Rape

[Tagaziel]

I've recently played I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream, and I have to say, this game is quite disturbing, one of the most terrifying sequences being Ellen's elevator ride.

Suffice to say, it gives the chills and gives a taste of the terror a raped woman experiences, all thanks to Harlan Ellison's writing.

The reason I post this thread is that very, very few games actually touch the subject of sexual violence. While the most likely reason is to avoid AO ratings, there is propably something more to it. Inability to properly portray? Is it too grisly for a video game?

Tell me what you think.

 

[Tollbooth Willie]

I've not had a chance to play this, but I think it's prtty good the devs broke out and tried something different, even if it is a bit touchy and disturbing. Surprised it hasn't got any shitflak, based on what you described.

 

[Tagaziel]

Basically Ellen is forced to again experience the elevator rape she suffered before AM, the malevolent supercomputer, exterminated the human race and salvaged five people to torment for it's own, sick pleasure. Ellen included.

The final result depends on the player's actions in that scene, exclusively.

I recall references to sexual abuse in Blade Runner. Apparently Lucy was... used by Runciter in indecent ways (based on what they both say in the intro).

 

[Asuka]

Link to the game? Cant seem to find anything about it..

 

[Acepilotf14]

I got excited.
Anyway, yeah, any wiki entry of some sort? Sounds like an interesting game..

 

[Eejit]

Sounds pretty extreme.

 

[Gray Fox]

PM me the link to the book and the game.

 

[Wanted Bob]

One game that surprised me was Oblivion, which also had the implication of some sort of sexual abuse or rape, yet it has gone by seemingly unnoticed.

 

[MRG]

What a horrible word, "Rape" is. For it has many meanings, yet none of them are good. I have not yet had a chance to play this game. Tell me, does the lady in question get even?

-MRG

 

[Tagaziel]

It all depends on your actions. It's the first time after 109 years of torment (AM can keep his toys alive indefinitely) she can make a choice.

Here's the Wiki link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Have_No_Mouth,_and_I_Must_Scream_(computer_game)

And the book:

http://www.haplo.com.mx/babilonia/L...lison - I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream.pdf

The book is freely available on the 'net. The game not quite so.

 

[Bad^Hat]

Wow, must play this, sounds frickin deep.

Also, there are plenty of games that deal with rape out there. Just... most of them are japanese, and therefore about inflicting it rather than dealing with it.

Honestly, besides the limitations of the medium, I think it's more of a cultural barrier that keeps things like rape from being explored in any meaningful or impactful way in video games. Most people are too used to blowing things up and saving the universe to be able to handle mature themes dealing with personal torment. Also, I think with the attention video games are getting now, something like this wouldn't quite slip under the radar (mature or not, the naysayers will inevitably focus on the 'rape' part - even though it's been dealt with numerous times in movies).

 

[Que-Ever]

What about pyramid head?

(I once raped a man in Reno just to watch him... get raped.)

 

[RyanG]

I don't honestly know exactly what I think about rape in games, but I have a couple things to say.

- I think most [explicit] sexual content in games and movies is unnecessary. We don't need to 'sexualize' this culture any more than it already is.
- Hmmm, I don't really know how to say this, but... I don't think video games are the right 'outlet' to show people what rape is like for a woman (or a man, as the case may be ). Video games are for entertainment, while I don't so much mind there being rape as part of a story (although I'd rather there not be), it's not a place to learn about it.

 

[Kyorisu]

- I think most [explicit] sexual content in games and movies is unnecessary. We don't need to 'sexualize' this culture any more than it already is

Bah what harm could possibly be done?

Oh.

/looks at self.

Uh.


Never mind.

 

[venturon]

I've recently played I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream, and I have to say, this game is quite disturbing, one of the most terrifying sequences being Ellen's elevator ride.

There's a game of it!?

 

[McCoy]

What about pyramid head?

(I once raped a man in Reno just to watch him... get raped.)

I lol'd.


I don't think i should.


Aw WTFEVER.

 

[Gargantou]

I can't believe there's so many people that haven't heard(nor played) this game, it's a genius of an underdog!

I remember trying to play it when I was 6-7 years old, was freaky as hell.

I actually finished it my first time 2005.

 

[Link]

I would never say "ban a game" for content, however, there are such huge differences between violence and rape it is almost inconceiveble (to me) to compare them. To put it in a quick form, a guy gets beaten up, he is over it when his wounds heal (more or less). A woman gets raped, it will effect her in one way or another for the rest of her life.

Now, I enjoy (video game) violence, where you play a wronged protagonist taking revenge, or a hero fighting for his life. In fact if such a scenarion occoured to me and I was forced to fight to survive, I may even enjoy the violence. However, just the concept of rape humiliates me. I have accociated guilt from simply being the same species as rapists, and when I fantasise about violence (We all do from time to time) it is most often about rapists. The concept of watching it, or play it fills me with disgust.

That said, I have very strong feelings on this matter, where others may not. This is why I can say "have fun" to those that can enjoy the game, even though I can't.

You listening Jack?

 

[Jintor]

It's getting very difficult even to take murder seriously in many games nowadays. D:

Well, of course, that really does depend on the quality of writing.

I'll probably pick up IHNMAIMS some time laterz.

 

[ríomhaire]

What about pyramid head?

He only rapes monsters, so that doesn't count.

 

[Asuka]

I don't honestly know exactly what I think about rape in games, but I have a couple things to say.

- I think most [explicit] sexual content in games and movies is unnecessary. We don't need to 'sexualize' this culture any more than it already is.
- Hmmm, I don't really know how to say this, but... I don't think video games are the right 'outlet' to show people what rape is like for a woman (or a man, as the case may be ). Video games are for entertainment, while I don't so much mind there being rape as part of a story (although I'd rather there not be), it's not a place to learn about it.

I dont agree really. Sometimes its stupid and doesnt fit, but to ban or restrict it? Thats just stupid.

Video games are a art form just like film.

 

[RyanG]

I don't necessarily think we should ban it, it's just I don't games are the right place to teach people about it.

 

[Tagaziel]

Partially true... it's hard to create it so that it doesn't come off as cheesy or insulting...