Banned in Mexico
Call of Juarez: The Cartel turns border violence, vicious drug war into a videogame
Violent video games have long been the center of controversy, but a new one takes the issue to an even more offensive level for many.
Ubisoft released the latest installment of its Call of Juarez series, entitled The Cartel, this week. The two previous games in the series — Call of Juarez and Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood — took place in the "old west," but the newest version hits closer to home for many.
The game takes place in a modern day version of the Texas-Mexico border town of Juarez, which lies right across from El Paso.
Juarez is already fighting its rep as the world's murder capital, and many are not pleased with the way in which the video game portrays the city. The graphic shootouts, car chases and explosions have hit much too close to home for many residents of the drug-violence-crippled city., including Jeremy Gonzales, who told KHOU-TV in Houston that "It mocks those of us living here."
The Cartel carries a mature content rating, meaning that only players 17 and older should be able to buy it, but there are still worries about the potential impacts of the game. A police officer who spoke to KHOU seemed to fret that the game — which bills itself as a "blood-soaked quest for justice" — will increase youth violence in the area.
Locals in Juarez are so worried about the impact the game will have, in fact, that its sale was banned in the entire Mexican state of Chihuahua. It would appear the only effect of the ban has been to help boost sales in El Paso by giving the game even more of a buzz.
Some are taking a more optimistic view, arguing this could raise awareness of the struggles south of the border and encourage people to help out in the violence-ravaged area. Even if virtual bullets are flying and virtual bombs are exploding all over that area in the game.
Will you be playing The Cartel? Or has entertainment finally gone too far? Let us know in the comments.
