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- Michael Rosamilla, from issue #4 (April 2008)
Anyone who keeps ear toward the industry knows that sex is a hot topic for video games. Brenda Brathwaite, for example, has in the past vocalized her desire to see more sex in games. But despite the allegations that games should be considered on equal footing as film, comics, etc. regarding sexual content, nobody has taken the time to address the obvious differences between games and other mediums and how that affects sexual content within.
Sexually explicit video games are nothing new. Custer’s Revenge, anyone? We all know the “plot” of that game. But whether you’re a fan or are offended by it, one thing stands out above everything else. I’m talking about the graphics. It’s the 2600, for crying out loud. This is what I find so amusing about the situation. These things on screen barely look human at all. There is a reason why most vintage games involved simple spaceships and random blocks. Drawing people was hard! So, here’s the $65,000 question. What purpose did sexually explicit vintage games serve? Presumably, pornography serves to arouse. Even non-pornographic sexual situations often have at least some enticing purpose in film and other mediums. Hell, the producers of Die Hard are on record as having been slightly miffed that the movie didn’t have any sex. And this is Die Hard. The only major female character is McClane’s wife, Holly. And we all know he’s not getting any sex from her. But, point taken. Sex can be a strong selling point in film. But does this carry over to video games? Is Custer’s Revenge enticing in the least? I don’t think I’d be challenged if I said no. So perhaps sex in games originated as more of an in-joke than anything else. Maybe that can change, though. Games have come a long way from the single screen antics of tiny sprites. Or have they?
There is one thing that few people are taking into account in this debate. A video game is by nature an interactive experience. The player is not asked to just watch something. That might be one aspect but at the core of a game is a request that the player do something. Player, will you save the princess? You don’t ask that of a moviegoer. Moviegoer, will you throw Hans Gruber out a window? That doesn’t make any sense. When I watch a movie I’m just there for the ride while someone else drives. I am not suggesting that video games cannot have a cinematic element. They can. But, sex in the cinematic portions of a game defeats the purpose of saying that games need more sex. Then all you’re doing is putting sex into a movie that happens to be part of a game. The reason sex has a problem sitting comfortably in games is because most video games need a target goal, even if it is simply earning the high score. In most cases, sex is an interlude that prevents the player from moving forward toward a goal. And one thing about gamers that’s pretty consistent is that they hate when a game’s pacing is chosen for them. They like to be able to hold down a run button. They like to be able to escape from battle. The mindset is, “I’m in charge. Don’t tell me how long I have to wait before I can play again.”
Adult Video Games on the Atari 2600... really?
Interactivity is a big deal. Sex is different than violence from an interactive perspective. I would contend that violence and video games mix. Usually, in a game that relies on violence, the player is charged with stopping (or being) the bad guy. Regardless of what side of the law your virtual avatar is on, however, there is often an antagonist and the conflict is what moves the plot along. Violence is the tool but it isn’t the endgame. It’s the means to an end. You stop the bad guy by shooting him. Likewise, it is a natural method of interactivity. The A button punches. The B button shoots. It makes sense. But now think of a tasteful sex scene from a movie. You know, one that isn’t pornographic but serves the plot. My best example would be John Connor’s conception in The Terminator. Tastefully done. Now imagine that same scene in a video game. Don’t cheat. Don’t imagine it as just a cutscene. Fit it into the gameplay.
See the problem here? It’s kind of hard to keep the scene as tasteful as originally envisioned when you are actually pushing the button to make it happen. Not to mention, it also comes off as slightly silly when considering the graphical capabilities of any game pre-Unreal 3. Anyone want to push the A button and watch a little squashed sprite thrust his way into another little squashed sprite? But besides the silly nature of something like that, even if using highly advanced graphical technology it comes off as kind of sad. We all know that blow up dolls exist but few people proudly declare that they use them. I would say that sex in video games is less like sex in film and more like blow up dolls. Interactive toys. And for that reason, finding a comfortable place for sex in this medium is just harder to do without either interrupting gameplay or coming off as sleazy.
