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Bioware Explains Lack Of Nudity In Dragon Age: Origins

These days, when a game is rated "M" and there is sexual content, you can usually expect some form of nudity. But if you hadn't noticed, Bioware passed on that idea for the recently released Dragon Age: Origins .

In the game, you can sleep with members of your party who have come to really appreciate your main character, and you can also score a few easy prostitutes. However, despite some cheesy music and a few brief glimpses, you never catch any real nudity on the screen. According to a VideoGamer interview with Bioware co-founder and CEO Ray Muzyka, this was "an artistic choice" by the development team. It all depends on how you wish to approach the romance and sexual content in any piece of entertainment and in this case, Bioware simply didn't see the need for nudity. Said Muzyka:

"We don't constrain what they do. We don't strive for gratuitous content. But we also ask the teams to choose a direction and then run with it. That was their choice. That's how they wanted to depict the romantic liaisons in the game, so that's what we did."

This is in contrast to other titles, like the future Heavy Rain , which features a full topless scene and other sexual situations where nudity is plain. But developer Quantic Dream defends their decision in much the same way: it was an "artistic choice." We have to agree that maybe we should just let the designers do as they see fit; if they screw it up and critics and gamers see nudity and sexual content as gratuitous and unnecessary, that's their problem. But if it works with the story, go for it.

However, I must say that I was a trifle disappointed to learn there was no hope of seeing Morrigan without any clothes on…really, the only downside of the game so far. 😉 (oddly enough, the fact that she's a cold-hearted bi*** only makes her more appealing)

Related Game(s): Dragon Age: Origins

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Geobaldi
Geobaldi
14 years ago

No nudity doesn't bother me. The game is great without it already. If I want more of that, I'll go play The Witcher again and it's upcoming sequel: Assassins of Kings. Also a great RPG series for those who haven't tried it.

Jawknee
Jawknee
14 years ago

Good call Bioware.

chucknasty
chucknasty
14 years ago

Now you are confusing me, Jawknee. I am failing to understand how sex would be fine and good in a game but nudity would be bad. It just doesn't seem logically consistent since the objections to nudity are based on the sexual aspect of nudity, no?
Not trying to be antagonistic, just curious.

Troy Powers
Troy Powers
14 years ago

Does the sex further the game in some way? If not, it's already gratuitous. Might as well toss in some T&A. If it furthers the plot, then, fine. Still should have thrown in som T&A. 😀

SirLoin of Beef
SirLoin of Beef
14 years ago

There's one part where the sex and the choice you make is a part of the main plot.

King James
King James
14 years ago

2 Words for Morrigan nudity: PC Mods

Geobaldi
Geobaldi
14 years ago

There's already mods out to make the female clothes transparent.

Alienange
Alienange
14 years ago

Yeah, that's what he said.

Jian2069
Jian2069
14 years ago

alyx vance ;D

NeoHumpty
NeoHumpty
14 years ago

Ugh. Still waiting on my copy I won on Ebay. You've got me really looking forward to playing. Mine should be here today or tomorrow.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
14 years ago

me too chief.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
14 years ago

wow, 3 thumbs down for saying I ordered Dragon Age on ebay, what is happening?

Alienange
Alienange
14 years ago

Don't worry, TheHighlander has four thumbs down for saying he likes bare breasts. The world's screwed up man.

NeoHumpty
NeoHumpty
14 years ago

I thumb-upped ya. Mine came today. Like it so far, but there are a lot of glitches already and I'm only in the very beginning. Going to put some time into it tomorrow.

TheHighlander
TheHighlander
14 years ago

@Alienage

ROTFL!
That's the best comment I've read in ages. How backwards is the world when a man can be criticized (thumbed down) for admitting he's heterosexual and has the audacity to like breasts?


Last edited by TheHighlander on 11/17/2009 1:02:53 AM

JPBooch
JPBooch
14 years ago

Did I hear correctly that you can also hook up with the same sex? At least we aren't subjected to a guy on guy nudity seen. Not that there is anything wrong with that. 😉

I know as soon as I start playing this game, I won't stop. Just trying to clear out some others before the insomnia begins.

TheHighlander
TheHighlander
14 years ago

Hmmm…Odd, I could have sworn this game was rated M.

I guess we're back to normal where a pair of bare breasts are deemed more dangerous in a video game title made for adults (that's what rated M is intended to mean after all), than all the violence in that same game.

If nudity was excluded because it was gratuitous, then I presume that all the violence, gore and swearing were completely necessary to the plot and not in any way gratuitous?

Yeah, right.

What a bunch of piffle.

