Every once in a while comes a game that manages to shake up the entire industry with it’s brute honesty. The way the gaming industry responds to such games normally exposes a deep underlying double standard, but still falls right in line with what we, as a society, believe in. Are we, as gamers, a hypocritical group?
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As far as rapelay goes there needs to be a line to not cross. Seeing a full intimate sex scene in Heavy Rain? Fine gaming might be ready or not who knows.
Rape however is way over the line, and should never be a game mechanic ever. Brought up in a game fine, seen in a game for what ever reason if the narrative fits fine.
Actually interacting an rapeing women (be it only pixels) in a game is just wrong. Don't even try to bring up the killing in games either.
If you can't understand the difference and why one's okay and the other's not there's not enough time on earth for me to explain it to you.
As technology evolves, and games continue to progress more towards photo realism. More life like tendencies ect... This type of controversy will only grow larger.
I just think that by this time in gaming's evolution, we would have at least started to address those situation more, especially since there's still a lot of ignorance regarding sexuality and its many different it affects people.
It seems like all we get is war, kill this, kill that, and very few games are brave enough to step outside of that comfort zone, and attack other topics like movies, music, and even animes do.
I do wish developers thought about and addressed these things more. How can they though the way people react to anything these days.
It wasn't too hard to for developers and publishers to introduce everyone to DLCs, so I doubt that this is something that they can't pull off.
Edit: @ below
You're spot on with that, and that's the point being made in the article. Sure we'll have a line that we can't touch, but that's no excuse for the recycled ideas that we're being resold over and over.
I believe we will see this more and more. But your right this industry needs to grow up and mature.
There are more topics and themes games should address then just shoot x number of guys an win.
I'm not saying all games, or anywhere near all are like that.
Frankly no game is really that shallow, but you get the idea games need to grow up. They need to tackle these more mature complex themes in a very believable way, like sex as your article states. Not the way it's portrayed now.
Those who get it, understand. Those who don't need to get out of the house and get some fresh air, as can be evidenced by a great deal of morons commenting on this post below.
Pornographic video games should be sold at adult stores just like pornographic movies.
It's that simple.
Old topic.
Yet this is completely overlooked in favor of hating on those games because they where rush or had bad endings. We as gamers can claim we want more mature games, but when those games do come along they don't find the support they deserve.
Not because we can play a hetero or homo relationship simulator, with differing main character genders. And imagine being gay or straight ect.
" I am of course talking about games made by Bioware. Despite flaws in games like Me3, Me2, and DA2 those games actually deal with the issue of sexuality and sexual preference. "
"Yet this is completely overlooked in favor of hating on those games because they where rush or had bad endings."
Yes it failed to live up to the purchasers expections, so they failed in the most important aspect which is to be a fun game and good experience for the player.
Does this actually have to be addressed to gamers? You do realize these aren't marketed as dating/marriage simulators right.
"We as gamers can claim we want more mature games, but when those games do come along they don't find the support they deserve."
We as individuals should stop speaking for gamers other than ourselves, because mature content is subjective. Even them deserving support is subjective to the user.
And that is perfect example as to why sex should be left out of most games to me. Because the you can see the crusaders dying to use video games as a perfect medium to try and push a agenda on people.
Realize not everyone wants repeated drama, like when hitman's assassin "nuns" were revealed or the numerous white knight bloggers went apeshit over the girlfriend mode quote.
"One of main game developers that is brave enough to even attempt to tackle issues of sexuality gets hated on like crazy by hardcore gamers."
Too bad a healthy percentage of bioware fans, also consider bioware have really lost touch with their real fanbase and the kinds of things that are important to gamers. Judging by the reception of da2 and me2(complaints of the rpg elements being gutted) and me3.
Be a gamer first, then a "insert whatever category you want" second, if not you don't belong on a gaming website. Because you sound more like a political mouth piece than an actual gamer.
Care to explain?
Not gonna bother.
@Thehitman
So.. something is automatically worse just because society sees it that way, even if there's no reason to. Right, got it.
Rape is just preying on the weak. Surely you can see the difference between shooting a bunch of armed, hostile soldiers and raping a seemingly unwilling, underage girl....
You think you are being deep and insightful, but you're not. You're being a close minded prick. Go ahead and report that if it makes you feel sad. You will just prove that i'm right.
