Sex, schmoozing and video games

(continued from previous page)

Meanwhile, to Brathwaite, putting on the conference after nearly a year as head of the IGDA's sex special interest group was an exercise both in bringing the people together who are crucial to getting more mainstream acceptance for the industry and also in indulging her own curiosity.

"Every single panel is there because I wanted an answer" to a question, Brathwaite said in her morning talk.

Later, she told CNET News.com that she had worked hard to ensure that the mix of conference attendees would stimulate progress for the industry.

"Everybody that I invited are here, all the representative groups," Brathwaite said. "Developers, publishers, players, First Amendment lawyers, designers, programmers and artists. I deliberately did not invite a panel of politicians."

And that was probably smart, given that many politicians have attacked the video games industry for making it too easy for children to encounter sexual material in spite of the industry's rating system, which decrees which age groups video games are appropriate for.

Growth on the horizon
All the games talked about at the conference Thursday were for adults only.

Some attendees felt that the adult video games industry is on the verge of significant growth, as long as its major players pay attention to what its potential customers want.

"I believe that for the multiplayer (adult-oriented) games to develop to their full potential, the publishers should be aware of (the experiences of the mainstream) of Internet users who have had cybersex or who are interested in sexual interaction," said Regina Lynn, an author and columnist who writes about sex, and in particular online sex. "So you'll have to reach out to that audience and know what their (desires are) because they might be resistant at first and you want their minds and their bodies to open up."

But Lynn, who is not a gamer by trade, nonetheless was encouraged by what she saw at the conference Thursday, especially when it came to serious discussion of how to make adult-oriented video games a reality.

"I'm really glad the dialogue has started," she said. "I believe this conference, in particular, has convened a diverse group of people who can learn from each other, and it legitimizes the interest and development and the fact that these (games) aren't just tossed out there. They're thought out and developed."

In any case, during a day in which attendees listened to panels on topics as varied as "Selling adult games," "Integrating the adult and game markets" and "What emergent sex can teach developers," it was notable that many here wanted to talk about what the industry has to learn in order to grow.

And that is the kind of levelheaded thinking that may well result in the kind of growth those in the industry would like to see.

"First we have to start educating the adult (public) that it's going to take time if we don't have the money," Abram told the audience. "So we have to grow organically. There's a lot of cross-pollination to be had."

[newcreation]

minds and bodies to open up?

open up to what?,the perversion of the adult entertainment.not thanks i will pass on that one.

[newcreation]

minds and bodies to open up?

open up to what?,the perversion of the adult entertainment.not thanks i will pass on that one.

[newcreation]

minds and bodies to open up?

open up to what?,the perversion of the adult entertainment.no thanks i will pass on that one.

[newcreation]

minds and bodies to open up?

open up to what?,the perversion of the adult entertainment.no thanks i will pass on that one.

[Loganwxxx]

Playstation 3 games

I would love to see AO rated games on the PS3. I have always been a big fan of the Leisure Suit Larry games, but the AO rated Leisure Suit Larry games have only come out on PC. The LSL games that came out for Xbox and PS2 only were the M rated versions.

[Loganwxxx]

Playstation 3 games

I would love to see AO rated games on the PS3. I have always been a big fan of the Leisure Suit Larry games, but the AO rated Leisure Suit Larry games have only come out on PC. The LSL games that came out for Xbox and PS2 only were the M rated versions.

[mustangdel]

reply to sex article

I've been gaming since it began and loudly applaud the industry to finally begin to see the game industry as a free form of choice and expression. I remember the Zork series that barely touched the subject and the wonderful "Leather Goddess of Phobos" where in order to complete a mission you had to seduce a princess before she would give you information. It was fun, quirky, and belly laugh funny. I loved that game and waited for other developers to get the joke but somewhere in there the censors raised their ugly heads and started dictating our morality and freedom of choice and that was the end of it. My fervent hope is that sooner or later someone will make an AO game and it will sell a million copies. That will be the eventual success or failure of AO games. The bottom line.

[e-mail]

[damonras]

downfall of a nation

This kind of crap will ultimately destroy America and the world as a whole.

It is already destroying thousands of families and lives.

Free form of choice and EXPRESSION? Try PERVERSION. This garbage does no good for anyone, and those involved in producing OR supporting it should be ashamed of themselves.

[Loganwxxx]

I agree

I too would love to see an AO game sell a million copies here in the U.S. I really liked Leisure Suit Larry Magna *** Laude. I own the AO version for PC, and the M rated version for Xbox. I am a console person myself because I prefer to use a controller instead of a mouse and keypad. I would love to see some AO games come out for the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3.

