There are some people that are perpetually and happy to excess, and they can get to be incredibly annoying, like wait staff at TGIFriday's that take their job a little too seriously. The problem is, I'm not sure why someone else's cheerfulness should annoy me. They're happy, what's my problem?

Seriously, why does the overexcited happiness of some people annoy us?

Cheers,

Boz

This is where we part on a fundemental level.UpInFlames

Oh, I'm not sure that's the case. I'm more thinking on paper here; on one hand as a mature adult I enjoy adult entertainment and have no issues with other people enjoying it as well. To this end, games like The Guy Game and Leisure Suit Larry - classic - are targeted to their audiences and entertain those demographics. No problems there. But there seems to be some question as to whether it is appropriate in gaming, for one reason or another, moreso than other entertainment. I think the reasoning behind that might be tied to the misperception that only children and kids play video games. I'm not sure, and I think it is worth discussing all of these issues to determine what is appropriate, what is necessary, what rights developers and producers do and should have, etc. Personally I believe video games are like any other artistic medium - film, literature, painting, etc. - and deserves all of the same protections that those mediums are given. So while it might appear I am taking a stance one way or another, I'm really putting thoughts to paper (or type, as it were).

Cheers,

Boz

[QUOTE="Bozanimal"]"Are there games, movies, or other media whose experience would have been diminished without its scene(s) of sex or sexuality?"UpInFlames

I have a better and more relevant question - why does sex in games/films/whatever needs to be constantly justified?

The primary market for video games is the young and young adults (though the population of adult gamers is rapidly growing), so I believe there is some merit in making sure that adult and mature scenes are warranted before their inclusion unless the game itself is specifically designed for adults. In a sense, I do believe they need to be justified.

It's not just sex. Do you remember Jeff's last review? He said there was too much cussing in the game and most of it was "out of place" people usually tend to include the shock factor for sales. The question is would taking out sex scenes or whatever offensive subject from a game make affect it badly? gamingqueen

It's funny, I felt the same way about the film "Knocked Up," one of the funniest, best-written movies I've seen in a long time. Every time there was swearing in the film, though, it felt awkward and out-of-place to me. Still, the directors must have thought it more accurately represented the characters or reality, so it was included. I don't think the removal of the vulgarity would have detracted from sales of the film in any way or diminished its plot. Then again, the odds of a bunch of stoners not swearing is probably pretty low!

But only sex is being turned into an issue. Lots of developers don't get things right in a lot of games - whether it's violence, cursing, difficulty, learning curve, save systems, level design, AI....so what's the big deal with sex? Some developers can make it right and therefore a single game that does it right is worth enduring a hundred other games being allowed to do it wrong, in my opinion.UpInFlames

I guess the next line of questioning then would be how sexual situations could be, "done right." This is the part I'm still chewing on, not only when it might add value, but how it might then be presented or add to the game's mechanics, because even though I believe it is okay to do so I do not know when or how sexuality might be used in a game in a way that makes sense.

Maybe a subterfuge or spy game with a female protagonist? Charisma attack? It certainly worked for James Bond (a lot) and Michael Douglas!

Boz

It's a tough issue to approach. It's not necessary in a strict sense. I mean, games have been entertaining for a long time now, without the need of sexual content. Trying to shoehorn sexual content in a game without other purpose than shock value is meaningless, in my opinion, but trying to avoid sexual content because games don't need it would be naive, to say the least.

The thing is that videogames are constantly evolving, and at a faster pace than say movies or books. New technology has allowed to improve the way stories are told in videogames by a quantum leap in a really short period of time (not only in the visual field, but also because of game length, better writing, voice acting, you name it), and the possibility to reach a mature audience, makes the development of games with mature themes a viable and desirable choice.

Sexuality is a part of our lives. It's a part (an important one) of human relationships, as other posters have accurately stated it. Why should videogames (from all entertaining media) avoid it?

SteelAttack

Some very good points. I would add that no form of entertainment is truly necessary, as you point out. I think that maybe the question would have been better phrased as, "Are there games, movies, or other media whose experience would have been diminished without its scene(s) of sex or sexuality?"

I think the original question is directed more at the beliefs of the individual, spiritual and ethical, rather than at the art medium itself.

Cheers,

Boz

sex seems to be big topic in gaming industry, mostly because it isn't allowed in the industry.TriangleHard

Just a clarification that sex is allowed, but earns an Adults Only rating. there may be laws in some states banning outright sex in video games, but there is no national or worldwide censorship of the subject matter that I am aware of.

Boz

In comments with user drgrady in the GDC '08: Game devs 'terrified' of sex story the idea was raised that, "(drgrady has) yet to see a single game, movie, or tv show that had a sex scene necessary for the story unless the story was so worthless that it had nothing else to stand on." I disagree, citing a number of films such as Kids as examples. There is a lot of media with gratuitous sexuality, but I believe there are cases when it is necessary to move the plot forward or to make a necessary and relevant impact on the audience. It is only a matter of time, I believe, before a video game is released that makes a poignant statement that could not be made without a scene involving sexuality.

I am not much for debate, but wanted to hear the thoughts of the community at large on the topic. Please keep the thread clean, and discussion on topic. If the discussion leaves the core topic or becomes inappropriate, I will report you for moderation.

Cheers,

Bozanimal

Isn't the whole point of the internet to make it distributed and thus impervious to widespread failure? It seems to me that putting the internet on one single computer would make it kinda... vulnerable.GabuEx

Boz

As soon as Fox tries to take over the internet. Then it begins.RKfromDownunder

I look forward to some creative responses.

Cheers,

Boz