Amazon.com Bans The Sale Of Japanese Rape Simulator Video Game - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 02-15-2009, 12:35 PM

Amazon Blocks Sale Of 'Rape' Game
9:13am UK, Friday February 13, 2009

A Japanese computer game that lets players simulate raping girls has had its sales blocked by Amazon.

The RapeLay videogame was available to buy on the web store via a third-party seller specialising in Hentai - sexually explicit Japanese animation products.

"We determined that we did not want to be selling this particular item," an Amazon spokeswoman said.

Rapelay was reportedly created exclusively for the Japanese market but a couple of "like new" copies were being offered on Amazon.

The game was released in 2006 by Illusion studio, based in Japan.

Other titles from the studio include Battle Raper and Artificial Girl.

According to game review site Giant Bomb, RapeLay is a "molestation simulation that allows you to terrorise a woman and her two teenage daughters, with events ranging from groping on a train to gang rape and forced abortions".

The Belfast Telegraph reported that Labour MP Keith Vaz said he was shocked by the Amazon listing and planned to raise the issue in Parliament.

Mr Vaz told the paper: "It's intolerable that anyone would purchase a game that simulates the criminal offence of rape.

"To know that this is widely available through a major online retailer is utterly shocking. I do not see how this can be allowed.

"I will be raising this matter in Parliament and hope that action is taken to prevent the game from being sold."

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Wor...00902215222279

MonarC · 02-15-2009, 01:46 PM

catlover79 · 02-15-2009, 02:33 PM

What kind of a sicko (and that is MUCH too kind a term) would design a video game like that??

Good for Amazon for refusing to sell it.

browneyes106 · 02-15-2009, 10:42 PM

This sounds sickening. I'm glad Amazon decided not to sell it.

JamesG · 02-15-2009, 10:44 PM

I could understand Amazon's knee-jerk reaction to ban this game but it also brings up an interesting debate.

Why are games that permit murder, drug use, fighting.. etc permitted (and also sold on Amazon) but a game that depicts rape gets a huge backlash? With all the violence out there a rape game should come with the territory, no?

I should have the option to buy this game if I should want to and I tend to hate it when governments and corporations start banning things for the public to see and purchase.

I also see myself in a little problem; if I support and play violent games myself then should I support a game like this?

There seems to be a cultural clash as well as a social stigma going on here to me. From what I understand the Japanese culture are very much into this anime stuff and it's such a huge part of their culture; even the more adult themed ones. Amazon seems to have made a smart marketing move by banning this product from their store; despite the fact that other violent natured games are sold there. The social stigma of rape seems to be much more severe than murder, as far as in the entertainment (gaming) world goes.

So with all that beind said I have no interest whatsoever in this game. It seems to me to be repititive in play and seems to lack a plot or a premise. So it wouldn't interest me at all.
The curious part in me does want to play it to see what it's like but it doesn't look like it will be one of my favorites.

catlover79 · 02-15-2009, 10:55 PM

^ You bring up an excellent point. Grand Theft Auto is, in my opinion, a disgusting and degrading game, and I have never understood its appeal. But at least banning this game is a start.

JamesG · 02-15-2009, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

^ You bring up an excellent point. Grand Theft Auto is, in my opinion, a disgusting and degrading game, and I have never understood its appeal. But at least banning this game is a start.

Na, I love the GTA games. To me it's the action, the feel of it (driving around the cities), all the cars, the plot, the music...

Also, one thing that I like is that the game has consequences for your actions. You can choose to go into crime (the real game) or you can simply drive around in your own car and not get involved.

When you do something wrong the police do come after you, so at least it seems to be great in that sense.

Dutabi84 · 02-15-2009, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesG

I could understand Amazon's knee-jerk reaction to ban this game but it also brings up an interesting debate.

Why are games that permit murder, drug use, fighting.. etc permitted (and also sold on Amazon) but a game that depicts rape gets a huge backlash? With all the violence out there a rape game should come with the territory, no?

