sex ruining games?

[Convoy]

The fact I know someone can wack off to Mass Effect scares me.
But, I think it is the Developers trying to make a game into a HBO series.
And attach the player to the story and subplot more.

 

[Section Crow]

sex in any game pretty much ruins the story for me as games i have played uphold it as the peak of romance, i mean in every game where there is a romance option that lasts the entire game it's always at the end and makes me think, hmm so i went through all those emotional boundaries and problems just so i could have sex?

and usually after it happens they suddenly become all mushy on you as if it is pinnacle moment for a couple to have sex, rather than having a good/bad relationship (which is why i enjoyed samara's rejection in mass effect 2) because of your intervention with your chosen person.

but hell, sex sells more than an actual romance and i'm probably narrowing it down to bioware romances passively.

edit: quick point, i don't mind sex in games as long as it is does well to a point where the character responds appropriately to it and actually helps the story plot.

 

[Kahunaburger]

sex in any game pretty much ruins the story for me as games i have played uphold it as the peak of romance, i mean in every game where there is a romance option that lasts the entire game it's always at the end and makes me think, hmm so i went through all those emotional boundaries and problems just so i could have sex?

and usually after it happens they suddenly become all mushy on you as if it is pinnacle moment for a couple to have sex, rather than having a good/bad relationship (which is why i enjoyed samara's rejection in mass effect 2) because of your intervention with your chosen person.

but hell, sex sells more than an actual romance and i'm probably narrowing it down to bioware romances passively.

edit: quick point, i don't mind sex in games as long as it is does well to a point where the character responds appropriately to it and actually helps the story plot.

This is an area where I think that Witcher games are really underrated. Sex is generally a stepping stone to a relationship, not the other way around. So its less about "liek will Gerald and Triss have teh secks?" (Spoiler: YES.) and more about "is Gerald willing to commit to a relationship?" "Does (and should) Gerald trust Triss?" and so on.

 

[ozium]

Games ruining Sex?

 

[Caffeine_Bombed]

^ I think there's a bit of a difference between a sex scene thrown into a video game, as part of the story/character relationships, to full-blown porn (excuse the pun...)

Ok, I'll play one of those screwed up Jap games then. My point is, I have no need for it in my RPGs.

To be fair, the only time I've ever heard of really explicit Japanese games is when I've seen them in a banned list.

Nobody 'needs' sex in a game and, specifically in the case of RPG's, I've yet to play one where it's something you can't avoid. So what makes you so uncomfortable about it?

It doesn't make me uncomfortable, it's just that the time and money put into that shit could be put to better use.

Like what? I can't imagine it uses up a huge chunk of the budget to put a bit of sex in.
You might as well just say "Cut out all sex scenes from books and movies" because they're wasting time and money too.
But like a couple of us have said already, in most games you generally aren't forced to have sex to complete the game, so why is it such a big deal? Taking away that ting scene isn't going to create a whole new gaming experience.

 

[Rhaff]

Sex and nudity have nothing to do with what reviewers say about a game

http://www.christcenteredgamer.com/index.php/reviews/19-console/4944-mass-effect

This reviewer might have something to say about that.

I stand corrected then
However while he mentions it in his review, it is a relatively brief mention, that doesn't affect the rating he gives the game all that significantly.

 

[Caffeine_Bombed]

^ I think there's a bit of a difference between a sex scene thrown into a video game, as part of the story/character relationships, to full-blown porn (excuse the pun...)

Ok, I'll play one of those screwed up Jap games then. My point is, I have no need for it in my RPGs.

To be fair, the only time I've ever heard of really explicit Japanese games is when I've seen them in a banned list.

Nobody 'needs' sex in a game and, specifically in the case of RPG's, I've yet to play one where it's something you can't avoid. So what makes you so uncomfortable about it?

It doesn't make me uncomfortable, it's just that the time and money put into that shit could be put to better use.

Like what? I can't imagine it uses up a huge chunk of the budget to put a bit of sex in.
You might as well just say "Cut out all sex scenes from books and movies" because they're wasting time and money too.
But like a couple of us have said already, in most games you generally aren't forced to have sex to complete the game, so why is it such a big deal? Taking away that ting scene isn't going to create a whole new gaming experience.

You think it's just a coincidence that the focus has moved away from deeper rpg mechanics/elements/combat systems to these interactive movies with romances ? I don't think so.

I can honestly say I have never noticed that. I've never played a game where sex scenes dominate the entire experience or drive the focus away from mechanics or combat.
Can you give a specific example?

 

[targren]

Sort of off topic but I think putting sex into games, or movies, or TV is a sign of a lack of creativity and immaturity. When I'm watching or playing something, I don't want my fiancé to have to see titties all over the place. All it is, is a way to sucker young kids into buying it. And I personally find it insulting. Most of the time the nudity doesn't even make sense in the story. I play games to be entertained and have fun, not to have virtual sex or see virtual nudity, that's stupid.

Yeah, because it's not, like, the single most basic driving force of our entire species, or anything. It's clearly immature and uncreative to have characters actually acting like real people.

