Thursday, 19 February 2009

  • Offensive Japanese Game "Rapelay" Banned from The UK

    "Game was available on Amazon marketplace in the UK before being banned"

    ~Article Snippet~

    The game was intended for release just in Japan, but was on offer to British buyers through Amazon Marketplace, the section of the online store's website open to third-party sellers.

    But Amazon has now withdrawn the game after complaints from users, deeming it to be inappropriate. "We determined that we did not want to be selling this particular item," a spokeswoman said.

    Rapelay was developed by the Japanese production house Illusion, which makes a number of sexually violent games for the domestic market. Their other titles include "Battle Raper" and "Artificial Girl".

    A spokesman for the company said: "We believe there is no problem with the software, which has cleared the domestic ratings of an ethics watchdog body."

    [Original Article]

    There are currently two sides to this event. From the side that agrees with the Amazon and BBFC team, you have to go with them that this game is inappropriate for most audiences. The material even described in these games is some of the most offensive stuff out in media. Having it for sale, especially in an English version, would probably have a whole crowd of underground gamers willing to find that game, decrypt it, and probably just have it free for download for anyone to play.

    On the other hand, there has been a positive side being said to why Japan's company Illusions would come out with such violent titles. Compared to the US and the UK, the percent of rape crimes are lower in Japan compared to other countries. In their defense, "these games don't promote or teach these lewd skills. We consider them to be another way for some people to experience these fetishes through less harmful ways. Even though the game may be offensive, think of it this way...*morals contained to not spoil the game*"

    What would you think of having such a game available to a wider audience/outlet?

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Comments (60)

  • Losertastic@xanga

    O.O I just researched it and it sounds maaaaaad scary!


    "The game, titled Rapelay, involves players stalking a mother in a subway station before violently raping her. The player is then tasked with tracking down her daughters, described in the game as virgin schoolgirls, and then raping them both.


    Reviews of the game have expressed horror, highlighting extra features that allow the player to rape any victim in the virtual world and involve other men in the attacks."


    http://www.politics.co.uk/news/culture-media-and-sport/mp-attacks-rape-game-$1268900.htm
  • jeezshoua@xanga

    Though it's for "people to experience these fetishes through less harmful ways," I still find it to be disgusting.

    Rape is a crime and leaves victims to be emotionally scarred for life, even though it's a game - it shouldn't support it in any way.
  • MusingsOfAnAlmostSocio@xanga

    Ah, it's a tough balance, because things get worse before they can get better. Also, I don't think it fits culturally in the US (i don't know about UK) because of the diversified culture we have here. It's like comparing the fact that there is a blanket ban on guns in some countries and it works fine, so why not here? Just because something is feasible and works in one country doesn't mean it works in another. Without going into it deeper, I believe this is one of them. I wrote a very long comment on someone's blog about this, but I don't remember where... 
  • Muddled_Jinni@xanga

    It shouldn't be illegal.

    I think I am saying this merely because I have never actually had a desire to rape anyone nor do I think I ever will.

    As controversial as this game sounds -  I suppose I never like anything prohibiting freedom.

    So long as rape itself does not become legal, I'm fine.
  • just_the_average_jane@xanga

    Hmm, I really don't know...


    On the one hand, you have to wonder why this is inappropriate when you consider that gameplay involving mass genocide is generally accepted. It's just a game --there is a difference between fantasy and reality. I enjoy mock-rape scenarios with my boyfriend, but it certainly doesn't mean I'd want to be raped for real, or that he would want to rape someone in real life, or that I condone rape.

    On the other hand, you don't want to encourage criminal behavior --and while adults might be able to distinguish between reality and fiction, children might not; and if it's available for purchase, you know the kids will get ahold of it too, regardless of the rating. 


    The culture in most western countries is very different also; in Japan, I imagine there's more of a focus on fitting in and being community-oriented, so people are less likely to act on their desires (apart from through safer channels like games/porn). If this were available in countries where the attitude is that you should go and get what you want for yourself...I don't think it would have the same effects that it appears to have had on rape crimes in Japan. 

    I don't think it should be illegal to own a copy of it, but I see no need to produce an English-language version of it or make it easily available. If someone really wants it, they can buy from Japan. 

  • ELIZerson@xanga

    @Muddled_Jinni@xanga - "So long as rape itself does not become legal, I'm fine."

    So, by the same token, would you also be okay with a similar game that, instead of rape, includes sex with young children?  I mean, as long as statutory rape doesn't become legal, the game should be fine, right?
  • mayanao@xanga

    Kind of like the same discussion about whether violent video games cause crimes. 
  • KasumiCelesta@xanga

