Sex & other "adult content" in computer games

[RealR]

A big issue sparked off by hot coffee. Hot Coffee of course being a mod for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas that allowed you to view and control your character as he has fucks one of his many girlfriends (some of the girlfriends being important to the plot). I've not downloaded it but Develop magazine has covered it in this issue, with a SS. There is no nudity so meh i think its a big fuss over nothing.

Basically i'm asking is it acceptable? Personally i think yes. If the film, tv and music (vids + lyrics) industries can use it then why is it wrong of games. However it should be tactful. Having sex scenes because you can is wrong, and maybe "controlling it" is a bad thing. I mean FFS get a lass! But as content in a game i cant see why it should be so unacceptable. It just shows how backwards people are.

The films industry went through the same issues as games for firstly existing, then violence, sex, drugs and so on. Games are having to go through the same public scorn, just much later. Personally I think people need to get of the games industry's backs and let them develop content as freely as other entertainment industries do. Censor stuff with equal weighting to the film industry. Surely its only fair.

However games developers would need to be tactful and sensible about their content. Especially UK developers as we need the sort of government support offered to our films industry and other countries cames/film industries.

[humndislocation]

I don't have a problem with adult content in general, but I think sex in games is lame, and just fuels the stereotype that games are for nerdy virgins.

[Chunder]

Having sex for the sake of having sex in a game is a touch lame, but then again the other industries do it.... Plus, the only people I know who bought the latest Leisure Suit Larry game where more casual gamers, rather than the hardcore geeks.... I don't think its neccesarilly bad, especially since sex tends to sell... Saying that I'd feel a bit of a dick having to work on such a game.... So yeah, probably a good idea but not for me is my attitude here... And definitely yeah on the considered use

I completely agree with what was said about the similarities to the film industry (lets not forget the Comic Book Authority either and the stagnation of comics....). Problem is, you cant really compare games to either of these genres or time periods. Theres completely different social parameters at work, the medium is *very* different, so its difficult to use *equal * weighting...

I think the government realises it needs to censor games, but it really doesn't have any understanding of them, or its effects... Various reasons probably, the fact that psychology is still, at best, a lot of guesswork, games are a young persons thing, and games are notoriously difficult to nail down and describe due to their emergent and interactive nature. Nobody goes chasing after an individual who wants to make a game experience as similar to a drug-like experience as possible, but show a breast and its in the Sun as the next worst thing (alongside topless models and sharkbaiting)...

It doesnt help that you have some pseudo dark age retard pond-scum like detritus of society regects who regularly like to stick a cattle prod on full into the proceedings with ridiculous salem witch trail like statements such as 'Everquest killed my 2 year old baby' or whatever they come up with, based on absolutely nothing but their current bigotrys in life, and maybe a message from god at some point...

[humndislocation]

Actually I think we do quite well on the non-censorship front here in the UK. Compared to countries like Germany where, for example, the enemy soldiers in Half life had to sit down and shake their heads instead of dying, or Australia, where games can be banned outright.

[RealR]

Originally Posted by humndislocation

Actually I think we do quite well on the non-censorship front here in the UK. Compared to countries like Germany where, for example, the enemy soldiers in Half life had to sit down and shake their heads instead of dying, or Australia, where games can be banned outright.

yeah i agree. its mainly america where a game can be really hurt from censorship and companies rely on it. I know what ur meaning about sex in games only adding to the bad image of gamers and fully agree. I think this is also part of the reason for games being treated differently, but most these 35/13 year old virgins are probably in porn networks anyway.

Personally I think sex is over-used in film & music industries and dont want it in games, however i feel if its acceptable in other mediums of entertainment games shouldn't be treated too differently.

BTW has anyone read the letters in Develop? The one by John Sutherland really pissed me off, but then i might be biased as he managed that every week for pretty much the last year

[humndislocation]

I meant to subscribe when I was working at VIS but never got around to it.

[Chunder]

Originally Posted by Develion

BTW has anyone read the letters in Develop? The one by John Sutherland really pissed me off, but then i might be biased as he managed that every week for pretty much the last year

What did he have to say then? he seems to piss many people off, but I think he's pretty sound.... Same with Louis too, in fact I didn't have many gripes with any of the staff there (and gave them plenty for them to gripe about myself )

[RealR]

Originally Posted by humndislocation

I meant to subscribe when I was working at VIS but never got around to it.

the form i get to9 "update my sub" is pretty much like the one i used to sign up. If u want i can tear the half with my details off then give you on UGS bus trip?

[humndislocation]

I've got a form in PDF format, but I don't think they'd give me a free subscription now that I'm not working in the games industry.

I'll subscribe once I get a job again.

[RealR]

Oh yeah good point ^_^

you could just say you are a student O_o