Why does the games industry condone violence but stray away from sexual content.

[pulse2]

It always baffles me how games can have so much violence and gore, killing in every possible disturbing way but when it comes to demonstrating love and affection through sexual acts, hot coffee is spilt.

Now that goes without saying, I'm not saying more games like Sexy Beach 3 should be widely available, that would be to take my point widely out of contrast, but scenes like the one in Heavy Rain and Mass Effect shouldn't even be worthy of bringing up, in fact they should be so commonplace that it no longer causes controversy. These games ARE targeted at a mature audience, so I don't quite understand what controversy it causes. Movies have had sex scenes of all types without causing issue of raising an eyebrow, nobody called the ratings board to complain when they Rose from Titanic strip off and have sex soon after with Jack, so whats the big problem here?

Discuss

 

[northeast rower]

I don't think that the industry condones violence, but merely uses it as a tool for conveying a story/ fun. As for sexual content, I think that it's just the interactive element of it that disturbs people. I won't lie, I was kind of freaked out by Heavy Rain's mechanical lovemaking... weirdest sex scene ever.

 

[joshuaayt]

Because only kids play games. No, really, that's the perception- and those fucking Wii and Kinect ads are only reinforcing that assumption.

When my parents and friends are telling me (seventeen, [though I accidentally wrote sixteen first...]) that I'm too old to play video games, you know there's got to be a problem.

 

[Lightslei]

Because only kids play games. No, really, that's the perception- and those fucking Wii and Kinect ads are only reinforcing that assumption.

When my parents and friends are telling me (seventeen, [though I accidentally wrote sixteen first...]) that I'm too old to play video games, you know there's got to be a problem.

Welcome to college. We have a club dedicated to gaming, and the college gives us a few grand a year . Who said your ever too old to play games?

 

[pulse2]

I think its the traditionalists that are under the impression games are JUST for kids, I think it's a little difficult for some adults to comprehend the fact that games are a popular means of conveying media and creativity nowadays.

It would be like saying Facebook is only for online dating when some people forget for how many people it has in fact come in very useful, especially when trying to cut costs in communication.

 

[TonyGun]

We live in a culture (particularly the US and a number of Western societies) that still treats sexuality like it's witchcraft. Even though the days of Puritanical sexual repression are gone, it's still easy for opportunists to use sex as a divisive wedge issue in order to gain political power. "Look at them, they're disgusting, but look at me, I am PURE" is a classic case of self-righteousness. It's easy to knock down other people down make yourself look better. Sex is lust, an expression of vulnerability, a display of power, a substitute for personal lost, a fantasy, a commitment, a celebration of life, an addiction. Sex is neither good or bad, it is simply part of being alive. It is at the heart of every individual's motivation to want to get up from their bed every morning and do something with their lives, so it's a power that opportunists want to manipulate and control, and take advantage of.

 

[thenumberthirteen]

We live in a culture (particularly the US and a number Western societies) that still treats sexuality like it's witchcraft. Even though the days of Puritanical sexual repression are gone, it's still easy for opportunists to use sex as a divisive wedge issue in order to gain political power. "Look at them, they're disgusting, but look at me, I am PURE" is a classic case of self-righteousness. It's easy to knock down other people down make yourself look better. Sex is lust, an expression of vulnerability, a display of power, a substitute for personal lost, a fantasy, a commitment, a celebration of life, an addiction. Sex is neither good or bad, it is simply part of being alive. It is at the heart of every individual's motivation to want to get up from their bed every morning and do something with their lives, so it's a power that opportunists want to manipulate and control, and advantage of.

Good point. It's really western (and it seems particularly American) culture that places a greater tabbo on sexuality than it does violence which is regularly glorified and promoted.

When was the last time there was a public holiday for prostitutes? There should totally be one.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Because animated polygon violence looks awesome but animated polygon sex looks retarded.

 

[TerribleAssassin]

It's because violence is something that is a common factor in most video games, but because VG's are relatively new compared to books and films, we don't commonly link a new thing and something as controversial as sex together.

 

[AwesomePeanutz]

Because that's how the U.S. culture is. It's different in Europe - they are more tolorant of sex but less tolorant of violance. It's just what this society values.

It always baffles me how games can have so much violence and gore, killing in every possible disturbing way but when it comes to demonstrating love and affection through sexual acts, hot coffee is spilt.

Sex =/= Love/Affection

 

[pulse2]

Okay, granted, virtual sex is creepy, but that's besides the point, it's not so much that I want to see, it's just the build up off affection and love between characters, its perfectly okay for characters to hate each other and cut each other's throats, but as soon as a sex scene that wasn't even as graphic as everyone made it out to be (Mass Effect) gets out, OMGZORZ, what about the children!

Oh, so you don't care that Kratos just ripped out someones intestines and gorged out another persons eyes, but you find the mini sex scene with aphrodite repulsive? That makes no sense.

Because that's how the U.S. culture is. It's different in Europe - they are more tolorant of sex but less tolorant of violance. It's just what this society values.

It always baffles me how games can have so much violence and gore, killing in every possible disturbing way but when it comes to demonstrating love and affection through sexual acts, hot coffee is spilt.

Sex =/= Love/Affection

Oh no dude, it's the same over here, we are indeed liberal minded when it comes to 'normal sex', but when it comes to sex in gaming, parents go ballistic, but don't mind 16 year old Jimmy robbing a bank in GTA and taking hostages. Thats okay, as long as there is no genitilia

 

[SturmDolch]

Because America.

