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Sex is one of the most powerful industries in the modern world. Sex conquers nearly every piece of media that it enters. There are entire books dedicated to the subject. Most of the 70’s Classic Rock output consisted of songs written to purely evoke a sexual tension. A sub-genre of film was created to simply showcase the act.
But what does that mean for videogames? Simply that in the future, we will more than likely see games that are only sex … actually, that's already happened. The better question is how do I feel about sex in my videogames?
To lay the ground work for my real-life counterpart, sex is something that frightens me. I was born and raised a Catholic boy, a title that I am now pretty ashamed of. My parents always told me, “You keep it in your pants!” and, “Think with your brain at all times!”
To further complicate the matter, girls have never truly liked me. I became infatuated with the idea of a woman in middle school, but I never confronted her with my lust. When I got to high school, depression set in and I was often simply thinking of ending my life.
Eventually I met a very colorful character and fell for her. She spoke of all the ridiculous acts she had done and I became very intrigued as to how people can simply fornicate and not have the act take any kind of impact on their character. She teased me with ideas of us being together and it simply led to me loosing a very good friend and blaming it on sex.
To me, sex is something that just ruins my life. I can sit at home at night and browse various Web sites for some kind of fetish, but it just makes me feel sick. Why and how do people commit these acts so freely (granted I am basing this off of the sick view of the Internet)?
On to the real answer: what do I feel about it in my games? I think it really has no place in the interactive medium (and Heavy Rain proves me right). Videogames often do not have sex as a means of dissecting what it can do to the human psyche. They are simply trying to sell an image that the largest demographic (Males 18-34) will eat up.
I have not seen one instance of sexual tension in a videogame that truly warranted it. When strong female characters are created in games, they often lack over-sexualized features. I find the strangest females attractive because their personalities are what intrigue me, not their “assets.”
When strong male characters are created, we almost have an inverse of the female philosophy. They are given rugged good looks or sophisticated voices and are knights of the greatest valor. The women are often shown as sexual icons in the light of evil. Their desires are meant to evoke some kind of negative feeling out of you, or a purely sexual tension that is talked down upon.
The males are shown as either having no sexual desire whatsoever or as disgusting pigs who only want sex. No middle ground exists to say, “I enjoy being with you and want to express my love.” We simply have, “NIKO, MY COUSIN. BIG AMERICAN TEETEES!”
Mass Effect tries to prove me wrong on this matter. Shepard is not a sexual deviant, but in the same instance he can be. The paths you choose in that game can lead Shepard to cause great discomfort to the other females he courts (or males if your choice is female Shepard).
Mostly any BioWare game has some kind of romance that leads to sex. My question is, “What does this really result in?” Is there a true purpose for the sexual act or is the game just trying to create a world that feels immersive?
Fighting games are at least the most blatant about their sexual references. Games like Dead or Alive know that sex is the main reason most people will play, but they don’t only flaunt the sex. You have a very satisfying fighting game built first and then character designed to be visual eye candy. It may not be very courteous to women, but at least you know that the sole intention is sex.
Street Fighter even has women with barely any clothing -- Just look at Cammy or Elena. There is no sensible way you can tell me that wearing no pants makes you a better soldier or that the reason you are wearing what is conceivably a swimsuit is because you live in an impoverished country. You were just designed to be sexualized.
I haven’t experienced a game that gives me the option of sex that actually makes good use of it. It just seems to exist as a purely voyeuristic way for gamers to get their rocks off. I’m not sure if it’s the industry pegging us as worthless nerds or not, but it certainly has no belonging in the medium.
Until our industry matures to the point where story lines and characters can be taken seriously, I will never accept sex in my games. It doesn’t enhance my experience and it certainly does not add to any kind of gameplay department.
This promoted blog was written for our March Monthly Musing assignment, "Write something about sex." You too could get promoted if you write something about sex in videogames over on the Community Blogs
Contest:
5:00 PM on 03.03.2010
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Good blog, man.
