Why are sex and nudity a bridge too far in video games?

Today, we’ve got an opinion piece on the complications of tackling adult themes in video games. Why? Because we’re fascinated by what it takes to push the art of games forward. We don’t want to shy away from the complicated perspectives around art, whether it go high-brow or low-brow. And today’s author who is a creator attempting to measure his own work (and its mainstream criticism) to find a newfound perspective.

[darklaw]

Because Children play them,

[gamer7804]

Children should not be playing m rated games or watching r rated movies.

[GamerRN]

Children watch movies and play games. Just be a good parent and we can have nice things...

[b163o1]

Nudity has been done, but its has to be tasteful. Ever played HeavyRain or TW3? Both were done in respectful manners....

[RgR]

Children don't need to watch r rated movies or play m rated games.

As far as movies, there is nudity and sex in pg-13 movies so...hard to prevent unless the parents watch it first. And with games...the more prevalent the more likely they'll sove it in because they think it will sell.

Hasn't stopped companies from including gambling mechanics in games for kids...if they think sex and boobs will do it too I'm sure they'll find a way. Pedophilia is making its way to mainstream already jn some states.

[GrizToof]

This is the worst reason that I surprisingly hear from a lot of people. Kids do a lot if things, they watch TV, play outside, talk with friends etc. Video games like many things are made for different age groups. Kids shouldn't be watching porn, drive a car or play video games made for adults. We have a rating system in place so parents can make the right choices for their children and so a child cannot buy a mature game in a store.

[GamerRN]

I say simply create an adult only version of the store. Password protect it or require a credit card to get in for age verification

[MeteorPanda1]

there is a huge difference in watching a sex scene and participating in a video games sex scene. especially with graphics as they are l even dont want that shit. I dont play games to whack off.

Video games are not for porn. please leave that in fanfiction and fanart

[RgR]

So a kid can't watch porn or drive cars...but some think they're perfectly able to decide their gender?

I'm not disagreeing but just seems to me that there is a lot of intellectual confusion going on.

[S2Killinit]

But killing is fine for them. S:

No, its because we have uptight people who have personal developmental issues with sex and therefore they try to impose their ‘values’ about sexuality on the rest.

[883]

@S2Killinit:
THANK YOU AND AMEN!

[RgR]

Same can be said the other way. Some people just love getting off and are infatuated with watching sex.

So much so that they think what they want is completely normal.

There are no developmental problem with sex but there are extreme exposure to sex problems which could affect development at an early age and even at a later age.

[S2Killinit]

@Rgr
Is that a proven theory or are you assuming that to be fact?

Btw Im not making a political statement. Both sides have been guilty of this.

[S2Killinit]

@Lakettkaka
Thank you, I think. (:

[Shiken]

Someone doesn't know about the rating system or how to parent it seems.

There is a reason child accounts will not even see som TEEN games on online stores, and why retailers will not sell M rated games to anyone under the age of 18. At the end of the day, the parent pulls the trigger.

[CrimsonWing69]

I guess children don’t watch movies, read books, or listen to music either...

[Killa78]

And 9/10 adds nothing to the experience.

[KyRo]

I mean if it's done right it's fine. TLoU2, Quantic Dreams, Mass Effect games etc then yeah, thats fine. It's adding to the narrative and character development I guess but I will never understand people obsession with wanting full on games centered around sex and perving on anime characters that look underage to me but people have their own kinks and there's clearly a market for it. Basically it's fine if it's not forced IMO.

Look at the hate Abby got from TLoU2 as a character even before the events that took place in that game, people were calling her a bloke and everything. RE3 Remake, Capcom were called out because Jill was made more realistic, and less slutty, the same as Tomb Raider reboots. Gaming still have a lot of growing up to do before sex is going to be accepted I think.

[gamer7804]

You are mixing in your personal preference, creators can create what they want.

[KyRo]

@Gamer and this "article" is an opinion piece. I'm giving my opinion on it. Just because you don't agree it don't make it right or wrong because it's just that, a opinion.

[RgR]

Those games with those scenes don't add much of anything to the game....especially tlou2, I mean why even put that scene. It's like something from a B movie or just a very bad one that thinks we care about seeing sex.

[Neo111]

Just this 1 out of 10 where it is well introduced proves how this can make the game deeper. Have you played Witcher 3? I have never cared for the characters in a game as much as in the title; it was a great mature experience.

[annoyedgamer]

There was more sex/nudity in games in the past than there is now. And we all know what happened that got it censored.

