Should you care about sex in video games?

The New York Times featured a story today that discusses the ongoing legal battle over the "Hot Coffee" scandal. For those of you who may have forgotten, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas featured a hidden scene where the star of the game was engaging in a form of sexual activity with another on-screen character.

After parenting groups expressed shock that developers could throw such a "disgusting" act in a video game, the ESA was forced to change its rating to Adults Only and Rockstar Games was brought under fire for having so-called pornographic material in a video game.

But as the Times is reporting, it seems the only people that care are the lawyers. According to the report, "Lawyers who sued the makers of the video game...profess to be shocked, simply shocked, that few people who bought the game were offended by sex scenes buried in its software."

Since the lawsuit was brought against the company, only 2,676 claims were filed and the lawyers have expressed displeasure over such a low number.

"Am I disappointed? Sure," said Seth R. Lesser, lead lawyer for the plaintiffs. "We can't guess as to why now, several years later, people care or don't care. The merits of the case were clear."

But were they? Was San Andreas really "sold as something it wasn't" and gamers were really upset to find out that sexual content made its way into a game even though they couldn't find it unless they had third-party software and some advanced knowledge of game development?

I certainly don't think so. Look, I don't see any problem with the scene and even if it was readily available, I wouldn't care. Call me a socially liberal loon or naive, but why should we care about sex in video games?

I'm not going to say that sex should be present in video games or that it's even necessary, but if it's in a mature-rated title, who cares?

I'm a firm believer that video games are on the same level with movies in terms of pure entertainment and I don't see why developers should be treated like criminals when they put a digital sex scene into a game, while it's big news that Jennifer Aniston will be showing her derriere in her latest film.

Have you ever seen Unfaithful? What about Sex and the City? Those two films glorify sex and make it an integral part of the plot. And yet, when a sexual act is being performed by two animated characters in a video game that's obviously made for adults, we should be outraged? I just don't get it.

Invariably, these anti-video game hacks will make the argument that kids will be playing these games and the last thing we need is to show them (or worse) allow them to engage in sexual acts in the game. I can't argue with that point -- sex is best kept away from children -- but why should that rule apply to all games?

The video game industry instituted a ratings system for two reasons: to placate lawmakers and to help parents know what kind of content is suitable for children. Now that it's in place, developers should have every opportunity to make a game that fits into the age demographic they're trying to target.

If Nintendo wants to make another Mario game for children, go for it. If EA wants to sell sports games to teenagers, have at it. And if Rockstar wants to create a game that would be a rated-R title at the theaters for the adult gamers, it should have every right to do so. And believe it or not, sex is a major part of an adult's life and to say that it can't be included in a mature-rated game -- one that's designed for people 17 and older -- is ludicrous.

It's not that I want to see sex in every game -- in most circumstances, I don't think it's necessary -- but I have serious issues with the double standard that continues to develop in this industry. If movies can show graphic sexual acts and merit an R-rating, why can't video games do the same? In fact, I would venture to say that sexual acts in video games aren't nearly as bad as human beings performing the same act.

So when the lawyers lament the fact that no one cares about sex in a video game, I can't help but ask them why they do. What makes it so bad? Sex in a game that's created for adults is no different than sex in an R-rated movie.

Sex, drugs, violence, prostitution, and other human vices should be kept from children as much as possible. But in the end, we shouldn't attack the developer for creating a game for adults that a child happens to play, nor should we attack major movie studios if a child sneaks into an R-rated film.

The double standard needs to stop and we need to accept the fact that as games become more sophisticated, so too will the storylines. And as long as a game is made for adults, we shouldn't be censoring developers.

Sex, drugs, and violence are a part of life. I think it's time we stop being shocked when they sneak their way into mature-rated games and realize that in some way, they sneak into our lives in one way or another anyway.

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[TheGearbox]

I agree, and here the thing...For some reason, gaming seems to have this childish cliché, that we all grow up and gaming is just for kids. Well news flash, the average gamer is well into their 30's! The gaming genre need to be accepted for what it is, an entertainment venue. It is for all ages, and can cater to anyone's needs. Most game systems have parental controls built right in, and all games have some sort of rating from the ESRB. The system is set in place, there is no reason for any further legal interference. The thing that amazes me most about this is how movies like 40 year old virgin, The Departed, Smok'in Aces, etc., are highly advertised "Two Thumbs Up" movies, where no one blinks an eye when you see movies like this, and yet gaming gets the gauntlet whenever someone gets shot, or there is a sex scene that shows half of a butt. This needs to end, and people need to accept it for what it is.

[cachiama]

I totally agree. Moreover, in games, sex scenes are graphics and therefore their realism is obviously limited (let's leave DX10 aside for now). So why can one watch a film literally full of pornography and cannot play a game? There are controls on films and so on games, so let it be !
As the article concludes, drugs, sex and violence are a part of life, so makes the game increasingly realistic.

[cporpheus]

As what happened with movies in the 1930's and on, I think games will become more respected as the generations that grow up with them have a characterization of video games as another form of entertainment. I see this response as an affirmation of video games as an entertainment medium.

