Home Gaming Vampires are now rapists?

Vampires are now rapists?

2 min read
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Ergh the over sexualisation of male characters in video games is getting ridiculous

It’s amazing how different people see the same experience entirely differently. At a recent press event in America for Castlevania Lord of Shadows 2, which we weren’t invited to.. tsk, a scene was showcased where you play as a withered Dracula who desperately needs to feed and the first people he comes across are a family of three.

Jason Sodano, a YouTube partner, had the following to say about the scene on twitter

But not all journalists saw it as dark, in fact Kat Bailey from USGamer seems to have taken a wrong turn somewhere and viewed an entirely different version of events.

According to Kat

“which a withered Dracula stumbled toward a family with his arms outstretched, the camera abruptly switching to a first-person perspective. He kills the father outright, then grabs the mother and sinks his fangs into her neck, draining her life energy to restore his. 

Sexualized imagery is nothing new in vampire fiction, but this scene is kind of stunning for how blatant it is with its allusions to rape. It’s a scene that forcibly reminds me of the boxart from RapeLay, down to the woman protecting her child and the disembodied arms (your arms) reaching out from the camera. Regardless of the intentions in constructing the scene, the imagery is ghastly. “

Yes you read that correctly. Kat feels that Dracula feeding on a human us akin to rape and has now labelled this game in the same vein as RapeLay where the game was about raping people.

Not fulfilled with this obscene statement she goes on to state

“So while I applaud Cox and his team for their desire to take on challenging material, I really hope they cut the Family Scene before Lords of Shadow 2 launches next month. In the end, it’s a scene that serves to trivialize sexual assault while failing to accomplish its attended goal — making us feel like Dracula is awful and evil.”

The only reason the scene doesn’t work for Kat is because it really has nothing to do with sexual assault. Yes sex has always been a large part of vampire lore but so has the fact that most vampires are portrayed as bisexual.

However this can all actually be ignored as other journalists at the same event along with the developers have come out and stated that Dracula actually feeds of each of the family members not only the woman.

Kat Bailey has definitely done herself and the developers a disservice by taking her preconceived notions into a preview and spinning something central to the idea of the true Dracula into something entirely unrelated.

I’m not a fan of the Castlevania series but this new video preview along with the dark scene above definitely has me interested in seeing what the game is all about when it gets released next month.

Last Updated: January 14, 2014

110 Comments

  1. Hammersteyn

    January 14, 2014 at 12:42

    People like Kat (and not just women) are attention seekers at best. The whole video game encourages rape and murder is so over done that nobody really cares or listens. Now if Kat was here in my office……
    http://d24w6bsrhbeh9d.cloudfront.net/photo/a9dyrX0_460sa.gif

    Reply

    • Tauriq Moosa

      January 14, 2014 at 15:00

      If Kat was in there in your office, you’d threaten her with violence?

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        January 14, 2014 at 15:31

        No it’s meant to be satirical.

        Reply

        • Tauriq Moosa

          January 14, 2014 at 15:36

          Sure: but you understand that intention isn’t magic. If someone said this about me, I wouldn’t care that it’s satirical: I’d be afraid of meeting you.

          We don’t get to decide how others respond just because we have declared a sentence, image, etc. a joke – especially in environment where women are targeted much more than men. (As I say, I wouldn’t like this even aimed at me.)

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            January 14, 2014 at 15:47

            My apologies then. I have a certain sense of humour that not everyone gets.

          • Tauriq Moosa

            January 14, 2014 at 15:49

            No need to apologise to me, good sir! I’m only asking that you hopefully recognise why jokes aimed at targeting women – especially with violence – might be a bad idea. I’d be extremely happy if you did! (You’re kind to apologise, though 🙂

          • Skyblue

            January 14, 2014 at 17:01

            And the last time someone threatened you with a chainsaw wielding leopard was? Seriously bud, you need to lighten the fuck up.

          • RinceThis2014

            January 14, 2014 at 16:05

            That’s cus you’re a pr*ck *RUNS 😉

          • Tauriq Moosa

            January 14, 2014 at 16:06

            YOUR A DIK

          • RinceThis2014

            January 14, 2014 at 16:08

            Ur face makes the world sad! (My comment is also an in joke, I wouldn’t call someone a pr*ck over the internet, only to their face!)

