Let's Not Ban RapeLay

[WindKnight]

Um... yeah, according to Kotaku they officially banned rape games in Japan itself, which is some news...

Not... really.

They're just not calling them rape games anymore. Unless something's changed since then.

Whatever be the case, these games are normally meant to act as 'social valves' to let people live out their fantasies virtually instead of criminally(although the recorded crimes in Japan are beyond sadistic)
What I'll never agree with, though, is kiddie porn.
Japan enforced strict laws on that(outside animation and manga) only after foreign pressure to regulate that content.

doesn't japan actually have one of the lowest counts of rape in the "1st world countries?" where us united statesians have a much higher count

Reported rape, anyway.

In japan, a raped woman has a huge social stigma placed on her as she has brought 'dishonor' onto the family. If she reports what had happened, she risks her neighbors, friends, even family shunning her.

As has been mentioned elswhere, they have had to introduce women only carriages to reduce the amount of groping that occurs on trains that women were, again, supposed to ust put up with.

The reason your mobile makes a loud noise when taking photos is because Japanese men were placing them under girls skirts to take photo's.

 

[UtopiaV1]

I played RapeLay, it wasn't great... it wasn't BAD, i mean, the graphics were good and there were unlockables etc to keep you "playing", but it's not really a game in itself, because there's no challenge. You always rape the girls (there's a series of minigames (which invlove stalking and groping the girls on trains, mentioned in above post) to build up to the 'main event'), but there's no way of failing.

I deduced that this is simply wanking material DISGUISED as a game, porn in .exe format. And as porn it was pretty good, you get to choose the camera angles and positions, something no other porn does! That's pretty cool. However, rape is definitely NOT cool, so I didn't keep it (plus, girlfriend wasn't impressed when she found it on my pc). But if this stuff keeps the -actual- rapists off the streets, then i'm all for it!

final word - Excellent article, point well made, I completely agree with you 100%. Hope your discussion thing goes okay, and that you can get your reasonable point across to loonies who would just as soon brand you a 'rape-lover' than actually give you any credit and respect whatsoever. Seriously, they will cut you off, ignore you, and make a villain of you because you're part of that 'evil games industry that makes rape simulators and war games'! Don't do it, they're not worth it.

 

[BlueHighwind]

You know, I'm all for freedom of expression, and the ability for people to choose for themselves what they want to be exposed to. But what is the point of a game that simulates rape? I think we can all agree that some thoughts should be expressed, and some should not. Repression is bad if its a natural impulse that causes no harm to anyone, but how about the impulse to rape a girl, her entire family, and then lock them up in your basement as sex slaves? The people who made this game are either purely cynical and exploiting a disturbed demographic, or as sick and disturbed as the clientel their giving it to.

Not every idea and thought has value. Not every fantasy needs to be expressed, and some ideas should be removed. There is no reason to play this game, and the only possible benefits are to pollute somebody's mind into thinking that rape is somehow expectable. We are affected by the media we watch, there's no denying that. A rape video game can only make its players worse people in the long run.

expectable?

The point of the column by the way is that there is rape everything else. You can get rape porn, rape novels, rape art, rape everything else.

For some reason, games are being vilified more then any other medium.

When did I ever say that I would condone ANY rape medium? Any sort of medium where you are meant to idenity with the rapist and find his actions anything other than absolutely horrible is beyond reprehensible. Though I think that a rape video game is especially terrible. Now, you're not just watching a rape-themed porn, you're not just watching the act and completely unconnected to it. Now you ARE the rapist. This is simulated rape fantasy. Next we can have simulated rape and murder fantasy. How about "Jeffrey Dahmer" the video game?

 

[Gamegodtre]

Umm...
I think I already said something like this last year when this came up, but...

Its not even for sale outside of Japan, no other country or organization has the right to tell Japan what it should and should not ban.

When this story broke ONE YEAR AGO, I remember reading a piece about it on a women's rights site. And as much as I support women's rights and well, everyone's rights for that matter... I have to disagree with the crux of their argument for banning games like Rapelay. Their argument was more or less as follows: Games like Rapelay normalize violence and will lead to increased sex crime rates.

Umm... first off... that sounds a bit like "everyone who reads porn will commit rape at some point" argument. Which turned out to be false by the way. It has been psychologically proven that most rapists aren't after the sex, they're after power.

