I've just read this Associated Press article about the banning of a Japanese video game in the U.S. The game is being banned because it is classified as "obscene" under American laws. In America, games and pornography are not allowed to depict "rape", "sexual violence" or "sex by coercion". It is very different in Japan.
I find it interesting that in America, games in which people are murdered are ok, whereas games which depict rape, are banned. There seems to be a double standard.
Perhaps both types of games should be banned.
Many Japanese think that Americans are particularly violent people and American movies reflect this violence. However, many Americans think that Japan has serious problems of rape and paid sex with monors (援助交際) and that Japanese games, manga, and movies reflect this.
I think that both sides need to recognize their shortcomings.
I should also tell you that this story is getting VERY VERY big in the North American and European media.
This is the article:
Boycott of violent Japanese video game urged in U.S.
Tuesday 24th February, 06:27 AM JST
NEW YORK —
Anti-violence advocates are taking a stand against a video game in which players stalk and rape a mother and her two daughters.Amazon and eBay have already banned the sale of the game, called Rapelay.But New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said Monday that the game is available on other Web sites.Quinn and the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault called on all video game distributors in the U.S. to refrain from selling Rapelay.Rapelay is made by a company called Illusion, based in Yokohama.The company’s website says its products are not available for sale outside of Japan. The company did not respond to an email seeking comment.
Tuesday 24th February, 06:27 AM JST
NEW YORK —
Anti-violence advocates are taking a stand against a video game in which players stalk and rape a mother and her two daughters.Amazon and eBay have already banned the sale of the game, called Rapelay.But New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said Monday that the game is available on other Web sites.Quinn and the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault called on all video game distributors in the U.S. to refrain from selling Rapelay.Rapelay is made by a company called Illusion, based in Yokohama.The company’s website says its products are not available for sale outside of Japan. The company did not respond to an email seeking comment.
And this is a review of the game from an American gaming website:
As much as I wish RapeLay were an awesome hentai shooter starring an enormous naked lava man (he would attack by lobbing volcanic volleys of sperm), it's not. RapeLay is a disturbing rape simulator developed by the same misogynistic dickheads who brought us Battle Raper 2 which, oddly enough, didn't contain any actual rape.
RapeLay contains a lot of rape.
In RapeLay, you rape women in the most abusive manner possible and the women learn to like it. Well-programmed or not, I can't get behind that.*
*"I can't get behind that." means "I cannot support that."
