GTA 5 has some players quite upset. The video game series Grand Theft Auto was an instant success when it debuted in 1997, and it has been going strong ever since. Grand Theft Auto, also called GTA, is set in a virtual city, and may have been based off of major cities like Miami, New York City and various parts of California.
Each of the games in the popular series allows players to play a criminal character, trying to go from a lowly thug to a big time career criminal. Players progress through the story line by completing missions, all of which are very illegal, and players can also explore the virtual city on their own as GTA is also an open world game, which allows for free roaming. The latest version is GTA 5 and it has some people in an uproar over virtual rape. Rockstar, the game’s creator, has been contacted by numerous press outlets, including VGN, for the company’s reaction, but as of yet they have refused to comment on the charges made by players that they are being virtually raped.
The types of crimes someone can commit in grand theft auto are widely diverse. A player will sometimes need to murder the occasional thug, or random person in the street; players can go looting. Blowing up the occasional building is to be expected. Grand Theft Auto has come under attack with the release of each new game of the series. As the graphics and game play improved, so did the types of crimes that could be committed. GTA 5 is the newest game that has sparked some serious outrage and has both gamers and critics asking if Rockstar has gone too far.
Offensive language, often racial, has always been a cornerstone of Grand Theft Auto. In the first few hours of GTA 5, the N-word can be heard several hundred times, which critics are saying is far more than the typical offensiveness of its predecessors. Highly sexual scenes are also quite common in the series. The game had a backlash of criticism when players discovered that they could actually pick up a prostitute with a car in the game, take her to a secluded area, and engage in sexual activity. In the newest addition to the racy series, there are strip clubs where players can pay for a lap dance. The strippers encourage groping as well, but the players better not get caught by the bouncers!
However, the new trend is so disturbing that it leaves people wondering about the implications of virtual crimes. Rockstar is refusing to comment on the accusations of virtual rape, and GTA 5 players continue to engage in it by re-programming their avatars. Players are recording the virtual rape on their computers, and uploading it to YouTube, as well as other popular social media networks. Through these videos it is abundantly clear to see that virtual rape is indeed occurring in the game.
In what is a truly distressing act, the players who are doing the virtual raping modify the game’s code. This enables them to do things that the typical gamer with a game right out of the box could not do. Once they have coded their games, the attackers then choose a man who is either completely naked or naked from the waste down as their character. They can “lock” that character onto another player (mostly women, of course) and proceed to engage in an animation that thrusts the man’s pelvis back and forth. Versions of this can be seen easily on YouTube.
Players are unhappy and are speaking out about it. When the virtual rape is taking place, there is nothing the other player can do about it. They are basically stuck for as long as the attacker sees fit. In 2012 a video game blogger contacted Rockstar with what he perceived to be a virtual rape. Rockstar reviewed the act in question and responded that the episode was “meant to depict and imply cannibalism, not rape.” Because highly sexual themes are rampant throughout the series, and eating other human beings is something that has not happened yet, people are not buying it. Since Rockstar denied that a virtual rape took place in the other game, some players are asking if the company will do the same when-or if-they ever comment on these allegations about GTA 5.
GTA 5 is not the only online game in which virtual rape has been an issue. In 2013 player Kim Correa experienced a virtual rape playing the online zombie apocalypse game DayZ. She described the disturbing activity to the media. Correa reported that two armed men cornered her character, had her strip, killed her character and simulated sex with the character’s dead body. What’s even more eerie is that the virtual rapists could, and did, talk to her throughout the entire act. So, it became more than just a virtual attack, they began virtually assaulting Correa. Correa stated “I definitely don’t want to say what happened to me verbally is as important as if it had happened in real life, but it means something. And I’m not sure what it means.”
Interestingly, Rockstar will not hesitate to ban users for cheating or for “abuse.” They recently banned players for hosting modded lobbies and/or otherwise cheating the game. Apparently, they are quick to react when it comes to cheating but refuse to comment on the fact that their players are disgusted about the trend of virtual rape taking place in GTA 5.
The new trend of virtual rape in the GTA 5 and the upcoming games in the series has definitely left both fans and critics alike upset and wondering if Rockstar will some clean about the fact that its video game is being used to carry out rape fantasies on unsuspecting and unwilling players. This is not what Grand Theft Auto fans signed up for, and people are questioning whether or not Rockstar is going to put an end to the virtual rape and virtual victimization that GTA 5 now has. Because, while it is true that it is just a video game, people should never have to feel victimized in any situation.
By: Lauren DiDonato
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This is why Facebook games are becoming more popular. The ease of use and dissemination of content, tagging ecgedekkeeka
Mostly women? Did you take a straw poll? Your article makes a little unsupported speculation.
Having said that, playing in a public server is always risky, especially when it comes to coarse language and harassment. Play in private servers unless you’re one hell of a daredevil.
Its GTA what do you expect? To run in the fields and pick flowers. Its realistic game with the characters having realistic problems
Just press the off switch, simple.