[PureTruth]

Games are indeed a form of entertainment with many similarities to movies. That is why the selection of games is best approached similar to the selection of movies. Think for a moment how our society would change if acts of crime, violence, and lust were left out of our lives completely, including all forms of entertainment... Would there be fewer high school shootings? How about the number of stolen vehicles? Murder? etc... Entertainment is not the only cause of these symptoms, but it sure can expedite the adoption and spread of them. I can't speak for the plaintiffs in this case (I didn't join this case, because I don't own the game. Probably, most people who are shocked by the content avoided purchasing it in the first place), but I can say that I sympathize with the sentiment that we should be doing all within our power to keep such acts out of society, rather than to glorify, popularize, and spread their adoption. There's only one way for us to know for sure what our society would be like if we didn't have such depictions in our entertainment. I'm predicting a noticeable improvement in the quality of life for EVERYONE, if our entertainment were to avoid such depictions. Mostly, I'm interested in the topic because of the love I have for my children, and a desire to create a world worth living in. Join me?

[TheGearbox]

Considering that these types of entertainment have only been around for 50-60 years or so, I have a hard time believing that they promote violence, lust, etc. We as humans promote such things, and this has been the way since the beginning of time. Parents have the ultimate say and responsibility in what their kids see and do, and we should keep it that way. Thinking that not having these forms of entertainment would change anything is just ludicrous. You'd be far more effective learning how to use the built in parental controls on TV's, computers, and consoles, than you would preaching a Utopian society. Your morals are right, but you can't rely on other people to do the parenting for you.

[honestly_disagreeable]

I get where you're going in terms of violence (although I think it's way beyond humans to get there), but this article was about sex. The idea that sex is somehow "wrong" or equivalent to violence is absurd. In fact, I've often found it disturbing that in *all* forms of media, violence is perfectly acceptable, while sex is taboo. You can show bodies ripped apart by bullets, and all sorts of horrific mutilation, but showing actual sex is off-limits in a public setting. I chalk it up the fact that humans are hypocrites.

[tywrestler]

I understand what you are getting at, but I am going to have to agree with TheGearbox in terms of the parenting statement and also "honestly_disagreeable" about the hypocrisy. I mean its ridiculous that videogames are treated so differently than other forms of media. Also, I go to Japan on a regular basis, and it absolutely amazes me that despite the fact that they have the same level, if not more violent material as we do, their violent crime levels are considerably less. Sure their culture is different and it tends to be an emotionally repressive society, but Japan is just one example. Canada also has a much lower crime rate and has the same material. Personally, you want to lower the violent crimes in the U.S., make so people cannot readily own guns. I know this goes against our Constitution, but I think it is so hypocritical that we attack all these forms of media and blame them, but allow such easy access to guns. I don't see any reason at all why a regular citizen should own a gun, zero. For self-defense? Well if everyone did not have a gun, would be less to worry about in terms of self-defense. Hunting? Well that is a whole other issue in itself and maybe some exceptions can be made. I know that this will never happen, because this goes against the Constitution, so at least get much much tougher gun laws and maybe some day we will see the end of these senseless crimes in schools. Also, our news media probably spreads more of this then videogames do as most of these violent crimes in schools and in the workplace are, in my opinion, copycat crimes. They see it being done by someone else and feed off of that. But anyways, I think we just need to be more aggressive at getting weapons off the streets instead of focusing on the economical advantages of selling them.

[Composer_1777]

The U.S is turning communistic with every new passing law, it's sick. To make matters worse laws are becoming communistic while citizens reap none of the benefits, but rather instead, lose freedom of speech.

[TheManInDboX]

What do you mean turning? Seems to me we are already their!!!!

[Sailor_Enlil]

Geez, I wonder if these same lawyers are aware of the existence of those Japanese Erotic Video Games (better known as Hentai), where sleeping with someone (usually a girl) is most often the object of the game? Some of these games would make even the "Hot Coffee" mod look tame. I mean think about it - these Hentai games are usually done cartoon style, or rather, Anime style (so at first glance some might think they're kids' adventure games, until things get raunchy), and some of these games even have non-conscensual sex (i.e. sexual assault and rape, and stuff like Bondage and Torture as well), a few of which, like Virgin Roster, are already on sale in North America fully translated into English. And what's more, due to differences in culture and standards between Japan and NA, many of these Japanese games even have teenagers engaged in sex (because the age of conscent in Japan is as low as 14); US based publishers who import these games go around the child porn issue by rewriting those characters' bios, turning them into legal adults (i.e. aging them over 18).

[wende1167]

As an adult gamer, i'm 40 F, I take umbrage with censorship. If you have children monitor their games/entertainment but stay out of mine. If you don't want to view the scenes mentioned Don't, it's not like you can get to them accidently. I've not played the game mentioned in this article nor do i view sexual violence laden movies, but have no problem with other adults that wish to.
I play World of Warcraft, it's rated mature, and the general content is not overtly sexual, there is alot of violence, but also commarderie, teamwork, respect and sometimes honor.

The rating system is sufficent, how about parents police their own children for a change.

[TheManInDboX]

This is just dumb... LOL.. If you dont want to see it, dont play it, and honestly, if you are complaining over it then you are one of the millions of idiot parents on earth that dont look at ratings for your kids... They are on there for a reason, if you are 17+ which i believe is the mature rating, then you are seeing nothing more then you would see in an R rated movie... If it has an adult rating then, really??? what are you complaining about, if your kid is 21 years old, and he wants to look at porn, he/she will regardless of if it is on the Net, or in a game... This is just one of those things, that i see daily, parents with 10yr old kids buy a mature rated game at a store, then complain when there is foul language and nudity... Even after seeing the warning, and being warned buy the sales people at the stores... If you want to sue anyone, dont sue the game makers sue the parents for child neglect.

[swanisabella]

ya i know but their are gonna laern anyway!

[swanisabella]

it really dosent matter if there is sex in video games their gonna learn anyway

[windhamgreg]

I agree with these comments.