          • Hammersteyn

            January 14, 2014 at 16:14

            Hehe, I will find you one day 😉

          • RinceThis2014

            January 14, 2014 at 16:26

            HAHAHA! 😉 If you are ever in CT man let me know and the local LG posse will ASSEMBLE!

          • Hammersteyn

            January 14, 2014 at 17:04

            Will do.

  2. Sageville

    January 14, 2014 at 12:48

    The funny thing is there is no rape scene here, just what Kat imagines happened (which contradicts what was shown). Sadly I think if you constantly analyze games specifically in order to highlight bigotry of some sort, you WILL find some, whether it’s there or not. Thats just how fantastical our brains are.

    You know like people wanting to find extra significance in the bible that then come up with the bible code….

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      January 14, 2014 at 12:50

      I don’t think she even knows what a vampire is. Like even the basic definition.

      Reply

      • SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

        January 14, 2014 at 12:57

        Fangs = penis? Would this have been different if Dracula had been… female? Would it still have been akin to rape?

        My head hurts.

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          January 14, 2014 at 13:01

          What if Dracula was a female in Bangkok?

          Reply

          • SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

            January 14, 2014 at 13:02

            Head. Exploded.

          • Sageville

            January 14, 2014 at 13:04

            I’ll raise you…. “What if Dracula was a She-male in Bangkok?”

          • SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

            January 14, 2014 at 13:04

            O.O

            Dracula the lady boy? What. The. Great. Infernal. Hell. Is. This. Place?

          • Sageville

            January 14, 2014 at 13:05

            Yup, we went there….. of course we are now stuck here…. help!

          • SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

            January 14, 2014 at 13:06

            In the words of the wise and majestic Eric Cartman: “Screw you guys… I’m going home.”

          • TiMsTeR1033

            January 14, 2014 at 13:09

            once you go too far you are only left with bad images of bangkok and ladyboys sucking away… dear lord that is a bad image!

          • Hammersteyn

            January 14, 2014 at 13:28

            That’s why I said Bangkok and not Romania. Because you’re more likely to get a surprise from you female friend in Bangkok. 😉

  3. Gideon Venter

    January 14, 2014 at 12:49

    People look for causes to champion. And invent them when they find none.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      January 14, 2014 at 12:49

      LOL champion? Me thinks auto correct has done thee a disservice

      Reply

      • Gideon Venter

        January 14, 2014 at 12:53

        Surely she champions the anti-rape cause? Am I saying it wrong? Um…

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          January 14, 2014 at 12:56

          Ive never heard of people looking for causes to champion. Maybe my english took an arrow to the knee.

          Reply

        • SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

          January 14, 2014 at 12:57

          Don’t we all “champion the anti-rape cause”?
          Anyway. I think you’re saying it fine. It’s not a very common expression in South Africa though, to champion a cause.

          Reply

          • Gideon Venter

            January 14, 2014 at 13:00

            Of course we do, Great Panda, but we hurt the cause when we cry wolf, like she has done.

            I was not aware the phrase isn’t really used locally. Hmmm.

  4. Brenz

    January 14, 2014 at 12:49

    meh, its always the ugly ones that get all feminist and sensitive liberal about stupid shit.
    looking for attention as they never had it.

    Reply

    • Tauriq Moosa

      January 14, 2014 at 14:50

      Always? “All feminist”? What does that mean? Plenty of feminists and “sensitive liberals” who don’t share her view, so I’m not sure what you mean.

      Ugly according to whom? She can be all these things and still be right. Calling her ugly doesn’t tell anyone why she’s wrong. That’s not how arguments work. Interesting that you know she’s “looking for attention”.

      Reply

      • Brenz

        January 14, 2014 at 15:11

        there there, im sure she will notice you one day your fantasy crush can become a reality.

        Reply

        • Tauriq Moosa

          January 14, 2014 at 15:24

          Great response.