 

[Caffeine_Bombed]

^ I think there's a bit of a difference between a sex scene thrown into a video game, as part of the story/character relationships, to full-blown porn (excuse the pun...)

Ok, I'll play one of those screwed up Jap games then. My point is, I have no need for it in my RPGs.

To be fair, the only time I've ever heard of really explicit Japanese games is when I've seen them in a banned list.

Nobody 'needs' sex in a game and, specifically in the case of RPG's, I've yet to play one where it's something you can't avoid. So what makes you so uncomfortable about it?

It doesn't make me uncomfortable, it's just that the time and money put into that shit could be put to better use.

Like what? I can't imagine it uses up a huge chunk of the budget to put a bit of sex in.
You might as well just say "Cut out all sex scenes from books and movies" because they're wasting time and money too.
But like a couple of us have said already, in most games you generally aren't forced to have sex to complete the game, so why is it such a big deal? Taking away that ting scene isn't going to create a whole new gaming experience.

You think it's just a coincidence that the focus has moved away from deeper rpg mechanics/elements/combat systems to these interactive movies with romances ? I don't think so.

I can honestly say I have never noticed that. I've never played a game where sex scenes dominate the entire experience or drive the focus away from mechanics or combat.
Can you give a specific example?

I never said 'they dominated the entire experience'.

Just look at the mechanics of older RPGs compared to ones of today. Now I'm not saying the sex scenes/romances are responsible for the change. It just shows how the prioritys have changed through the years.

They're just trying to market these 'rpgs' to different ppl these days. Back in the day they made rpgs for the true rpg fans. Not the soccer moms.

Ah right, I think I see what the issue is now...
Only the 'true' fans should dictate how a game should be and everyone else is basically a pretender who wouldn't know an RPG if it bit them in the ass.
At the end of the day, they market games to make money. I still don't see what any of this has to do with sex in a video game.

 

[targren]

I play games to get away from real life.

That's fine, and it's a matter of your own enjoyment. I didn't say anything about that, and wouldn't try to. Just don't play games with sex in them, and everyone is happy. I was taking exception to the broad-brush stroke that it's "uncreative and immature," which is, quite honestly, bollocks.

Can it be misused and exploited? Absolutely. So can violence, greed, driving, eating, and everything else under the sun. A good tool in the hand of a hack writer doesn't make for good output[footnote]A stroke of the brush does not guarantee art from the bristles -- Amb. Kosh Naranek[/footnote], but the post I responded to was basically saying that anyone who did use it was bad.

 

[Tanakh]

Sex in games doesn't make it terrible though I do admit some of the scenes are awkward to watch (dragon age, mass effect). Some are really tastefully done and could be classed as seperate erotica (witcher 2).

Side note who else had a friend/girlfriend/sister/mother walk in on certain witcher 2 scenes when you weren't expecting them to come up and having to quickly say this isn't what it looks like I swear I didn't know about it being this explicit!

Luckily for me it was a mate though there was some ridicule.

Tasteful?!

Well... yeah, compared to Witcher 1, but i have seen porno pictures that have more plot that what our mate Geralt had to pass before nailing a random NPC.

OT: I am not fan of sex in videogames because don't remember an instance where I thought it was more than eyecandy. Personally i think romance is much better suited for the medium (FF VI for example), if less realistic.

 

[Goofguy]

Sex and nudity have nothing to do with what reviewers say about a game

http://www.christcenteredgamer.com/index.php/reviews/19-console/4944-mass-effect

This reviewer might have something to say about that.

"Within the scene itself, there is partial nudity. Depending on the gender of your character, the player might see partial rear nudity or partial top nudity. (Partial nudity, -4 pts.)"

"The big thing that many people may have a problem with is the player?s option to pursue a lesbian relationship with one of the characters."

"In addition, characters are not actually seen having sex on screen. The scene itself is very brief and includes kissing and a shot of a hand on a window. Like I said, not explicit, but the player should get the point. (Homosexuality is shown as a positive in the game, -4 pts.)"

It's hard for me to take a reviewer seriously when the 'Appropriateness' factor makes up 50% of the total score.

 

[targren]

It's hard for me to take a reviewer seriously when the 'Appropriateness' factor makes up 50% of the total score.

You have impressive mental stamina, my friend. My mind recoiled from it as soon as I saw "Christ Centered Gamer." Same conclusion, though.

 

[Frostbyte666]

Sex in games doesn't make it terrible though I do admit some of the scenes are awkward to watch (dragon age, mass effect). Some are really tastefully done and could be classed as seperate erotica (witcher 2).

Side note who else had a friend/girlfriend/sister/mother walk in on certain witcher 2 scenes when you weren't expecting them to come up and having to quickly say this isn't what it looks like I swear I didn't know about it being this explicit!

Luckily for me it was a mate though there was some ridicule.

Tasteful?!

Well... yeah, compared to Witcher 1, but i have seen porno pictures that have more plot that what our mate Geralt had to pass before nailing a random NPC.

OT: I am not fan of sex in videogames because don't remember an instance where I thought it was more than eyecandy. Personally i think romance is much better suited for the medium (FF VI for example), if less realistic.

