Brazil Bans RPGs

EverQuest and Counter-Strike have been banned in Brazil after a federal court order from October last year reports the AFP. Although it was not implemented immediately, a federal ban was to be applied across the country.

The RPG games are seen as disturbing public order and encouraging attacks on “democratic states”, “the law” and “public security” according to ruling judge, Carlos Alberto Simoes.

Both games have been going since 1999; a year after the government had banned GTA, and has amassed a huge following since their beginnings, even though EverQuest has never been officially released.

Some psychologists have compared the games to drugs, arguing that they are just as addictive. As a result some players have gone professional earning money by selling powerful characters.

With patches such as a drug dealer or a police officer in the slums of Rio as an option, you can see the dilemma. It’s almost promoting the stereotypical image of Brazil, sometimes glorifying it.