Rape simulation video game pulled by Amazon

A third-party vendor on Amazon.com was offering shoppers a chance to buy "RapeLay", an obscure Japanese computer game -- but Amazon.com pulled the item. A spokesman said that "We determined that we did not want to be selling this particular item."

Why not? Giant Bomb reports that RapeLay is a "molestation simulation that allows you to terrorize a woman and her two teenage daughters, with events ranging from groping on a train to gang rape and forced abortions".

Hmm... That seems like it could be deemed offensive by some people. SomethingAwful.com reviewed the game and reported that "It is a soulless, high-resolution rendering of rape. With nearly photo-realistic giant bedrooms and crying children that can get pregnant if you ejaculate inside of them."

Wow. Some British politicians are up in arms and looking to pass legislation to ban games like this, but I think that's probably overstating its influence. Of course the game is twisted and appallingly despicable -- but it's also not even close to being a mass market game and don't worry: Your kids won't be able to buy it at the mall. It's a game that no one ever would have heard of until it ended up on Amazon because of a third-party vendor --- and was taken down once Amazon noticed it.

That should be the end of the story. Anything else is giving this monstrosity more attention than it deserves. How much do you want to bet that the media outcry over the game has sent its sales soaring?