Rape games banned in Japan

[ahdkaw]

So far you've only said you're against it because you don't like the idea of the game. So I ask again, why is it fair to ban something just because you don't like it? Why is murder (which IS the main force of many games) so acceptable but rape isn't?

Murder is not the main force of many games, killing is generally the mainstay of violent games (unless you consider that war games equate to murder). There are exceptions to the rule however, and these really need to be dealt with on an individual basis.

I don't know how else to respond to this, other than my initial feelings, so I'm not going to make something up just to answer your question.


EDIT: This has just taken over an hour to post thanks once more to my crappy ISP. Apologies if I'm out of sync with the rest of the thread.

 

[Otokogoroshi]

Murder is not the main force of many games, killing is generally the mainstay of violent games (unless you consider that war games equate to murder). There are exceptions to the rule however, and these really need to be dealt with on an individual basis.

I don't know how else to respond to this, other than my initial feelings, so I'm not going to make something up just to answer your question.


EDIT: This has just taken over an hour to post thanks once more to my crappy ISP. Apologies if I'm out of sync with the rest of the thread.

But every FPS (first person shooter) is driven by killing. You may kill with purpose, during a war, or perhaps vengeance or because your foes are inhuman (Halo) but that doesn't negate the fact that the genre is built on killing and killing repeatedly.

You may not like it but that isn't a valid and good reason to ban something. It's not hurting anyone and even if its completely disgusting and even if most people don't like it or condone it why should something that is otherwise harmless be banned?

At least pedophilia actually causes harm, so there is a GREAT reason to ban it. But imaginary rape is just that... imaginary.



Edit: I'm surprised that no one has mentioned that I'm female and most of these games depict women being horridly abused so shouldn't I be offended? haha

 

[ahdkaw]

There is no reason to mention that you are a woman, I don't see how that has any bearing whatsoever, as you make your point succinctly. Rape of males exists, though it may not be as prevalent.

But you have avoided mentioning the difference between murder and killing. The result is the same, but the motives are very different.

I have finished now, and have nothing more to add, but thanks for your views.

 

[Otokogoroshi]

Actually the motive for rape is somewhat similar to murder in so much that they are both violent acts. Yes the reasons are sexual but not purely so. Both are tied to violence.

I just think its unfair to ban something just because its offensive. So far that's the only reason I've heard so far =/

 

[ahdkaw]

Just to clarify, I was pointing out the motive differences between 'killing' and 'murder'.

 

[Otokogoroshi]

Just to clarify, I was pointing out the motive differences between 'killing' and 'murder'.

Ahhh, I see, I thought you meant murder and rape durrrr I r smert.




However regardless of the motive, a person ends up dead and that's not something to shrug off.









Not to suggest murder is better than rape... They're probably almost equally bad.

 

[COMMUNIST FLISK]

they both deserve the death sentance

 

[ahdkaw]

they both deserve the death sentance

Now then, I seriously have to disagree here. Capital punishment is a barbaric act and should have been left in the 1800's where it belongs. It's the easy way out, it's no punishment. Especially when you factor in the lack of a Hell where the highly religious believe that is where they are being sent. When in reality, all you do is Return To All.

 

[Otokogoroshi]

Now then, I seriously have to disagree here. Capital punishment is a barbaric act and should have been left in the 1800's where it belongs. It's the easy way out, it's no punishment. Especially when you factor in the lack of a Hell where the highly religious believe that is where they are being sent. When in reality, all you do is Return To All.

Agreed.



See! We can agree!

 

[ahdkaw]

I do have wide and varying political views, so we will agree on some things, some not.

Heck, if the leaders of the Conservative and Labour parties can get on (and they do) then anyone can (unless of course the other person starts off into some kind of offensive rant which debases any argument).

 

[acerba]

im fiercely against rape and a game containing rape getting banned? thats a good thing in my opinion

Rape is bad; however there's a difference between rape in real life and rape in a video game/cartoon/book/whatever.

One happens in the real world to real people who really suffer. The other is simply the figment of someone's imagination.

They're two completely different things, and I think treating them as the same does a disservice to people who have been raped.

Whereas with rape there is no consent, it's sexual abuse. And not only does the game feature rape, but also paedophilia and forced abortion.

Except you cannot abuse a fictional character who exists only within a cartoon/video game/book, because said fictional character does not exist.

Besides, while a guy is playing a creepy H-game, you know he isn't going out and raping someone in real life because his hands are already occupied.

I think rape is one of those things that should never be taken lightly or as some kind of joke that you can base a game on.

I disagree. In fact, to quote George Carlin "I think it's hilarious".

Now, if you don't like it, you don't have to play the game. You don't have to watch the creepy hentai movie or read the creepy rape fanfic. No one is going to force you to. But if someone else wants to watch George Carlin joke about rape, read the writings of the Marquis de Sade, or play a video game where they abuse a girl... you should let them.

 

[GoodKat]

Lol acerba, I knew you position on this as soon as you made your sig.

 

[acerba]

Lol acerba, I knew you position on this as soon as you made your sig.

I have no idea what you're talking about 0

 

[IBSpify]

I have to join the "this ban is retarded" side.

Lets analyze how this came to pass. game passes the Japanese boards to be released as a hentai game, somebody who had bought the game attempts to sell it used on amazon.com. Family groups in the US complain to amazon and amazon removes it. This isn't good enough for them so the US family groups complain to the Japanese government about the game.