But I agree that for the most part, sex has been meaningless in games. Just there to get guys a bit riled up.
Which is fine, actually.
I really do.
Video Games just do not know what to do with sex.
There's more reasons to like Elena than her just being sexy. She's got a fun personality and her fighting style is the 2D Fighter equivalent of Voldo.
The sex factor doesn't hurt, of course.
I wasn't trying to imply she is a worthless character. I was just taking a more design oriented approach to her. From an aesthetic standpoint, there is no reason why she doesn't have more clothing on.
Though I'm not counting jello wrestling.
Alright, you do make a compelling argument. You must forgive me, my vocabulary is never really specific on what I mean to say.
Your overall views on sex however are little skewed and slightly disturbing... There's nothing wrong with having sex, especially with a loved one. It's one of the most fulfilling and awesome experiences you can have.
That sounds like a really unhealthy (and I'm being completely serious here) mental viewpoint. You might want to talk to a professional about it.
Saying sex doesn't have a place in games is like saying dancing doesn't have a place in games.. it's something we do. It's often used to progress story and emotional involvement just like any story element and yes it has a huge voyeuristic element (as do big explosions).
I don't avert my eyes from every pretty girl i see on the street, i can accept the point it's voyeuristic but it's also totally natural and sex is an openly accepted thing in many places and cultures.. (though not in america from my understanding)
If you stand by not having sex in games you must also not want it in movies or books for the same reason.
As far as video game sex goes, I don't see why sex can't be part of a mature game narrative. People like sex. It's natural, and we have a natural curiosity about how *other* people have sex. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. If games are going to be taken seriously, come on: We've got to have at least one good, sexy game out there.
KingSigy, seriously man, see a therapist. You don't have a healthy outlook on sex and it can ruin your life. As a human, you deserve to be enjoying and partaking in the full spectrum of activities related to propagating the human race (hint: that's why it's so fun.)
if only the world were that simple...
@Kingsigy
i really enjoyed this article. i have to say i sorta feel the same way and can relate (from a female point of view) with the whole bible bashing thing as i was thrown into a convent for a few years. not to mention the particular country im from has been completly brought (excuse the pun) for a ride by the church.. but thats here nor there, this is a games site! i think sex in movies is radically different because its actors and you can get the sense of closeness, lust, all those emotions, etc etc.. but in videogames it just hasnt been perfected yet. i play games because i like having the choice to do things i cant do in real life like gun down loads of ppl, grow plant armies to take down zombies and my most favourite type of game- post apocalyptic games :D love em. yeh sure characters are over sexualised and theres no gettin outta that but actual sex scenes shud be held off until the medium arrives in which it can be perfected. and even when that comes i probably wont go near them but ill admire the technology. :)
Sex is something that every human does. Just like breathing. If you're not having sex then odds are you're still in a sexual mindset. And if you're not then you're probably going out of your way to be that way. Sex belongs in games just as much as breathing and eating.
I also agree that maybe you should talk to someone about your utter disdain for sex. As someone mentioned earlier that really is unhealthy.
I have next to no sex drive (well, I have a few fetishes, but I've yet to want to "do it" with anyone) and I agree with this article.
it just seems thrown in as pointless fanservice.
End of story.
I don't hate it in movies or novels either. Those forms of media have progressed to a point where critics and consumers alike are able to dissect their message. Most video games do not have concrete messages about society or humanity.
Until our industry gets to that point, I don't want to see sex shoe horned into my games. If you're not going to take it seriously, why bother?
I love SFIII. It's, literally, my favorite game of all time. Just because it features a woman with scantily clad attire doesn't mean I will discount it's accomplishments.
SEE A THERAPIST YOU NEED HELP.
@Matthew Blake
I understand that sexual content will eventually be something that is done in tasteful and artistic ways in the future. I'm not saying, "Forget it in games forever." What I want is for our industry to mature to a point where sex is shown for what it really is, instead of just trying to get a rise out of the average male gamer for increased sales.
