Oh, how I wish the explaination the media gives would be that simple. Instead, they pull out the retarded "only kids play video games" bit.MiracleOfSound said:
Why does the games industry condone violence but stray away from sexual content.
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It's a bit about the target culture and market. Germany is for example not very fond of much violence and gore, but more open to sexual content in games, and it's quite the opposite in the US.
Also, videogames tend to shift to the "things you don't do in normal life" (because normal life is boring), such as getting headshots and killing off hordes of zombies. Sex is however a more normal part of life that you can do without getting killed in the process, and as such is better in real life than the boring videogame version.
Also, videogames tend to shift to the "things you don't do in normal life" (because normal life is boring), such as getting headshots and killing off hordes of zombies. Sex is however a more normal part of life that you can do without getting killed in the process, and as such is better in real life than the boring videogame version.
Remember that episode of Southpark where the issue was brought up about why violence is okay but sex is such a taboo?
I think this whole sex and violence thing is just an old stigma that people aren't yet willing to let go. Just like how the bikini was such a big issue but now it doesn't really offend people that much. People except change at a very slow pace.
Maybe someday, people will start accepting games like they accept movies and books. But for some reason, most people still think that games (because it is called a game) is for kids and as long as that is so, they will attack anythingabout games that they find offencive.
I blame the parents who buy 18 rated games for their 12yr old's.
I think this whole sex and violence thing is just an old stigma that people aren't yet willing to let go. Just like how the bikini was such a big issue but now it doesn't really offend people that much. People except change at a very slow pace.
Maybe someday, people will start accepting games like they accept movies and books. But for some reason, most people still think that games (because it is called a game) is for kids and as long as that is so, they will attack anythingabout games that they find offencive.
I blame the parents who buy 18 rated games for their 12yr old's.
In my opinion, three reasons (sorry if these were already mentioned, I just want to get my ideas out before reading through the thread):
First, society. It's been mentioned a lot that as a western society we're more open to violence than sex. Blame America's puritan roots. Blame conservative thinking. Blame the overly zealous Christian groups that say if any adult content is in anything the children will automatically see it and they'll all become gay satanists who have blood orgies while shooting up heroine.
No matter who is blamed, it's true. We're just not open to sex as a society. Implied sex is a norm in other media. But having a woman in her underwear in a picture or on TV is different than having an interactive woman in her underwear.
Second, games are still thought of as toys and violence (outside of gratuitous violence and gore), being more accepted, is seen as a natural part of play for boys and teens and younger men. I mean, sports can be violent and even when no one gets hurt a lot of sports are more than happy to let people bash into each other for the sake of the game. Or you can look at the old go to Cops and Robbers/Cowboys and Indians.
Third, and probably the biggest reason in my eyes, violence can move a story forward with interest. I can be told that the bad guy is hiding in the next building and I need to eradicate them. So, in gameplay, I go over and eradicate them. Easy, yes?
Sex can't be treated so easily for a number of reasons. It can't be used as a gameplay element or it turns into Hot Coffee. It can't generally be used to advance the story, because let's face it video games don't take a mature enough approach to use it as integral part of the story. It can't be too detailed, as that would spark controversy as well, but making it too ambiguous causes it to lose it's power from a storytelling aspect. It can't be taken too lightly as most people can see how sex is ingrained in our minds. Sex for most things is procreation, for us it's procreation and recreation and emotional attachments and all sorts of things that make sex more than just a single act of release or mating. But too seriously and they call is a sex simulator.
Mass Effect did an alright job with sex, though, Dragon Age did a better job in my eyes (because after having sex with a character it changed the relationship no matter who it was with, giving sex a deeper meaning).
While God of War, for instance, does sex in all kinds of wrong.
But the easy answer?
Sex is powerful, violence is easy.
First, society. It's been mentioned a lot that as a western society we're more open to violence than sex. Blame America's puritan roots. Blame conservative thinking. Blame the overly zealous Christian groups that say if any adult content is in anything the children will automatically see it and they'll all become gay satanists who have blood orgies while shooting up heroine.
No matter who is blamed, it's true. We're just not open to sex as a society. Implied sex is a norm in other media. But having a woman in her underwear in a picture or on TV is different than having an interactive woman in her underwear.
Second, games are still thought of as toys and violence (outside of gratuitous violence and gore), being more accepted, is seen as a natural part of play for boys and teens and younger men. I mean, sports can be violent and even when no one gets hurt a lot of sports are more than happy to let people bash into each other for the sake of the game. Or you can look at the old go to Cops and Robbers/Cowboys and Indians.
Third, and probably the biggest reason in my eyes, violence can move a story forward with interest. I can be told that the bad guy is hiding in the next building and I need to eradicate them. So, in gameplay, I go over and eradicate them. Easy, yes?
