Brazil bans EverQuest and Counter-Strike

News - Judge sees major games chopped

Two of the gaming world's biggest franchises have been banned in Brazil this week, according to reports emerging from the South American giant this morning. Apparently, a judge has ruled that both Counter-Strike and EverQuest are "harmful to consumers' health."

The ruling, by judge Carlos Alberto Simoes, was passed in October last year, with the ban only now coming into full effect. Apparently, Simoes believes the titles foster "subversive" behaviour, and are "an attack against the democratic state and the law and against public security."

EverQuest has never garnered an official release in Brazil anyway, but the judge was apparently concerned by the manner in which a player is encouraged to accept both good and bad quests in order to further their character in the game.

Meanwhile, a Counter-Strike level pitting drug dealers against the police also piqued the judge's wrath, such issues provoking strong sensitivities in Brazil.

What do you make of all this, dear reader?