Objectively, murder is far worse than rape. It's just become so commonplace in society that nobody thinks twice when it happens.
Edit: I think that I should clarify that I'm not defending rape in any way. I just think it's ridiculous and hypocritical to condemn rape and justify mass genocide and torture in the same sentence.
@Hitman
Murder(Verb): "Kill intentionally and with premeditation."
That's because games portray anyone who is an opponent as a bad guy. Subjectively, everyone that you kill is a bad guy. But looking at it objectively, that's not necessarily the case.
- Hitman Games
- Postal Games
- Grand Theft Auto Games (In general, you're a criminal).
- Payday: the Heist (In general, you're a criminal).
- Museum Scenes in Uncharted 2 & 3 (Not killing, but just goes to show that your enemies are not always 'bad guys').
- Dark Brotherhood in the Elder Scrolls games.
- InFamous (Evil Side-missions usually involve killing innocents).
Still it doesn't mean it shouldn't be available to others.
Therefore I believe rape in game (even though I would never play such a game) should be allowed just like violence is.
As a group, gamers are heavily stigmatized and stereotyped yet we do it to another group of people. Because you play a rape game doesn't mean you are going to rape people nor does playing a shooter game mean you are going to kill people.
Rape in real life tends to be about power, not about sexual desires.
Don't like it, don't play it, but don't stop others from doing it!!!
I totally disagree. Lets just put it this way. Would you rather be raped or just shot in cold blood? If you had to choose one which would you choose?
I'd rather be shot than raped. What kind of f***ed up logic is it to want to live with the shame and psychological impairment that comes with rape?
You do know that people NEVER and I do mean NEVER fully recover from rape right? Go read up some horror stories from real life victims of how they have to spend the rest of their life in therapy and counseling to deal with that.
Rape is worse than murder because it's like living in a tortured shell for the entirety of your life. Dying can be honorable, rape is NEVER honorable.
I could die defending a family member and die proud. Could you say the same about being raped?
Too many kids have no idea how real-life work and are just talking out of their arses on here.
There was a recent story about a jury who wanted to overturn a sentence on a guy after he murdered two people. The reason they wanted to overturn the sentence was because the two guys he murdered repeatedly raped him when he was young and it destroyed his life. He's been quacked up ever since.
As I said, read some real-life accounts of rape victims, you'll think twice about saying it's better than dying.
" I just think it's ridiculous and hypocritical to condemn rape and justify mass genocide and torture in the same sentence"
I would love to hear the name of the games that include torture and mass genocide. There is torture and over the top violence in Manhunt and we have all read the uproar that game got. It was banned in several countries for it.
We all heard the uproar with that one particular mission in MW2. People DON'T approve mindless killing. There's always a clear bad guy who is shooting back at you in 99% of violent games.
You talk about rape with a tone that clearly tells me you have never been around rape victims. It's kinda sad to read your comments. I'll just leave it at that.
Sex in games should be ok in my books. There has always been oversexualuzed combatants in fighting games for example and it's ok. When we talk about actual intercourse the game needs to show it in a proper way. As in real life too the women cannot be there just to satisfy men. This is what pornography has ruined for many women.
We need to portray sex as the way so that BOTH participants enjoy the ride. Do the woman first since we all know what happens after a guy shoots his load.
@ nuke
smh....you must be under 20yo.
@ vortis
"You do know that people NEVER and I do mean NEVER fully recover from rape right? Go read up some horror stories from real life victims of how they have to spend the rest of their life in therapy and counseling to deal with that. "
I'm glad to see a sane person in here every now and then. This must be an age thing. Like I've said most of the time people under 25yo are effed up KIDS.
To paraphrase...rape is more than just an assault. It is a violation, physical and mental torture. It takes your body, your very self and makes it a weapon against you. Something wonderful is made into something horrid.
Maybe Bloodraid needs to take Pushagree's advice and watch the damn movie. Maybe we all should for God's sake. From his viewpoint, he should rule a African country. Rape is used as a weapon in wars on the continent. He'd be okay with it.
"smh....you must be under 20yo."
That is a very intelligent response! You really shed some light on what is wrong with my comment and opened up a debate there. /s
If anything, the comment shows you likely have the mental capacity of someone in the early teens. I suggest you come back with an argument or read more, and say less.
