Brazilian judge prohibits Counter Strike and EverQuest

A Federal Judge in Brazil prohibited the sale of the video games Counter Strike and EverQuest. The measure affects the whole country but started to be applied in the State of Goias, where the judge Carlos Alberto Simoes dictated the prohibition saying that the games “provoked permanent stimuli toward the subversion of the public order, [and they] were an attack against the democratic state and the law, and against public security." He went further by stating that the mentioned games were “injurious to the health of the consumers because [they] strengthen aggressive behavior”, which would be contrary to articles 6, I, 8, 10 and 39, IV of the Brazilian Consumer Protection Code. The fines for those not complying with the norm goes up to 5,000 Reais, which is a little less than u$s 2,800 or a little more than 1,400 British Pounds.

The notification of enforcement by the Superintendence for the Protection of Consumer Rights of Goias, says that…OK, I will translate the whole thing from Portuguese (as close as possible)…

In fulfillment of judicial decision pronounced by the Judge of the 17th Federal District of the Judiciary Section of the State of Minas Gerais, valid in all the national territory, on the proceedings of the Public Civil Action n° 2002.38.00.046529-6, the PROCON/GO [Superintendence for the Protection of Consumer Rights of Goias] is confiscating in the State of Goiás the virtual games for video-games and computers: "Counter-Strike" and "Everquest", which had been considered improper for consumption, as they are harmful to the health of the consumers, contrary to what is stipulated in articles 6, I, 8, 10 and 39, IV, all of the Protection and Defense of the Consumer Code.

The game "Counter Strike" (hostages, bomb, escape, murder, weapons, techniques of war, terrorist tactics) reproduces a war between gangsters and the police, and it impresses for its realism. The game was created in the United States and adapted for Brazil. In the video-game, dealers of Rio de Janeiro kidnap and take to a favela three representatives of the United Nations. The police invade the place and are received by fire-arms shots.

The player can choose the side of the crime: to become a gangster to defend the slum quarter under its domain. The more police that are killed, the more points are gained. The sound track is a forbidden funk [???]. Within this scale of violence, each player chooses its weapons: pistols, assault rifles and grenades. In the opinion of specialists, the game teaches techniques of war, taking into account that the player must have knowledge on hiding tactics, as it was a terrorist.

The game "Everquest" leads the player to a total distortion of his values and to “heavy” psychological conflicts; because the tasks that he receives, can be good or bad. The bad ones can be lies, bribes and even murders, which many times after been carried out, the player is left to know (or not) that it was only a test to enter into a clan (group).

Violent games or those that have a violent tone are capable to form aggressive individuals, resulting evident that they have a strong power of influence on the minds, reinforcing aggressive attitudes in certain individuals and social groups.

Any consumer from Goias that comes across the distribution and/or commercialization of the virtual games "Counter-Strike" and "Everquest" must contact PROCON/GO, via telephone 151 or by email: consulta@procon.go.gov.br, aiming at the confiscation of these products.

Wow, terrorist tactics!...is the Department of Homeland Security taking notes?...then they will prohibit Super Mario because it can cause children to interfere with the water supply...