Ben-DutkaMaybe this is a good thing; maybe if all the information is out there well ahead of time, there won't be as much of a backlash when the final product finally starts to turn some heads.
Not long after Obsidian Entertainment proclaimed the sex scenes in Alpha Protocol to be "satifying and tasteful," the ESRB has released details concerning the sexual situations in Bioware's Dragon Age: Origins . According to Examiner.com , the information is likely to raise the ire of some anti-game activists, simply because there may be a semblance of bestiality involved. Said the ESRB listing:
"During the course of the game, players are able to visit a brothel where a hostess asks what they are interested in. If players select ‘Surprise me,’ they can sometimes wind up face-to-face with a woman, a man, a transsexual, or an animal; sexual activity is never depicted during these brothel encounters.
Players can also initiate brief cutscene sequences in which couples (male and female or same sex couples) can be depicted kissing, embracing, and caressing one another as the screen fades to black."
However, we should all bear in mind that despite what the game hints at or implies, there is never any human nudity, except for "one female character [who] is briefly depicted with bare breasts." Usually, if it's not thrust in their faces, the easily offended won't have much in the way of real ammunition, so hopefully, Bioware will emerge mostly unscathed this time around. Dragon Age: Origins is set to release on October 20 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC and not surprisingly, it will be rated "Mature" for "Blood, Intense Violence, Language, Partial Nudity and Sexual Content."
Related Game(s): Dragon Age: Origins
Even though there's very little nudity, there is still plenty there that some people would be offended by. My guess is the same-sex couples and the animals will be the target of the outrage. I don't believe this kind of stuff is necessary, but the game is clearly intended for adults, and the responsibility lies with the parents. But as we all know, video games are intended for kids so parents will blame the industry instead of themselves for letting their kids get the game. *sigh* I'm getting sick of hearing this whole debate every year.
Last edited by 556pineapple on 7/25/2009 11:07:21 AM
An animal…. WTF?
lol, I'm guessing it's meant as a joke. *A guy walks into a brothel and says 'surprise me' and when he opens the door he sees a goat*
bow-chicka-bow-wow
*shivers at thought*
HA.
Beastiality. That's hot. Ar-ar-aroo!
Got sex on the brain lately Ben? 😉
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 7/25/2009 1:17:00 PM
Sssshhhhh.
Anyone who walks into a brothel and says 'surprise me.' is begging for trouble.
Banana split.
LOL what else can I say I'm pissing myself laughing especially what worldendswithme said.
Giggity. This game is going to be awesome.
Well, they are certainly thinking about the general public when they include man on (man, woman, animal, etc.) Normally I would feel kinda weird, but this is a fantasy game afterall, so I guess I can be open minded.
"its animal erotica, fucko"
anyone remember what thats from?
Sigh…
Again with the whole tip-toeing around sexual content. I really am getting sick of all this.
Just thought, if over-the-top violence is tolerated in video games, why not over-the-top sex and nudity? Go all the way!!!! Why not depict a troll and a fairy going at it like a sex-starved couple on a friday night?
And yet having a man get his head ripped off in brutal fashion (ala, God of War 3) is pretty much fine in the eyes of the religious community. GO GOD!!!
I said it before and I'll say it again. Why do we focus too much on sex being horribly wrong and inappropriate when school bullying, shootings, bar brawls, violent robberies and torture of all kinds continues to run rampant and be seen as common in this day and age?
Shouldn't we be focusing on violence as a problem? If people understand games like GTA and COD, God of War and Manhunt (which focus on violence) are for adults to play, then why the hell do they not understand that sexual content and nudity is for that same adult audience!?!?!
As I said before, if video games can get away with horrible acts of violence in which the player is the initiator of that violent act, then why the hell is there so much uproar about breasts and sex being shown in games?!?!?! Both have an MA or R rating (depending on your rating system, I'm from Australia) which means both games are restricted to adults!!!!
I always get worked up about this!!! Violence is seen as okay, but throw sex in there and the whole thing becomes controversial!!!
