Videogame Sex

[Thaius]

What he said.

And it's not just me being against sex (which I am.)

But I don't play games so I can do shit I can do in real life.
I could bullshit my way into anywhere I wanted to and then I could bullshit some chick into sleeping with me.
I don't want to, but I surely could.
People are casual enough about it nowadays that I probably wouldn't even have to try.

But without a whole lot of planning, I can't go out and kill someone.
And I surely can't go out and kill dragons with fireballs.

I don't mind realism, but I don't want to play "OFFICE SIM 6: This Time, It's Personal: Revenge of the Rogue Copier."

...Actually, I take it back.
That would be better than most games on the market.

My main problem is just that sex is almost always a crutch to get some stupid guys to buy a game. It works the same way in movies. Storytelling in general suffers from overuse of sex simply to get in an audience: the movie industry has been amazingly negatively affected by this literary crutch. I don't want video games to go down the same path.

Besides, to be honest, most arguments I've heard for why sex should be in video games are just attempts to mask lust with a noble cause. Someone wants to see boobs in a game, so they pretend they're trying to "further the cause of the medium" or something. Sigh...

 

[Undercover]

Dammit John, a little warning might be in order when you post links, man! I'm never going to be able to play Half-Life 2 again without thinking about nipples! Ok lets be fair, I'm a guy so I think about them anyway, but Alyx? NooOOOOoOoOOooo!!! Its... Its... Its just WRONG.

 

[Doug]

What he said.

And it's not just me being against sex (which I am.)

But I don't play games so I can do shit I can do in real life.
I could bullshit my way into anywhere I wanted to and then I could bullshit some chick into sleeping with me.
I don't want to, but I surely could.
People are casual enough about it nowadays that I probably wouldn't even have to try.

But without a whole lot of planning, I can't go out and kill someone.
And I surely can't go out and kill dragons with fireballs.

I don't mind realism, but I don't want to play "OFFICE SIM 6: This Time, It's Personal: Revenge of the Rogue Copier."

...Actually, I take it back.
That would be better than most games on the market.

My main problem is just that sex is almost always a crutch to get some stupid guys to buy a game. It works the same way in movies. Storytelling in general suffers from overuse of sex simply to get in an audience: the movie industry has been amazingly negatively affected by this literary crutch. I don't want video games to go down the same path.

Besides, to be honest, most arguments I've heard for why sex should be in video games are just attempts to mask lust with a noble cause. Someone wants to see boobs in a game, so they pretend they're trying to "further the cause of the medium" or something. Sigh...

Honestly, I don't see why all the hate towards sex (expect in cases like Bayonetta). I don't see people bemoaning sex in films, books, songs, painting, or other media and art forms, so why not games? Sex is apart of the human condition, so why is it so 'wrong'? (aside from uncanny valley sex bots - ewww).

Anywho, someone who can speak better than me:

 

[dududf]

Anyon eelse have the giggles, that the name of the write, article name what ever is called

HARD Problem?

And he's coincidentally talking about sex?

*Insert Comedy Snare drum noise HERE*

 

[Thaius]

What he said.

And it's not just me being against sex (which I am.)

But I don't play games so I can do shit I can do in real life.
I could bullshit my way into anywhere I wanted to and then I could bullshit some chick into sleeping with me.
I don't want to, but I surely could.
People are casual enough about it nowadays that I probably wouldn't even have to try.

But without a whole lot of planning, I can't go out and kill someone.
And I surely can't go out and kill dragons with fireballs.

I don't mind realism, but I don't want to play "OFFICE SIM 6: This Time, It's Personal: Revenge of the Rogue Copier."

...Actually, I take it back.
That would be better than most games on the market.

My main problem is just that sex is almost always a crutch to get some stupid guys to buy a game. It works the same way in movies. Storytelling in general suffers from overuse of sex simply to get in an audience: the movie industry has been amazingly negatively affected by this literary crutch. I don't want video games to go down the same path.

Besides, to be honest, most arguments I've heard for why sex should be in video games are just attempts to mask lust with a noble cause. Someone wants to see boobs in a game, so they pretend they're trying to "further the cause of the medium" or something. Sigh...

Honestly, I don't see why all the hate towards sex (expect in cases like Bayonetta). I don't see people bemoaning sex in films, books, songs, painting, or other media and art forms, so why not games? Sex is apart of the human condition, so why is it so 'wrong'? (aside from uncanny valley sex bots - ewww).