[mustangdel]

reply to sex article

I've been gaming since it began and loudly applaud the industry to finally begin to see the game industry as a free form of choice and expression. I remember the Zork series that barely touched the subject and the wonderful "Leather Goddess of Phobos" where in order to complete a mission you had to seduce a princess before she would give you information. It was fun, quirky, and belly laugh funny. I loved that game and waited for other developers to get the joke but somewhere in there the censors raised their ugly heads and started dictating our morality and freedom of choice and that was the end of it. My fervent hope is that sooner or later someone will make an AO game and it will sell a million copies. That will be the eventual success or failure of AO games. The bottom line.

[e-mail]

[damonras]

downfall of a nation

This kind of crap will ultimately destroy America and the world as a whole.

It is already destroying thousands of families and lives.

Free form of choice and EXPRESSION? Try PERVERSION. This garbage does no good for anyone, and those involved in producing OR supporting it should be ashamed of themselves.

[Loganwxxx]

I agree

I too would love to see an AO game sell a million copies here in the U.S. I really liked Leisure Suit Larry Magna *** Laude. I own the AO version for PC, and the M rated version for Xbox. I am a console person myself because I prefer to use a controller instead of a mouse and keypad. I would love to see some AO games come out for the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3.

[sprettycat]

talkback sex,networking and video games

hi i just want to say with something like this in networking and video games,that is why there is so many relationship break-ups..woman getting beat-up ect....thing like this should not be on computers..thank you

[qwerty75]

what?

You have no argument at all. Nothing even remotely intelligent.

If computer games and porn cause domestic violence, then why has it occured for thousands of years?

I am not a supporter of the porn industry, but I am a supporter of freedom. Ignorant comments that have no basis in reality don't help you, neither do calls to restrict freedoms. That will bite you in the ass eventually, no matter what your activities are.

[mwa423]

Not to sound harsh....

But if you're going to be in an abusive relationship, wouldn't it be better to be 500 miles apart and over the internet so there couldn't be actual physical abuse?

[sprettycat]

talkback sex,networking and video games

hi i just want to say with something like this in networking and video games,that is why there is so many relationship break-ups..woman getting beat-up ect....thing like this should not be on computers..thank you

[qwerty75]

what?

You have no argument at all. Nothing even remotely intelligent.

If computer games and porn cause domestic violence, then why has it occured for thousands of years?

I am not a supporter of the porn industry, but I am a supporter of freedom. Ignorant comments that have no basis in reality don't help you, neither do calls to restrict freedoms. That will bite you in the ass eventually, no matter what your activities are.

[mwa423]

Not to sound harsh....

But if you're going to be in an abusive relationship, wouldn't it be better to be 500 miles apart and over the internet so there couldn't be actual physical abuse?

[EngDrewman]

this is horrible

Do people have ~any~ morals any more? Yeah- lets just take a woman (a human being) and make her into an object- a sex toy. Come on! I am an adult male and I do not find this kind of stuff entertaining at all. It is perversion. Sex is to be ~only~ between a man and a woman in a marriage relationship, and at that, a marriage intended to last "till death do us part!" I don't care if it is virtual or not, it's putting the wrong stuff in one's head, and this stuff has the ability to ruin people.

[hamster330]

I agree

I totally agree with what you said. This stuff is not good for our society.

[dodgeman007]

you cant censor what i watch

how can you tell another adult what to watch? children should not see most of the stuff adults can but why does that mean i cant see it? the parents are the ones responsible if the material gets into a childs hands not the people who made the game/movie/song. place blame in the correct hands.

[SkilledLlama]

You are horrible...

Do you have ~any~ brains in your head? This is only expressing a non-violent way to get hidden sexual feelings out into a consequence free environment, (Unless Micorsoft found a way to slip STD's into the 360 ^^). And why even throw the gay issue into it? ("Sex is to be ~only~ between a man and a women") The real damaging thing is your religious attitude, but you dont see people lobbying to take that out of video games now do you?

So the bottom line is: Perversion? Yes. But in a consequence free environment. Therefore there is no problem with it.

[zaznet]

Your own choice&

It does not matter that you would not use this product or not want it. I am sure there is a flavor of Gatorade you dont like too. There are going to be plenty of things you will see in this world that you are not going to like. Your only way to deal with them is to educate others as to why they should also not like it and to avoid these things whenever possible.

I personally abhor cigarettes, so I dont buy them dont smoke them and dont sit in smoking sections at restaurants. I dont however go up to people and say You are horrible, stop smoking and expect it will change anything. Dictating choice on others is not what the bible says we need to do.

[abbygirl5]

I am an adult female and I disagree with you.

[EngDrewman]

this is horrible

Do people have ~any~ morals any more? Yeah- lets just take a woman (a human being) and make her into an object- a sex toy. Come on! I am an adult male and I do not find this kind of stuff entertaining at all. It is perversion. Sex is to be ~only~ between a man and a woman in a marriage relationship, and at that, a marriage intended to last "till death do us part!" I don't care if it is virtual or not, it's putting the wrong stuff in one's head, and this stuff has the ability to ruin people.

