Devs Don't Succumb To "Rape" Backlash, Lara Remains The Same

Here here. It's time we stopped babying everything down out of fear of offending someone. I for one can't wait for this game, in its entirety, and I'm sure the story will well and truly justify any of the questionable contents.

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"to all those supposedly "offended" peeps: Calm down. Really. Get over yourselves."

I see. Well, I will await the game, but to be honest Ben, I'm surprised you finished your piece with this.

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I think he just means to imply that some gamers are working awful hard to be offended and I agree with that sentiment.

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World is right. The response to that was just utterly ridiculous, IMO.

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Granted there were a lot of over the top reactions, and after a long discussion here I agreed with others that so long as the scene was a) implied, and b) simply a possible outcome, not a scripted event, I could see the point of including the events in the story they are trying to convey. I haven't seen the trailer, and probably won't watch it.

However, I still have strong reservations about the use of rape scenes in video games (and movies). I think part of my problem is that as violent as video games are, that violence is rooted in the original video game concepts of shooting the sprites to score points. Clearly that's evolved into near photo-realistic action, but fundamentally you're still simply zapping faceless bad guys. The violence is akin to cartoon violence - which is a line of reasoning many take when trying to dismiss concerns over violence in games.

But this scene is fundamentally different because the violence is potentially inflicted on the player's character (in this case Lara). More than that, it's not simply video game violence, but sexual violence that is implied. There is a huge difference between the stereotypical video game action violence we see every day, and the much more intimate and personal violence that a rape scene could potentially include or imply.

I do understand the point about including the scene for story purposes. OK, I do get that. But, I object strongly to the way in which some are now dismissing any concerns about the scene, and dismissing any that have concerns as if it should not matter to anyone. I think this is a subject that needs to be handled very carefully in games, and if that means that y'all want to dismiss me as ridiculous or trying to take offense, that's fine, but I think if that's the case, it says more about you than me.

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Last edited by Highlander on 10/1/2012 1:57:24 PM

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Looks like they are taking some cues from Ninja Theory, good for them.

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I don't think I believe them.

(but I really don't care)

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Good for them. I just hate it when people give in and change their original views just because people get offended. It also happens in other mediums as well not just in video games.

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Very good point. In movies, music, books, TV series there's plenty of titles/franchises with various non-family-friendly content. Why should games be any different.

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Strike one up for the "Silent Majority"!!!!

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I`m game with just suggestive touching (just like the one in the trailer) but more than that is a major NO for me! It`d be ok if the Devs doesn`t delve too deep and use rape (or anything sex related) as a means for Lara (or any female character in the game) to become stronger.

Not to mention, Lara is an iconic character so things like this is bound to happen.

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LOL at "it's probable"

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I agree, the whole situation was blown way out of proportion. Sure the guy may have had immoral intentions, but these people are savages so it is important to show that. The confrontation between the two was very minor anyway - He was grabbing her by the waist. If there was actually a scene which involved rape, yes I would feel a little uneasy. But to complain about a bad guys intention is just daft. People were making it sounds as bad as the scene from Irreversible...

But I am glad Crystal Dynamics are sticking to their guns with this. I would hate for the Mass Effect syndrome to bully more developers from creative freedom. Did you hear that the some of Bioware's founders have quit due to the fans reaction to Mass Effect 3. I have nothing but sympathy for them, they did not deserve that assault.

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Why would they change anything ,the scene just showed that their was an intention of rape but Lara denied him that option by fighting back .

You can be sure that guy will regret thinking about it .

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I always found it odd that several movies have gotten away with explicit rape scenes and no one cares, but the mere suggestion that it's possible in a video game has people foaming at the mouth.

So props to Crystal Dynamics. Too bad it's still a Tomb Raider game and will most likely suck, anyway.

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You could have simply posted this;

"I always found it odd that several movies have gotten away with explicit rape scenes and no one cares"

I find it extremely odd that movies have been allowed to depict sexual violence in a graphic manner, but then TV is pushing that envelope as well now, so perhaps Hollywood thinks it's OK now? Oddly, those scenes are OK as far as many are concerned (apparently), but non-violent sensual content is the work of the devil...

::rolls eyes::

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I would say I find it odd that people think it's ok for film to explore sexual violence but not videogames... Why is games less of a medium to explore anything to do with life?

I dont have a problem at all with films that want to go that way, if it serves a purpose in message and story. It can be a powerful tool to discuss something like sexual violence which doesn't normally get discussed. The little freak out gamers had over this just goes to show that for all the touting of maturity modern games have, that they can be art, we aren't there yet, both in audience or exploration. We're still just running around killing things, anything out of the comfort zone seems to freak people out way too easily.

I remember an article that suggested what if Drake or other main characters were gay or future titles, the comments were well, disguesting...

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Last edited by SmokeyPSD on 10/1/2012 8:56:41 PM

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Sometimes it seems that the worst damage happens not from the previews themselves but from the comments from the developers in response. I think that Crystal Dynamics may have hurt just as much with the "we want you to feel protective of Lara" and the disingenuous "sexual assault isn't part of the game" comments as they did with the actual trailer.

Ninja Theory and Bioware are also companies that seem to have their feet spring-loaded to fire into their mouths sometimes. I think these days, devs have to learn to be more careful.

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I might get flack for this, but if they wanted to include the possibility of rape, I wouldn't have a problem with it. It is a very likely threat Lara could face, considering the situation in the game. It wouldn't even need to be repeated; rape usually happens only once or twice (to a less extent) in a film/tv show.

I don't understand why people somehow feel as though rape is a crime worse than murder. It may severely damage the lives of some of the victims, but what about the one's who move past it and don't let it control their lives? The impact it has on the victim is usually dependent on how the victim handles it.

Also, I find it more insulting to both the people who have a vision within a story that happened to include rape and to the people who experienced it to have rape removed from the media as if it doesn't exist. That's one way to handle a problem: brush it under the rug.

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Last edited by The Doom on 10/1/2012 2:49:03 PM

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Addressing your second point, I don't think the opinion is that rape is somehow worse than murder as a crime. It is, however, a much more difficult topic to handle well in a piece of entertainment.

There are many reasons for this, and here are a few of the ones that stand out to me.

One is that while we all agree murder is bad, there are plenty of instances where we glorify people who kill other people in real life. Soldiers are treated as heroes, we celebrate the image of the cop or vigilante who drills the bad guy. There justified and even laudable killing. The same is not true of rape. It's never a thing you celebrate.

Another is the frame of mind required to commit rape is considerably more repellant than killing. Most of us (except extreme pacifists) can probably envision a number of scenarios where we would kill to protect ourselves, our loved ones, our nation, etc. But what are the circumstances which would push you to commit rape?

Killing can also be seen as a necessary evil to achieve a greater objective. Sam Fisher might have no choice but to take out some guards who are just doing their jobs in order to achieve a higher good. But rape won't ever take you closer towards an objective... unless that objective is the torture and degradation of another person, in which case it's a terrible goal.

And so forth and so on. These are just a few of the reasons why the subjects are so different.

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I agree with Comic Shaman. It's just an infinitely more complicated issue. It's not really "worse". That's too subjective. But it definitely is more complex.

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