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Devs Don’t Succumb To “Rape” Backlash, Lara Remains The Same

Stuff like that can really shake a developer. But not Crystal Dynamics, a team that is sticking to their guns and maintaining that the initial backlash was unwarranted in the first place.

And we 100% support that.

During an E3 2012 trailer for the new Tomb Raider reboot, there was a scene where a bound (but not quite helpless) Lara was being threatened in a suggestive manner, which some of the more sensitive viewers thought denoted the possibility of a rape scene. But the developers said no such thing happens in the game, and that no fan complaints have changed their perspective of the adventure. That's exactly what senior art director Bryan Horton had to say at the Eurogamer Expo :

"Everything we did has been completely unchanged. This is exactly the same build as we showed back at E3 2012, and the incident happens within the same context. We believe every decision we have made so far in the game is justified by the story we are trying to tell, so no changes have been made."

We'll definitely go with that. There was never any reason to freak out over that scene; given the context, it's not only a possible occurrence, it's probable. And by the way, we're willing to bet that Lara gets her revenge in multiple brutal ways, so to all those supposedly "offended" peeps: Calm down. Really. Get over yourselves.

Related Game(s): Tomb Raider

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SonyPuppy
SonyPuppy
11 years ago

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.

TheHighlander
TheHighlander
11 years ago

"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.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
11 years ago

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

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
11 years ago

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

TheHighlander
TheHighlander
11 years ago

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.


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

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
11 years ago

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

PoopsMcGee
PoopsMcGee
11 years ago

I don't think I believe them.

(but I really don't care)

cLoudou
cLoudou
11 years ago

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.

Beamboom
Beamboom
11 years ago

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.

BikerSaint
BikerSaint
11 years ago

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

Zeronoz
Zeronoz
11 years ago

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.

Alienange
Alienange
11 years ago

LOL at "it's probable"

Vivi_Gamer
Vivi_Gamer
11 years ago

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.

berserk
berserk
11 years ago

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 .

Bio
Bio
11 years ago

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.

TheHighlander
TheHighlander
11 years ago

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::

SmokeyPSD
SmokeyPSD
11 years ago

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…


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

Comic Shaman
Comic Shaman
11 years ago

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.

The Doom
The Doom
11 years ago

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.


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

Comic Shaman
Comic Shaman
11 years ago

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.

Underdog15
Underdog15
11 years ago

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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