I have nothing against Brazil, but their nuts are taking over. If the news reports I have read today are accurate (and after all, this is the Internet, where we all just make stuff up), Brazil is a place where Jack Thompson has already won.

Counterstrike and EverQuest... unlikely bedfellows, but they were singled out for banning by the government.

Mind you, they are only now taking action against games that are eight years old. And I thought the US Congress was slow. This is EVERQUEST, not EverQuest II that we are talking about. EQII has only been out for 3 years... maybe they don't have enough systems in Brazil that can actually run it. I know my system can barely manage to crawl through the Qeynos Harbor slideshow on hands and knees.

AFP reports the tale, which was subsequently taken up by several members of the game media. Not to be outdone, I am sitting here with my glass of wine pondering... "what were they thinking?"

I find the coverage at Kotaku particularly interesting, albeit somewhat incomprehensible. Not sure if the contributors did not know English well or were just on drugs, but I am really curious as to what "nefast" is, and why Kotaku's editors didn't ask. Or edit.

"The judge also classify CounterStrike and Everquest as being "nefast." [Kotaku contributor]

So ok, a case can be made against Counterstrike as having a popular map set in Rio, involving public buildings, drug dealers and lots and lots and lots of bullets. Not that I've seen mass riots and massacres taking place in other well-known settings for video games such as New York... at least not events triggered by video games.

But EverQuest? Great googly moogly, what evil does that game do, aside from having stolen almost 5 years of my productive life that I will never get back... oh yah, there is that... but here is the reason, as given (in somewhat garbled fashion):

"they go even farther when justifying everquest ban, [everquest] takes the player to total nonsense and heavy psicologycal conflicts, because the quests he receives may be good or bad." [Kotaku contributor]

I am sure the folks at SOE will offer a comment, as soon as they figure out what the hell these people are talking about. Look for a new job posting there soon, with "Fluency in Portuguese and idiocy an asset."

From what I see, EQ isn't even sold through retail outlets in Brazil, so Firiona Vie is there without a visa. Of course that has never stopped real gamers. We smuggle games to each other all the time, particularly when there is regional segregation involved.

I find the bannings particularly laughable in a country where money-laundering was not considered a crime until 1998, and where the US Department of State issues the following warning to travelers:

"In addition, criminal organizations, during 2006, staged several violent campaigns against public institutions in the Sao Paulo State leading to a large number of deaths. While it is unlikely that U.S. citizens would be targeted during such events, U.S. citizens traveling or residing in Brazil are advised to take common-sense precautions and avoid any large gatherings or any other event where crowds have congregated to demonstrate or protest. Individuals with ties to criminal entities operate along the tri-border area of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. These organizations are involved in the trafficking of illicit goods; some individuals in the area are financially supporting designated foreign terrorist organizations."

Something tells me that VIDEO GAMES are the least of their problems.

While the BBC warns that Brazil is the hacking capital of the world, I doubt they bother with your l33t CounterStrike account or uber EQ character.

Wait till they see Manhunt 2. It'll probably show up on their radar in five years or so. I bet they'll find it pretty nefast too.

I'd still like to visit Brazil some time.... but I think I'll take a full group into this raid zone.

I always liked the huge Buddy Christ overlooking Rio.

;-)#
Brasse

ps. Our forums include a real Brazilian member, who seems to have internet and everything! Check out their comment and add your own fuel to the pristine rainforest bonfire.

Next year they will ban Doom, followed in a few years by QUAKE!!!

I hear they are also planning on banning videos of Elvis that show him from the waist down.

Brazilian mothers groups are also in an uproar about D&D and Music Television.

*Peers at horse*
Yup, it's dead.