Venezuela plans video game ban in early 2010

According to a recent article on the GlobalPost, Venezuela has passed a law that will impose a strict ban on violent video games and toys next spring. The ban however is not just for children; even adults will not be allowed to play games the government deems to violent for the general public. The law hopes to help curb the country’s sky-rocketing murder rate, which apparently has something to do with violence and the murder-rate in Venezuela. It doesn’t have anything to do with Hugo Chavez’ dislike for free speech, free trade, or freedom in general though, of course. The law uses data from American and Japanese studies that have concluded that video game playing and violence have a direct correlation; of course which specific studies they are referring to were not disclosed.

But beyond the ramifications of this law on the import of video games into Venezuela, are the serious legal ramifications businesses could face for selling games that have effectively been banned: 3-5 years in prison. As the Global Post article points out, this punishment is harsher than the punishment fotr selling guns to children: 1 - 5 years.

Venezuela’s supply of games comes from the United States and Japan, though most of its citizens are still enjoying GameCube games like Super Smash Bros. Melee and Zelda, and PC games like Counter-Strike and World of Warcraft. There are very few game developers actually in Venezuela, so at least the law won’t affect and creative types that live in the country. It will, however affect Internet Cafe and arcade owners as well as those who sell video games for a living.

We’ll have more on this story as it develops.

Source: crispygamer.com/