Software firm shrugs off rape game protests

Saturday 09th May, 08:22 AM JST

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airrunwesker at 04:06 AM JST - 10th May

Some of you in the blog scare me! Since someone has a twisted fantasy... I would prefer they keep it to the gaming world and not real life. Then again, these sorts of games bother me a lot! I have not been this divided on a subject since Yukiko Okada posed in a two piece when she was 14. (Mind you, I was 12 then...) I must conclude there is more then one right valid argument being made in this blog. One can not find a tautology anywhere in the conclusion. I get the feeling that some aspects of this game are being exaggerated.
ANOTSUSAGAMI at 06:29 AM JST - 10th May

"What a load of crap. Handrawn and computer generated images ARE not a child porn loophole." likeitis is right. The problem with child porn is the sexual violation of children required to produce it. That, more than anything else is the most wrong about the issue and the part that is actionable by law. Video games are simply pixels on a screen and no one is being violated. For the law to be applied there has to be a victim. Since in the case of video games there is no victim, no harm is being done therefore NOT a loophole. A loophole by definition allows an actionable crime to take place, a victim to be victimized with no repercussions. Since there is no victim, where's the loophole?
M51T at 06:48 AM JST - 10th May

"Players earn points for acts of sexual violence,

including stalking girls on commuter trains,

raping virgins and their mothers,

and forcing females to get abortions,

according to the group’s online statement."
Triumvere at 01:59 PM JST - 10th May

Let's put it this way: If one could prove that simuated rape/child porn could reduce (even just slightly) the overall rate of actual rape, child porn and child molestation, would you find producing these simulations acceptable?

Obviously there is no way to know. (Though violent videogames and porn are effective ways to relieve stress/agression.) But you do everyone a disservice by not having the discussion.

For the record, I still think the producers are @#*%, and I don't believe for a moment they are making this game to help predators reduce sexually violent urges, but rather looking to make some $$$ off of rape.
likeitis at 02:34 PM JST - 10th May

airrunwesker: Then again, these sorts of games bother me a lot!

Don't buy them or play them. Problem solved.
likeitis at 02:51 PM JST - 10th May

Triumvere: My point was, their are no such arguments that can be made in defense or rape. Unless you'd care to try...

Rape consists of an attacker and a victim.

There is no question that war - real war - is hell. However, bearing arms in defense of ones loved ones and country can potentially be one of the most noble things a man can do.

War consists of an attacker and a victim. To defend war, you have juxtaposed the two.

Meh. Your next line contradicts you.

No it doesn't. I am saying its all or nothing. You are trying to say its only one. I will accept either way, but it has to be all or nothing, and consistent. If you are so against the violence called rape that you would ban rape video games, then you must be against the even worse violent act called war, and therefore ban war video games too.

Or, at the very least, you could have all video games only portray wars of defense, and clearly, while also having only rape video games where the character is defending someone from rape, or fighting off an attempted rapist. Note that a failure would result in a simulated rape, just like failing in a war game of self-defense results in simulated death.
Triumvere at 04:28 PM JST - 10th May

Likeitis,

Yes, you do contradict yourself. You believe that somehow playing games that involving crime or rape will clearly not influence the way people behave in the real world (ie increasing the likelyhood of commiting those actions), but that war games will increase the likelyhood of people adocating war? Why? How is that "all or nothing" or "consistant"? Or have I read you wrong?

"If you are so against the violence called rape that you would ban rape video games, then you must be against the even worse violent act called war, and therefore ban war video games too."

Nonsense. This is very poor logic based on some debatable assumptions. I said this before, but I don't see rape and war to be in the same category. You are drawing a scale of "bad things" and puting war further down on the line than rape. I think that is simplistic, just as I think this: "War consists of an attacker and a victim." is a wholely faulty concept. It is possible for two men to fight and die for their countries on opposing sides, and for neither of the two to be moral monsters, or even the "bad guy".

Obviously, the way I concieve of "war" is very different from the way you do. I will agree that war is "worse" than rape because of the vast difference of scale. However, morally speaking, rape is worse than combat-related violence, because there can never be any justifcation for it, moral or otherwise. You cannot say the same for war.
likeitis at 04:57 PM JST - 10th May

Or have I read you wrong?

You read me wrong. I am willing to accept the idea that both war games and rape games may influence people to war or rape. Although I do not believe it is such a significant influence in any case. But if you ban rape games for said reasons you should ban war games for the same reasons. And if you assign a priority, I prefer war games get banned first. But to be consistent its both or neither.

Moderator: All readers, please stay on topic.
jonnyboy at 07:47 PM JST - 10th May

well, commenting on the parallels with GTA, which i recently played through; none of the plot lines involve civilians, all the characters are underworld figures. you CAN shoot police but you can also avoid doing so, although not always easily... attacking civilians usually results in consequences (their own retaliation or the police). it's actually impossible to beat the police. etc. i'm not going to argue that GTA is squeaky white pure morality, but you have to bear in mind that in the average hero/villain adventure the good guy kills MORE people than the bad guys, but he plays the role of upholding some kind of conventional morality. it's not about violence as such, it's more about moral intent. in GTA you're never rewarded for immoral behaviour although you can get away with it. this rape game seems to actively reward immoral behaviour. i think that's the difference
likeitis at 08:12 PM JST - 10th May

jonnyboy at 07:47 PM JST - 10th May

Interesting post. Thanks for the poser. Even if I come to agree with you, I wonder how we are going to legislate that? Most of the games I play, we just kill eachother, no reason at all except to win, and, frankly, enjoy killing eachother.
Badsey at 11:22 PM JST - 10th May

I can't wait for the game "Dick Cheney: Torture Around the World" to come out.

Obviously "RapeLay" is number 0ne (1#) on geeks hitlists right now. I got gameritis in my right wrist from playing Madden 90/91/92 on the SG to much -doctor said I had to give it up.

Zynga "Mafia Wars" iPhone is what I am using for rehab. Got to work on wrist strength and dexterity.
OnTheRecord at 09:32 AM JST - 11th May

The makers , ditributors and buyers of this preverted filth should all be punished. This is extreme vulgarity and immoral.

People who approve of this deviant filth are lacking in traditional values and decent morals. Ban this filth and imprison the makers and buyers.
mrhog123 at 06:11 AM JST - 12th May

All is being done is provide even more publicity for the game amd thus generating more sales. If I was the game maker I would distribute the game in New York City just to cause another uproar about the game. Long live PC.
NuckinFutz at 11:16 AM JST - 13th May

Japan will NEVER ban this crap because Japan ENJOYS this crap! This perversion has the open backing of politicians, law enforcement, and business, otherwise animation porn would have been included in the initial ban.

The response from the company is disgusting! They are simply stating that we don't care what crap we sell as long as we're making money!
flammenwerfer at 12:55 PM JST - 7th June

Never? really! well, I read elsewhere yesterday this has now been banned in Japan, come on JT chop chop, lets get with the news!