# Why isn't rape included in video games? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 28, 2003, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-rape-included-in-video-games/178032 "2003-05-28T15:22:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qazzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/aeb1de/32.png) [@Qazzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qazzz)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-rape-included-in-video-games/178032/1 "2003-05-28T15:22:37Z")
Hey there, I’m not sure if I’m posting in the correct forum, but I thought this question wasn’t quite a “great debate,” nor did I think it had a definite answer. Anyways, if movies and video games seem to be replete with violence, gore, murder, theft, nudity, and almost any other crime or misdemeanor you can think of, why isn’t rape included in video games? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-rape-included-in-video-games/178032/2 "2003-05-28T15:32:24Z")
There was a Custer game for the C64 that involved raping Native American women. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-rape-included-in-video-games/178032/3 "2003-05-28T15:33:55Z")
Don’t be so sure that there hasn’t been rape in a video game. Custer’s Revenge goes all the way back to the Atari 2600. The object is to navigate a naked General Custer to rape an Indian maiden. [http://www.gamespy.com/top10/december02/shame/index4.shtml](http://www.gamespy.com/top10/december02/shame/index4.shtml) Rape is considered the 2nd ickiest crime (behind only child molestation. Murder, robbery, and general destruction have an element of mystique about them while rape taints anything associated with it. This is one case in which bad publicity is indeed worse than no publicity at all in the eye’s of the video game companies. ---
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-rape-included-in-video-games/178032/4 "2003-05-28T15:35:26Z")
They’ve got some games that include points for rape- > **[Legislation aims at violent video games](https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Legislation-aims-at-violent-video-games-1110288.php)** > > A video game that prominently features the rape and mutilation of young women and the... “_A video game that prominently features the rape and mutilation of young women and the assault of police officers is 13-year-old Mike Tibbetts’ favorite, even though he has never played it._” ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-rape-included-in-video-games/178032/5 "2003-05-28T15:36:32Z")
Damn you to heck **carnivorousplant**. I included a link though. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-rape-included-in-video-games/178032/6 "2003-05-28T15:38:11Z")
Yes you did, Shag as well as named the first PC and the name of the game. I acknowledge your superior knowledge of 6502 games. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-rape-included-in-video-games/178032/7 "2003-05-28T15:49:11Z")
Aside from the above exceptional examples, I’d say maybe because it’s non-productive? Meaning that shooting a cop helps the bad guy (player) get away to continue playing. Killing bad guys as a cop (player) saves the day. Running over construction workers with your car instead of going around them gets you over to where you want to be that much faster, etc. But rape doesn’t really serve any “purpose” within the construct of any game I can imagine, unless the sole purpose is to earn points by committing criminal offenses. And even GTA and the like have missions that need completed, and do not exist solely as an excuse to behave criminally. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-rape-included-in-video-games/178032/8 "2003-05-28T15:49:49Z")
There are scads of games where rape is the whole point. Here are some reviews: [http://www.somethingawful.com/hentai/](http://www.somethingawful.com/hentai/) ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-rape-included-in-video-games/178032/9 "2003-05-28T16:15:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Surreal \* > \*\*They’ve got some games that include points for rape- > > [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/113537\_video21.shtml](http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/113537_video21.shtml) > > “_A video game that prominently features the rape and mutilation of young women and the assault of police officers is 13-year-old Mike Tibbetts’ favorite, even though he has never played it._” \*\* The game the article is speaking of is “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City”. I’ve been playing the PC version of this game, and so far no rapes of any kind. Are there rapes further on I wonder, or is the article simply wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-rape-included-in-video-games/178032/10 "2003-05-28T16:43:39Z")
I don’t know, **Revtim**. I’ve never played that game (or any other video games). I checked Google, and some sites about that game mention rape, but most don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-rape-included-in-video-games/178032/11 "2003-05-28T16:47:35Z")
Haven’t played GTAVC but I understand sex with prostitutes replenishes you, and the prostitutes can then be killed to get your money back. Maybe they missconstrued? ---
