Amazon.com Drops Japanese Simulation Video Game Featuring Rape, Abortion
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
February 12, 2009
Seattle, WA (LifeNews.com) — Massive online retailer Amazon.com has dropped its listing for a controversial Japanese video game called Rapelay that involves raping women and forcing them to have abortions. The so-called "rape simulator" game was sold on the web site and included a graphic description of the gameplay.
Although a listing for the product is available through online searches, the link to it on Amazon’s web page no longer functions.
Gaming web sites that have reviewed the simulation describe the "tears glistening in the young girl’s eyes" as the player attacks her in graphic detail.
Owners of the game begin it by assuming the role of a man who stalks a mother on a subway in Japan before violently sexually assaulting her. They eventually move on to attacking two daughters described a virgin schoolgirls.
The Rapelay game, made for the Microsoft Windows platfform, also includes a "freeform mode" where the player can rape any woman and get friends to join in on the attacks.
According to a post in a gaming forum, the game also includes abortions. Every time a rape is committed there is a chance the victim could become pregnant.
"If she does become pregnant you’re supposed to force her to get an abortion, otherwise she gets more and more visibly pregnant each time you have sex. If you allow the child to be born then the woman will throw you in front of a train," the post explains. "Take that pro-life movement!"
The Japanese-based company Illusion is the maker of the video game and it creates other 3-D games for various video gaming systems.
In a Wikipedia post, the company says it makes its games only for use in Japan and that it will only provide customer support in Japanese for local gamers.
However, through Amazon.com, prior to the delisting of the product, people from across the world could purchase the rape game.
The Belfast Telegraph newspaper says Labour MP Keith Vaz was shocked that anyone could purchase the game through Amazon and he plans to bring up his concerns at a meeting of Parliament.
“It is intolerable that anyone would purchase a game that simulates the criminal offence of rape," he told the Telegraph.
"To know that this widely available through a major online retailer is utterly shocking, I do not see how this can be allowed. I will be raising this matter in Parliament and hope that action is taken to prevent the game from being sold," Vaz added.
Illusion is a company based in Yokohama, Japan that also makes an offensive series of games called Battle Raper and Battle Raper 2 that feature sexual assaults but no abortions.
The only English words featured on its web site note: "We thank you for your interest in our softwares and sending many e-mails. Unfortunately, under the company’s regulation, our softwares are only available for domestic customers over 18 and not for sale in foreign countries."
ACTION: Contact the company with your concerns at https://www.illusion.jp (in Japanese). Thank Amazon.com by going to this link.
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