    I think it's inappropriate, really. But the way Japan works, it fits right in. Games aren't the only outlet for committing heinous acts, there's the whole sex industry. Of course there's no penetrative sex (prostitution is illegal), but similar scenarios like touching women on a train or getting a blowjob from a girl in a school uniform are depicted in various shops. It's better to teach people the right thing, not, "Don't do this because it's illegal." You might as well say, "Don't do this because you'll get caught." Getting caught isn't the problem, it's the action which is bad! But there isn't much we can do about this, I guess. I don't think an English version is needed, as it most likely isn't worth it in order to "reduce crime." This is definitely a Japan thing. If anything, I'd like to know if a guy has this game so I can stay away from him.
  • lilacros3s@xanga

    haha.  there are "violent" games out there not just rapelay, theres grand theft auto or whatever that name is (i dont play video games so i dont know) but i can see how morally/ethnically wrong rapelay is and it is morally wrong.  grand theft auto is just violent but rapelay is morally wrong and violent.  *twisted*


    how is rape or raping someone a "fetish" i dont understand that part.  they should label it R or NC17 or have a special code that prevents people from decrypting it (piracy) and/or illegally playing it or even viewing it.  it shouldnt be available to kids or the public for that matter.


    theres just some things you dont publicize and rape is one of them.  its not entertainment, there should be a line drawn somewhere. morals already spoiled the game.
  • ch4n2o@xanga

    it's a good idea to promote it to the masses.


    rape is simply a crime of violence that involves genitals. it doesn't make much of a difference.
  • bunniebutt@xanga

    I can imagine it being very popular in Japan.

    I agree that this game is no different from GTA where you can beat up and kill prostitutes or just about anyone on the streets. This game certainly is not any different from rape-themed pornography.

    Whether entertainment of this nature promotes public sexual abuse or whether it actually helps sexually frustrated men to get their fix through it and hence eliminating rape crime is up for debate.
  • tri_girl@xanga

    @just_the_average_jane@xanga - Well said.
  • cherry_tequila@xanga

    that is sick. 
  • PuCCaiEe@xanga

    Japanese people are just sexually and mentally tormented. Imagine your girlfriend being raped I guess no one would enjoy the game at all. 



    Good thing its bannedDon't leave this society more corrupted than it is now..
  • CobaltKisses@xanga

    LOL it had to be the japanese them and their fetishes it should be banned period
  • photochic226@xanga

    Ummmm..........WTF? Sick.
  • XxFireXboltxX@xanga

    Don't shoot me but here is my thought process.

    My husband was stationed in Japan for two years (right before we met) and he has told me time and time again how respectful that culture is towards women.

    In America, well, the "west" in general, fetishes of bondage, dominance and stuff are really frowned upon but in Japan, they have magazines and comics dedicated to these violent acts towards women....yet their rape and sexually based crime offenses are almost non-existent.

    Do I think this game is disgusting and should be banned...YES. But I wonder if it's actually helping people NOT act in a certain way when they have other outlets for it. Does that make sense?

    I personally disagree with any type of porn so even what we have here in America I find highly offensive, but I can see why this would be popular in Japan. Just my two cents.

  • social_code@xanga

    holy shit. i can't believe what the hell im reading here?! "as long as its just a game its ok" - "i dnt think there's anything wrong with it"

    WHAT THE FUCK!?

    i bet none of you has been raped or knows anyone that's been raped else you wouldn't be giving off comments like that. this is sick.

    you have to go around raping a woman then then raping her two daughters?! imagine that was your mother or sister in the game getting raped? is that still ok?

    sick bastards.

  • turtletastic

    That's disgusting. I'm appalled such a game was even allowed on the markets in Japan.

    This isn't like a murder game. Rape goes beyond physical violence into a very acute form of mental abuse. You don't see people coming out with games of parents beating on their children, or boyfriends/girlfriends taking down their SO.

    To make a game out of a crime so heinous is nothing short of disgusting and offensive to anyone who has been raped.
  • k_emetib@xanga

    If you try to report a rape in Japan, the police will just laugh at you.

  • emily_shannon@xanga

    Is it the best game? No. Is it a game I would like to see my brother or my boyfriend playing? Hell no.

    I, however, can tell the line between reality and fantasy, and if that helps people get their emotions out, go for it. Not everyone that plays GTA is going to go and hijack cars at a moment's notice, just the crazies. Most people play it because they sometimes need to go and get frustrations out.

    It's not about "if your mother / sister / whatever had been raped", although I can see why that can be offensive. No one saying you HAVE to buy the game, but there's no reason you should ban other people from playing it.
  • QtheMusic@xanga

    is there any correlation to japan's rape crime rate to release of the video game? if not then using those statistics doesn't prove anything.

    i feel like making rape into a video game kind of lowers standards and makes rape more... i dunno. accepted? rape is horrible. killing is horrible. but in video games its become less and less taboo.
    i'm not saying people who play violent video games become violent themselves, but the more you watch something the less and less shocking it becomes. i don't want raping a mother and her adolescent daughters to become something to shrug your shoulders about. no thanks!
  • GtSugacane@xanga

    A rape game...a video game where the main objective is to rape women..disgusting.

  • MangoWOW@xanga

    eh. I say legalize it. 
  • Purple_Garden@xanga

    It sounds quite appalling. I don't see how violent rape video games can be used as a harmless tool to experience fetishes. If that really works, then why is there empricial research evidence on the positive correlation between the amount of violance in TV programs that kids watch and tendecy to violance in their behaviors?


    But on the other hand, maybe this correlation is only evident in certain cultures. Maybe in Japan, people can actually supress their fantasies through video games and somehow make them go away.

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