Publications
Partners
The developers of the computer game, Desk Plant, have decided to go ahead with the release of the controversial game later this month despite public outrage.
"Verbally harass, rape and kill women" is written in the official description of the game as it allows users to kill and rape women amongst other gruesome things while in story mode.
According to Newshub, a New Zealand advocacy group called Rape Prevention Education (RPE) has called the game "outrageous" and cannot believe that the developers are planning on going ahead with the release despite the heinous nature of the game.
"To think that people under the age of 18 are able to access this is just plain wrong, making a game out of rape is never okay - it's outrageous, and it totally negates the impact that sexual violence has on its victims," executive director of RPE Debbie Tohill told Newshub.
In what world is glorifying sexual assault and rape culture ever acceptable? The game is meant to be available only for users of the age of eighteen but who's to say a child younger won't find a way to play it? Or that adults are incorruptible.
What kind of message is being sent to children or anyone for that matter about rape? That it's just a normal and acceptable part of life?
IOL reports that the creators of the game have tried to justify this terrible idea by claiming that the game was designed for the four percent of general public who are sociopaths, why would they fuel the inhumane desires of people who want to rape and kill?
The unnamed creator of the game also argues that murder has been a feat in games for many years and has been normalised so he doesn't see why rape too can't be normalised.
"If we ever come to the scientific conclusion that committing crimes in video games, significantly increases the chances of committing crimes in real life, then at that point we as a society will have to decide if we want to ban committing some or all crimes in fiction.
READ MORE: Rape Crisis’ new campaign hits close to home and reminds us how most survivors know their rapists
But you can’t reasonably consider banning rape in fiction without banning murder and torture. Murder has been normalised in fiction, while rape has yet to be normalised," the author of the game wrote on the games website.
He also goes on to say that whether or not the public has been upset by the development of this game, the entertainment industry "does not stop".
"Moral outrage does not stop the entertainment industry, it slows it down but in time society progresses and realises that the purely fictional things they thought would cause moral decay and widespread lawlessness in fact do not.
READ MORE: Cardi B on her Twerk music video: "If I twerk half naked does that mean I deserve to get raped?"
The game also previously had a baby killing scene which has since been removed from its production after several complaints. The author of the game also issued an apology for those who were offended by the gruesome scene.
"I am sorry to anyone whom this scene’s existence caused distress. I am learning to find my artistic balance between producing the games I love, and not causing avalanches of outrage," he wrote.
While he clearly acknowledges that he has been causing what he calls "avalanches of outrage", there will be little peace until the game is completely removed.
In light of a global rape crisis, and the efforts of movements like #MeToo and #TimesUp and #TheTotalShutdown here in SA, the fact that he has developed a game that might "normalise" rape is not only a setback to society but also completely outrageous.
READ MORE: AT A GLANCE: Gauteng has the highest number of reported rape cases in SA
Many people have asked Valve the owners of Steam, the website the game is set to be released on, to remove the game but it still remains on the site.
According to Valve's policy, it will disallow games it determines to be illegal and those it determines to be "trolling." They have also said that they are currently reviewing whether or not Rape Day has violated any of its policies, wrote Tyler Wilde in this PC Games article.
Sign up to W24’s newsletters so you don't miss out on any of our hot stories and giveaways.