Anywho, someone who can speak better than me:

Well my point wasn't so much about it being "wrong," just that it's a literary crutch that just holds back the quality of a narrative. Max said it well: "Weak characterization is not excused because you threw tits on the screen. That just makes it worse."

But to answer your question, no one I know of views sex as wrong in and of itself. What is a common belief, however, is that it means something: many people (including me) look at sex as something to be treasured, not just a social activity on the level of scratching someone's back. So the thing isn't that it's morally wrong, it's that sex is belittled by our culture. Something special has been tarnished. And this is the case in culture as a whole: advertising, movies, books, and games. Our culture just attacks games more because they're new is all, but the basic view isn't solely against games.

I'm not trying to convince you of anything, just stating the reasoning behind the ideals that you questioned: that's the thinking behind it.

 

[AC Medina]

I like what Bioware did in Dragon Age: Origins.

Also, does anyone remember Phantasmagoria: A Puzzle of Flesh?

 

[Doug]

-Mostly snipped for space-

Well my point wasn't so much about it being "wrong," just that it's a literary crutch that just holds back the quality of a narrative. Max said it well: "Weak characterization is not excused because you threw tits on the screen. That just makes it worse."

But to answer your question, no one I know of views sex as wrong in and of itself. What is a common belief, however, is that it means something: many people (including me) look at sex as something to be treasured, not just a social activity on the level of scratching someone's back. So the thing isn't that it's morally wrong, it's that sex is belittled by our culture. Something special has been tarnished. And this is the case in culture as a whole: advertising, movies, books, and games. Our culture just attacks games more because they're new is all, but the basic view isn't solely against games.

I'm not trying to convince you of anything, just stating the reasoning behind the ideals that you questioned: that's the thinking behind it.

Ah, I see - well, the mindless pandering to sex appeal to sell anything does annoy me; I just read your statements as saying, effectively, "Sex should never be mentioned in games" and as you hadn't said anything about other mediums, I assumed it was limited to games.

Overall, I think most uses of sex in culture are unnecessary, I think its a key part of culture to at least acknowledge sex in some ways and more in some conditions.

 

[Shadeovblack]

FAP FAP FAP FAP



Hail Sharess goddess of pleasure and perversion!

 

[mrx19869]

I personal think that sex in a video game is a waste of time and money. Yeah i love scantly clad ladies doing something erotic but not in a video game. Yeah Lara Croft looks kinda hot but who cares.. i just wana play a video game, if i wanted something sexy id go on the internet or find my gf. I think devs need to focos on the more important aspects of a video game like gameplay, graphics, and sound.A sexy main character will never be important to me.

 

[Thaius]

-Mostly snipped for space-

Well my point wasn't so much about it being "wrong," just that it's a literary crutch that just holds back the quality of a narrative. Max said it well: "Weak characterization is not excused because you threw tits on the screen. That just makes it worse."

But to answer your question, no one I know of views sex as wrong in and of itself. What is a common belief, however, is that it means something: many people (including me) look at sex as something to be treasured, not just a social activity on the level of scratching someone's back. So the thing isn't that it's morally wrong, it's that sex is belittled by our culture. Something special has been tarnished. And this is the case in culture as a whole: advertising, movies, books, and games. Our culture just attacks games more because they're new is all, but the basic view isn't solely against games.

I'm not trying to convince you of anything, just stating the reasoning behind the ideals that you questioned: that's the thinking behind it.

Ah, I see - well, the mindless pandering to sex appeal to sell anything does annoy me; I just read your statements as saying, effectively, "Sex should never be mentioned in games" and as you hadn't said anything about other mediums, I assumed it was limited to games.

Overall, I think most uses of sex in culture are unnecessary, I think its a key part of culture to at least acknowledge sex in some ways and more in some conditions.

Well I do think that games usually don't use sex well: even in Mass Effect, it annoyed me how the only way to fully romance a character inevitably led to sex. Love can exist without sex, but, like most media in our culture, that fact is hardly recognized (assuming love is even associated with sex in the first place).

And yeah, sorry, I didn't think to mention other forms of media. But yeah, that's the idea.

 

[Mad Maniac with axe-firing chainsaw]

He has got a point when he notes the whole rather odd "Gratuitous violence, but no sex" thing. If it adds something, put it in... I guess.

EDIT:... yes, I did just reread that. And I DO see the double meaning. Unintentional.

 

[9of9]

The best sex I've seen in a game, is undoubtedly in some Neverwinter Nights modules - specifically 'Arandie'.

