Sex is very important. Without sex, all but the test tube-sired amongst us would never exist. And even those conceived without the magic of copulation will have emerged from the frenzied flicking through an old copy of Razzle enjoyed by a man in a small room. And he wasn’t thinking about football.
Though he might have been thinking about videogames, as sex does permeate our little industry on an increasingly transparent quest to ensnare our demographic gold - lonely young men with a few quid to blow, one has to assume.
And this being the case, a group has been formed to make sure nothing goes wrong. Because, as you can imagine, if left to our own devices, we’d be selling Farmyard Hardcore 7 to children. Or something. Yet to a degree, we have been (left to our own devices – don’t worry – actual news to follow) as the International Game Developers Association has announced a ‘Special Interest Group” entitled Sex and Games.
According to IGDA, Sex and Games will “…address the issues and challenges facing the use of adult sexual content in video games.” The SIG’s site states:
Sounds good to us. Clearly the aim of IGDA’s embrace of this topic is to begin to create a much-needed set of standards for sexual content in videogame development. As time passes, the group hopes to gain an agreed set of dos and don’ts from the development community, hopefully avoiding right-wing flare-ups as seen when Rockstar landed itself in Hot Coffee last June.
Though he might have been thinking about videogames, as sex does permeate our little industry on an increasingly transparent quest to ensnare our demographic gold - lonely young men with a few quid to blow, one has to assume.
And this being the case, a group has been formed to make sure nothing goes wrong. Because, as you can imagine, if left to our own devices, we’d be selling Farmyard Hardcore 7 to children. Or something. Yet to a degree, we have been (left to our own devices – don’t worry – actual news to follow) as the International Game Developers Association has announced a ‘Special Interest Group” entitled Sex and Games.
According to IGDA, Sex and Games will “…address the issues and challenges facing the use of adult sexual content in video games.” The SIG’s site states:
The Sex SIG welcomes everyone interested in the topic of sexual content in video games, from developers actively creating such content to parents to those working in or with organizations that seek to restrict such content.
The Sex SIG hopes this "Sex & Games" blog will serve as an informational clearinghouse for such content, helping us to connect with everyone that shares our common goal of responsible, age-appropriate content development.
Sexual content is, of course, found in all forms of media, from Homer's Odyssey and The Iliad to movies like The Graduate, Sideways and even Shakespeare in Love. It is a valid storytelling mechanic and central to the human experience. As such, the Sex SIG embraces sex and sexuality as a natural, healthy and positive force in our lives.
At the same time, it recognizes several important points:
1. The right of developers to work together to create sexually themed games free of censorship and regulation.
2. A parent's need to be informed and oversee/control their children's access to content.
3. The responsibility we as developers have to make sure that the content that's in the game is reflected in its rating and its rating descriptors.
If these issues interest you, you've found the right place.
The Sex SIG hopes this "Sex & Games" blog will serve as an informational clearinghouse for such content, helping us to connect with everyone that shares our common goal of responsible, age-appropriate content development.
Sexual content is, of course, found in all forms of media, from Homer's Odyssey and The Iliad to movies like The Graduate, Sideways and even Shakespeare in Love. It is a valid storytelling mechanic and central to the human experience. As such, the Sex SIG embraces sex and sexuality as a natural, healthy and positive force in our lives.
At the same time, it recognizes several important points:
1. The right of developers to work together to create sexually themed games free of censorship and regulation.
2. A parent's need to be informed and oversee/control their children's access to content.
3. The responsibility we as developers have to make sure that the content that's in the game is reflected in its rating and its rating descriptors.
If these issues interest you, you've found the right place.
Sounds good to us. Clearly the aim of IGDA’s embrace of this topic is to begin to create a much-needed set of standards for sexual content in videogame development. As time passes, the group hopes to gain an agreed set of dos and don’ts from the development community, hopefully avoiding right-wing flare-ups as seen when Rockstar landed itself in Hot Coffee last June.
Comments
Nosce 16 Aug 2005 10:42
1/2
Now that's a gripping headline of I ever saw one.
Joji 16 Aug 2005 15:07
2/2
If it constructively talks about it then that can only be better for the industry as a whole. The games industry has dance around this one too easliy for to long but tach is at a point that sex in games will come.....lol....I just made a funny, lol.
The likes of Fear Effect games have tread this ground but more will no doubt do so in the future, so by all means discuss til your tongue burns as it can only do us some good.
The likes of Fear Effect games have tread this ground but more will no doubt do so in the future, so by all means discuss til your tongue burns as it can only do us some good.