Software firm shrugs off rape game protests

Judging from comments I've seen on Japanese-language sites, gamers here think its ridiculous that protesters fail to make a distinction between the 2D world and real life, and don't see what games like this have to do with child pornography (in the sense of real victims/photos, etc.). They seem to think its better to give real pedophiles and rapists a virtual outlet for their fantasies, then to leave them with no choice but to pursue real-world targets. It's a valid point, but somehow I don't think the argument will go over well in the West, which openly accepts (and makes huge amounts of money off of) violent games of shooting and killing, but doesn't seem to perceive any double standard when it comes to their virulent response to sexual violence.

(Note that I in no way endorse the kinds of games mentioned in the article, I think they're sick and should be removed from circulation, but the same should go for games like Grand Theft Auto, too)

Jpn shud get a good old dose of gaiatsu on these games & shamed into action on this & child porn, as for other games made outside Jpn, if they are as bad they shud get the same treatment, I dont follow this crap anyway I htink the last videogame I played was some version of donky kong ages ago.

All video games should be banned.

If there is any problem here, it is with the present Japanese law, not the company itself. The law allows to make money on such games, so why should a company not do it? All products are potentially dangerous, but companies still make them, as long as they are legal and there is a market for them. So far the political correctness is not the law, and least not in this country.

Sadly, there are many 'otaku' gamers that have difficulty depicting the difference between reality and gaming. That nutter that went on a stabbing spree in Akihabara was a classic example. These kinds of games should be banned. I know I'm gonna cop some flack for saying this, but Grand Theft Auto is another game that should be banned for its rape-play.

Sick

theres no raping in grand theft auto

theres no raping in grand theft auto

there's prostitution

I think the entire gaming and entertainment industries need to be cleaned up now!

Once my daughter is old neough to understand, I dread her watching even a little bit of TV, buying a RPG game.... its sick!

Because one can do something does not mean they should. But for money some people will rationalize almost anything. People do not have to buy these things either. "...whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever, is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. " What happens when one does the opposite as in playing these games?

It's astonishing to me that a game like that is legal anywhere. It's bizarre to believe that it should be acceptable to commit such acts simply because it's "virtual". It's bound to lead to virtually no difference being perceived between rape in a game and rape in reality. GTA is equally incomprehensible to me - giving young people the idea that car theft is OK. What sort of thought processes do we want to imprint in people's minds?

GTA rocks. As a gamer, I don't see the connection with doing things in a virtual world, and then doing those same things in the real world. I know I can't leap off the side of a 13 story building and walk away without a scratch. Though I do it in video games all the time. People should let other people decide for themselves if they'll buy this game or not. I know that I would hate for someone to make my decisions for me.

As an avid gamer I enjoy shooting simulated people of all races, creeds and nationalities. However, I think there are certain boundries that need to be established. Not producing rape or torture simulators seems like a good one to start with. I'm sure that there are some here which will call this hypocritcal, however combat related violence and sexual violence are very different animals and should be treated as such, rather than lumped together as "These things are bad, m'kay."

There are numerous different levels of moral justification for violence (whether or not you personally agree with them is a different matter). I do not beleive that games necesarilly need to be "moral", but I do think there is a bar to be set. I can imagine a M rated game which might have a rape as part of the storyline (better be damn well writen and important to the story, though). I can't imagine a game which graphically depicts rape onscreen, let alone one which has you participate. That would seem pretty clearly under any bar that you would want to set. Rape, like torture is not something I want simulate.

Or, to put this another way: I am currently enjoying a WWII strategy game where I mow down Germans and then alternately grab some panzers and roll over the allies. Violent, yes, (and fairly realistically so), but acceptably so. However, a game in which one shoots prisoners in the back of the head, or has you managing a holocaust death camp would not be acceptable. Common sense here, people.