I should have the option to buy this game if I should want to and I tend to hate it when governments and corporations start banning things for the public to see and purchase.

That is an interesting point, but I think it's a sexual thing.

Take Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. This is a game that includes a lot of drug use, foul language, nailing prostitutes (though you cannot see anything), killing pedestrians, gangs, cops..basically anyone you please with a variety of weapons, including baseball bats, all kinds of guns, a giant purple dilly, knives, katanas, and a chain saw (my favorite); stealing cars, driving over people. So things were all find and dandy until someone creates the 'Hot Coffee' mod for the PC version, which allows you, the lead character, to have a consensual sexual encounter with your in-game girlfriend (which you can watch). This of course led to all kinds of ridiculous overblown outrage, and the game got pulled off the shelves from a majority of stores.

Any type of male to male, or female to male violence seems to be perfectly acceptable in general. But when it comes to anything sexual, it's a giant no-no. That's just how our society is, so when it comes to sex, especially of the non-consensual variety, it really is no surprise this game would not be considered acceptable in the US.

Dutabi84 · 02-15-2009, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesG

Na, I love the GTA games. To me it's the action, the feel of it (driving around the cities), all the cars, the plot, the music...

Also, one thing that I like is that the game has consequences for your actions. You can choose to go into crime (the real game) or you can simply drive around in your own car and not get involved.

When you do something wrong the police do come after you, so at least it seems to be great in that sense.

Same here. The amount of freedom you have in the GTA games is definitely one of the draws. It literally took me about 3 years to finish San Andreas. I spent countless hours just messing around.

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 02-15-2009, 11:22 PM

WTF? What kind of moron would waste their time playing that?

JamesG · 02-15-2009, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutabi84

That is an interesting point, but I think it's a sexual thing.

Take Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. This is a game that includes a lot of drug use, foul language, nailing prostitutes (though you cannot see anything), killing pedestrians, gangs, cops..basically anyone you please with a variety of weapons, including baseball bats, all kinds of guns, a giant purple dilly, knives, katanas, and a chain saw (my favorite); stealing cars, driving over people. So things were all find and dandy until someone creates the 'Hot Coffee' mod for the PC version, which allows you, the lead character, to have a consensual sexual encounter with your in-game girlfriend (which you can watch). This of course led to all kinds of ridiculous overblown outrage, and the game got pulled off the shelves from a majority of stores.

Any type of male to male, or female to male violence seems to be perfectly acceptable in general. But when it comes to anything sexual, it's a giant no-no. That's just how our society is, so when it comes to sex, especially of the non-consensual variety, it really is no surprise this game would not be considered acceptable in the US.

You're right about that too; it's definitely a cultural thing.

What I've also noticed is that the countries that have violence ban the sexual stuff and the countries that are more liberal in sex tend to ban the violent things.

An example of this happened during the Manhunt controversy; made by RockStar who made the GTA games.

It happened in Australia. Basically some kid killed another kid with a bat and he said that he got the idea from Manhunt or something like that. So as a result Manhunt was banned from the stores and only recently did it come back.

Europe and Australia seem to be more liberal than the US when it comes to sex but for violence they ban them a lot more strict.

JamesG · 02-15-2009, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Pleasant Tomorrow*

WTF? What kind of moron would waste their time playing that?

Me. I don't know about you but Battle Rapers sounds like it can be... fun.

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 02-15-2009, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesG

Me. I don't know about you but Battle Rapers sounds like it can be... fun.

No offense, but that's wicked lame. Getting some sick thrill out of "fake raping" or whatever the hell isn't...normal. The sad thing is, I think a lot of guys would feel the same way about the game as you do. I just don't get it.

catlover79 · 02-15-2009, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesG

Na, I love the GTA games. To me it's the action, the feel of it (driving around the cities), all the cars, the plot, the music...

Also, one thing that I like is that the game has consequences for your actions. You can choose to go into crime (the real game) or you can simply drive around in your own car and not get involved.

When you do something wrong the police do come after you, so at least it seems to be great in that sense.

