Sex Scenes in games: Deep gameplay or CHEEEEEEEEEEESE

[Nique]

I mean, this is a trend i really really really want to stop. These scenes aren't good. They do nothing for the characters, plot, unniverse, gameplay... ever.

Almost makes you want to agree with Rodger Ebert. Almost.

Yeah, I mean... That played out pretty terribly but this is the level of sophistication you're going to get with "adult material" in games. Without making a statement of moral judgment about pornography, that's essentially what the scene was.

[Bells]

Originally Posted by krogothwolf

they're trying to make a mature game by adding mature elements. Its not that big of an issue really.

Honestly? I can't buy that. I see these elements and hardly ever there is actually anything in there that makes me think "this game would'nt be as mature or deep without this" or even that this was the best way to convey an emotion or thought to evolve a character or relationship.

I can completely understand an Artistic choice, i can even understand an artistic choice based on "this will help sell more copis". what i can't get behind is that this is somehow a gameplay improvement aspect or a "layer of maturity"

[Kim]

Seeing as these are almost always on optional part of the experience, in contrast with such things as movies where the sex scene is something you'll be seeing regardless of whether or not you want to. As such, I can't really say they hurt the experience. I played through Mass Effect 2 without any sex, and although I got the sex scenes in Origins, I skipped all of them. This didn't effect my perception of the game either way.

[Seil]

Yeah, I mean... That played out pretty terribly but this is the level of sophistication you're going to get with "adult material" in games. Without making a statement of moral judgment about pornography, that's essentially what the scene was.

What do you mean "a statement of moral judgment?" If sex fits into the story and works well with how the game plays out, then sure. Work it in. Even something to leave the fans wondering. But if you want to put it in and set it to porno music, exercise your judgment, not your wrist.

[krogothwolf]

Originally Posted by Bells

Honestly? I can't buy that. I see these elements and hardly ever there is actually anything in there that makes me think "this game would'nt be as mature or deep without this" or even that this was the best way to convey an emotion or thought to evolve a character or relationship.

I can completely understand an Artistic choice, i can even understand an artistic choice based on "this will help sell more copis". what i can't get behind is that this is somehow a gameplay improvement aspect or a "layer of maturity"

I highly doubt many people buy the game because of a "sex scene". It might sell the odd extra copy but not enough to warrent the extra time they'd have to put into it to make the scene's just to sell those extra copies. I honestly think you're venting about something silly because it's nothing worse then anything in movies or TV. As Nonsie said you can even skip these or not even care about them so yeah, they put them in to add to the mature level of the game, that's about it.

[Aerozord]

plus this is the digital age, if they really want to see the scene they can go online for it.

Over all I think its the same as any other media. In fact I think its better in games. They shoe horn it into TV and movies far more often then games do. Games have an edge, Mass Effect for example had it as the culmination of an entire games worth of getting to know one another and building a relationship. There are games that toss it in because A) why not or B) free press. However the ratio of narrative appropriate to teenage wank fodder is far better in games then movies. In my opinion atleast

[DFM]

Originally Posted by Bells

Honestly? I can't buy that. I see these elements and hardly ever there is actually anything in there that makes me think "this game would'nt be as mature or deep without this" or even that this was the best way to convey an emotion or thought to evolve a character or relationship.

I can completely understand an Artistic choice, i can even understand an artistic choice based on "this will help sell more copis". what i can't get behind is that this is somehow a gameplay improvement aspect or a "layer of maturity"

I dunno I'd probably be less satisfied with an RPG romance arc if I couldn't end it with being boned by my super well developed love interest Jacob Taylor and his washboard abs.



Seriously did you see that shit they're amazing.

[CABAL49]

Originally Posted by Seil

I was trying to think of a sex joke, but none are coming to me.

They have pills for that now.

[Osterbaum]

I don't mind sex scenes in games. And man, if that thing in Alpha Protocol actually happened to me, it would pretty damn hot.

Seriosly though, I don't like the idea that somehow adding a sex scene automatically makes the game more mature. It doesn't. Not if you don't take a mature approach to it.

[ThatPoorMessenger]

Seriosly though, I don't like the idea that somehow adding a sex scene automatically makes the game more mature. It doesn't. Not if you don't take a mature approach to it.

This.
If it brought enough capital as an inplementation, then you've got an issue with teenagers but I'd doubt it does. In which case, what's the point in such a random, and utterly pointless. As has been said, if people are sexually frustrated enough to go looking for sex scenes in games, why don't they just use google, or better yet, use those brain cells and build an imagination?
Trying to add for maturity rating, although it will sell a fair amount more copies (In my opinion, a lot of people are shallow like this), is just silly when you don't use a mature approach. GTA is an example to some degree, I find. The gameplay isn't that great, nor the stroyline (unless you beleive different but I have yet to hear the opinion that is does), people seem to simply buy it for the oppourtunity to beat up random people and blow stuff up - where's the challenge? Where's the goal? It's empty, like a museum in a particularly uneducated area. But that's all opinion and I've started ranting at a single game rather than a collective.
It's worth it when a relationship is developed, yes, but relationships within videogames themselves seem to be a bit tacked-in these days, not a contributive part of things.

That rant got away from me there, sorry.