Secondly, the game itself isn't normalizing violence. In truth, women's-rights-organization's-site-name-I-can't-remember, you are normalizing sexual violence by saying that any game is doing so. Here's why: By saying that all it takes for me, you, anybody to go out and commit rape or murder or whatever horrible crime, is one game, you are normalizing violence. By saying that, you are telling every rapist, murderer or any other kind of violent criminal, that it isn't really their fault, that every heinous act they've committed is because they were exposed to one random piece of media at some point in their lives.

So no, we shouldn't ban it. And neither should Japan, but that's their call.

Why would a women's right group get upset anyway didn't a woman do the voice of the woman in the game making this not a rape game at all............. (since she had knowledge of what would happen or did they put her up to the mic and tell her to moan for no reason or money)

 

[Gamegodtre]

As long as it's only for sale in Japan. This is hard to justify, but at least Japanese society can deal with games like this.

Imagine what would happen if this game came out in the West?

1)You're going to hear a massive uproar from the media, which is bad publicity for all video games since we aren't exactly the most beloved form of entertainment to exist.

2)Communities will speak out and start spewing their own ideological crap, suddenly religions gain opinions on rape games.

3)It's a slim chance that this game will ever cause anyone to actually go out and fulfill a fantasy, but by god if it happens, even if it's only once, it will be, not a scar, but a laceration on the face of the video game industry.

So yeah, we live in a civilisation with a very...open voice..,unless you want that voice to be heard, I think it's best to put rape games back in the cupboard out of reach, not of the ignorant hands of children, but the ignorant hands of adults.

They did Tsuki Possession, Virgin Roster, Sensei 2 All released by G-Collections yet not a sound from anyone since none are rated by ESRB and not many people know of them

 

[Gamegodtre]

Anyway, yes, I say a line should be drawn, and it should be drawn long before this game. I'm sure if it was a child porn game no one would defend it, why should this be any different.

Sir not only would i defend it i would defend it to death. for i believe all censorship within the content of a game is wrong.

 

[Andy Chalk]

Wait a second. At least in my country, the kid will still play the game. An adult, by enforcement if not by law, only has to be present while buying the game. That could be ANY adult, and whatever happens at home once the game is bought is likely to differ. So what you're saying is just not true for Australia, and last I checked the rules regarding MA15+ games were the same here as in America. Maybe you're right for Canada, though.

First of all, on what do you base the statement "the kid will play the game?" I'm quoting from consecutive government studies conclusively demonstrating that a consistent rating system, properly popularized and enforced, is an effective method of controlling access to games. Saying "they'll play them anyway" doesn't carry a lot of weight.

The biggest problem with Australia, which I assume is where you're from, isn't games like RapeLay but the lack of a functional rating system. And your suggestion that the state should have a greater say in the child-rearing process than the parent is more than a little disturbing.

 

[Gamegodtre]

You know, I'm all for freedom of expression, and the ability for people to choose for themselves what they want to be exposed to. But what is the point of a game that simulates rape? I think we can all agree that some thoughts should be expressed, and some should not. Repression is bad if its a natural impulse that causes no harm to anyone, but how about the impulse to rape a girl, her entire family, and then lock them up in your basement as sex slaves? The people who made this game are either purely cynical and exploiting a disturbed demographic, or as sick and disturbed as the clientel their giving it to.

Not every idea and thought has value. Not every fantasy needs to be expressed, and some ideas should be removed. There is no reason to play this game, and the only possible benefits are to pollute somebody's mind into thinking that rape is somehow expectable. We are affected by the media we watch, there's no denying that. A rape video game can only make its players worse people in the long run.

So Cat Girl Alliance , which has a futanari girl wanting to turn a classmate into a sex slave and she use's you the main character to do so, has no value for playing...... What about the story, her motive, what happens at the end of the game. the art and writing mean nothing to you or do you just deny them.

 

[TheDoctor455]

Umm...
I think I already said something like this last year when this came up, but...

Its not even for sale outside of Japan, no other country or organization has the right to tell Japan what it should and should not ban.

When this story broke ONE YEAR AGO, I remember reading a piece about it on a women's rights site. And as much as I support women's rights and well, everyone's rights for that matter... I have to disagree with the crux of their argument for banning games like Rapelay. Their argument was more or less as follows: Games like Rapelay normalize violence and will lead to increased sex crime rates.

Umm... first off... that sounds a bit like "everyone who reads porn will commit rape at some point" argument. Which turned out to be false by the way. It has been psychologically proven that most rapists aren't after the sex, they're after power.