To beat a dead horse, gaming does not have it's Citizen Kane. Citizen Kane is something that started to get cinema to be taken seriously. That did not have much in the way of sexual content. We need something like that first before we start just throwing sex into everything.
If your notions of sex have become something of a mental block, however, preventing you from interacting meaningfully with others and "ruining your life," I'd advise changing that mindset. Up until you have sex, your V-card feels like the heaviest burden in the world...until you do have sex, when you realize how much of a non-issue it was, and how nobody really, truly cares where your penis has been.
I'll say one more thing and I'm done: Games are good. Smart and successful people play them. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, critically wrong with gaming, any more than movies, novels, magazines, or TV. Adults play games, and games should cater to adults.
Playing games does not mean you are missing out on life (poopsocking WoW addicts notwithstanding). Playing games is not an activity reserved for those who have otherwise failed at social life or relationships. It's a rather disturbing trend lately to see so many gamers claim otherwise. It's a good hobby! There's nothing wrong with you!
I sympathize and agree with the concern that there's a sex-negative point of view happening here, but I really think people need to ease off on the profiling and assessment of whether or not KingSigy "needs help." May or may not be true, but it's not something anybody here is qualified to state just based on a blog post.
I really liked this article. And I can't help but identify a bit, having had a similarly repressed childhood environment.
Point to consider:
"Is there a true purpose for the sexual act or is the game just trying to create a world that feels immersive?" Thing is, if the game is trying to present an immersive world that is similar to the real world, I have to say the real world is full of sex that doesn't have a "purpose." I know you're referring to games here, but it feels like you're asking, "Is there a true purpose for the sexual act," period. Which is a question that games can't answer for you.
I'd actually be curious to hear what you thought might be a "good" use of the depiction of sex in a game. Actually I'd be curious to hear what anyone thought on that, but the tone of your article seems to suggest that there's just no way for sex to be in a game without it bothering you - which if that's the case, then it's not really a problem with games. But maybe I've misread you on that?
I don't agree with you, sir. Video games are meant to be forms of entertainment for things you cannot experience in real life. Sex exists in real-life, therefore the only reason it should ever be in a game is for dissection of what it means.
We need to have our games become real pieces of art before we have sex be placed in them.
As for the argument of me having sex, I do not see how that will change my views. It may make me accept it more in my life, but I still won't understand it's purpose in video games.
Anyway, in games, for the actual act of sex, if the game in question is heavily plot based and adult like Heavy Rain, it has more of a place in the context of the game, if used sparingly. Developers still have along way to go in direction of such scenes, to not make them feel forced or false (eg, rough sex might have you breaking all kinds of stuff in the game environment (9as often seen in films)), and a smooth slow approach would do the opposite, both way perhaps with differing results to the characters, once you return to normal gameplay). Here they need help of a consultant to come in, and I reckon they should look to females (possibly porn stars) for that input, that may add what's missing. Including them as fun not corny gameplay is the hardest step. It would be hard to make a fun game all about sex, though, unless you dig the sex comedy of Leisure Suit Larry, Lula, or the japanese hentai game scene.
In future game, I think the trend will continue, but will improve. The same sex hurdle still exists too, thanks to Bioware. For equality and argument sake, that needs sorting out.
For fighting games, we know their outfits aren't always practical, and they're not supposed to be. Such designs can be sexually appealing, but are also eye candy, to keep the players eyes fixed, in the heat of battle. I think here, your prude upbriging is beginning to show, King, as there is a big gulf between SF series and DOA. The former takes some degree of practicality into its designs (eg. Elena picture above is from Africa, a hot climate nation where such lack of clothes is a good thing when fighting. Cammy however does seem more like fan service than military in design) The latter, is heavily based in fan service for the sake of it, than fighting, even with its own booby physics. Looking at both the intent of both developers is clear.
