Rape games to be banned in Japan
 

The Escapist : News : Rape Games Banned in Japan, For Real

Following an emergency meeting of the Ethics Organization of Computer Software it has been determined, apparently for real this time, that rape games will be banned in Japan - sort of.

The meeting involved almost 100 representatives of various eroge companies but Canned Dogs says there was "surprisingly little" opposition to the proposed ban, with most seemingly resigned to the fact that rule changes were inevitable. Instead, the attendees were more concerned with determining what would and would not be acceptable.

Specific guidelines weren't set and until they are the EOCS will work with game companies on an individual basis to monitor new releases. Tighter restrictions on packaging and game titles are expected to take effect almost immediately, however; Syrup Soft has already responded to the new regulations by changing the name of its upcoming game Gang Raped by the Entire Village ~Girls Covered in Milky Liquid~ to The Trap Set by the Entire Village ~Bodies Covered in Milky Liquid~. It's a subtle distinction, yes, but apparently adequate; in-game content will not be modified.

The EOCS, much like the ESRB in North America, is a voluntary organization, so these proposed changes won't actually be enshrined in Japanese law. It sounds like games that cross the line will be refused a rating by the agency instead, which may keep them out of "mainstream" Japanese retail outlets but won't prevent their creation or distribution. An outright ban on the games seems very unlikely; while the genre might seem odd or outrageous to most North American gamers, it's estimated to account for 10-20 percent of the Japanese PC game industry, enough to give it a considerable amount of clout in the decision-making process.

Not surprised it was going to happen sooner or later with the kind of attention these games have been getting overseas. I am not a fan of them so i have never played them but i have seen plenty of others and they can be pretty disturbing.

Rape games, only in Japan, haha.
Why ban them? In a way it's similar to banning games like Grand Theft Auto, which obviously is nonsense.

In a way yes but also in a way no. Violence for whatever reason even if its wrong is proven undeniable fact of almost any country. Even in Japan where crime is very low there still is crime and as little as it might be there is still violence these facts are accepted in every nation. But rape is universally scorned and to make a game that centers around it is very controversial even if you stamp an adult rating on it.

Even if you mention games like GTA some games stores ban it some countries ban it from even hitting their shores and even some states in the US have tried if not succeeded in banning the title. Its the same argument "does playing violent games make people commit violent crimes" or in this case "does playing a Rape based role sim make people go out and rape people"

Like i said this has been coming for years which is why there was little to non opposition to the ruling.

I have mixed feelings about this.


On one hand, it's a game. On the other hand, rape should never be taken as entertainment.


But seriously, all the guys who play the game are probably less likely to do it in reality-- and probably even less likely considering they are shy otaku.

I can't say I approve of them; rape shouldn't be presented in a positively sexualized way. There's been murmurs recently about rape in Japan as well- sure the crime rate for it is really low; lowest in the world even, but there's been some heavy criticism that it's only because there isn't a good enough support system for people to feel like they can report it and the real figures are much higher.

According to the site:
* Words such as "training" (調教) or "slave", among others, are not allowed in the title or packaging
* HCG (Hentai computer graphics) involving sexual violation cannot exceed 20% of a game's total HCG count (ie: can't try to build this up by having lots of everyday life CG events)
* Even if it's below 20%, anything that is promoting a criminal offense is not allowed
* Anything that promotes rape, confinement, stalking, domestic violence and portrays it in a way that the offender gains something out of it is not allowed
* New games that have already passed the review process by the EOCS are considered "safe" from this

Don't they have 'Rape' Clubs in Japan?

Surely that's more substantial than a computer game.

There was one. It was an ill-advised college club, whose founders I believe are in jail. This reflects on the the founders of the club and not the country of Japan.

I've seen a lot of rape orientated DVD'S,magazines, books and have heard from Japanese themselves.

It appears to be a popular fantasy.

We are talking about Japan, but I'm sure it applies in other countries, just that it seems well "advertised" in Japan.

I won't elaborate on my experience at a LH in Osaka;)

I'll just add this interesting video to the board which explains the rape scene in Japan a little more.
YouTube - Rape Club - Japan
Obviously it is a popular thought for both male and female.

You asked about rape clubs in Japan, of which there was one at a university. Rape is obviously illegal in Japan, so a club would be uncovered and leadership would be arrested.

Part of what makes Japanese adult industry so famous and popular world-wide is the availability of any fantasy on film. It may be a "popular" fantasy among fetishists, but I wouldn't not go so far as to say it is a popular fantasy among the general population.

i don't play these kinds of games or any hentai related games for that matter, but isn't it just a game? there's far worse genre's of games out there, that include murder, crime, violence, and educational (joking about the last one, okay?)

As wrong as playing a rape game may sound, it is still just a game and no one is getting hurt. I'm as much against banning them as I am agaisnt banning GTA or any video game.

I just watched that video and do not see how you could possibly say rape is "obviously a popular thought for both male and female".

Really? What is a worse genre of video game than the goal being the forced rape on a woman?

Exactly. Games like GTA might have a high rate of violence, others might be quite graphic, but it's still quite emotionless. Hentai rape games fetishize rape in a way that is actively encouraging the player to have a positive sexual response, and it compounds a 'women want it really' mentality that is incredibly harmful when it is applied to RL sex abuse situations. I don't think there has ever been a murder game that implied the victim wanted to be killed and enjoyed it really.