Its treatment of sex works very well in what is essentially a non-linear game. Arandie's strength in that it presents a very well-written depiction of a world (medieval going on modern) and the character's life in that world. Some of the sex is more gratuitous than other parts, but it fits in well, because you get a good sense that this is what that person's life is like.

Unlike most games, Arandie offers a very wide gamut of experiences. Just because the main character is an assassin, doesn't mean that the bulk of the gameplay is sneaking around and kiling people. In fact, there is overall very, very little combat at all. Instead, the game spans every face of the protagonist's life - her friendships, her relationships, the death of a loved one, her work, her ambitions, her awkward reunion with her parents, her one-night stands, her triumphing over her enemies, her failing miserably against her enemies etc. In a sense, it is almost biographical, yet as the game is non-linear, you have a lot of freedom as to what you want to do and gain a better understanding of the character. As such, the sex is present, but optional - as is much of the rest of the game. It's neither reward nor gameplay, it's flavour and it's characterisation.

 

[Gruchul]

I don't see the point in this article; it seemed to be built around an unnecessary jab at Bioware. Critising Bioware, well respected as great storytellers, maybe even the best in the industry, for an optional bit of flavour was somewhere between silly and ludicrous.

 

[Lamppenkeyboard]

Dragon Age origins. Three words: Dwarf Three Way.

 

[RazokKull]

I think sex in video games is clearly an inevitability for the reasons that several commenters have already listed: A) It will be used as a draw for audience. B) It can be part of the narrative. C) Sex sells.

Now, I don't want to step on toes here, but I do think sex will be more and more prevalent in video games than it is now. Citing the God of War series, Mass Effect, Dragon Age and The Witcher, I think it's obvious that sex is going to be in video games whether we like it or not.

The problem is exactly what Mr. Tynes says here: It isn't done RIGHT. Yes, it CAN be part of the narrative, and I believe Thaius said it best, "Romantic love doesn't necessarily mean sex" (apologies for the paraphrasing Thaius). But sex still can be done properly, and I think it should be addressed.

I don't think it should be a mini-game. A cut-scene is just fine. It doesn't necessarily need to be openly pornographic, but tasteful. I just think that games should realistically depict women (and men) as what they are. They don't need to be these exaggerated personas that just don't make sense. I think Mass Effect came very close to a decent idea, but it just skirted the issue with a brief tittilation. Not enough to satisfy anyone in either the Romantic Love or SexSexSex category.

I suppose I'm just rambling. Sorry.

 

[MmmFiber]

If developers want to put it in a game and it sells, why not? Most people are interested in sex. Those who play games(from what i've seen/heard) are likely to be more interested in it. It seems perfectly logical to want to put it into games.

I just hope that every development team doesn't feel the need to plaster sex all over their games. I know this won't happen anytime soon, but the us IS getting more relaxed with sex as a culture. It would be okay if the sex made since. It doesn't matter if it's a love story, two people just getting it out of their systems, or just a reward for doing a task(even when the game is based solely on the premise of sex/nudity as a reward). Just don't shoe-horn it in there, okay? I don't want to be playing a game and then have a completely unexpected sex show up with no explanation.

All of this, of course, is targeted at the future US. Because we all know that Japan has already done everything there is to do with sex in video games, probably.

 

[LimeJester]

While I am hardly a prude and enjoy my sex, it needs to be inserted into things where it is needed, and not thrown around superfluously. The argument in the article comparing violent rewards to sex rewards, I think is horribly short sighted. First of all violence in most games acts as a means of achieving something (you have to kill the 100000 bad things between you and whatever your goal is), I just can't see a parallel with sex in the same way (as previously stated "prostituting for mana." haha). Sex is no worse act than murder (arguably a much better alternative [rape excluded]) but the morality and consequences of murder to sex are much different. Most human civilizations have for hundreds if not thousands of years had two classes of citizens based on gender. We live in a society that is slowly (very slowly) moving away from it's patriarchal behavior, but it is not gone yet. Couple this with the industry much like society is slowly (very slowly) moving away from being a male dominated discourse. Taking these two things into account, I predict the first game company who makes an achievement/trophy for having sex much along the same lines as violence based ones will have an army of women's groups protesting them. And for good reason too. The morality of the act itself and promiscuity aside, sex and violence are not interchangeable rewards. They both have a long ugly history and that needs to be taken into consideration when putting them into any medium.

All in all I would love to see sex in games but only DONE PROPERLY!