LimitedVertigo
LimitedVertigo
14 years ago

PERV

TheHighlander
TheHighlander
14 years ago

…and proud. My God, I haven't been called that since the days of Usenet…


Last edited by TheHighlander on 11/16/2009 12:27:17 PM

LimitedVertigo
LimitedVertigo
14 years ago

I'm usually completely naked when I post on this site. PERV was definitely given as a compliment.

convergecrew
convergecrew
14 years ago

^haha

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
14 years ago

Me too Vertigo, but I like to keep my ninja scarf on just for laughs, lol

Alienange
Alienange
14 years ago

Niiiiice

Karosso
Karosso
14 years ago

Why is sex such a big taboo in America?
I'm not trying to be a smart ass or anything, I really would like to understand where did that start…
Being Brazilian, its kind of a no issue, we grow up half naked anyways LOL
I remember getting on the bus on Saturday morning just wearing my speedo and a T-Shirt to go to the beach, and nobody thought that inappropriate.
When I moved to New York and wore my Speedo on the beach I got all this weird looks hahaha most people thought I was gay or something. But yeah, violence seem to be much better tolerated here…
By the way, I thumbed all of you guys up. While wearing my speedo LOL


Last edited by Karosso on 11/16/2009 9:53:33 PM

LimitedVertigo
LimitedVertigo
14 years ago

It's a guy called Jesus Christ. I'd tell you to talk to him when he comes back but that's highly unlikely.

pillz81
pillz81
14 years ago

Now don't be blamin' Jesus on the hangups of the Puritans and Victorian society and the Catholic Church, and the Jews.
It's not Jesus fault that people are 'tards.

convergecrew
convergecrew
14 years ago

Not a big deal, although I definitely enjoy the nude women now and then.


Last edited by convergecrew on 11/16/2009 12:47:42 PM

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
14 years ago

It isn't a big deal, but I have watched a couple scenes online and the problem to me seems that it is painfully obvious and almost cringe-worthy how they avoid the nudity. It's like when you watch a TV show or R movie where they can't show nudity or an actress won't do it and honestly, who has sex with their bra on and sheets wrapped all the way around them?

LimitedVertigo
LimitedVertigo
14 years ago

Gotta love the kiss that leads to the bedroom as the scene fades and next thing you know it's morning and she's cooking breakfast while wearing one of his shirts.

JackC8
JackC8
14 years ago

It's an M rated game, but they very obviously want a lot of kids to buy it. They just don't want their parents to be scared off from it because there's boobies in it.

It's also ridiculous to say that sex is important to the story, but nudity would be "gratuitous". What do they think sex is? Snuggling?

Killsignal
Killsignal
14 years ago

i wish they didn't feel they "needed" to explain themselves.

oldmike
oldmike
14 years ago

the thing is it looks BAD the way it is now
like is was nude till EA told them to change it

wiiplay
wiiplay
14 years ago

How many people under the age of 17 do you know playing Call Of Duty 4? I know about 7 people.
How about GTA4? I know about 5.
A lot of really young people play M rated games, usually because the parents either don't play video games or they still think that video games look like Pac-man.
These same parents will not let their child watch R rated movies.
In my opinion M rated video games are worse than R rated movies.
And even though sexual intercourse is a part of life, I kind of agree with Bioware for removing the sex in their game, as it appears more young teens buy M rated games than adults do.

I personally do not want to watch someone having sex in a video game until Sony (Not Microsoft) has perfected graphics. No one likes cell-shaded pixelated sex on the PS2, why would we like to watch almost real plastic people get it on in the television set?

Good move Bioware!

( And wasn't there a recent PSXE Poll about this? )

-Wiiplay.

Beamboom
Beamboom
14 years ago

Soooo… You see absolutely nothing wrong in these kids playing games where you snipe victims getting their brain mass spashed upon the background wall or plow through innocent civilians just to reach a mission goal before timeout, just as long as they don't see a pair of bare breasts?

… You gotta be an american.

NeoHumpty
NeoHumpty
14 years ago

My ex-wife and I used to fight over this exact thing. She jumped my arse one day because a pair of boobies showed up on the movie I was watching. A few nights later I come home to her watching "Black Hawk Down" and the kid running around with the broom shooting at people. I'd rather the kid see some tatas than brain matter splattered over hate. It's a losing battle that has never made sense to me. I just usually keep it to myself anymore because everyone tends to tell me I'm wrong.

maxpontiac
maxpontiac
14 years ago

Seriously.

Does nudity bring anything to the experience? No.

Does graphic violence add something as well? No.