Secondly, the game itself isn't normalizing violence. In truth, women's-rights-organization's-site-name-I-can't-remember, you are normalizing sexual violence by saying that any game is doing so. Here's why: By saying that all it takes for me, you, anybody to go out and commit rape or murder or whatever horrible crime, is one game, you are normalizing violence. By saying that, you are telling every rapist, murderer or any other kind of violent criminal, that it isn't really their fault, that every heinous act they've committed is because they were exposed to one random piece of media at some point in their lives.

So no, we shouldn't ban it. And neither should Japan, but that's their call.

Why would a women's right group get upset anyway didn't a woman do the voice of the woman in the game making this not a rape game at all............. (since she had knowledge of what would happen or did they put her up to the mic and tell her to moan for no reason or money)

From what I remember of the article from that site, their complaint was something along the lines of "games like Rapelay devalue women by normalizing sexual violence against women".
Read my original post for why I don't agree with that.

 

[Lord_Gremlin]

Ok. It's mentioned at CNN second time, I think I must buy this game. Honestly, I've never liked such things but I think I should give it a try just to know what's it about. Well, now I have to find an online store that sells the damn thing...

 

[The Thief]

I'm not offended by this game at all. It may make me feel sick to my stomach, but I don't feel insulted. Because it isn't rape; You can't rape virtual hentai girls programmed by some sleazy coder to carry out your fantasy. When I run over a hooker in Grand theft auto, it isn't murder. When I kick a chicken in fable, it isn't animal abuse. So why is this any different? I have been doing all kinds of illegal and immoral shit in video games for years and I have not been desensitized enough to actually harm an animal or run down a prostitute, I doubt a game like rapeplay has any different effect. It's just a fantasy, as perverted as it may be, and you shouldn't ban a game for letting weirdos indulge it. Besides, they obviously already had the fantasy in their heads to begin with, it's not like this game came around and dirty thoughts about rape magically entered everybody's minds. I'd rather these sickos carry out their fantasy on virtual girls than real live human beings, where it actually would be considered rape.

 

[omegawyrm]

How about "Jeffrey Dahmer" the video game?

Ever played Manhunt?

 

[BlueHighwind]

You know, I'm all for freedom of expression, and the ability for people to choose for themselves what they want to be exposed to. But what is the point of a game that simulates rape? I think we can all agree that some thoughts should be expressed, and some should not. Repression is bad if its a natural impulse that causes no harm to anyone, but how about the impulse to rape a girl, her entire family, and then lock them up in your basement as sex slaves? The people who made this game are either purely cynical and exploiting a disturbed demographic, or as sick and disturbed as the clientel their giving it to.

Not every idea and thought has value. Not every fantasy needs to be expressed, and some ideas should be removed. There is no reason to play this game, and the only possible benefits are to pollute somebody's mind into thinking that rape is somehow expectable. We are affected by the media we watch, there's no denying that. A rape video game can only make its players worse people in the long run.

Hey nice bullshit argument let me try something

"Repression is bad if its a natural impulse that causes no harm to anyone, but how about the impulse to mow down innocent civilians with a machine gun or grenades.

Not every idea and thought has value. Not every fantasy needs to be expressed, and some ideas should be removed. There is no reason to play this game, and the only possible benefits are to pollute somebody's mind into thinking that murder is somehow expectable. We are affected by the media we watch, there's no denying that. A murder video game can only make its players worse people in the long run."

Now if I didn't know any better I could've sworn this was an argument that came from Jack Thompson or Hillary Clinton or any of the other trash talking slime that want to ban games like Grand Theft Auto.

And what makes you think that murder is an acceptable thing to simulate in video games either? You all seem to take it for granted that this is all perfectly fine. It probably doesn't have any adverse effects, but does it have any good ones other than immediate gratification of baser impulses?

One can argue that "Grant Theft Auto"'s true purpose is actually to be lawless fantasy. The whole point of the game is to take what you want, do what you want, and be free of every legal authority our society imposes. Typically every person you meet in those games is just as correct and uncaring for the law as you are, if not more so. Nobody is ever portrayed as innocent in the world of GTA, its just scumbags killing scumbags. Notice by the way, that in not a single GTA will you ever find a single child on the streets. Imagine if they did? It isn't just murder for murder's own sake.

"RapeLay" is rape for rape's own sake. There is no justification other than "I'm a man, I want to have sex, and I don't care what the woman has to say. She's going to be slave just because I have a penis." In what universe are thoughts like these ever acceptable? This might come from a different culture, but even in Japan thoughts like this cannot be considered proper. I hate to imagine in what society rape is considered "perfectly fine".

