Ha! Like there was no violence in the world before video games were invented. But hey, everyone needs a scapegoat. Good luck with that.

I don't think lots of people in venezuela play videogames at all, so why bother? I mean, lowering the crime rates by banning videogames?

You'd think time and money could be better spent elsewhere, you know, like funding police, passing laws and legislation that aid them, he, perhaps looking at more pertinent and deeper issues, look at education and the availability of work, the opportunity alone does not necessarily a criminal make, motive and need are often involved. One could make far more money selling drugs and stealing than flipping burgers. Governments these days spend far more time restricting opportunity than granting it.

What do you expect from a tyrannical, leftist, dictator, and his regime. Why don't they take a look at the stats from before video games had a major presents in the market to now and see how much the violent crime rate has increased. Its not even about the games, the dictators of Venezuela are looking to control all forms of media and entertainment to attempt to further monitor and restrict the public's ability to gain access to opinions and views other than that of the socialist government. Once you get your foot in the door restricting one form of media, then television, papers, and internet are only a small step away.

This is a perfect example of 3rd world thinking right there. All countries in Latin America are stuck on a paternalist government and the people expect that the government should give them everything. That kind of mindset is destined to failure and it’s happening right now, just wait until their oil reserves runs out... They are doomed.

First of all, Chavez is not a "tyrannical dictator", he has been elected multiple times, and even survived an attempted coup which was supported by the American government. Secondly, what does this have to do with "3rd world thinking"? Is this really that much different from what's going on in Germany or Australia, or many states in the U.S.? I mean, the article even states multiple recent instances of the same kind of thinking in the U.S.

@Adam Bishop. LOL You honestly don't believe those elections have been FAIR in any way do you? Chavez and his leftist goons have taken steps to completely control all forms of media in Venezuela, now including games. I lived in Caracas from 1990-1994 when Chavez made 2 coup attemps to overthrow the government using military force. Both times he failed. Chavez is completely destroying that country, all forms of privitization are gone. Ask anyone who's lived there what they think about Chavez. He uses his left wing rehtoric and promises the poor that he is their savior. He is destroying a great nation and not only is it sad to see what he is doing, it's worse that people like you actually stick up for him. Very sad. There is a different way of thinking in 3rd world countries and specifically Latin America. Don't believe everything your read on left wing news sites.

Just to echo Adam Bishop's remark: Chavez is a (multiply) elected representative of the Venezuelean people. The elections have had high turnout and pronounced free and fair by international observers. The charge that he is a "dictator" is simply false. This slander only has currency in some sections of the US press and media. It is also well-known that Chavez survived a USA-backed coup. So much for respect for democracy! But the real reason why Chavez is so disliked is that he is a socialist and therefore has enacted policies to nationalize industries and redistribute wealth from the top to the bottom. You may or may not agree with that, but he has a democratic mandate for those policies.

I do not agree with the banning of violent video games. But this kind of idiocy is not restricted to Venezuela!

I don't want this to devolve into an argument over Venezuelan politics since the article is about the banning of games, but I will say this Bill - I have two degrees in history, and Latin America has been one of my primary areas of focus. I wrote my thesis on Central America. You're free to believe what you'd like, but condescending remarks like "don't believe everything you read" are unwarranted and not conducive to productive dialogue.

Tyrannical, maybe. Leftist, yes. Dictator, no. I doubt this has anything to do with Chavez though.

And I was under the impression that the coup attempt was not specifically backed by the U.S. I thought it was more like other South American countries where they've just refused to intervene in any way helpful to the standing government.

@ Adam Bishop

Condescending appeal to authority fallacies like "I have two degrees in history, and Latin America has been one of my primary areas of focus" are unwarranted and not conducive to productive dialogue.

I wasn't claiming to have any authority, I was pointing out that I've done a bit more than just arbitrarily believe things I've read on web sites.

@Adam Bishop:
I'm a Venezuelan living in Venezuela.. a nd Believe ME this is NOT Democracy... Elections doesn't means democracy.

I think that we should outlaw politicians; they cause violence. Leave our games alone you Venezuelan jackasses! The ESA should continue to fight this nonsense in every corner of the world, including the dark holes like Venezuela. The research shows that its the two-bit politicians in Venezuela that cause the violence.