Hence why I used the word some. I agree the random npc's it was a case of ...right moving on. However with Triss it is in the context of an established romance and yes I found that tastefully done though I do admit it is a bit jarring because, hey I'm playing a game here.

 

[Andrew_C]

It's hard for me to take a reviewer seriously when the 'Appropriateness' factor makes up 50% of the total score.

You have impressive mental stamina, my friend. My mind recoiled from it as soon as I saw "Christ Centered Gamer." Same conclusion, though.

I read that review and the sad thing despite the bias an odd scoring system, it's actually a more balanced and professional review than your average IGN-style OMG THIS IS TEH BEST GAME EVAR!!! "review".

Back on topic, sex, like any element, can ruin your enjoyment a game if it's inappropriate, badly handled and obviously there to pander to an audience. For the most part this is how sex is in most games that feature it, IMHO.

 

[rje5]

Sort of off topic but I think putting sex into games, or movies, or TV is a sign of a lack of creativity and immaturity. When I'm watching or playing something, I don't want my fiancé to have to see titties all over the place. All it is, is a way to sucker young kids into buying it. And I personally find it insulting. Most of the time the nudity doesn't even make sense in the story. I play games to be entertained and have fun, not to have virtual sex or see virtual nudity, that's stupid.

Yeah, because it's not, like, the single most basic driving force of our entire species, or anything. It's clearly immature and uncreative to have characters actually acting like real people.

Go play Dante's Inferno and tell me where you've seen a giant lady with massive tits and spew out demon's in real life. And tell me how that adds to the story. Tell me how that's entertaining. In L.A. Noire, tell me why 4 or so murder victims were left completely naked and some weren't. Why couldn't they just cover them up like the other ones? It wasn't necessary. Show me anywhere in real life where there are tits growing out of the walls and people walk up and slap them like in Duke Nukem. This isn't creative design, it's immature and a ploy to get young men to buy games. Why would anyone release Dead of Alive Extreme Beach Volleyball? No one buys video games about playing volleyball. But throw skinny girls with huge tits with jiggle physics into it and it'll sell because boys can't help themselves.

EDIT: Also I saw another post of your saying I said "everyone who uses nudity is bad". I did not say that. I said "most of the time it doesn't even relate to the story" or add anything. The scene from Mass Effect wasn't bad. You can imply sex or nudity without actually having to show it. People play games to get lost in another world. Let the player use their imagination to fill in the gaps, especially for nonessential plot points.

 

[Cyael]

does anyone else sex and usually suck or have bad mass it got good but fox it because it showed it rated 12 anyone else my theroy?

I didn't know this site had genuine comedy trollin' . Thank you so much for this.

 

[renegade7]

Well it's a topic that games have only really begun to approach and use in their storylines. It's just that writers/designers are still figuring out the ways that are okay and not okay to use it in the game. For instance, in Mass Effect where Shephard could form a relationship as an optional story arc, that was a good use. Catherine also had a pretty solid (if completely fucking bizarre) story, and sex and sexuality did play a large role in it.

Now, Duke Nukem, on the other hand, is an example of a game that uses it poorly. I don't think I need to explain why. (Although Duke Nukem 3D was an excellent game despite that)

 

[targren]

Go play Dante's Inferno and tell me where you've seen a giant lady with massive tits and spew out demon's in real life. And tell me how that adds to the story. Tell me how that's entertaining.

Ah, see, there's the problem. You're conflating "nudity" with "sex." The two are completely separate things. I assume you're talking about Cleopatra? If anyone found her sexually arousing, I'm pretty sure they're a disturbed individual. On the other hand, the game is based on a combination of classical style and Middle Ages Christian Dogma, an archaic and backwards code that included concepts like "nothing unclothed can be good." So why WOULD evil demons wear clothes? With a proper background knowledge, you see, it DOES add to the setting (not that DI had much of a story anyway, but it's a video game we're talking about).

You might want to expand your experience in art and literature before you start throwing around judgments like that, because you're telling us far more about yourself than you are about the game.

A game which, BTW, was clearly marked "Rated M: Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content"[footnote]Based on the assumption that you're in the US based on what you're bitching about. AIUI, Europe seems to have mostly bred out the sort of prudishness that still permeates US society[/footnote], so why did you play it? It's not like all of these issues weren't being screamed about before the game was even released. You really can't claim ignorance on this one unless you were both living under a rock, and unable to read the box.

EDIT: Also I saw another post of your saying I said "everyone who uses nudity is bad". I did not say that. I said "most of the time it doesn't even relate to the story" or add anything.

You actually said "it's uncreative and immature." I'm pretty sure there is no writer or artist who would actually consider those "good" qualities, and it was plain from context that you don't, either.

The scene from Mass Effect wasn't bad. You can imply sex or nudity without actually having to show it. People play games to get lost in another world. Let the player use their imagination to fill in the gaps, especially for nonessential plot points.

Why should they? Just because YOU want it hidden from you doesn't mean everyone does.

 

[DiMono]

Sex only makes things better. If a game with nudity sucks, it's not because of the nudity.