i wish this was a sick joke...a video game focused on rape.

i was just reading my google reader and am truly horrified learning of a game that simulates the despicable crime of rape (but treats it as a goal, rather than a shameful, cowardly, and utterly disgusting crime against women). i have trouble sharing any more information about the game, but it is a stomach turner.

according to the game developers, the game was intended to be sold in Japan only but was being sold on Belfast Amazon.com. as members of british parliament became aware that the game was made available to the UK and Ireland, Belfast Amazon removed it from sale. i don't want to get into too many details, but here's a link to the article on boingboing.net for your horrification of the morning.

i don't really want to give this information much press, but i do feel like it's important to shame companies like Illusion for glorifying and trivializing such a hurtful and heinous crime against women. this sounds like a joke, but there is no grey area between a game like "grand theft auto" and games where it is a goal to intimidate, beat, and repeatedly sexually abuse anyone. also, it graphically portrays the act, which not only de-humanizes women, but treats rape as a meaningless and inconsequential act. the game rewards players for very socially disturbed and destructive abuses. i understand there are bad people in this world, but this video game company has elevated baddies to a level beyond unconscionable. not only that, it manipulates and encourages those that are sexually and mentally disturbed. it looks like satan's working overtime.