          Reply

    • Gareth L (That Guy)

      January 14, 2014 at 14:56

      Shouldn’t you be on Gamespot or something? She’s clueless and an idiot, but where does “feminist” come from? Because she’s a woman?

      Let me guess, women shouldn’t review games – ever – because, y’know, feminism might happen.

      Reply

      • Weanerdog

        January 14, 2014 at 15:07

        No he is assuming that because she is “ugly” she has to be a feminist.

        Reply

      • Brenz

        January 14, 2014 at 15:15

        stop being sexist, woman can do anything a man can do if they so desire.
        but if they are going to behave in a way that deserves ridicule then that is what they will get, same as if a man behaves in that way, equal opportunities and insults for all.
        step out of the dark ages, bloody templar

        Reply

        • Tauriq Moosa

          January 14, 2014 at 15:47

          Actually, she didn’t “behave in a way that deserves ridicule” according to some of us. She didn’t “behave” – she wrote an opinion. Even if she did “behave” like a bad woman, what is achieved by calling her ugly? Even if she is, so what? Do you think your pop-psych analysis is penetrative enough to silence her from “behaving” in future?

          If you’re unable to say why she’s wrong, I’m uncertain what contribution you’re hoping to make aside from insult a harmless women – which is definitely what we need more of.

          Reply

          • Brenz

            January 14, 2014 at 16:33

            phew, such a drama queen.
            getting upset over a little name calling,deepest apologies if i offended your sensitive disposition, i hope you satisfied your need to stand up for the weak (and ugly).
            Run along now, theres plenty other websites to go bore.

          • Tauriq Moosa

            January 14, 2014 at 19:02

            Still not offering an argument but instead name-calling? OK then.

  5. TiMsTeR1033

    January 14, 2014 at 13:00

    Was the first one any good? looking to get it perhaps.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      January 14, 2014 at 13:01

      Do it.

      Reply

    • Umar digs KOS-MOS

      January 14, 2014 at 13:02

      Flippen good time

      Reply

      • TiMsTeR1033

        January 14, 2014 at 13:07

        Seeing as you like these kinds of games umar. Do I need to play any other castlevania games to know story of this? My wife enjoyed Castlevania (dont remember name) on ps2 and said was awesome! so yeah tempted to get into this.

        Reply

        • Umar digs KOS-MOS

          January 14, 2014 at 13:07

          Nope, it’s an Origins/Reboot story of sorts. So no need 🙂

          Reply

          • TiMsTeR1033

            January 14, 2014 at 13:09

            YAY!! sweet man!

    • Sageville

      January 14, 2014 at 13:04

      Nah, too rapey

      Reply

      • TiMsTeR1033

        January 14, 2014 at 13:05

        I like Rapey!

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief in Vegas

          January 14, 2014 at 13:17

          o_O

          Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        January 14, 2014 at 13:11

        LOL

        Reply

  6. RockMossel2014

    January 14, 2014 at 13:02

    Hover above the header image! Do it!

    Reply

  7. Umar digs KOS-MOS

    January 14, 2014 at 13:02

    “Lords of Shadow 2 manages to come off as both insensitive and more than a little tone deaf”

    Sigh…He’s a vampire ffs…man or women…It doesn’t matter…….Disgusted by the non-issue ….. Some one is looking for dem clickies

    Reply

  8. Umar digs KOS-MOS

    January 14, 2014 at 13:05

    Didn’t see anyone complaining when Rayne was sucking on men’s neck now did we.

    Reply

  9. cr1t

    January 14, 2014 at 13:05

    Has vampires not always been an allegory for sexual assault? In true blood they are practically date raping everybody?

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      January 14, 2014 at 15:06

      I think that’s only a fairly recent interpretation of the whole vampire mythology. Before they were just murderous monsters, then they became the more seductive evil type thing we’re more familiar with now.

      Reply

  10. Alien Emperor Trevor

    January 14, 2014 at 13:08

    Why do I suspect that if the positions were reversed (as per her imaginary viewpoint that no one else saw) & he killed the woman then fed off the man she’d have written a piece complaining about how the woman is just murdered & not fed on like the man.