[SatanSki]

And that's good. Don't care about nudity, but sex and romances are waste of dev time in games. Sex is good IRL and in some online services, if one just want to watch

[CaptainObvious878]

If you're talking about how far left sjws and feminists infected their way into the industry and made sure to shame any dev that produced any fan service, because hetro men aren't allowed to express and enjoy their sexuality unless it's controlled and approved by the authoritarians, then I agree.

[oof6781]

It's not just nudity, but it's violence, racial themes, and any other themes that may trigger the faint of heart. Video games are unfairly viewed as entertainment solely for children, so when a Karen sees mature themes, they lose their top.

[Kavorklestein]

Karen should lose her top. Unbutton it and show the world her gifts.

[Godmars290]

1) Video games are largely considered to be "toys".
2) When usually attempted, the application of sex and/or nudity tends to be juvenile.
3) Mainstream culture has no real understanding of the term "personal responsibility". The ESRB, the MPAA, though systems meant to inform parents what they should or should not let their children play or watch, is often never used.

[RgR]

They should also as themselves why they want sex and nudity in games?

I think the answer makes it all too clear.

[Gatsu]

Only in America, but games with violence is okey.

[_Decadent_Descent]

Tlou2 and The Witcher series say hi.

[Kaii]

I'll bite, It Isn't difficult for consumers to age-gate content, If a parent is purchasing a PS5/Xbox/Nintendo for their children set up a CHILD ACCOUNT which only allows content for that audience, I'm getting really fucking tired of catering to this "lazy parent" generation.

Also, censorship from companies is also concerning, Sony In particular.

[Kaedro]

It's because of articles like these that opinion articles should not be allowed in N4G.

[GrizToof]

People in America especially are so up tight over nudity and sex that it's funny. Funny how you can watch a human head explode in a movie and be fine with it but if one dong flops out of some shorts your up in arms calling your local politican complaining. For how much Christianity is bashed in America these days there are a lot of fools getting offended at some boobies like they are going to hell for seeing them. If a video game is rated mature and only adults can buy it, there should be no problems with sex and violence. Just so I can remind some people that seem to forget this, video games don't even have real people in them, those boobs and ding a lings don't exist in real life so technically it's not nudity or violence, it's 1's and 0's.

[Outlawzz]

Personally I don't care for it because it does not add to my experience, and I'm sure that's an unpopular opinion in today's world.

If I want to see sex and nudity I'll go on a porn website. Am I against it completely ? No but it just makes no difference. I have never played a game and thought "wow this could really use some sex right about now". Most sex in any media is just a way to keep the viewer engaged/interested through psychology. It's the sad truth many will never realize.

There is probably no instance in which I would think a sex or nudity scene enhanced the gameplay, story, or immersion. Only way I would see that is if there was a separate porn genre created in which case I would mostly avoid it altogether.

[gamer7804]

What?! Sexual relationships drive many of the plots and themes in all media today and in real life. Sure it’s your preference but to say it doesn’t have an impact just isn’t true.

[LoveSpuds]

Even in instances where a sexual relationship has an impact on plot you dont actually need to see the act itself, you can allude to the sexual aspect without showing it to achieve the same impact on story etc.

I think this is the point Outlawzz is making, he is not saying that sex doesn't impact the stories or relationships in movies or games, just that showing the act itself rarely adds to the movie or game.

[Outlawzz]

@gamer7804 @lovespuds

Lovespuds got it right. Sexual relationships are a necessary function of human interaction, I never denied this. I'm simply stating there is not any real reason to show sexual acts or nudity beyond keeping the attention of the viewer. If you believe different I would love to be convinced otherwise. An implied act will suffice for me in a video game. I don't go to video games for such things so I don't feel it necessary or feel it adds to the art form.

[RgR]

No they do not.
Maybe the entertainment you watch and play.
I don't think Kratos has a thing for his boy or joel for Ellie. Don't think any souls game has anything to do with sexual relations. And although the witcher series, especially the third, focuses on sexual relationships it's actually more about ciri. The best games out there don't revolve around sexual relationships. The best games have normal relationships. And sex and nudity are absolutely absent.

[gamer7804]

@outlawz they are for more than necessary. It creates deep emotion and is a driver behind human thought and action...

@rgr i can’t even... who said you had to have it in all games....

[BrainSyphoned]

Because they make Girls Gone Wild seem highbrow?

[Inverno]

Because it triggers overly sensitive individuals. Most but not all of these individuals are "journalists" who abuse what influence they have to bury whatever game even attempts to have attractive characters. Then you have the people on Twitter which over the years has become the people who too many devs think they need to appeal to. People on Twitter just hate gaming and gamers no matter what. Last we have devs who are balls deep PC that they can't seem to see that they're holding their own work back injecting PC into their games.