**Author:** ![Jet\_Jaguar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jet_jaguar/32/3562_2.png) [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-rape-included-in-video-games/178032/12 "2003-05-28T16:55:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > \*\*The game the article is speaking of is “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City”. I’ve been playing the PC version of this game, and so far no rapes of any kind. Are there rapes further on I wonder, or is the article simply wrong? \*\* No, the article is incorrect. I’ve finished the entire game and there is none. The closest is that you can pick up hookers and then “persuade” them to return your money. These kinds of articles are usually written by people who have never played the game themselves and who are relying solely on hearsay from anti-gaming activists. You can pretty much count on the facts being greatly exaggerated if not outright wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Ryle\_Dup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Ryle\_Dup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryle_Dup)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-rape-included-in-video-games/178032/13 "2003-05-28T17:00:29Z")
There is absolutely no form of ‘rape’ in GTA:VC. As **Iteki** said prostitution is rampant in the game, however having a prostitute get in your car, and later get out draining you of money isn’t exactly rape. Running her down afterwards sure is murder, but rape? These people are going a little too far. [hijack] I read in the article above that a bill had passed about selling games to minors now being illegal and punishable by fines to the store clerks. Is this country wide or only in one or more state(s)?[/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-rape-included-in-video-games/178032/14 "2003-05-28T17:25:38Z")
Sorry about that, guys. It appeared to be a legitimate cite. I’ll try to be more cautious in the future. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-rape-included-in-video-games/178032/15 "2003-05-28T21:27:58Z")
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that rape isn’t something most people _want_ to do, even in a fantasy situation. Most people have daydreamed about strangling an annoying coworker or doing something to get back at the officer who gave them a speeding ticket and a hard time for going 3 MPH over the limit. A video game lets them blow off a little bit of steam. If the lady in the next cubicle never shuts her damn mouth and bugs the hell out of me, I may have fleeting thoughts of dipping her head in a bucket of acid, but I don’t have thoughts of degrading, humiliating, and abusing her and deriving sexual and/or violent pleasures from those acts. ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-rape-included-in-video-games/178032/16 "2003-05-28T21:48:46Z")
What is wrong with me that I think that games that encourage vividly realistic and increasingly violent behavior, especially to “non-bad-guys”, is not a good thing? I’ve got a nephew that loves GTA, and he’s a good, responsible smart kid. I don’t believe that he would ever act out anything like this in real life. But when I see him relishing in mauling pedestrians and police, it distrubs me deeply. ---
**Author:** ![Sionach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Sionach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sionach)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-rape-included-in-video-games/178032/17 "2003-05-28T22:02:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ryle Dup \* > \*\*[hijack] I read in the article above that a bill had passed about selling games to minors now being illegal and punishable by fines to the store clerks. Is this country wide or only in one or more state(s)?[/hijack] \*\* That one is specific to Washington State (the home of the SeattlePI where the article was found). It’s a fairly new sort of thing and there’s still alot of controversy about whether it’s constitutional. [Here](http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=webvideogameban21&date=20030521&query=video+games+fine) is further information about it, if you’re interested. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-rape-included-in-video-games/178032/18 "2003-05-28T22:23:19Z")
There are some of these type of games, but they are homemade games, not stuff you find in the store. (No, I won’t mention them) ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-rape-included-in-video-games/178032/19 "2003-05-28T22:37:33Z")
As \*\* Scumpup \*\* mentioned, there are plenty of hentai games from Japan that feature very graphical rapes. Some even have women being raped by tentacled demons. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![occ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@occ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/occ)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-rape-included-in-video-games/178032/20 "2003-05-28T22:42:05Z")
The other thing is, how many games (other than gimmicky ones) have you have sex as an object? Other than the Leisure Suit Larry series, not many. Yeah, I’m sure people can come up with tons of minor examples, but for serious games where gameplay is the point, how many involve sex as a “goal”? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-rape-included-in-video-games/178032.md?page=2)