZippyDSMlee on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 11:54.

Dictortailship(zippy word for taint amount to dictatorship) makes managing a government from the top down easier, this is why communism has a hard time working because it defaults to those with power conglomerate it and control it, its basic human greed and idiocy.

Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/

---

http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by Speeder on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 13:57.

Mind you, not all dictatorship are bad, neither all comunism are bad (in fact, Stalinism is particularly bad :/ I dunno why governments insist in implementing it...)

Here in Brazil we had a capistalist dictatorship during the cold war, when the cold war ended, we got our democracy back... Altough in democracy the government does not supress stuff neither arrest random people, our democratic government is a failure, the people there are highly corrupt, and the population don't care, as long as their get their "share" too (here is common practice exchange votes for money or other stuff, even with if being illegal, but nearly 100% of our population already did criminal stuff anyway)

criadordejogos.wordpress.com

--- Maurício Gomes twitter.com/agfgames

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by ZippyDSMlee on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 15:53.

Ya it really coems down to how the people in power discriminate that power if they do so with the mindset they are part of the public then things tend to be more balanced if they do it with the mindset they are above the public things can go bad rather fast.

Sometimes I think governments and the people in them forget they are there to help manage the region not lord over it.....

Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/

---

http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by killatia on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 11:29.

Yeah because it working so well for germany.....

http://www.magicinkgaming.com/

http://www.killatia.com/

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by Rodrigo Ybáñez ... on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 09:40.

I´m very sorry for people from Venezuela, but that´s a price they are paying for letting that sorry excuse of dictator got to the power. The sad part is they will need decades to rid of him. If they are lucky, maybe 10 years from now.

The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com/

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by Michael Chandra on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 12:13.

When your goverment start to look problems in fiction instead real life, is not a good time.
- Rodrigo Ybáñez García

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by chadachada321 on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 15:36.

Is that an actual quote by Rodrigo? I like it ^^

I also always liked the classic, "Those who would sacrifice essential liberty for temporary security deserve neither and shall have none." -Commonly attributed to Benjamin Franklin

-If an apple a day keeps the doctor away....what happens when a doctor eats an apple?-

-Optimum est pati quod emendare non possis-It is best to endure what you cannot change-

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by Michael Chandra on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 16:00.

Yeah, he said it once and I liked it so much that I took it as GP forum signature. =)

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by Arell on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 09:12.

Will they unban them when violence continues even without video games?

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by MaskedPixelante on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 09:37.

No, then they'll start banning video games where the violence isn't apparant, like sports titles and cartoon-ish games.

---You are likely to be eaten by a Grue.

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by Baruch_S on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 09:09.

Part of me wants them to do this so we can see it fail miserably and then use it against people who suggest doing the same in other countries. The other part of me just feels sorry for the people of Venezuela.

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by vellocet on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 09:07.

Although I would like to agree with you, I don't think The Simpsons could be considered a "form of media".

But it should be ;)

------- Morality has always been in decline. As you get older, you notice it. When you were younger, you enjoyed it.

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by Dante on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 08:56.

i dont think there is any other nation in the world where its people think that they are living under democracy, when they are not.

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by Maktul on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 12:34.

Technically the US is not a democracy and most people living here believe that it is. To be accurate the US is a democratic republic, we use democracy to elect our representatives to manage the government, in a true democracy the population votes on everything.

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by Shahab on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 17:29.

Don't knitpick, it makes you look like a know it all. We know we're a republic, the founding fathers wanted to minimize the impact of a largely uneducated voting public and that was back when barely anyone could vote.

Its founded on democratic values, where in people largely get a vote for representation. So, we're a democracy, albeit not a direct democracy.

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by DarkSaber on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 09:41.

Iran?

--------------------------------------------------

I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

-------------------------------------------------- I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by Shahab on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 17:27.

No. I lived in Iran for almost a year and trust me, they DON'T like their government. In fact, it kind of is like here, they hate their gov. but realize that by now they can't really change it.

Anyway, 12 freaking murders a week, jesus.

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by Azhrarn on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 10:13.

The people of Iran know quite well that they're not living in a democracy, they are however keeping relatively quiet because having your loved ones kidnapped or being thrown in jail isn't going to help.

Re: Facing Crime Wave, Venezuela Moves to Ban Violent Video ...

Submitted by Zerodash on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 08:49.

I'm sure the benevolent socialist government of Venezuela knows whats best for its people. *sarchasm*

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Monte: Papa: Not the first time we've had a journalism scandals before, but the harassment never got close to this level; the difference with this scandal is that feminists are involved. Without the feminist angle, their would be A LOT less harrassment10/18/2014 - 9:15pm

Papa Midnight: Monte: That's honestly rather short-sighted. As has been proven with other persons who have been targeted, if it wasn't Quinn, it would be someone else.10/18/2014 - 6:26pm

Avalongod: I think that's part of what gives an esoteric news story like this real life...it taps into a larger narrative about misogyny in society outside of games.10/18/2014 - 3:29pm

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Monte: I feel like GG just needs to die. The movement is FAR to tainted by hatred and BS for it to be useful for any conversation. Let GG die, and then rally behind the NEXT gaming journalism scandal, and start the conversation fresh.10/18/2014 - 10:33am

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