No, really. Just look at the Mass Effect controversy. You can massacre a bunch of aliens, but as soon as you sleep with one, OH MY GOD PROTECT THE CHILDREN.

Ok, I guess it's the same in other countries, too. But American media is the loudest and shrillest of all of them, and is heard the world over when it screams. Many game devs don't want to piss it off, so they stay away from sex.

I'm honestly fine with it. I can't think of a game that would have been made better with sex. Do we really need to see the main characters go at it? Can't it be implied? Fallout: New Vegas and Dragon Age handled sex well. We don't need to see it. Just like we don't in movies.

 

[LawlessSquirrel]

I don't know. Violence is there because it's in everything, ever, in some aspect, and can be blown out of proportion to make a fun experience.

But why there's a lack of sex...well, I guess it's as has been said above: games still aren't publicly perceived as a mature medium. I personally would love to see the sexual nature of things be more often shown, in a mature and tasteful way of course. It's a big part of life, is easily understood in terms of it's meaning, and can be done to great effect if done right.

I would like to raise the example of the sex scene from Mass Effect. I watched it on Youtube to see what the problem was...and frankly I still don't understand how that's any different to seeing an M rated film. It was a cinematic, it's the same principal, and all you saw was some subtle movements and tasteful non-frontal nudity.

But hey, 'games are art' crowd is most likely feeling the same way (I sure am). Hopefully games will be taken more seriously in the future, or at least some publisher will take the risk of handling this maturely and standing firm against controversy.

 

[pulse2]

Because America.

No, really. Just look at the Mass Effect controversy. You can massacre a bunch of aliens, but as soon as you sleep with one, OH MY GOD PROTECT THE CHILDREN.

Ok, I guess it's the same in other countries, too. But American media is the loudest and shrillest of all of them, and is heard the world over when it screams. Many game devs don't want to piss it off, so they stay away from sex.

I'm honestly fine with it. I can't think of a game that would have been made better with sex. Do we really need to see the main characters go at it? Can't it be implied? Fallout: New Vegas and Dragon Age handled sex well. We don't need to see it. Just like we don't in movies.

I think that's entirely up to the person playing the game, some people like that sort of interaction, it makes the plot more sentimental, it's like reading a book, if the characters just implyed they had sex rather than it being explained, would ALL readers have the same feelings about the characters? Don't get me wrong, I'm not against your point, I think it can be implyed in some games too rather than depicted, espcially if it had no real relevance. If you could get a girlfriend / boyfriend in fallout and build up the relationship as they follow you, that would be different, but seeing it with a hooker or random npc isn't needed, theres no mutual relationship.

 

[joshuaayt]

Because only kids play games. No, really, that's the perception- and those fucking Wii and Kinect ads are only reinforcing that assumption.

When my parents and friends are telling me (seventeen, [though I accidentally wrote sixteen first...]) that I'm too old to play video games, you know there's got to be a problem.

Welcome to college. We have a club dedicated to gaming, and the college gives us a few grand a year . Who said your ever too old to play games?

See, now that's why I'm living in the wrong country. You guys get old games, more than 0 retro arcades and even college clubs dedicated to games? What next, you get internet speeds higher than 500 kb/s?

 

[Ewyx]

because the US general public is much more sensitive about sex than violence... why are US values so fucked up is beyond me however.

 

[Something Amyss]

It always baffles me how games can have so much violence and gore, killing in every possible disturbing way but when it comes to demonstrating love and affection through sexual acts, hot coffee is spilt.

Now that goes without saying, I'm not saying more games like Sexy Beach 3 should be widely available, that would be to take my point widely out of contrast, but scenes like the one in Heavy Rain and Mass Effect shouldn't even be worthy of bringing up, in fact they should be so commonplace that it no longer causes controversy. These games ARE targeted at a mature audience, so I don't quite understand what controversy it causes. Movies have had sex scenes of all types without causing issue of raising an eyebrow, nobody called the ratings board to complain when they Rose from Titanic strip off and have sex soon after with Jack, so whats the big problem here?

Discuss

The game industry doesn't condone violence.

Regardless, the standards for sex are different in TV and movies as well. Look at all the murder that goes on TV and in movies with a TV 14/PG13 rating. That stuff would be an M in the gaming industry. But regardless, comparable sexual activity may be slightly more lenient, but that's because the reaction you mention is dsproportionate.

In short, I think you answered your own question with the Titanic example.

 

[chainer1216]

maybe its partly because watching an action film with friends is awesome, and watching a porno with you're friends is awkward.

 

[Neverhoodian]

I think it has something to do with the privacy that is normally associated with sex.

Mankind often doesn't try to hide its violent predilections. We raise armies and wage open war on each other constantly. Many gangs brazenly commit violent acts in major cities. Unless it has a silencer, guns are very loud when they discharge, instantly grabbing the attention of anyone nearby. Because violence is often a public affair, it's a trait we're more comfortable addressing.

Sex on the other hand is (usually) a very private affair. Body parts that aren't normally exposed are laid bare, creating an environment of vulnerability. Because of this, people are inclined to perform sexual acts away from prying eyes. When it's suddenly thrust into the public eye, people are more uncomfortable because of this association with sex and privacy.