First of all, I would like to say hello to all Escapists, I've been lurking for a couple of years now (since 15/10/08), but this subject has incensed me to come out of the woodwork and into public view. I'd like to request that people consider the effect that quoting quotes without thought has on the readability of the thread.
OT: I first experienced Hentai games in the very early 1990s, before i could even speak English in the form of Knights of Xentar, a role playing game that occasionally has images of half naked women, some in the process of, or just after, being raped/ sexually assaulted. In part this was a plot device to justify the protagonist's quest, but mainly I feel that the images were used to stimulate interest in the game, which definitely worked for me.
Many years later when I decided to rediscover the game, Illusion popped up as a maker of high quality 3d Hentai games, so I downloaded and played Artificial girl 3, (quite fun, i might add) from there my hoarding nature implored me to download every single game that Illusion has ever produced, so I believe I'm in a position to comment.
I've played Rapelay, but I haven't completed it, since I prefer the sandbox style AG games.
The game contains images that are generic across the Hentai genre, in fact there are far more 'rapey' and graphic Japanese products out there, (Pineapple studios and Teatime games are examples of producers that I can think of immediately).
Bottom line;
Yes, it depicts sexual assault, however there are other products that have done this earlier and more potently. A percentage of the population across the planet roleplay these simulations in their own homes on a daily basis.
Yes, it depicts a family of a woman and her two daughters, but all three are over the age of consent. (Keep in mind that Japan is one of the two top sources of ACTUAL child pornography, the other being Russia, because until recently it was legal in both countries, i.e. no age of consent)
Yes, it depicts an act that is illegal but so do nine out of ten games.
The list of games that permit and/or promote illegal and antisocial activities is almost as long as the list of all games ever made. (Manhunt, Painkiller, Elder Scrolls, EVE Online, World of Warcraft, Thief, Tomb Raider, Fable, Madworld, Dragon Age, Hitman, Assassin?s creed, GTA, Bulletstorm, Viva Pinata, RTS games promote genocide)
This is not a product for sexual deviants, porn simulating incest, bestiality, necrophilia, abuse of privileged position, coercing minors, can all be found within 30 seconds of you reading this if you were so inclined, unless you consider consumers of pornography deviants (in which case, check your stats, it?s a significant minority, if not the majority.) Also actual depictions of aforementioned acts can also be found just as quickly.
Without having experienced the game, you are in as much a position to comment as is a movie critic who hasn?t seen the movie, or a food critic who hasn?t stepped into a restaurant. I ask you, how much weight would you put behind the words of a game critic who listens to all the hype about a game, believes it and then dismisses it out of hand, or worse, froths at the bit, neighing for a product to be banned?
