MUCH as local distributors defend the nature of video games like World Of Warcraft and Romance Of Three Kingdoms, there are many out there who wish to ban violent games. Venezuelan lawmakers successfully passed a bill in their National Assembly in August seeking to ban sales of violent games. The bill will become law if it passes a second vote in the National Assembly and is signed by President Hugo Chavez. In China, the government has banned websites that either advertise or are linked to games that promote violence. This ban began in July this year, and is said to be in line with the government's aim to ensure social stability ahead of its 60th anniversary on 1 Oct. In the UK, European countries have agreed to cooperate and come up with a uniform system to ban sales of violent video games to kids. However, not all lawmakers are having an easy time imposing such bans. Two months ago, Germany's government had plans to ban violent video games before their federal elections this month. Online petition However, after receiving more than 67,000 signatures in an online petition which called for a ruling against the ban, the government's plans to do so have stalled. In the US, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a law criminalising the sale of violent video games to children in 2005, but the ban was declared unconstitutional in February this year. Apart from lawmakers, groups have also formed declaring themselves against violent video games, sometimes under humorous names. In 2005, the Kansas State University formed a campus club called 'Girlfriends Against Video Games'. The club's members offer help to girls suffering from their boyfriends' gaming-induced relationship heartaches. In Singapore, the Media Development Authority (MDA) provides ratings for video games. According to Replay, the rating for Romance of 3 Kingdoms is for 'general audience'. Other rating classifications found on the MDA website include Mature 18 (M18) and 'Suitable for 16 & above'. World of Warcraft is not regulated by MDA. http://www.tnp.sg/news/story/0,4136,213762,00.html?