Capcom want to sell a sweet fighting game, and Tecmo want to flash code boobies at male gamers, having the fighting as an extra or vice versa. There's a reason why one is heavily played still and the other isn't. I wish DOA was more of a game too.
Besides, were it not for the flamboyant character designs of Capcom, fighting games would be bland like that Mortal Kombat game, where next to no imagination goes into their design. Therefore, not all sex appeal is a bad thing.
Sex can very much be art, and I don't really want to go into the whole meaning of that here, but I think a reasonable person would back me up on that. It is of course not the only subject of art, but it is a big one. Maybe the first true art game would be a game about sex? I think your definition of art is unreasonably narrow.
Yeah, I can actually see your viewpoint. It does sort of read like my problems with sex mean I will always have problems with it.
As with any good movies and novels that dig into what human nature is, sex needs to be shown as a respectable part of life. I can't really make up an example, but something where two main characters fall in love after months of time together.
I don't understand how one can take a sex scene seriously when people just meet and are going at it. Yeah people certainly do that in real life, but it doesn't really have a purpose to what a game is trying to accomplish.
I feel like I may have created another point here or side tracked from my original idea, so I will end this post. The short answer is that I don't really know how I would create the sex scene, I just know I want it to be represented with the respect it should have.
But . . . Dude. >_>
Find someone you like. Get intimate. Have sex. I doubt you'll turn into a horn-dog, so just try it out. I also doubt you need to "see a therapist", because that's extreme. You just need to get comfortable with sex.
I do agree with your stance on sex in games, though. It often seems pretty pointless. However, I do applaud the efforts to incorporate sex even if they're badly done. I'm sure someone will get it right, eventually.
You make very good points for Street Fighter. I suppose Elena's costume may be practical, in a strange way, but I don't really see how something else could not have be crafted. Most of the people from an African village like her are warriors, their physical features would not be so perfect (they'd possibly have scars or missing digits).
Heavy Rain is a different case, one where the sex is inserted simply to say the game is realistic. I think we all know the Jim Sterling controversy on that game, but I agree with him entirely. The plot of Heavy Rain is so convoluted and hole ridden that I cannot take it seriously.
You make some great points, though, and I think that if you and I debated this out, you may actually be able to sway me against my own opinion.
I have found people that I like, much like the one I (briefly) described above. Girls do not like me, in the long run, so it's hard for me to express any emotion of love without sounding like a fool.
I also feel really guilty about objectifying a woman that I care so much about. I should be able to help them be happy and support them, not just look at them and think, "sexy time" (Borat quote there).
In the end, I think that part of the issue is that games mess up and fail to get you emotionally invested in a scene that should have some emotional charge - but I think that applies to a whole range of situations, not just sexual ones.
However, I do have major problems with King's argument. If you want a better, more realistic portrayal of sex in gaming, I'd say there has to be more of it in order to hone it to a depiction that both commercially and artistically satisfied.
If it was kept out of games, that would just put a freeze on it that would ensure that it came back just as stilted and awkward as when it left.
I think you may have put everyone's argument into better words for me to understand. I can completely see your point, now.
To bring it to a more gameplay oriented response, Wolfenstein 3D didn't need some kind of forefather to perfect it's controls. That was, and still is, a classic shooter.
Super Mario Bros. didn't need previous platformers to perfect a genre of gaming. It simply did it and was competent the first time, leading to future games to be even tighter.
I don't think that if we cut sex out of gaming right now that future games will suffer. I honestly believe we just need a more serious attention to the story telling aspect of games first.
Once you have really deep, believable characters, the sex won't seem awkward (even if it controls in a dumb way).
Actually, yes. He is very pure, stern and level headed. I find myself the same way. I also main Ryu in every Street Fighter.
I don't think Ken to be a slut, though. Yeah he was a playboy, but he's still a good person. He settled down and raised a family, even if his past was full of various women. He reminds me of my friend, who mains Ken in every Street Fighter.
Also she's mad hot.