Maybe it's a giant conspiracy, where the world government or religious institutions are training our children of the world to be great fighters and accurate shooters in order to defend our planet from the great Zenu and his army from the planet Omicron Persei 8. (You know, I wouldn't be surprised if that was close to the truth.) As we all know, a planet of loving hippies is just begging to be taken over or destroyed. (Ahhh, I love you Cartman)
If anyone out there has an answer to this, or has a logical explanation to contribute, feel free to reply. I would love to hear what you all think of this violence over sex in games problem.
I personally would love to see more AAA quality games mix things up with both sex and violence rather than just violence alone. (and yes, I am currently single, hence the preferred sex over violence option) And no, I have never played and probably will never play those lousy Porn games found all over the internet. I play games to escape reality thank you very much.
But sex in games like Dragon Age, Mass Effect, GTA and Alpha Protocol should be as natural as the violence depicted in it. Developers should not feel like they have to tiptoe around one subject just because some religious or government groups feel its inappropriate for the children. As if these kids don't know about that kinda stuff after Year 6.
I completely agree that it should be up to the parents to monitor what their children play. So, a message for all parents: STOP BEING SO LAZY AND DO SOME FREAKIN' PARENTING!!!
If you're so concerned about these games, don't have the government or religious institutions stop them. Stop them yourself by not buying it for your darling little angel.
Again, feel free to reply.
Last edited by Dancemachine55 on 7/26/2009 4:10:11 AM
I think I agree with you there buddy. Sex is something natural, fun and enjoyable, something we do to procreate but also for pleasure. It is something that there is a massive stigma with. For some reason, sex has become taboo, and frankly, I think that is ridiculous.
As you pointed out, so many video games have endless violence, which, unlike sex, is wrong on all accounts. I do disagree with you when you say these games get away scot-free. That is not true. Most of these games now are long running franchises, so everyone knows what to expect. But originally, games like Manhunt and GoW got stick for being violent.
However, I do think it is definately time people stopped being so prudish, and accepted sex as part of everybody's lives. I can only name a handful of games which contained proper intercourse on screen, so why does it really matter if sex is implied in a game? Even God of War has sex minigames, but you don't see anything. Real people have sex, so why should a 'realistic' video game not contain it?
For starters, God has nothing to do with the issues made of putting sex in games. It's man that does it. Plain and simple. I have to question why you would chant "go God". No point, and not relevant what so ever…
Secondly, I agree with you big time here. Parenting is key! As a parent who games nearly everyday (when work allows), my children are not allowed to play "M" rated games yet. No matter what the content. Even some "T" rated titles are out of the question. My wife and I decide before hand. Yes, God of War 3 will not be seen, nor played by my sons.
Thirdly, with sex, my only issue with the subject, and it's involvement with games, is that I personally find it completely unnecessary when it comes to a game, and it's experience it offers to a player. Using Fallout 3 as an example, my experience was not hampered by the fact that I could not see my video game character interact sexually with another digital character. In the same light, the ability to shred a raider (for example) was something that added nothing to the gameplay either.
So I guess I am asking why bother with over the top violence/sex in the first place? Game developers who decide to take the "edgy" route are doing it for what reason? Take a look at CODMW and CODWAW. Modern warfare has far less blood, violence, language, etc, yet is pretty much the superior game. Modern Warfare didn't need it. Yet, Word at War, used it. Why? Sales? Hype? It has to make you wonder.
Last edited by maxpontiac on 7/26/2009 5:24:58 PM
@ Maxpontiac
I'm sure you may know that a lot of the politicans and parents who speak out and even prevent some of the extreme content in some video games are from religious backgrounds or religious groups, hence me commenting "Go God".
Here in Australia, there is one man (South Australian Senator Michael Atkinson) who is preventing an R18+ rating from being implemented into Australian video games, and of course, he has important ties to the christian community and does not want to upset them.
So… As a means to not upset Christians, Catholics, Buddhists, Muslims, Protestants, etc. these politicians prevent any "unnecessary" content from reaching the hands of children whose parents can't read the MA15+ or R18+ rating on the front of a video game.
THAT, my friend, is why I included those comments about religion and God.
P.S. I do know that the problem isn't God but the highly religious people who believe that they have control over all information and content that the rest of the country or world can or cannot view/experience.