I think the best argument the Rapelay people have going is the "gives an outlet to rapists/pedophiles" arguemnent. I'm not really sure if I'm comfortable with that, let alone believe it, but its worth a debate. It doesn't do anything to raise their moral standing, however; these guys are still dispicable.

A game like rapeplay would be rated "AO" for Adults only. Seeing as adults who are already set with their own moral values will be playing the game, I don't see the problem. The prospective players have been raised by their parents already. There's no need for anyone else to play their mommy or daddy.

anotsugami

how about if those raped in the games resemble someone you know, is that cool with you?

If you cant see why these games are over the top, I can only hope video games havent messed you up so bad you do something regretable someday

"If you cant see why these games are over the top, I can only hope video games havent messed you up so bad you do something regretable someday" LOL No, my mom did her job thank you. I know right from wrong and I cannot be influenced by pixels on a screen no matter how realistic it may be nor how much others may say I will be. Video games don't mess anyone up, and those that believe they can are giving the real criminals an excuse. I won't care if the victims in the game look like people I know, why would I? I know that A) it isn't them B) it isn't anyone really, it's just an image. Am I supposed to get all upset when an actor who looks like me or someone I know gets killed on tv? Please.

Triumvere: Not producing rape or torture simulators seems like a good one to start with.

The games are not needed. I get my rape and torture fix off of Hollywood movies. I also have an imagination. Don't need the games.

I think the best argument the Rapelay people have going is the "gives an outlet to rapists/pedophiles" arguemnent. I'm not really sure if I'm comfortable with that,

Who cares what you are comfortable with! All that matters is if it works or if it hurts! And I cannot see it hurting. Anyone who takes this as a nod to act similarly in the real world is already a nut and going to do something wrong anyway.

Violent, yes, (and fairly realistically so), but acceptably so.

Your opinion. I do not find war to be accepatable at all. And frankly, I am more worried about people playing war games thinking war is acceptable in the real world than people playing rape games and thinking rape is acceptable. It also seems a lot more likely that war will be seen as acceptable.

In other news, the kids in my neighborhood used to play cops and robbers. To date, none has become a cop and none has become a robber. It was just a game we played. But if it had been on XBox, I am sure it would have been a lot different. Uh-huh, sure.

A Japan Committee for UNICEF spokeswoman said the Japanese loophole hindered international efforts to crack down on child porn.

What a load of crap. Handrawn and computer generated images ARE not a child porn loophole. Do these people think they can acutally eliminate desires by eradicating fantasy images??? Loony zealots. And counter-productive to their own most important goals too.

I am not supporting the game, but censorship scares me much more. When it starts, even for the best of intentions, it is awfully damned hard to stop. The guy in Akihabara and the others already were nutters beofre, no game had to influence them. I always think of Salman Rushdie and his misery when censorship comes up. Whose standards do we use? The Vatican, Canterbury, Jerusalem, Mecca, Ted Haggart, and so on. I'd rather the pervs get their jollies from a game or video at home, than go out in the streets to get them.

Likeitis:

"Your opinion. I do not find war to be accepatable at all. And frankly, I am more worried about people playing war games thinking war is acceptable in the real world than people playing rape games and thinking rape is acceptable. It also seems a lot more likely that war will be seen as acceptable."

Meh. Your next line contradicts you.

"In other news, the kids in my neighborhood used to play cops and robbers. To date, none has become a cop and none has become a robber. It was just a game we played. But if it had been on XBox, I am sure it would have been a lot different. Uh-huh, sure."

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. As I said the first time around, moral justifications can be made, whether you agree with them or not is another issue. But you are being dishonest if you say their is nothing to the debate. My point was, their are no such arguments that can be made in defense or rape. Unless you'd care to try...

Censorship is evil, but rape? Come on Japan, ban this crap. And it is the world's obligation to use sanctions on Japan if they don't crack down on this.

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.

"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?

"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."

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.

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

Don't buy them or play them. Problem solved.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Japan's society has long shown its inablity to judge the impact of its actions. Things are done because one can.

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