So a game which came and went in Japan without fanfare and hardly any notice suddenly causes all rape games in Japan to be banned because the right wing "family" groups (focus on the family and the like) in the US complained. So Japan is enacting laws not for their populous who obviously didn't care much that the game had been released and instead make these changes for people on the other side of the globe for whom they have zero responsibility for.

As for the subject of rape in games, rape is bad, but in the context of it being in a game, nobody is being harmed, it's fantasy, we didn't ban "I Spit On Your Grave" ("Day of the Woman"), who's entire plot is "woman gets raped multiple times, woman gets pissed and brutally murders rapists." because it contained rape (even as a major plot point), or because it glorified murder, because it's a fantasy.

 

[IBSpify]

Gah, i really should do a little more research before posting http://zepy.momotato.com/2009/05/28/rape-games-not-really-banned-and-i-hate-tbs/

seems the games are not banned, the report is false

 

[acerba]

Gah, i really should do a little more research before posting http://zepy.momotato.com/2009/05/28/rape-games-not-really-banned-and-i-hate-tbs/

seems the games are not banned, the report is false

While it does seem the initial report was false, it's possible a ban or restriction might be come to pass depending on how the talks go.

http://zepy.momotato.com/2009/05/29/yomiuri-on-the-game-censorship-situation/

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry which was present at the LDP meeting says that the independent review committee for the PC game industry has already responded to the current situation:

(1) restricting the sale and production of Rapelay, making it practically impossible to buy it within Japan

(2) they are in discussions regarding the banning of the sale and production of rape games or sexually violent games

 

[WhiteDragon103]

I'm going to side with supporting the ban.

I'd like to point out that it isn't honest to compare a game where the objective is rape and the purpose for buying the game is to enjoy pretending to rape someone, with a game like GTA where the player can choose to kill hookers and steal their money, or not.
Also, in GTA, when you kill someone, the developers didn't want the players to really feel as though they had taken a life - the developers put more effort into storyline and character development. Hentai simulations where you rape and kill people are all about making the player feel and believe as though he has actually violated someone and ended his/her existence.
Violence in the usual games like Half Life 2 is something I'd consider to be in a gray area. There ARE games out there where the whole point of the game is to be cruel - I think many factors, including the overall purpose for the violence in the game, is what moves it from being into a gray area, to being in a definite no-no area.

There is a lot I don't like, and I know it is fantasy, but that's not the point. The issue here is having respect for human life. I don't particularly like the idea of paying a hooker to take a huge dump on your chest, but I don't mind the fact that people enjoy that kind of thing because - well, who knows? Perhaps at one time by some tribes it was considered very romantic to shit all over your spouse; So long as they were not injecting the stuff into their veins, no harm done.

I'm not sure whether or not the law should be involved with this kind of thing, but nonetheless, we'd be better people to not find pleasure from imagining one another in pain.

 

[IBSpify]

Hentai simulations where you rape and kill people are all about making the player feel and believe as though he has actually violated someone and ended his/her existence.

I disagree, I don't know if you have ever played any of these hentai games, but they play like interactive story books, you make a choice out of 3 or 4 options and the story progress's from there, The system is not designed to make you feel like you are the main character, it's designed so you chose a handful of his actions and watch the outcome.

games like this don't create rapists or pedophiles, at worst they provide a harmless source of entertainment for them, at best they provide an outlet for their perversion which doesn't involve harming anyone

 

[GoodKat]

I don't know if you have ever played any of these hentai games, but they play like interactive story books, you make a choice out of 3 or 4 options and the story progress's from there, The system is not designed to make you feel like you are the main character, it's designed so you chose a handful of his actions and watch the outcome.

Umm.... lol?

 

[Möbiµs]

I'm going to side with supporting the ban.

I'd like to point out that it isn't honest to compare a game where the objective is rape and the purpose for buying the game is to enjoy pretending to rape someone, with a game like GTA where the player can choose to kill hookers and steal their money, or not.
Also, in GTA, when you kill someone, the developers didn't want the players to really feel as though they had taken a life - the developers put more effort into storyline and character development. Hentai simulations where you rape and kill people are all about making the player feel and believe as though he has actually violated someone and ended his/her existence.
Violence in the usual games like Half Life 2 is something I'd consider to be in a gray area. There ARE games out there where the whole point of the game is to be cruel - I think many factors, including the overall purpose for the violence in the game, is what moves it from being into a gray area, to being in a definite no-no area.

There is a lot I don't like, and I know it is fantasy, but that's not the point. The issue here is having respect for human life. I don't particularly like the idea of paying a hooker to take a huge dump on your chest, but I don't mind the fact that people enjoy that kind of thing because - well, who knows? Perhaps at one time by some tribes it was considered very romantic to shit all over your spouse; So long as they were not injecting the stuff into their veins, no harm done.

I'm not sure whether or not the law should be involved with this kind of thing, but nonetheless, we'd be better people to not find pleasure from imagining one another in pain.

Although you make a great point on the grey areas in videogames and movies, the only thing I really care about is your last sentence. How will this ban work in practice?

In the majority of Japanese pornos that I've seen, you will see the girl trying to break free and moan in an extremely creepy way, almost as if she's in pain. I know I'm not alone with noticing this, because my friends agree with me. This fetish of having a submissive little innocent girl being violated is built in in their sex-culture. You could probably call these pornos grey areas as well, but here's my point; where do you draw the line for what's permissible and what's not?

Can she moan and say "stop" in the video? Is bondage permitted? etc.