(Spoilers: Fable and Fable II, Dragon Age: Origins, Morrowind, Fallout 2)

For a lot of people, sex in video games is used solely as a means to give horny teenagers fapping material, exploit women as sexual objects, or make the baby Jesus cry...as is the reality in some cases. However, there are instances in certain games where sex or sexuality can be used to the player's advantage-- whether it's to obtain loot, advance the plot, or even to beat your friend's high score for STD's acquired through boning every pub wench in Fable II.

This, I think, is a more interesting use of pixelated genitalia, so I'm going to list a few examples of this and then throw in some pictures of characters with speech bubbles saying silly things in WACKY FONTS. You know, because I can.



Take Morrowind's very own Crassius Curio, for instance. He's a real classy guy-- the author of reptilian smut, in fact. He's also one of the Councilors of the Great House Hlaalu, and if you're playing through the main quest you'll have to encounter him at least once.
Part of Morrowind's main plot line requires you to become the Hortator (or war leader) for House Hlaalu and two other Great Houses. In order to do this, you have to gain the favor of every single one of the Councilors. Curio is the easiest by far, requiring only a kiss.
However, outlander, if you're a member of House Hlaalu and you're trying to climb the ranks to Grandmaster, you'll be needing a sponsor. For the low price of your dignity, Crassius Curio is willing to help you out there. All you've gotta do is take off your clothes.

Okay, so that's a fairly tame example. No real sex scenes, not even a fade-to-black. But it still counts. You're essentially using sex to advance in your career just like in real life. I mean... what?



Alistair. He's the secret bastard child of King Maric and the last remaining heir to the throne of Ferelden. And let's be honest, he's the only character in Dragon Age: Origins that's worth boning. He says adorable and dorky things in the middle of battle and sounds a little bit like Jeremy from Peep Show (I'm probably alone in this). Also, if you're a human noble female and you play your cards right, you can rule alongside him as his Queen.

Your relationship (or lack thereof) with Alistair can have a profound impact on how the story ends. You can remain a Grey Warden, or you can become the goddamn Queen of Ferelden. I'd say that's a pretty big bonus for banging the right people.



Finally, we've got Fable and Fable II. In both games, you have the option of having sex with and/or marrying almost any of the minor NPCs in the game. Marriage brings benefits such as gifts, dowries, bonuses to sleeping at home, and even children (because it's nice to walk into Bowerstone and have little kids following you around and talking about how cool you are).
Sex in Fable II has such benefits as...STD's. You know, if you're into that sort of thing.

So there you have it. There are plenty of other examples of this (prostitution in Fallout 2), but I've gone on about it long enough. The point is, not all video game sex is placed in-game as a sex simulator for the lonely. In some cases, it can get you shiny items, too. And, well...that's a good enough reason for me.