By the way, just because you do not agree with Hilary Clinton or any other politician's views on violent video games, it doesn't make them "trash-talking slime". Most likely they truly believe that removing games like GTA will serve society and make it a better place. Is there something wrong with that motivation? Maybe you think that Clinton isn't being sincere in her activism, I don't know.

PS: Can you please not call my argument "bullshit"? I do not appreciate being insulted on this forum when all I wanted was to have a frank discussion over this issue.

 

[Gamegodtre]

Um... yeah, according to Kotaku they officially banned rape games in Japan itself, which is some news...

Not... really.

They're just not calling them rape games anymore. Unless something's changed since then.

Whatever be the case, these games are normally meant to act as 'social valves' to let people live out their fantasies virtually instead of criminally(although the recorded crimes in Japan are beyond sadistic)
What I'll never agree with, though, is kiddie porn.
Japan enforced strict laws on that(outside animation and manga) only after foreign pressure to regulate that content.

doesn't japan actually have one of the lowest counts of rape in the "1st world countries?" where us united statesians have a much higher count

Reported rape, anyway.

Thats all we can go on. what you just said is the equivalent of saying while japan has one of the lowest murder rates recorded of any nation using this old chart(1998-2000):
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_mur_percap-crime-murders-per-capita
reported murders anyway. what are you a Fox News reporter.

 

[SextusMaximus]

Why are they against this one freaking game? there are hundreds of videos of anime on the web - I'm sure - depicting rape in a far worse fashion, so why is everyone obsessing about this 4 year old game?

It's like an army of people with rocket launchers are trying to shoot you, and you attack the man with a pitchfork. ('scuse my awful analagy).

 

[UberNoodle]

I live in Japan and rape games are not that prevalent. Of course you will read all kinds of anecdotal reports but they are just as full of hyperbole as tales of underwear dispensers. If you go to where these things are sold, then you will find them in abundance. I have seen thousands of battery, cigarette and drink dispensers, but only ONE (count 'em) underwear dispenser, and it was next a 'certain kind of shop'.

In much the same way, rape games are 'a big industry for Japan' like .. well .. something quite exaggerated and not entirely true. Erotic and romance games are indeed a big industry but the hardcore variations make up for much less than outside sources like CNN would have you believe. I read the Japanese news and that is where I get this information, by the way.

The whole debarcle is Western scaremongering. It happened with anime - remember back when 'all anime' was apparently perverted and sick, and always exactly like Urotsukidoji? That's right - it never was. That idea was more a reflection of what Western audiences were attracted to. Anime output in Japan is still by far, most heavily founded on non-offensive products.

SO for adult games, Western audiences, perhaps fueled by fetishistic need for more 'weird Japanese stuff', appear to lack much interest in the harmless and actually entertaining, interactive novels and dating sims, and instead go for the minority of hardcore titles. It is very sad that a 'debate' is happening on this 'problem' when many of the participants lack the relevant facts.

And it makes me wonder if they know about all the nasty adult videos produced in Western countries, that feature misogyny as fetish. Should these be banned too? Sex therapists will tell you that rape and abuse fantasies do not imply a desire to rape or abuse in reality. This is the same way that the violent fantasies we dream (which are quite accepted in Western society) do not imply a real desire to do violence.

Rape and abuse in adult fantasies and entertainment reflect a desire to control or to be controlled. It isn't about 'hate' and maliciousness, or cruelty (though you can't account for all users and viewers) - it is fantasy that fills emotional needs and wants, and not physical, criminal ones.

 

[Gamegodtre]

I'm violently anti-censorship due to the fact that I believe that people should have the freedom to express themselves however they please (so long as they aren't harming others... unless those people are into that sort of thing), so it's no surprise that I'm against banning Rapelay. Sure I'm not going to go buy it, but I believe that if a person who is mature enough to handle it wants to, then they should be allowed to. Hell, if you banned everything with rape in it, the Bible would be out of store instantly (you know that story about Joseph and the multicolored coat that has been made into several movies, some of which are for kids? Guess what, his sister was raped, making those brothers of his form a plan to kill the offender and his family when they asked for her to be married to him knowing that she couldn't refuse now. Their method? Agree if his family were circumsized. They did that, and the brother rode through and killed them as they tried to recover. Yeah, and you teach kids the story that comes after that without any problems) as would several other classic pieces of literature. And then we know this wouldn't end. Next would be any games with too much violence (with a definition of too much becoming more and more broadly).

