S E X

[NinjaDeathSlap]

So long as it has a point, or is at least in keeping with the tone of the game, I see no problem. I will say this though, if you are going to have a romance subplot in your game that involves intercourse at some point... fucking go for it. If you want it in the game don't let anyone (especially people who don't know shit about gaming) censor you just because they feel like getting up on their high-horse. TV and film don't have to stand for that shit, so neither should you. I'm looking at you Bioware.

 

[Amphoteric]

I like the way that the most essential thing to the contintued existence of humanity is considered taboo in media.

I mean no sex=we go extinct.

 

[Babitz]

Sex in videogames makes me believe developers think every gamer is 13 forever. It's quite insulting.

 

[roostuf]

I think it would be a very powerful aspect if it was to affect the story.

 

[Comieman]

It all depends on genre.
It would have no place in, I don't know, general FPS like halo or CoD, but in RPGS like Mass Effect it would work as a culmination for the relationship.
Heck it would work in a game where relationship is a theme, like Catherine.

 

[Slash Dementia]

If it's critical to the emotional value of the game, sure. If it's there just because it's saying "Hey, look at me, I'm sex in a video game." Then I think it's immature and distasteful.

That said, the sex doesn't have to be shown, there could be a black screen as it's been done before or anything else to imply that the characters had sex. No need to go all visual for naked pixels on a 3D character.

 

[AwkwardTurtle]

All games need more! MOAR!!!

I'm talking Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis in Black Swan type stuff 0.o

Why?

What a ridiculous question.

What is ridiculous about asking why this person felt ALL games apparently need more sex scenes? o.o

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Well, to be blunt, I don't enjoy watching people have sex much. Especially with uncanny-valley graphics. And it's often awkward and misplaced, purely for 14 year old boys to masturbate to (see sex mods for Oblivion).

 

[Arina Love]

yes romance and sex are important to me in character\story driven tittles. mass effect do it right fable do it wrong.

 

[Robert Ewing]

If it's used for the sake of getting more people to play it, it's debatable. But yeah, I'm fine with sex in a game. It's in movies, so why not games? It doesn't hinder any sort of story I can think of. And it can only increase then incentive to buy it. And it would drum up a lot of publicity, making the game an instant hit.

But because it's so controversial, it will get slammed down by every politician in the land still living in the 1950's, were raunchy hip wriggling is far too sexy for them.

Yeah, I don't think there will be a proper sex scene in games for a while. Sex scenes will just have to be implied for now.

 

[Phisi]

I don't have a problem with it. If it serves an important part of the plot or so then yeah fine, if it doesn't and is there for eye-candy? or to try to demonstrate what the world is like (think about Fallout) then meh, don't really care but I do think it could alienate players from the game. If your character just 'does it', then it could lose the immersion it had on players but if it was a choice or required a long romantic build up then I can see it helping the immersion.

 

[SammiYin]

All games need more! MOAR!!!

I'm talking Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis in Black Swan type stuff 0.o

Why?

What a ridiculous question.

What is ridiculous about asking why this person felt ALL games apparently need more sex scenes? o.o

Oh I thought you meant the whole Natalie Portman thing :3 Silly me

 

[Tizzmarelda]

sex is human nature. art is the exploration of human nature. games are art. Therefore sex in games shouldn't even be an issue.

 

[kouriichi]

It has its purpose. It helps form bonds, give plot devices, and shape the way we think about characters.

Good example. ME2, Jack Vs Tali.
You like Tali? Fine, you can have sex with her. But you have to form a deep bond with her throughout the course of the game, and wait for her to get over her embarrassment.

You like Jack? Fine. You can have sex with her not even half the way through the game. But you ruin your chance at a real relationship with her, and possibly with any other woman on your crew.

Sex is an important factor on how you deal with these people. So sex is extremely important to this game in particular.

For other games, it has no real purpose. God of War? Just for the hell of it. Fires Reigning on the city, and Kratos stops to bang a pair of beautiful women in a spa? Sex gives NOTHING to God of War. But it also takes nothing away.

Sex has its place in videogames. But not all videogames need a sex scene.

 

[Hides His Eyes]

Sex has a place in games where the story or concept warrants it, but that place is off-screen. Actual sex scenes in games where it's shown are a travesty. Technology is not yet good enough to make it look anything but totally naff. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the sex scenes in Dragon Age Origins look like the puppet sex scene in Team America. Just not deliberately.

But the romance story lines and their accompanying sex "side quests" in DA:O are handled brilliantly. I especially like how Leliana will only sleep with you if your influence with her is on 90% or above, while with Morrigan it's 75-90% or something, because above 90% she is all angsty and confused and says "just forget it if that's all you want from me". Very clever game design there.

 

[waive]

Sex is sex. Its use depends on the setting, plot, and characters. It can be a great tool for good writers and artists, or it can be pointless and be used to fuel free advertising via fox.

If it works, it phases me about as much as say, shooting someone would in a war game.

 

[Magicmad5511]

I can see why its there because i offers freedom, especially in games like Fable. Overall though, that freedom seems pointless in my opinion. Those are just NPCs, most of whichare a bit annoying. If it contributes to the plot and you actually get to see something, not just a black screen with grunting, then that's a good idea in my opinion because it spices up the game a bit.

If I had to say one way or the other then I would say remove it.

 

[Sangnz]

In short, yes both implied and visual representation is needed, based on the game, needs to be represented more frequently given the context of the game.

In long, there is nothing wrong with sex or sexuality in games, there is nothing inherently wrong with a game that is blatant about using sex appeal (see Bayonetta), there is nothing wrong with games which have rich character and natural relationship development which leads to implied or a tasteful representation of sex (see dragon age) and there is nothing wrong with a game that has none of this (see kirbys epic yarn).
Some people don't like that kind of thing some people do no one is ever going to be pleased. The thing is to use it appropriately and in a believable fashion. Nothing wrong with a game that has a strip joint you can go into with topless dancers around so long as it is applicable to the game, its a fairly common cliché used in more than one action movie, doesn't get a mention in those I don't see why it should be a big deal in a game.
I wouldn't expect to see one in say a batman game but it would 100% be keeping in character with the Vampire: The Masquerade game world.

At the end of the day, used well, varying representations of sex and physical intimacy will lend weight to a game, the problem is very few developers seem able to pull it off very well, see god of war series ridiculous QTE sex scenes for a bad example. Bioware has probably impressed me the most to date with ME and DA, the witcher has a strange take on it allowing to either be a total man slut or completely ignore it, but had little/no follow through in any emotional ties unless you were after Triss.

 

[alrekr]

Only if it has quick time events.

Heavy Rain (one of the few examples of a okay use of sex as it made sense plot wise) had quick time events (though mostly to see if you could get her top off).

Or do you mean God of War stlye press O make vase fall over, then press X to make to women touch each other because your man noises are so sexy.

 

[Nimcha]

I don't really care, I don't think pandering is all that bad when it comes to small things like this.