"I'm glad to see a sane person in here every now and then. This must be an age thing. Like I've said most of the time people under 25yo are effed up KIDS."
I have met plenty of kids far more mature than legal adults! Perhaps you are one of those adults since you keep talking about others as "kids".
Are you suggesting rape is worse than mass murder?
Having a game put you in a open world with guns and people running around doesn't justify a rape scene.
Really, are we so sick we're justifying rape in games? Women play games, so we're just going to be insensitive to a demographics that makes up at least half the frickin' world.
Just sayin'.
Censored version
http://www.youtube.com/watc...
Adult version(not sex but a nude mod) WARNING ADULTS ONLY naked cartoon girls
http://www.youtube.com/watc...
I will agree however that it seems rediculous that you can dismember burn and piss all over others in video games and thats all well and good but you bring up a sex scene that a little to graphic or even mention rape(if you pretend it doesnt happen than it doesnt exist right) then people get all bent out of shape. For god's sake, sex sells people its in nearly every aspect of our lives, if it wasn't than why does the cereal commercial need at hot chick with big titties in it?
I also think that parents should take it upon themselves to educate their children about sex. I mean think about, If a young 13 year old girl is hungry, her parents will tend to her needs and get her food. If this young girl needs more clothing because she wants to look a certain way, the parents come to the rescue again. She needs books for school, money to spend....you name it, the parents provide that. But the minute she goes through her puberty and start to get horny and want boys and what not, then most parents goes absent, as if it's not their job to educate them on that topic.
At one of the most important stages of his or her life, he/she will suddenly find themselves navigating it alone. Parent, filled with shame,will usually let some stranger introduce him/her to the topic as opposed to guiding the kid through it. And to me that makes no sense.
Yet, by this age, boys and girls are already sexually active, parents normally can tell, but they either pretend it's not happening, or goes completely over react to it.
Besides, the ratings we have for games dictates (or at least implies) who should be playing them anyway.
Most gamers are ready, maybe not the vocal minority.
I think the real question is, are YOU ready for sex in games. I know I am ;)
As a hole people need to grow up, its sex and when the topic of your child comes into play. That is when the parents needs to be a parent and know what their son or daughter is playing. Just like a movie they should know what they are watching. If we can have other media use sex then why not mature games. Its the developers responsibility to implement it in their game in the most appropriate way. Then the parent to know what their child is getting into.
http://www.youtube.com/watc...
http://www.youtube.com/watc...
http://www.youtube.com/watc...
Thats why i cant stand most movies now. Im not offened by it. I just think it is pointless and isnt necessary and often cheapens the experience by making it stupid and formulaic. Kind of like the love scenes in the Michael Mann film Heat. Adds nothing to characters or story at all.
If you are going to have sex in games, just make a porn game. Have sex be the whole point of the game. Dont do a stupid steamy love scene with a saxophone playing in the background like Top Gun or some shit like that. No one that actually takes story telling seriously wants to really sit through that crap. Thats what youporn is for.
If you're unable to enjoy sex in movies when it's done tastefully and with purpose, then it sounds like you have a problem with sex, not sex in movies.
And I believe games can and should try to achieve this level of artistic expression. But so long as the money controls the content, we won't be seeing a lot of it. That's why I applaud games like ME and Heavy Rain, for trying to weave human relationships into their sexuality. Pass or fail, we should all applaud the attempt if we want the gaming industry to mature with us.
Hopefully the vocal minority and psychologists don't get to dictate what so many of us gamers are ready for.
Gaming has come a long way since the hardcore basement geeks ( AKA tha legends) and I think if lame ass romantic comedies that our mums watch can have it, so can the games that are made by hundreds of talented individuals.
POPULATION CONTROL!
(Yeah I'm crazy) xD
But I'll say one thing, we are far off that mark if the negative articles about Mass Effect's "sex scenes" involving gay sex are anything to go by. If you want sex to be implemented maturely then you have to look at all aspects of sexuality.
Either way, I'm not too pushed about sex being brought into games mainstream. I have no aversion to it at all but for right now, and given the current mentality surrounding the subject, I just don't care about it.
It must such a burden being so smart GTFO
But it looks like some people isn't prepared to sex in theior full of violence and guts videogames.
http://thatguywiththeglasse...