I personally don`t really feel the need to have these things banned. In the end they are games, and cater to the "What if..." sort of thinking rather than telling players that is what they should do in real life.
If it`s the type of person that wants to rape in real life, playing a game is probably not going to appeal to them all that much. It`s appeal is because it isn`t something you could or would do in real life. Just as games that send you violently killing people have an appeal because they are things you never would do in real life. It`s all fantasy and will stay fantasy unless there is something already wrong with the person.

forced death upon others? i'm not saying that rape games are good. i'm just trying to say that these rape games are (to me) on the same level as any other violent game. GTA for example, you can probably beat children and women, shoot them, run over them, light them on fire, etc. i thought killing was worse than rape?

This is definitely leaning more towards each individual opinion and experiences.

Back on topic. I thnk computer games send the wrong messages to the young one's.

Fantasies come later on and obviously some don't like them pointing towards the "law", and other's compare them with real life situations in dark alleys at night.

Whatever, a real life rape, in that a man or women goes out to rape an unknown, is definitely wrong.

You may change your mind when your child brings one home from the local rent a DVD store!

I doubt this. He would have to be over 18 to even rent that sort of DVD to begin with. If he brought one home at a younger age it would be the store I`d be upset at.

Even if parents don`t want their kids watching/playing these things - why ban them? If you don`t want your kid (as in under 18) to have access simply don`t give them access and know enough of what is going on in their lives that you have some level of control. Asking for something to be banned because you are not a good enough parent to control what your child has access to is pure selfishness.

Let's not forget that in many places over 18 means Adult legal, and that releases hormones into the minds of curiosity for those who qualify.

The access becomes irrelevant if the games are legal.

Even legal, the games are still over-18 and kept a bit outside easy access of those younger. Things have gotten stricter so from what I understand they do check your age when you buy. So the chance of a kid under 18 just stumbling upon one and being able to buy it is fairly low.

If they are over 18, then it doesn`t really matter. As long as my kid has the capability to distinguish between fantasy and reality, who am I to stand in the way? And even if they WEREN`T able to figure out that it was a fantasy and not something they should do in real life, it would be my responsibility to keep them from having access - not a reason to ban something.

It`s sort of like saying that alcohol should be banned because some parents don`t want their kids to drink it even if they`re of legal drinking age.

Let me just say straight up i have never played one of these games, or a game, and i've only ever seen someone else playing something like GTA and shoot-em-up games. Thus, I was running on the assumption that unlike GTA where the victims are little blob people who just explode into red pixels when you smush them, that the rape games focused rather more individually on who is getting raped.

Moreover, the violent games tend to have goals OTHER than the killing of random innocents. You can just coincidently blow off as many (probably 'evil') alien's heads in as interesting ways as you like on your way to... fix a computer or something. Sounds to me (again without playing) like the goals of the rape games are rather more focussed- get the girl into a rape-able situation and go at it.

Next, yes, the violence is supposed to be enjoyable, but it's still not necessarily being marketed as a pornography. It might be fun, but it's not supposed to be a turn on, and that's a big yet subtle difference and I think you might be underestimating the subliminal affect that has.

As to whether it's the consumer's minds or the game that should be called into question OR NOT, the producer still has a massive responsibility for what they produce. This is especially true for socially sensitive products, and shouldn't be palmed off so easily. Admittedly this depends very much on the individual game, but regardless, with making money off of entertainment based solely on rape and the trivialization of the harm it does comes great responsibility.

Finally, yes, fine that people have fetishes, and it's an outlet for it and most can distinguish between fiction and reality; I can appreciate that, but I still feel that it depends on exactly how the content of these games is being presented. Should it be banned? Maybe, maybe not; that's an issue for Japan to decide; it comes down to 'should a niche market be catered for at the expense of offending others?'. Is it simply the case of 'don't like, then mind your own'? Well, that seems like a paltry excuse to me. Whether one likes it or not, to some people it's offensive, and ignoring that fact will only make it more offensive.

Banning stuff usually just makes it more appealing to people!!

Think about how much stuff you have done in your life because soemone told you it was *wrong* when usually you would have never bothered twice, a lot of people commit crime not for necessity but for excitement.

Hell, even I used to be like this, I would steal things just because of the thrill.

If people see that a rape game is banned than it just expands the imagination futher, making them want to play it.

Urgh, Really? REALLY? That's....I have no words for that.

This statement pretty much sums it up.


The games themselves are victimless.

If making the games banned in the Japan, the place where the games are made, then the games would no longer exist, eliminating the ability for those who now are excited by it being illegal to get it.

As far as I know these games are not licensed in the US, so any releases are probably cracks anyway.

The difference to me between these games and GTA is the sexual fantasy aspect. If I understand correctly, in these are games a goal is to force sexual advances on a girl and after resisting she eventually gives in to her latent desires and begins to enjoy it.

This is the message that worries me, as that seems like a dangerous message to be sending.

I am not saying the games should be banned or not...but I think the message sent makes a little bit of difference.

wow I had no Idea anything like this existed. I don't really see the point to them. I don't care if people play them I guess. Has anyone actually taken one of these games to heart.

I don't feel passionately enough either way to get into a real debate about it, but I have played GTA, and in GTA you are constantly reminded that what you are doing illegal, anti-social, and wrong. You are running from cops, etc. I don't think there is any question that your activities are anything more or less than what they are.

I don't get this impression from the rape games. Are you reminded that what your are doing as a character is engaging in anti-social, illegal, and immoral behavior? You are in GTA, but I don't think you are in rape games. That's a different sort of simulation, and to me makes a line between what I find personally acceptable or not. Again, I am not saying these games should be banned, but just what I find entertaining and acceptable in my own house.

Just let the nerds masturbate in peace. It's not your business. These games are made by nerds, for nerds. I'm ashamed at the lack of pity you people are giving in credit of the fact they can't find a real date...

I do not understand why they are banning games. There have been people that take some games literally but those games were not banned either. I personally do not play those games and see no real reason to ban them.