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Video game: chilling universe games:
Digital violence
In the freezing universe of online games where raping reports – Video game: chilling universe games
A game glorifying sexual assault was removed after a global outcry. However, hundreds of other similar games remain accessible and are downloaded thousands of times.
Recently, a video game in which players sexually attack women has sparked the stir. Moreover, The game was the subject of discussions on online forums. However, One of the comments was as follows: “It is a pleasure to treat women video game: chilling universe games as they deserve, without consequences.”
Montage: Michael Treuthardt / photo: GETTY IMAGES
- A video game in which players could rape women was still recently available on one of the largest. Meanwhile, game platforms.
- There are many other similar formats involving sexual violence against women.
- According to various experts, these games encourage what is called “rape myths” and can lead to real crimes.
“Never accept a no” or “in this video game*, you will become the worst nightmare of women.” Such was the description video game: chilling universe games of an online game available until recently on one of the largest game platforms in. Consequently, the world. Furthermore, Its principle? For example, Rape women. Moreover, Several comments posted on social networks reveal that Swiss have also played there.
The game carried a label 18+, but anyone could download it by simply indicating a false date of birth, even minors. For example, No more rigorous age verification was in place.
The criticisms quickly rushed. However, Non -governmental organization Collective Shout gathered 70,000 signatures to challenge the game. Similarly, This NGO fights the sexualized representation of women in the media. However, First, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom banned the game in their territories. Faced with pressures, the manufacturer ended up withdrawing it worldwide. However. he justified himself in a statement by arguing that rape fantasies were only video game: chilling universe games “sexual preference” and that the game did not encourage violent acts in reality. Neither the distribution platform nor the manufacturer answered our questions.
Video game: chilling universe games
“Points of domination”
In the game. we direct a male character who meets little dressed women, with generous forms. The player must choose from several actions proposed. If the player requires sexual intercourse, the woman clearly and firmly refuses several times. The objective of the game consists in constraining the woman to these relationships despite her refusals. From a legal point of view, this is rape. One of the answers scheduled for the player was in particular: “The more you defend yourself. the longer it will last.”
The player accumulates “points of domination” by choosing violent actions from the available options. Some scenes only unlock through violent acts. video game: chilling universe games For example, pulling the woman with her hair brings back points, while a forced kiss is deemed too soft. The player then receives a message encouraging him to be “mercilessly”: “If you just want to kiss someone. you can do it elsewhere.”
The more violent the player chooses, the more “points of domination”.
DR
Many video games stage sexual violence against women, placing players in the role of video game: chilling universe games attacker. A simple search with keywords combining sexuality and violence on the platform mentioned above shows 251 games of this type.
We have examined a sample of 30 retail games: most display explicit warnings regarding adult content. “sexual assault” or “sexual relations without consent”. The platform also offers thematic “discoveries of discoveries” created by users. In this list is in particular a category called “violent and illegal” and which directs towards this type of game. The latter seem very popular: on Reddit. there are around fifty publications in which users request recommendations for video games containing sexual violence.
Downloaded thousands of times
According to our analysis. the selected games have probably been downloaded several thousand times, but sometimes much more. For two games, it is estimated that they were downloaded respectively 80,000 and 118,000 times. video game: chilling universe games This is what emerges from “Video Game Insights”, a platform that provides data and analyzes on the video game sector.
“Download statistics. the number of comments indicate a certain popularity,” explains Yannick Rochat, assistant professor in video games studies at the University of Lausanne and co-founder of the Gamelab Unil-Epfl. “The success of some of these games leaves me speechless,” he adds.
Social networks are the scene of lively debates on these games. In the comments, there is a tendency to minimize the situation. There are arguments ranging from “this game is not so serious” to “films like Fifty Shades of Gray. Dark Romance books are just as condemnable”, passing by “this is part of artistic freedom, otherwise it would also be necessary to ban shooting games”.
What is the real danger video game: chilling universe games of these games?
“Rape myths”
“Such games promote rape fantasies,” said the psychologist and forensic expert Jérôme Endrass. “A game in which we can control the behavior of the protagonist on a daily basis is much closer to reality than a book. a video.” According to him, shooting games are also much further from the real world. “The shooting games use weapon systems to which it is not easy to access in real life. they are used in combat scenarios that have nothing to do with daily life.” This is why. according to him, the probability that a person really becomes violent because of the shooting games is much lower than for the rape games. “The rape games are much more dangerous.”
Jérôme Endrass. expert in legal medicine and psychologist, believes that “rape games” (Editor’s note: rape games) are more dangerous than shooting games.
Urs power
For Jérôme Endrass. the greatest risk is the promotion of what he calls “myths of rape”: “These are ideas or stories that justify and normalize sexual violence.” According to these myths, women are themselves guilty or take pleasure in being abused. Another myth is that men cannot control themselves. “Such beliefs video game: chilling universe games are dangerous and promote crimes. This is what several studies show. ”
No intervention by the game platform
Video games with sexually violent content are not prohibited in general. Since July 2024. representations of violent acts between adults are no longer classified as pornography punishable according to the New criminal law in sexual matters. They are now part of article 135 on “representations of violence”. According to this article, only the content which insistently illustrates acts of cruelty remain punishable. The question remains how the courts will interpret this provision.
The platform, which proposed the game question, rarely intervenes. Since 2018. it has followed a policy allowing all content, with the exception of those who are illegal or who fall under manifest trolling (deliberate provocation). “We should not be able to decide in your video game: chilling universe games place. as a player, what type of content you can buy or not to buy,” said the company in a press release.
“Platforms often react only to the strongest criticisms,” confirms Yannick Rochat, an unil expert. “For them, it is not worth, from an economic point of view, to check or select the content beforehand.”
*We have deliberately chosen not to mention the name of the game as. well as that of the platform so as not to encourage their popularity more.
Translated from German by Olivia Beuhat.
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