I play GTA 4 & 5 all of the time and I can confirm to you the language in it is no more than realistic. The players in the game that use words like the N-word say it exactly like people do on the street. Also, you typically only have to kill or rob other bad guys; though, you do occasionally get in a shoot out with police. The involvement of strippers and prostitutes in your game play is almost completely optional and almost entirely involved from the story line. It should also be said that the strippers and prostitutes are made to be realistic too.
My point: if any of this offends you, you shouldve been smart enough not to play a game based on this kind of subject matter.
David ur reported 2 sony n every modder will be reported as well u all will be banned
Im a stupid lesbian as well
I just want to say that I play GTA V, and I am a female. I have never seen anything that has offended me. It’s funny. Why would you take that seriously? I robbed a bank in GTA V. I also blew up a meth lab. Does that mean that I am gonna go out and do it in the real world? Hell no. This is just petty, really. The game is for 18+, that means adults. And maybe if you aren’t mature enough or you get offended easily, this is not the game for you.
It should also be noted that the character using the n word over and over for the intro to online is himself an african american and when compared with how often modern day rappers throw the n word around isn’t all that excessive. Nice try though. For all the rest of your article direct your attention to all the other comments.
I don’t think R* knows there own code of conduct, Raped, Mods, exploits, and most of all its racist towards all people other then Americans. I’m so sorry if they don’t see fit for this comment to be displayed, people are so rude on this site I can’t stand it any more and they anyway display rude racial comments despite the DLC that will be disappointed just as the last one. I take my hat off today to R* games, for a customer who buys the best of their game series, this is how they act towards a person, letting my comments go’s unread most of all its a criminal offence. Please R* read you’re code of conduct and then sue me if I’m wrong. I apologise for anyone who sees this offensive. It’s you’re problem.
First of all, to get this game you dont have to be 18, you have to be 17.. second, rockstar shouldn’t be taking the hit for an illegal modification to the source code, becauseit is completely out of their control.
I was raped the other day on a rooftop. Another player bent me over and had his way with me. I thought it was hilarious. I’m much more pissed by the people who go around killing with complete invincibility.
Firstly, Rockstar has s**t-all to do with this as it’s a community-made mod, sick as it is, it was made by a couple of idiot players with too much time on their hands. Rockstar will remove it soon enough as modding is in violation of ToS.
As for DayZ, if you’re not expecting random/creepy/f****d in the mind s**t, well, then you’re just naive.
Don’t expect that to change either.
Secondly, there are no ”implications of virtual crimes” IRL. If any parent is a**hole enough to let a child under the age of 16, it’s rated 18…but c’mon…play Grand Theft Auto V, then what do you expect?
It costs 60quid, has a big 18 on it and ANYONE WHO HASN’T HEARD OF GTA HAS BEEN LIVING UNDER A ROCK. You literally can’t miss it. Gamer or not.
Most kids don’t know what’s socially acceptable and what isn’t these days. It’s up to the parents to monitor their children, not a video-game COMPANY making a game aimed at adults.
People should have at least a couple brain cells before they are allowed to reproduce. Letting a child under the age of 15 play this game is retarded. Sexual scenes/references/drug use/alcohol abuse and violence isn’t good for any youngins head, parents need to make themselves aware, if the kids own parents don’t give a f**k, why should anyone else?
Answer me that.
Tl;dr, this ”rape” mod is f****d up, there’s a lot of kids on this game, unfortunately, so what could be seen as a stupid joke could end up freaking some people out. But it will be gone soon, as I’ve said. These things do take time.
Wow!!!! Really? It is a freaking video game rated M for mature. This game is intended for players 18+ or mature enough to handle the content. People need to realize that the problem is the with the parents who let their children play the game. Plain and simple, this is intended for fun, relaxation, get over it.
Ok so this is some old news. But I will say that all the stuff this website talks about is mods. The vanilla game would never put such a physical movement like rape in the game so the people who b**ch about it need to know IT’S MODS!!!
This is a year old and was mentioned quite frequently when the game was first released. This may be considered sexist, but this article was definitely written by a female and most likely a mother. People need to stop crying about the content of a game, and teach their children what’s socially right and wrong. Or stop them playing all together, considering it’s an age rating of 18. Any rapists playing the game are playing the game and not raping, which is a good thing. Can’t see the point of this article at all and my money is on you deleting my comment!
Among the nothing that players could do during these acts of rape: leaving the server, quitting the game, or turning off the computer.
MUH FEELINGS
This is hilarious. It’s like these people don’t know how to log out, or turn off their consoles.
An article that actually explains the problem? And not just some lousy reporter summing up some Youtuber’s video? Wow, I’M IMPRESSED.
it isn’t rape its a sex action from inside the game which modders such as my self use against other players for a cheap laugh anybody doing this action online is a jailbreak user other players who do not have a modded console cannot do this action so people need to stop there bitching
Where’s Jack Tohmpson when all this is goin on?