Sex can't be treated so easily for a number of reasons. It can't be used as a gameplay element or it turns into Hot Coffee. It can't generally be used to advance the story, because let's face it video games don't take a mature enough approach to use it as integral part of the story. It can't be too detailed, as that would spark controversy as well, but making it too ambiguous causes it to lose it's power from a storytelling aspect. It can't be taken too lightly as most people can see how sex is ingrained in our minds. Sex for most things is procreation, for us it's procreation and recreation and emotional attachments and all sorts of things that make sex more than just a single act of release or mating. But too seriously and they call is a sex simulator.
Mass Effect did an alright job with sex, though, Dragon Age did a better job in my eyes (because after having sex with a character it changed the relationship no matter who it was with, giving sex a deeper meaning).
While God of War, for instance, does sex in all kinds of wrong.
But the easy answer?
Sex is powerful, violence is easy.
I suppose there are a few things there.
1. The perception of video games being a toy, and a childs toy at that puts some people off the idea and interacting though sexual stuff looks worse, a cut screen maybe acceptable but ye what ever.
2. Violence has become the morn, there are so many games where the mechanic is here are the good guys here are the bad guys here is how to get rid of then, go.
Games are great at doing that.
3. Its not been done right yet. When it is other games will follow, but for a game to do this, there will a lot of hate for it from none gamers.
there are probably more points but I am tired and I cannot think of anything.
1. The perception of video games being a toy, and a childs toy at that puts some people off the idea and interacting though sexual stuff looks worse, a cut screen maybe acceptable but ye what ever.
2. Violence has become the morn, there are so many games where the mechanic is here are the good guys here are the bad guys here is how to get rid of then, go.
Games are great at doing that.
3. Its not been done right yet. When it is other games will follow, but for a game to do this, there will a lot of hate for it from none gamers.
there are probably more points but I am tired and I cannot think of anything.
Sex in games should really be used as a tool to help develop a storyline and relationships between characters, don't know about you guys, but if the characters in any form of media have had sex with each other, either seen or heavily implied, my feelings towards them are different, I see them as more of human beings rather than emotionless robots like that of Chris Redfield, Master Chief and Marcus Fenix.
Not all gamers want feelings and emotions seeping into thier killing spree, especially when god of war and the likes come into play, but in my opinion, in order to convey a realistic romance in any plot, you need some sort of sexual tension. Heck, even Tifa and Cloud had sexual tension, how many times were you sitting there thinking "Stupid Cloud, forget Aerith, get it on with Tifa, she's hot and she keeps going on about how you were all up in her past like she misses you or something".
In fact,
If cloud did get it on with Tifa, I'd think of him as less of a moody ***** with an issue with another silver haired moody ***** and more of a male.
Not all gamers want feelings and emotions seeping into thier killing spree, especially when god of war and the likes come into play, but in my opinion, in order to convey a realistic romance in any plot, you need some sort of sexual tension. Heck, even Tifa and Cloud had sexual tension, how many times were you sitting there thinking "Stupid Cloud, forget Aerith, get it on with Tifa, she's hot and she keeps going on about how you were all up in her past like she misses you or something".
In fact,
If cloud did get it on with Tifa, I'd think of him as less of a moody ***** with an issue with another silver haired moody ***** and more of a male.
Lies I'm 21 and there is no way in hell I'm ever going to stop =Djoshuaayt said:
OT: I dunno probably because its generally crap. In Dragon Age Origins the sex is lying down next to someone with your underpants on..... I mean its hardly worth putting it there at all. Now a quick time event would be rather odd (1) to put it.... (2) to put it.... I'm going to stop here as I'm kinda creeping myself out :/
QFTjoshuaayt said:
also no sane adult should ever play those kinnect/wii games UNTIL Manhunt is released for kinnect, then its fine.
Because, as many have said American media has a severe problem with portraying the creation of life (speaking from a technical standpoint only) than the ending of it. Why? I do not know but since America's a massive market and so many people blindly listen to whatver the TV says, developers don't wanna piss off the people who're going to stop people buying their product.
As I've said before, American society needs to grow up a little bit and stop acting like everything's out to get it. The more you lash out, the more people hate you and the more your initial fears become truer than they were to begin with. Puritanical values and suspicion of everything is just two examples and elaboration is for another time, but c'mon. This isn't 1650, America.
Again, my usual disclaimer of no offense to the average American user here, I'm merely observing your society at large as one of those funny-talking skirt wearers from across the pond.
As I've said before, American society needs to grow up a little bit and stop acting like everything's out to get it. The more you lash out, the more people hate you and the more your initial fears become truer than they were to begin with. Puritanical values and suspicion of everything is just two examples and elaboration is for another time, but c'mon. This isn't 1650, America.
Again, my usual disclaimer of no offense to the average American user here, I'm merely observing your society at large as one of those funny-talking skirt wearers from across the pond.