Anime Vice News

X-box Game Banned for "Visual Sexual Assault Reminders"

Get out your angry sticks.

 
 
 
The witchhunt against ecchi-like material only continues to get more and more... absurd. What you are looking at is a visual novel, And Yet, I Love You, developed as a 240 MS points (3 dollars'ish) download only game. This indie developed game is not an adult game, there are no sex scenes, or scenes that contain nudity. However, Microsoft Europe leveled claims that this game contained "Visual Sexual Assault Reminders."
 
In this picture:
The woman has fallen/been pushed down
The woman has one hand restrained
Her panties are mildly exposed
 
And that's all it takes to get a visual novel banned. No sexual scenes, and no indication that anything happens after the snapshot we are seeing now. By all accounts this is some creative soul who right or wrong decided to market their own visual novel on the X-Box, and Mr. Sagawa has been dragged out into the street and told he is encouraging violence against women.
 
 
Sagawa had originally offered to limit distribution of the game to Japanese accounts and even altered the scene, but this was not enough. Microsoft then threatened suspending his account if he did on cease distribution.

Kotaku
brings up the point that if Microsoft Europe has a problem against acts of violence against women, how have they overlooked the almost explicitly sexual Dead or Alive, or any multitude of violent games that involve females. Ninja Gaiden had Rachel attacked by a tentacle monster. I think Ninja Gaiden is encourage violence by tentacles. Lets not forget about Grand Theft Auto... which encourages players (via health benefit) to not only fornicate with hookers, but to kill them afterward, since it logically means they pay her nothing for her services.
 
Look, Its not like I'm trying to defend the artistic merits of And Yet, I Love You, but smell of hypocrisy is way too strong. Its like these Microsoft Europe people have never been on X-Box live, and heard how absolutely offensive and terrible their own community can be. 

Edit: Forgot to add more outrage.
sunfloweron Aug. 22, 2009 at 2:17 p.m.
The hypocrisy is stunning.  I hope someone with a big enough voice calls them on it.  Or enough of us with smaller voices.
HeeroYuyon Aug. 22, 2009 at 3:09 p.m.
I have no words to explain my outrage. Once again proving that Europe has too many d****bags who are so busy making sure everything is politically correct (and failing miserably) to do anything good and creative themselves anymore.
Kelleth moderator on Aug. 22, 2009 at 3:29 p.m.
@HeeroYuy said:
" I have no words to explain my outrage. Once again proving that Europe has too many d****bags who are so busy making sure everything is politically correct (and failing miserably) to do anything good and creative themselves anymore. "
Congrats you just perfectly described the Prime Minister of Holland.
HeeroYuyon Aug. 22, 2009 at 4 p.m.
@Kelleth: Really? I thought I just summed up the entire European Union...
lanaswifton Aug. 22, 2009 at 4:55 p.m.
What the fuck is this bullshit? Who does XBL think their market is, fuckin' Wii owners? Hello?
Apathyladon Aug. 22, 2009 at 5:10 p.m.
@lanaswift said:

" What the fuck is this bullshit? Who does XBL think their market is, fuckin' Wii owners? Hello? "

 
Uh...perhaps you haven't heard of Sexy Poker, which was released a couple weeks ago on WiiWare. ;)
 http://www.giantbomb.com/sexy-poker/61-27412/
MoonStormon Aug. 22, 2009 at 5:43 p.m.
I actuality played that game it was not bad at all. Did not know what it was saying but I wish I did. To bad I already deleted it of my Xbox now I won't be able to download it again. 
BTW I made a post about this way back.  http://www.animevice.com/forums/general-discussion/1/japanese-indies-games-on-xbox-live-wait-what/205294/#2
Sombreon Aug. 22, 2009 at 6:03 p.m.
It's not like you can't just download a thousand eroges for free online you know.
N15PCAon Aug. 22, 2009 at 7:53 p.m.
I don't know if Europe gets anime channel on X-box 360 marketplace, because if they did they would have heart attack when they saw Speed Grapher.  
FLCL1on Aug. 22, 2009 at 8:25 p.m.

im im so totally outraged!!!.......... but also happy they didnt get berserk lol
rocketbomberon Aug. 23, 2009 at 12:28 p.m.
Their choice of words is telling: 
 
