Rapelay virtual rape game banned by Amazon

[Alex Libman]

From Telegrapk.co.uk -- Rapelay virtual rape game banned by Amazon --

In [RapeLay / レイプレイ], gamers direct a character to sexually assault a mother and her two young daughters at an underground station, before raping any of a selection female characters.

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But Amazon has now withdrawn the game after complaints from users, deeming it to be inappropriate.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."

Keith Vaz, the Labour MP for Leicester East who has previously spoken out against computer games that promote violence, condemned the game.

"It is intolerable that anyone would purchase a game that simulates the criminal offence [sic] of rape," he told the Belfast Telegraph.

Rapelay, which was released in 2006, encourages players to force the virtual woman they rape to have an abortion. If they are allowed to give birth the woman throws the player's character under a train, according to reviews of the game. It also has a feature allowing several players to team up against individual women.

Needless to say, there's always BitTorrent (1GB, Windows)...  but...

... is it time to boycott amazon.freetalklive.com? 

[TimeLady Victorious]

This game is already out for English speakers IIRC.

http://www.somethingawful.com/d/hentai-game-reviews/rapelay.php

[Ecolitan]

... is it time to boycott amazon.freetalklive.com? 

No, you sick fuck.  I wouldn't sell it either.

[Alex Libman]

SickFuck (病気の性交) is an other game Amazon wouldn't sell...

[Dylboz]

People really, really just don't understand the Japanese.

[Ecolitan]

People really, really just don't understand the Japanese.

I once saw some Japanese porn that I'm pretty sure was a real rape.  I'm OK w/ not understanding that.

[MasterShake]

Rape and tentacles..

Yeah, I'm happy not understanding the Japanese.

BUt then again.. those school uniforms...

[TimeLady Victorious]

And of course, all a bureaucrat has to do is get a bill into law and all copies of RapeLay, both on DVD and pirated, will magically disappear from the UK.

Like how all those guns vanished from the UK once they got anti-gun legislation through Parliament.

[Erika]

From Telegrapk.co.uk -- Rapelay virtual rape game banned by Amazon --

... is it time to boycott amazon.freetalklive.com? 

no, it's not.  if amazon doesn't want to sell it, then they shouldn't sell it.  hell, I wouldn't sell that shit either.

[Nowickisrj]

       I can't say I mind amazon refusing to carry certain items. They are a private entity and as such are entitled to build whatever image they want to build; they are no more obligated to sell the this game they you are to play/view it. I personally think games like that are pretty disgusting and probably not all that good for people who play them, but as long as they aren't directly causing harm I have no problems with their existence. Just don't expect me to come around much if I see it on your shelf.....

[Riddler]

leave it to libman to find shit like this

[Alex Libman]

肥料の追跡 - yet another game Amazon won't sell... 

[Alex Libman 14]

From Slashdot -- Japanese ESRB Bans Rape Depiction In Games --

The Ethics Organization of Computer Software (EOCS), now 233 companies strong, and met in Tokyo yesterday to ban a controversial title from Japan known as RapeLay, an eroge game (something much more adult than the more popular dating simulators). It's gotten a lot of press as reviewers have noted at one point the player must force sex on a 12-year-old. More importantly, the large ($353 million annually) adult game industry in Japan will now need to stay away from rape in their games if they wish to remain a member of EOCS.

RapeLay seems to be available on Amazon's UK and JP sites, sparking outrage and causing a former US Ambassador to Japan [Tom Schieffer] to write an editorial criticizing Japan, saying, "Only Japan allows people to possess these hideous images without penalty. Six of the G-7 countries have found ways to protect the innocent from being prosecuted for possession of child pornography. Is it not time for Japan to find a way to punish the guilty?"

Singapore's Straits Times has more details, pointing out that it's still not illegal to possess these materials in Japan. We discussed this and other games last month in an editorial.

Kudos to Japan for being just a tiny bit less fascist than the rest of the G7...

[NHArticleTen]

glorifying rape=fail

books, audio, video, etc. promoting rape=sad

banning books, audio, video, etc.=unacceptable

not that I'm ever disappointed when a rapist is refused, repelled, and destroyed in a hail of lead...

enjoy!

[BonerJoe]

Better to act your raping fantasy out on a bunch of computational power then initiate force in real life.