Actually, that's meant to more be the papparazi judging you because it's their job to cause a stir, not EA judging single parents.
The Sims 3 berates you for having a child out of 'wedlock' Yes they use that word...
- Thread starter Moonlight Butterfly
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I think this is a (failed attempt at) social commentary, some people will judge you for having a child out of wedlock, and I don't think that EA are trying to push their morals onto anyone, after all, you can still have all the homosexual sex you want, and in Mass Effect 2 (a game EA published) you can still have funky alien intercourse, and that seems like it would be against those same morals as birth out of wedlock.
I'll admit the system needs some work. But, heck, at least they are trying. Public opinion is something a celebrity has to deal with on a regular basis. Honestly I hope they expand on this. Something like, when you hit 3 stars you can hire a publicist.xXxJessicaxXx said:
There's more than one Sims? People still play those?
/kidding
On topic, it does seem the kind of thing the media would throw themselves at like a tiger at Oktoberfest.
/kidding
On topic, it does seem the kind of thing the media would throw themselves at like a tiger at Oktoberfest.
I think what offends me is that EA judge public opinion to be that it is shameful to have a child when you are in a secure and financially stable partnership. Just becuase you aren't married.Mouse_Crouse said:
As a child out of wedlock I can only say oh how this offends my delicate sensibilities so, won't somebody please think of the children... born out of wedlock! there's absolutely no harm in a game simply reflecting commonly held sentiments in the area it's released in.
And since the US isn't exactly the progressive haven of complete acceptance of harmless plurality when it comes to sexuality and the fondness of expressing and practising such, then it doesn't represent anything but a reflection of that society's fairly prudish views on celebrities sleeping around.
Nothing controversial about this really. The underlying societal value judgement is bullshit of course, but focus on changing that, not some game that simply reflects reality. No point in targeting shit like Rapelay either - despite it actually being something I can understand controversy arising over - since it isn't the actual problem either, but just as harmless symptom - unworthy of anyone's attention - of something that's worth everyone's attention; misogyny against real women.
Focus; Keep it real.
And since the US isn't exactly the progressive haven of complete acceptance of harmless plurality when it comes to sexuality and the fondness of expressing and practising such, then it doesn't represent anything but a reflection of that society's fairly prudish views on celebrities sleeping around.
Nothing controversial about this really. The underlying societal value judgement is bullshit of course, but focus on changing that, not some game that simply reflects reality. No point in targeting shit like Rapelay either - despite it actually being something I can understand controversy arising over - since it isn't the actual problem either, but just as harmless symptom - unworthy of anyone's attention - of something that's worth everyone's attention; misogyny against real women.
Focus; Keep it real.
I noticed this while playing and said hey it is society's outlook but looking at it again what may happen next you may get shunned for same sex marriages just like in society.
Just for the record i am not gay
Just for the record i am not gay
It surprises me that so many people here are levelling their comments towards EA specifically here. While EA, as publisher, has a responsibility for the content of their games, The Sims 3, like all the other Sims games in the main franchise, was developed by Maxis and they will have been the one who originally engineered this content. We also shouldn't necessarily "blame Will Wright", he doesn't actually seem to appear on The Sims 3 credits as anything more than a special thanks.
The way I see it, it's very unlikely that the designer/s made this addition to the game as something they perceived was socially justified. It's also very unlikely that if a designer did make the decision with that intent, that it would be allowed into the final product, and with the way the people behind the game seem to have a strong down-to-earth view of society and human interaction it doesn't add up that something so sexist would make it into the mix. Even then if they were going to be sexist why is this the only single prevailing instance of it? Are we to presume that there was one very sexist designer whose work had to be constantly moderated by the rest of the development team and this one just slipped through the net?
I don't see any rational reason to default to the idea that this is some scathing sexist remark about how women should be viewed, surely all the game is depicting is how societal constraints make the character feel about the situation. The game's not explicitly saying "this is right" or "this is wrong", it's just saying "this is how it is", and interpreting anything else within it is pinning a negative name on EA/Maxis for things you imagine they might be doing.
Honestly I think there's some accuracy to this situation in-game, there's certainly nowhere near the stigma on single mums there used to be, but in this day and age if a female celebrity had a child out of wedlock don't you think the magazines and tabloids would be all over them, trying to turn it into any sort of sordid or provocative affair they could, shaming the innocent party for the sake of selling publications?