There is no such thing as a "Visual Sexual Assault Reminder" unless the person who coined the phrase (and presumably, also those who propogate it) are already intimately familiar with sexual assault.  I get nothing of the sort from the image -- at the moment, she is surprised.  Any second now, she could break into a shy (or knowing) smile,  in which case this is a little foreplay leading to something else -- maybe a nice game of chess. (I can't say) 
 
-- or she is genuinely scared -- at which point a gentleman would back off, offer her a soothing cup of tea, perhaps, or a drive back to her college dorm -- she's over 18, right? ;)  
 
There are all kind of narratives I could write leading up to or deriving from this one snapshot -- maybe she fell down the stairs and the other character was running to help but also tripped, and they end up in one of those eye-to-eye, meaningful moments so common to one type of anime ecchi comedy (until another character interrupts)  -- but  to automatically assume it's an assualt, and to call the so-called assault a "Reminder"...  
 
hm.  whose mind is in the gutter, now? 
John_Martoneon Aug. 24, 2009 at noon
@MoonStorm: Aww, you did make a post about that awhile back, with more screens than I found! You know, maybe a tip line like the old japanator had wouldn't be a bad idea. I would really have loved to credit you and your posting above Kotaku. No offense to Kotaku.
RockmanBionicson Aug. 24, 2009 at 1:58 p.m.
Yup, that sure looks like rape to me.
giaon Aug. 24, 2009 at 5:09 p.m.
@John_Martone: We do technically have a tips line, but it's not very noticeable. On the news page, right under the part about the rss being "after the jump free," there's an "email us a story" button. It goes to my e-mail...and if anyone ever used it I'd forward the tips on to you guys, in theory.
Pokemon Black and White Looks Delicious in Motion

First video of a Pokemon battle in Black and White.

Comment & Win: One Piece Vol. 52, 53

Time for a giveaway folks! Now, act civil, we don't want anyone to get hurt in the mad rush to win.

Beginner's Guide to FLCL

Gainax's madcap, surrealist anime, broken down for new viewers.

Ballz Deep

Steve gets intimately close to Dragon Ball Z, for science!

LUPIN III: THE WOMAN CALLED FUJIKO MINE #2 -- Watch & Learn

Eroticism personified.

VIZ's REDAKAI Comics Interviews - - Aubrey Sitterson

The writer chats about the anime-themed adventure, as well the connections shared between comics, manga and, of course, pro-wrestling.

VIDEO: New PERSONA 4 Intro By Madhouse

Marking the game's "golden" re-do for the Playstation Vita.

OTAKU TUESDAY: #ToonamisBackBitches

Raps can come true!

Every STREET FIGHTER Ever, Basically In One Box Set

Except for STREET FIGHTER I, of course, because it's awful.

SPACE BROTHERS #2 -- Watch & Learn

Don't cry, man. This was a good episode!

VIDEO: DBZ Kinect Game Encourages You To Flip Out On Your TV

Become a Super-Saiyan and understand the universe better.

VIZ's REDAKAI Comics Interviews - - Nate Lovett

This artist's son thinks that working on this anime-themed series is so cool!

Every STREET FIGHTER Ever, Basically In One Box Set

Except for STREET FIGHTER I, of course, because it's awful.

LUPIN III: THE WOMAN CALLED FUJIKO MINE #2 -- Watch & Learn

Eroticism personified.

Community Spotlight 5/24/12

Toonami set for its grand revival this weekend, Richie Branson has a new rap ready to launch, interviews with the REDAKAI team, and some really amazing wiki editing by the community.

VIDEO: DBZ Kinect Game Encourages You To Flip Out On Your TV

Become a Super-Saiyan and understand the universe better.

OTAKU TUESDAY: #ToonamisBackBitches

Raps can come true!

YU YU HAKUSHO #54 -- Watch & Learn

Ah, good to see my pals again.

VIDEO: New PERSONA 4 Intro By Madhouse

Marking the game's "golden" re-do for the Playstation Vita.

VIZ's REDAKAI Comics Interviews - - Aubrey Sitterson

The writer chats about the anime-themed adventure, as well the connections shared between comics, manga and, of course, pro-wrestling.

Submissions can take several hours to be approved.

Save ChangesCancel