    Reply

    • RinceThis2014

      January 14, 2014 at 13:09

      I agree! Oh oh… 0-O

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        January 14, 2014 at 13:11

        It’s only the first time.

        Reply

        • RinceThis2014

          January 14, 2014 at 13:14

          that’s what she said *runs

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 14, 2014 at 13:16

            You’re right. Oh no!

          • RinceThis2014

            January 14, 2014 at 13:17

            “And then, BVVVVVVVVV Only one man stood in his way BVVVVVVVVVVV A man that could end the world BVVVVVVVVV!

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 14, 2014 at 13:19

            lolllllllll panning shot, slow-mo action, cut to rapid action with pounding music… AND CREDITS.

          • RinceThis2014

            January 14, 2014 at 13:19

            And OVG with his hands over his mouth LOL

          • Admiral Chief in Vegas

            January 14, 2014 at 13:17

            One of these days we are going to hear a story about you two hooking up, and no one will be surprised

          • RinceThis2014

            January 14, 2014 at 13:18

            When you wake up and realise it was a sandwich evening you will be! *RUNS

          • Admiral Chief in Vegas

            January 14, 2014 at 13:18

            Luckily I’m far, far away from you, and attending such evening…

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 14, 2014 at 13:24

            …but… but we had a threesome last Friday night, we whacked off heads & everything :/

          • TiMsTeR1033

            January 14, 2014 at 13:25

            okay then! time to move on and walk away quickly..

          • Admiral Chief in Vegas

            January 14, 2014 at 13:29

            It was a foursome, multiple times, but on the internet. You guys meet up IN PERSON

            😛

          • TiMsTeR1033

            January 14, 2014 at 13:30

            and played a game, which involved hitting balls into holes!

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 14, 2014 at 13:31

            There were no holes involved. It was all iron & wood!

          • Admiral Chief in Vegas

            January 14, 2014 at 13:32

            Next time, YOU are taking point, so that you stay away from my backside!

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 14, 2014 at 13:34

            bwhahahhahaha, does it make it weird that you were playing Nick?

          • Admiral Chief in Vegas

            January 14, 2014 at 13:41

            Lol, point remains, that you take point!

  11. RinceThis2014

    January 14, 2014 at 13:09

    You have got to be kidding me? What is wrong with these ‘journos’? Talk about trying to make a name for yourself, well done, you most certainly HAVE.

    Reply

    • TiMsTeR1033

      January 14, 2014 at 13:10

      Show them the way dude!

      Reply

      • RinceThis2014

        January 14, 2014 at 13:11

        It makes me sick. Some uninteresting person trying to make a name for themselves by talking utter crap. Urgh.

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          January 14, 2014 at 13:12

          Would anyone like a perfect example of irony? *run*

          Reply

          • RinceThis2014

            January 14, 2014 at 13:13

            You get back here!

        • TiMsTeR1033

          January 14, 2014 at 13:12

          It is rather sad.

          Reply

  12. SauRoN

    January 14, 2014 at 13:12

    She must be a fan of that chick that believes all things penetrative are rape.

    Reply

    • TiMsTeR1033

      January 14, 2014 at 13:13

      maybe she wants a vampire to rape her and she is angry… lol

      Reply

      • SauRoN

        January 14, 2014 at 13:22

        Yeah fear of missing out.

        Reply

        • TiMsTeR1033

          January 14, 2014 at 13:26

          indeed, thus to vent her anger make a scene.

          Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        January 14, 2014 at 13:30

        Now that’s not very nice thing to say. She may be a moron, but yeah, no. :/

        Reply

  13. Devourer of Small Bunnies

    January 14, 2014 at 13:12

    (Sorry for all the swearing but this shit fucks me off to no degree)

    Holy tap dancing christ you have to be joking? Rape = Power. Vampiric feeding = rape? No man, get a fucking grip on yourself. This hyperactive notion to turn everything into a rape/racist/sexist issue is becoming fucking retarded. not only does it actually dilute the issue games are being compared to, but again the pointy stick is going to be waggled in the face of male gamers. again. Because we are such vile incomprehensible creatures that spew hate and misery across the already burnt and broken land.