Well, to each his own!

JamesG · 02-15-2009, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Pleasant Tomorrow*

No offense, but that's wicked lame. Getting some sick thrill out of "fake raping" or whatever the hell isn't...normal. The sad thing is, I think a lot of guys would feel the same way about the game as you do. I just don't get it.

I was joking..

If you had saw what I previously wrote games like this really don't interest me.

Still the sick, twisted, and curious part of me wants to play these Japanese games to see the "hype" but I really don't see myself enjoying it and playing it over and over.

I'm more interested in the government/corporations deciding to ban things.

02-15-2009, 12:35 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,262	Amazon.com Bans The Sale Of Japanese Rape Simulator Video Game Amazon Blocks Sale Of 'Rape' Game 9:13am UK, Friday February 13, 2009 A Japanese computer game that lets players simulate raping girls has had its sales blocked by Amazon. The RapeLay videogame was available to buy on the web store via a third-party seller specialising in Hentai - sexually explicit Japanese animation products. "We determined that we did not want to be selling this particular item," an Amazon spokeswoman said. Rapelay was reportedly created exclusively for the Japanese market but a couple of "like new" copies were being offered on Amazon. The game was released in 2006 by Illusion studio, based in Japan. Other titles from the studio include Battle Raper and Artificial Girl. According to game review site Giant Bomb, RapeLay is a "molestation simulation that allows you to terrorise a woman and her two teenage daughters, with events ranging from groping on a train to gang rape and forced abortions". The Belfast Telegraph reported that Labour MP Keith Vaz said he was shocked by the Amazon listing and planned to raise the issue in Parliament. Mr Vaz told the paper: "It's intolerable that anyone would purchase a game that simulates the criminal offence of rape. "To know that this is widely available through a major online retailer is utterly shocking. I do not see how this can be allowed. "I will be raising this matter in Parliament and hope that action is taken to prevent the game from being sold." http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Wor...00902215222279

02-15-2009, 02:33 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	What kind of a sicko (and that is MUCH too kind a term) would design a video game like that?? Good for Amazon for refusing to sell it.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

02-15-2009, 11:22 PM	#10
Pleasant Tomorrow Member Forum Addict Join Date: Feb 19, 2003 Location: New York Posts: 69,525	WTF? What kind of moron would waste their time playing that?
	__________________ my name is ashlee Welcome! Everything is fine.

02-15-2009, 01:46 PM	#2
MonarC The truth will set you free Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 05, 2002 Location: 3rd Stone From The Sun Posts: 9,525

02-15-2009, 10:42 PM	#4
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,094	This sounds sickening. I'm glad Amazon decided not to sell it.

02-15-2009, 10:44 PM	#5
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,262	I could understand Amazon's knee-jerk reaction to ban this game but it also brings up an interesting debate. Why are games that permit murder, drug use, fighting.. etc permitted (and also sold on Amazon) but a game that depicts rape gets a huge backlash? With all the violence out there a rape game should come with the territory, no? I should have the option to buy this game if I should want to and I tend to hate it when governments and corporations start banning things for the public to see and purchase. I also see myself in a little problem; if I support and play violent games myself then should I support a game like this? There seems to be a cultural clash as well as a social stigma going on here to me. From what I understand the Japanese culture are very much into this anime stuff and it's such a huge part of their culture; even the more adult themed ones. Amazon seems to have made a smart marketing move by banning this product from their store; despite the fact that other violent natured games are sold there. The social stigma of rape seems to be much more severe than murder, as far as in the entertainment (gaming) world goes. So with all that beind said I have no interest whatsoever in this game. It seems to me to be repititive in play and seems to lack a plot or a premise. So it wouldn't interest me at all. The curious part in me does want to play it to see what it's like but it doesn't look like it will be one of my favorites.

02-15-2009, 10:55 PM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	^ You bring up an excellent point. Grand Theft Auto is, in my opinion, a disgusting and degrading game, and I have never understood its appeal. But at least banning this game is a start.