But, what makes this case rediculous is that Bioware is publically stating that "We don't strive for gratuitous content.", all the while having an over abundance of blood splatter.

Both the violence and nudity add nothing, other then to appease a certain demographic, and bring about hype.


Last edited by maxpontiac on 11/16/2009 4:37:19 PM

Alienange
Alienange
14 years ago

Graphic violence adds terror. Terror is an emotion that is not soon forgotten by the one who experience it. Depending on the game it would be foolish to leave it out.

convergecrew
convergecrew
14 years ago

Using the same argument, nudity brings eroticism, which is also an emotion (or something more primal) and something not often forgotten depending on how its used or not used in a game.

Anyways, not arguing with you, just making a point.

Jian2069
Jian2069
14 years ago

in the right context, both can add vastly to the game's experience

but yes, sometimes its overdone, or just plain done wrong!

Alienange
Alienange
14 years ago

Ah! There's what I was looking for. Violence and nudity can be done 'wrong.' I like that Jian2069. Good point.

maxpontiac
maxpontiac
14 years ago

Alienage –

I disagree. The original Alien movie did not rely on the type of over the top violence featured in Aliens vs. Predator 2. That movie relied on suspense to fuel the viewers imagination. To me, Dead Space is a perfect marriage of violence and suspense. Nothing rediculous like the chainsaw guns in Gears.

convergecrew –

Good point. But.. Considering the the human brain is the key sex organ (besides your skin) in a human being, there are plenty of ways to be erotic without showing softporn and/or nudity.

Jian2069 –

Agreed. But how does rediculous ammounts of blood on your armour in Dragon Age or showing pixelated breasts add to the gameplay experience? Moderate blood spray and clever camera angles would work just as good, and maybe even better in some cases.

Jordahn
Jordahn
14 years ago

First of all, there are a lot of rated "M' games that do not have nudity because it doesn't always have to be about sexuality. And for those of you who are complaining that there should be nudity in Dragon Age, you want people to respect your pro-stance for sex in video games. But yet you cannot respect the opposite when nudity can be shown in a game, but it doesn't have it. Most mature adults would not be so hypocritical. This just supports the notion that those who are screaming for it and complains that there is none are rather juvenile in their mentality and decision. That's why games with nudity are rated "mature." These games are better mentally handled by gamers who are mature enough to not take nudity to the extreme on both ends (one on side of being legalistic and the other side of being lustfully craving over it and making excuses for it).


Last edited by Jordahn on 11/16/2009 5:42:04 PM

NeoHumpty
NeoHumpty
14 years ago

I wanna see fairies flying around using their labia for wings. And a female companion with a "throat of holding".

pillz81
pillz81
14 years ago

Most mature adults would not be so hypocritical?

That is one naive statement.

fatelementality
fatelementality
14 years ago

All of you, go get laid NOW!!! 🙂

The Doom
The Doom
14 years ago

usually ppl who tell others to get laid never got laid themselves

cadpig
cadpig
14 years ago

Fine with it, fine without it….Female nudity is like that extra bonus.

___________
___________
14 years ago

i think were going a little overboard with this nudity thing.
i mean like what teamco did, going out of your way to code sixaxis motion controls to have a little wobble?
i mean im all for a little melon but as long as its tasteful.
melon for the sake of melon is childish and a cheap gimmick to get people to buy the game.
while on the subject of nudity im really disappointed, i thought
1 bayonetta would be hot.
2 you would get to see some proper nudity but you dont 🙁
all you can see is here bare back when she does her hair finishing moves on enemies.
anyone who has not played it yet needs to hop onto ebay NOW!
turning into a massive crow and biting your enemy in half has never been so much fun.
never thought i would say this but this is better than DMC4 and i loved that game.
more action, 10 times faster i seriously cant believe how fast paced this is just gets the adrenaline pumping big time.
perfect substitute till my copy of GOW collection arrives next month.
CURSE YOU SONY FOR MAKING THIS ANOTHER US EXCLUSIVE YET AGAIN!

TheHighlander
TheHighlander
14 years ago

US Exclusive? No such thing on PS3, it's region free – remember?

It only does Everything!


Last edited by TheHighlander on 11/17/2009 1:00:46 AM

___________
___________
14 years ago

sorta.
ive had a bad track record with online purchases thats why im extremley reluctant to buy things online.
6 out of 9 items i never received and the ones i did took over a month to get here.
bayonetta was the only one to get here quick and that was because it was shipped from AU to me, GOWC i would have to ship from the US and it would take over a month to get here.
still getting it, but only because i have not played GOW1 yet and theres no point playing GOW3 if i havent played the first.

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