yeah but the bible is not videogames plus it was written thousands of years ago and who knows who editted what over the years and put in what they wanted in

we are talking about RAPE
would u like to know some sicko is playing a virutal game where he downloads a photo of your mom or sister or girlfriend onto the game and can virual rape her and terrorize her>?? thats sick and twisted

i'd say thank you for not doing it to her in real life

 

[Gamegodtre]

I'm violently anti-censorship due to the fact that I believe that people should have the freedom to express themselves however they please (so long as they aren't harming others... unless those people are into that sort of thing), so it's no surprise that I'm against banning Rapelay. Sure I'm not going to go buy it, but I believe that if a person who is mature enough to handle it wants to, then they should be allowed to. Hell, if you banned everything with rape in it, the Bible would be out of store instantly (you know that story about Joseph and the multicolored coat that has been made into several movies, some of which are for kids? Guess what, his sister was raped, making those brothers of his form a plan to kill the offender and his family when they asked for her to be married to him knowing that she couldn't refuse now. Their method? Agree if his family were circumsized. They did that, and the brother rode through and killed them as they tried to recover. Yeah, and you teach kids the story that comes after that without any problems) as would several other classic pieces of literature. And then we know this wouldn't end. Next would be any games with too much violence (with a definition of too much becoming more and more broadly).

yeah but the bible is not videogames plus it was written thousands of years ago and who knows who editted what over the years and put in what they wanted in

we are talking about RAPE
would u like to know some sicko is playing a virutal game where he downloads a photo of your mom or sister or girlfriend onto the game and can virual rape her and terrorize her>?? thats sick and twisted

as long as he's not ACTUALLY raping people, I say let him do what he wants.

yeah but what if someone plays rape videogame then goes out and rapes someone and does what he does to them in the game

like example
someone is stalking jennifer
he cant have her he dont have courage to ask her out
so he photographs her and downloads her image to the game where he rapes her in the game
then he snaps one day and cant tell fantasy from reality and goes and rapes jennifer in real life

sir you stated that you play Violent games so whats stopping you from snapping and killing a person, by gun, sword, or fist. the same thing that stops them, so until you snap please don't use that as a excuse, and please don't snap just to prove a point.

 

[UberNoodle]

i'd say thank you for not doing it to her in real life

And I'd ask him how he'd feel if someone played a game where he or she downloaded a photo of his mum or sisterin the game and virtually murdered her.

Yes, as he said, we are 'talking about RAPE', but I think it is important to re-evaluate our own accepted and PERVASIVE gaming genres (not fringe ones from outside, like Rapelay), and how desensitised we have become to their content.

 

[Gamegodtre]

yeah but all it takes is one bible thumping congressman or woman or senator to scream loud enough and u will see censorship looke what games like mortal kombat did for videogames now they are rated but are they enforced yeah right ive seen 10 year olds buy violent videogames and the shop keeper dont care its all about the green backs

I WANT TO ASK THIS DONT FLAME ME OKAY
But if it was a rape a child game would there even be any arguement or discussing in favor of why this game should be allowed?

cuz im telling you rape games are the begining we will see child molesting games next

when we do we draw the line?

As a Otaku i must say the following.
ok first qoute:
the adult games can't even be sold in any normal store were kids can get into. Since all normal stores Ban A rated games
Second Quote:
I know of a few of them made before 2003 your acting as if this is new, its not. All Otaku know of them

to ban something just on your Prejudice and hatred for the subject matter alone is plain retarded and should not be accepted, since if you ban rape games i say ban the books movies and other mediums of the sort.

Also to speak of another countrys culture as if you should dictate what they should do is insane, no artist let alone Otaku would or could sit by while you badmouth his freedom of expression and the right to choice what he or she wants to watch or play.

On a side note:
all of Japans porn is already censored in the form of mosaic censoring.

on another side note:
sorry if this seems like im picking on you but i'm willing to bet you have never even played any game that has been released in the US that's A rated or Adult only rated this isn't the first rape game and to be frank its a very bad one, Virgin Roster is a more abhorrent (scene wise) one then this but its not in 3d and actually has a decent story going for it(although it never explains your characters reason (at least i don't remember there being one i played this 3 years ago and wasn't going to go through the 8+hours to beat it again with all the endings)it doesn't make a flaw in the story) and has been released in the US were it never even made the news.

Final Side Notes:
Some Quotes

Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.
Abraham Lincoln

If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.
George Washington

You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man's freedom.
Clarence Darrow