    Fuck this person for being so erroneously dimwitted to compare sustenance to an act of relinquishing power. I mean for fuck sake, sexualised imagery does not equal rape. Sex does not equal rape. No part of rape is sexual. For god sake. Please people remember this.

    Fucking septics need to fuck off now. Really.

    Reply

    • RinceThis2014

      January 14, 2014 at 13:14

      Claps*

      Reply

    • TiMsTeR1033

      January 14, 2014 at 13:15

      OVG 2 in the making!

      Reply

      • RinceThis2014

        January 14, 2014 at 13:18

        No way bro, OVG is unique. Thank god he is… Two of them the world would not handle…

        Reply

        • TiMsTeR1033

          January 14, 2014 at 13:20

          I know, just kidding. He has been rather quiet lately.

          Reply

          • RinceThis2014

            January 14, 2014 at 13:20

            Work load 🙂

          • oVg

            January 14, 2014 at 13:21

            That’s what she said.

          • RinceThis2014

            January 14, 2014 at 13:22

            AGHHHH!

        • Devourer of Small Bunnies

          January 14, 2014 at 13:24

          @oVg:disqus IS JUST TRYING TO BE LIKE ME DAMMIT. #doyouevenrantbro @timster1033:disqus @RinceThis2014:disqus 😛

          Reply

          • RinceThis2014

            January 14, 2014 at 13:25

            HAHAHA! I truly hope you are kidding, if he is just trying to be like the level of depravity must be strong with you! 😉 Agree with your rant, love the first image! HAHAHAH

          • TiMsTeR1033

            January 14, 2014 at 13:28

            To make me rant, one must first mention SaintsRow

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 14, 2014 at 13:31

            STONE HIM.

          • TiMsTeR1033

            January 14, 2014 at 13:32

            I have been stoned many a time in my life 😉

    • oVg

      January 14, 2014 at 13:17

      😛

      Reply

    • Umar digs KOS-MOS

      January 14, 2014 at 13:18

      To she is of the same sepecies as us

      Reply

  14. Rags

    January 14, 2014 at 13:29

    Modern western feminism. Tis self discrediting.

    Reply

  15. KageBunshin

    January 14, 2014 at 13:41

    “— making us feel like Dracula is awful and evil.” “. well no shit, Dracula isn’t supposed to be a sparkly, love-sick, twit afraid of his own nature. Dracula IS awful and evil, he was originally meant to be a monster hidden amongst men.

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      January 14, 2014 at 13:43

      That bit made me giggle too.

      Reply

  16. RedDiomedes

    January 14, 2014 at 13:48

    IS that a Tyranid?

    Reply

  17. Lardus-Resident Perve

    January 14, 2014 at 14:09

    Without seeing the clip in question – the man is a threat to the weakened Dracula. Kill him, suck blood from the other two, suck him dry last. Easy.

    Reply

  18. Sean T

    January 14, 2014 at 15:57

    That is some stretch to link Dracula feeding as the same as Rape. Ok, Dracula kills the man and feeds on the woman when he could really have fed on the man if he was so desperate for blood etc, but the image of Dracula feeding on a woman is party of the imagery of Vampirism

    Saying that, there is no need for the level of Abuse being thrown at Kat. disagree with her by all means, comment on why you disagree, but dont be abusive and crass about her view and living up to the sterotypical internet commenter and instead be more mature about it.

    Reply

  19. CaptainNemo42

    January 14, 2014 at 17:07

    I actually never got round to playing LoS. Think I must make a plan.

    Reply

  20. pindarninja

    January 14, 2014 at 19:00

    Uh, I learned in friggin’ high school that vampires, at least from Bram Stoker on, are highly sexualized and do tend to overlap with sexual assault. This is not remotely news, or even controversial. Also way to imply dishonesty and lack of integrity, when as you point out, different people can have different reactions to the scene. Classy.

    Lazygamer is taking quite seriously its nickname.

    Reply

    • chip

      January 15, 2014 at 08:36

      You’ll find a lot of the content on Lazygamer consists of Gavin mouthing off at someone he disagrees with, and then all the Lagz bros patting him on the back.

      Reply

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