[Rancegamerx]

Truth

[Edgelordsupreme]

This is some really good satire, you should be proud its really great. I mean can you imagine actually thinking like that? You would have to be a really special kinda of #gamer to think like that.

[Inverno]

Satire? If it isn't blatantly obvious how butthurt/triggered/overly sensitive some people get over the least offensive things then you're just being naive. This goes beyond gaming. Every kind of media has been so negatively affected by political correctness it's ridiculous. The way some people behave now because of how PC they are is what's satirical

[CaptainObvious878]

Either you're being deliberately stupid or have been sticking your head in the sand for the last decade.

Does Anita Sarkeesian ring any bells per chance? Hmmm?

Also you can google "X game gets censored, X game gets cancelled by twitter" to get pages of examples within a few mins.

[Edgelordsupreme]

What games have been held back and how? Dont tell me to Google it, what has been held back in your own words? Dont use someone else being overly sensitive, butthurt and triggered over less cleavage in their anime game youtuber. Your words, dont regurgitate someone else's maybe try thinking for yourself?

If this boils down to "they took away my tits!!! Art is dead!!!!!" Then you dont have an argument. This is the problem with the kind of logic you're employing here. If artistic freedom is whats important to you, than I would say developers decisions to have a less attractive character or tits that dont have their own gravitational pull is within their freedoms no?

You guys dont get to have it both ways I'm afraid.

[RememberThe357]

Uncanny valley. It always looks awkward and feels forced. Feel like GoW did it pretty well over the years.

[jznrpg]

I just played GoW again only my vita I forgot about the extra red orbs from completing the bed scene lol .

[Popsicle]

Uncanny valley is the best descriptor I have seen for my view on this issue. Sex in a game just feels off and a bit strange. It does not seem to elevate gaming in any way and just feels awkward to participate in.

[sourOG]

Young medium. The new devil. They will get over it eventually.

[jznrpg]

I don’t care if it’s in or not as long as the game is good . I’m an adult I can handle it . The problem is parents letting their kids play games that are made for adults . Kids don’t fully understand right and wrong as their brains haven’t fully developed and parents think oh my kids is different he’s smart and special . But what they forget is he/she is still a kid and fantasy and reality are still blurred for children .

[_LarZen_]

Because Americans are absolutely crazy

[headshotfrosty]

Because a lot of gamers are too immature to handle mature content. Even if technically they are adults. Shouldn't be a problem in reality assuming it won't be exposed to underage consumers.

[njitram2000]

Remember FOX news and Mass Effect on the Sexbox 360?

[cell989]

Are you really that much of a virgin that you must recur to video games over pornhub to get off? And if you’re old and married, why do you even need to play such games lol.

[RgR]

Because...wait....adult themese are already explored.

Nudity is not by itself an adult theme. It is the state of being in the nude.

Sex and nudity are just not very good for videogames. Once you implement those elements it becomes less about the game and more about getting off.

The romance scenes in rpg games are generally awkward and weird looking. Same with movies. Very akward being in a dark room with a bunch of people watching others get it on. Normally it is a very superficial thing and doesn't add value to the product.

Other than that there ar eplentu of adult themes in videogames. Murder, monsters, mystery, revenge, carnage, blood, gangs, drugs, fighting, loss, etc.

[Edgelordsupreme]

Why can't I buy my awful, pandering, trashy hentai visual novel on my PS4!? This is censorship Sony, everyone knows the first thing Hitler removed was people's access to hentai.

[psuedo]

Kids can access bad movies now at the click of a button. Heard of the internet? It's stupid really, but ultimately not needed. What does it add, and what gameplay does it bring to the table? None. Do you look at animated material when/if you look at the bad material? Now that we got the idea of actually liking the material out of the way....again I ask you what would it add to the game? So you get to see virtual sex in a game, are you happy with this idea? Would it make those games that didn't have it, but had a place where it could of had it better? I can just smash this same thing over, and over. It's useless.

[MeteorPanda1]

because kids fucking play it? are you retarded? do you need a basic understanding how parents dont consider ratings when buying games?

what. the. fuck.

go watch porn and leave us alone. I dont even want porn in my games, its not why you play them

[CrimsonWing69]

It’s interesting because you have Sony cracking down and censoring games, yet they let stuff fly in The Last of Us 2 and I’m going to assume that they won’t censor Cyberpunk (if they do, I’m getting the Xbone version). It just seems like a double standard. I remember when God of War came out and it was refreshing to see the medium pushing the envelope with content.

Gone are those days though.