The way I see it, it's very unlikely that the designer/s made this addition to the game as something they perceived was socially justified. It's also very unlikely that if a designer did make the decision with that intent, that it would be allowed into the final product, and with the way the people behind the game seem to have a strong down-to-earth view of society and human interaction it doesn't add up that something so sexist would make it into the mix. Even then if they were going to be sexist why is this the only single prevailing instance of it? Are we to presume that there was one very sexist designer whose work had to be constantly moderated by the rest of the development team and this one just slipped through the net?
I don't see any rational reason to default to the idea that this is some scathing sexist remark about how women should be viewed, surely all the game is depicting is how societal constraints make the character feel about the situation. The game's not explicitly saying "this is right" or "this is wrong", it's just saying "this is how it is", and interpreting anything else within it is pinning a negative name on EA/Maxis for things you imagine they might be doing.
Honestly I think there's some accuracy to this situation in-game, there's certainly nowhere near the stigma on single mums there used to be, but in this day and age if a female celebrity had a child out of wedlock don't you think the magazines and tabloids would be all over them, trying to turn it into any sort of sordid or provocative affair they could, shaming the innocent party for the sake of selling publications?
It strikes me as rather hypocritical for gamers to get up in arms about ANY game content. Let's flip the switch and say this was some right winged activist group complaining that the game allowed gay marriage I bet gamers would be tripping over one another to defend the game. As gamers either we want games to have free speech or we don't. Free speech isn't there to protect the things every one likes it's there to protect the things people may find less than acceptable.xXxJessicaxXx said:
Not all the content in games is going to be something we like. The ideal thing that gamers should do when they find something that might be personally distasteful to them is to realize it's a bloody game and not some deeply thought out social commentary. For gamers to get up in arms about the content of a game yet lash out at other groups of non gamers that do the same is pure hypocrisy. When you get all offended over something like this and then call out the game for it you are acting no better than the folks like Fox News that attack games over the violence or any other content they care to nit pick.
I think you are taking this way too literally here. The press is saying this about your sim. And that's the point. It's an in game mechanic. The game isn't even saying that it is correct. They are just saying that is what is happening in the game, and it's putting your sim in a bad mood. The in game public thinks your sim is a "woman of loose morals", so think the public opinion is moronic. EA/Maxis isn't telling you your life is wrong. What you can do (and have done) is sue. And since your sim lost the suit (which happens in real life) the best your sim can do is live with the shame for 3 days when everyone realizes "hey I guess she wasn't so terrible after all" and the public likes you again.xXxJessicaxXx said:
Also: "wedlock" makes me cringe.
Wait, no, this makes me cringe:
zarguhl said:
Fair play. From Wikipedia: " Maxis refocused their attention on their next project: Spore." I lol'd. That paid off.xXxJessicaxXx said:
I just don't think the game should push this opinion on you especially with that wording. It's pretty vicious in my eyes. I personally haven't seen any modern magazine hold this view of a celebrity recently even the dodgy mail or faux news. I think it's pretty old fashioned.Mouse_Crouse said:
For the third time Maxis didn't make the Sims 3....Woodsey said:
Nonono! Let's use Fox "News" as an example, please? They will hype any controversial thing in games, true? Yes. However, to people like them this isn't at all controversial. It's in keeping with the "good" orthodox permutation of christian upbringing and such.Grospoliner said:
It all depends on your outlook. But I don't think they are. They are simply informing you what the in-game public thinks of your sim. Yes their choice to copy-paste the same text for fighting and peeing yourself, and that's unfortunate. But it's no different then Fallout telling you blowing up megaton was "bad". Simply informing you of an in-game mechanic.xXxJessicaxXx said:
EA is just being traditional and old-fashioned.
still it,s pretty dickish they give a penalty for having kids while being unmarried.
still it,s pretty dickish they give a penalty for having kids while being unmarried.
But it isn't bad...or shameful :|. The fact they even point it out as a negative action is ridiculous. Don't get me wrong I'm a big fan of The Sims 3, hence playing it but this just really ground my gears so to speak. Imagine the same debuff popping up for gay marriage.Mouse_Crouse said:
Again, depends on perspective. Some do view it as "Bad". But that's not the issue for this thread. The game is simply telling you that the in-game world is giving your sim a hard time about it. That's all. Your sim is in a bad mood because their credibility as a celebrity has been damaged. Again, if you take issue with the wording, look at it like this. After the 3 days the public realizes it's mistake and returns to seeing you as an awesome person.xXxJessicaxXx said:
