ESRB Dishes on Dragon Age 2 Sex

[scw55]

They should probably show the sex scenes to some mothers and then say the mothers disliked what they saw... Oh wait, Dead Space 2 have done that. Not the sex. I think. Just blood.

 

[mireko]

I'm not going to deny that the sex scenes in BioWare's games are awkward to say the least, but you guys know you can skip them, right? It's not like you're going to get any plot-relevant information from people hugging in their underwear.

 

[Krantos]

"Sex Sells."

I think that about wraps it up. Wish they would stop. They're not making any friends for the game industry this way.

 

[Hexador]

Why are you adding your opinion to the end of the story? Would have been a perfectly decent brief w/o the last two graphs, with them it is just a blog post.

 

[manythings]

OK my mind is officially filthy.

The first other F word that sprang to my mind involved a fist...

That would certainly change the tone of the game. I wonder if Fox News would be able to actually explain the whole idea without ever using the words... in my head I am seeing the use of diagrams and/or sock puppets.

It's a pretty great image.

 

[PurpleSkull]

Bioware tells stories.

Stories can and do at times have sex in them, because people in the real world have sex and it's something they can relate to.

It's the same as a book or a movie depicting sex in it's story. It's usually used to add to the world or the story.

Basically, what he said. You can have a (chosen) romance in most games, but only a few allow you to take that to the next level. It adds another layer of RPG. It's not like people sit on front of Dragon Age and wank to the sex scenes (well, maybe a few 0o).

Also, adding (male) gay couples is an important step in getting to the female playerbase. Girls seem to love guy on guy action for some reason. At least the nerdy ones do. So although i dislike seeing a gay couple kissing or something IRL, i support Biowares decision. If you don't like it, don't persue it.

 

[David Bray]

Dont get it myself. In mass effect served a purpose, ME 2 less so, and DA:O it was a farce, crowbarred in for extra teen appeal.

 

[Meggiepants]

Geez... well hopefully there won't be an achievement related to fellatio. I can just see that raising a few eyebrows.

 

[bushwhacker2k]

It think this can also shine light.

In the US, we love violence but sex is Taboo.
In Europe, sex is fine / natural but too much violence is a Taboo.

I think part of it a social / cultural thing.

Just mentioning the topic of sex education in school all sorts of heated debate.

People seem to overreact to stuff like this... I always wonder why we bothered creating curse words in a language if we aren't supposed to say them.

 

[Phaerim]

Me and my friends played Dragon Age: Origins, and actually found the same-sex options refreshing, because every other Hollywood mainstream depiction of sex and couples are horribly horribly stale, shallow and boring. They just look pretty, nothing else.

I know what is ticking Fox here. They don't LIKE homosexuality, and they don't like homosexuals. Their obvious statements to cover it up as "concerns", is a smokeveil. They will fight tooth and nail, everytime a penis is shown in a game or a movie, and ignore the comments on their average huge cleavage, blond hostesses they have as "professional commentary".

So do I like sex in games? YES. It's a natural part of humans (or Elves, or Dwarves) and character development!. A thing which BioWare really understands. I am not saying it NEEDS to be there, but I can't see why it shouldn't be there either. So do I want outright porn in games? No. BioWares depiction is fine with me.

Would "Witch Hunt" have had any meaning or intrest, if the player hadn't had any feelings towards the Enigmatic Morrigan?

Would Zevran been any intresting as a humane character, if his only joy in life was to kill?

Would Alistair be anything but a immature fratboy, if he hadn't shown that which essentialy seperates adults and kids, sexuality, towards the female protagonist?

Sexuality adds depth to the character. Also I recommend watching this; http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2505-Sex-in-Games

 

[Lazzi]

OK my mind is officially filthy.

The first other F word that sprang to my mind involved a fist...

I like you very much now sir.

 

[Mrsoupcup]

Bioware tells stories.

Stories can and do at times have sex in them, because people in the real world have sex and it's something they can relate to.

It's the same as a book or a movie depicting sex in it's story. It's usually used to add to the world or the story.

Movies show real people.

Books use imagination.

Sex in the uncanny valley, though, is just strange. That's the only reason I don't enjoy sex scenes in games.

Yeah an "uncanny valley" rendered in game looks very derp. Unless games are going to use visual ques or imagery there is no point having sex till graphics get better. And till people treat games more maturely.

 

[hyperdrachen]

Bioware tells stories.

Stories can and do at times have sex in them, because people in the real world have sex and it's something they can relate to.

It's the same as a book or a movie depicting sex in it's story. It's usually used to add to the world or the story.

I agree with your sentiment from a completely removed objective point of view but specific to bioware game's I have always found the romance and sex to be goofy. They get the controversy of a game with sexuality in it and then... instead have akward dialogues or animations eluding to sex. One thing 3d models struggle with is contact, for instance watching two characters hug slaps you with a heaping helping of uncanny vally.

I find myself avoiding the dialogue trees and scenes like the plague cause they shatter my immersion in the character and story. I'm a big bioware fan but this is thier weakest point.

Very very few times have I seen sexuality or romance in a fictional work where it didn't feel like some wierd doppleganger of such staring at me through a window.

 

[Paxel]

While most sex scenes in games are ... awkward? at the least. I do think they should include sex in games, though the act itself can be skipped for the most part. Sex is a natural thing, so why shouldn't games have it.

 

[Iwana Humpalot]

I think they are doing sex* (*underwear hugging and face animations) because they want to sell the game.
But yeah.. i don't care about this "sex" in DA2, i'm still going to love the game.

 

[Remigus]

There is no sex in Dragon Age, just the suggestion of... Hah! the game suggested I had sex with those pigrats in a brothel because I asked for 'something different'.

 

[Purple Dragon]

This is what we're talking about. Not necessarily in that order.

FETISH