[hamster330]

I agree

I totally agree with what you said. This stuff is not good for our society.

[dodgeman007]

you cant censor what i watch

how can you tell another adult what to watch? children should not see most of the stuff adults can but why does that mean i cant see it? the parents are the ones responsible if the material gets into a childs hands not the people who made the game/movie/song. place blame in the correct hands.

[SkilledLlama]

You are horrible...

Do you have ~any~ brains in your head? This is only expressing a non-violent way to get hidden sexual feelings out into a consequence free environment, (Unless Micorsoft found a way to slip STD's into the 360 ^^). And why even throw the gay issue into it? ("Sex is to be ~only~ between a man and a women") The real damaging thing is your religious attitude, but you dont see people lobbying to take that out of video games now do you?

So the bottom line is: Perversion? Yes. But in a consequence free environment. Therefore there is no problem with it.

[zaznet]

Your own choice&

It does not matter that you would not use this product or not want it. I am sure there is a flavor of Gatorade you dont like too. There are going to be plenty of things you will see in this world that you are not going to like. Your only way to deal with them is to educate others as to why they should also not like it and to avoid these things whenever possible.

I personally abhor cigarettes, so I dont buy them dont smoke them and dont sit in smoking sections at restaurants. I dont however go up to people and say You are horrible, stop smoking and expect it will change anything. Dictating choice on others is not what the bible says we need to do.

[damonras]

The downfall of a nation

I found this article very disturbing and saddening. Nothing in this world is sacred or respected anymore.

Pornography will ultimately destroy our country, and things like these sex video games just feed the evergrowing flame. Lives and families are being destroyed and those people producing and supporting these types of efforts just sit back and laugh. They are "past feeling". Having been involved in such sexual perversion for so long, these people no longer have a conscience or respect for humankind.

Those of you involved in producing and supporting this filth should be ashamed of yourselves. One day you will answer for the destruction you are causing.

And C|Net: Shame on you for posting articles like this to the web. This garbage doesn't need any more attention than it is receiving already.

[damonras]

The downfall of a nation

I found this article very disturbing and saddening. Nothing in this world is sacred or respected anymore.

Pornography will ultimately destroy our country, and things like these sex video games just feed the evergrowing flame. Lives and families are being destroyed and those people producing and supporting these types of efforts just sit back and laugh. They are "past feeling". Having been involved in such sexual perversion for so long, these people no longer have a conscience or respect for humankind.

Those of you involved in producing and supporting this filth should be ashamed of yourselves. One day you will answer for the destruction you are causing.

And C|Net: Shame on you for posting articles like this to the web. This garbage doesn't need any more attention than it is receiving already.

[damonras]

The downfall of a nation

This kind of crap will ultimately destroy America and the world as a whole. Pornography is a disease.

It is already destroying thousands of families and lives.

This garbage does no good for anyone, and those involved in producing OR supporting it should be ashamed of themselves.

[dodgeman007]

look at what your saying?

if porn would prevent only one rape or child molestation it is justified how can be so blind yet speak with such authority.

[qwerty75]

Let me get this straight

By destroying the very freedoms our country was founded upon, our country can be saved? From what?

There is nothing more dangerous then a hate-mongering, fascist, right-wing, christian supremist.

This country is not a christian nation. There is a very important reason why the founders seperated church and state. The reason is that people like you would turn this country into the worst sort of state. One that regulates all thoughts, desires and opinions.

[damonras]

The downfall of a nation

This kind of crap will ultimately destroy America and the world as a whole. Pornography is a disease.

It is already destroying thousands of families and lives.

This garbage does no good for anyone, and those involved in producing OR supporting it should be ashamed of themselves.

[dodgeman007]

look at what your saying?

if porn would prevent only one rape or child molestation it is justified how can be so blind yet speak with such authority.

[qwerty75]

Let me get this straight

By destroying the very freedoms our country was founded upon, our country can be saved? From what?

There is nothing more dangerous then a hate-mongering, fascist, right-wing, christian supremist.

This country is not a christian nation. There is a very important reason why the founders seperated church and state. The reason is that people like you would turn this country into the worst sort of state. One that regulates all thoughts, desires and opinions.

[JesusChristisLord]

It is sad to see

It is sad to see the way video game industry is heading, is this something for the good of others, I think not, it is another way that will continue to cause a major morale decline in the home of families in America

[Tomcat Adam]

Into a form of art?

Yes...very sad indeed.
It happened to paintings, music, movies and...worst of all...books!
Look how horrible all of those mediums have become!
Oh, wait...

[David Trammel]

Get Religion Out of Games

Given the choice between viewing some harmless adult fun in my next video game and the hatefilled bigoted stuff many main stream religious groups want to push on society, I'll take the sex any day.

Check out this what they would like you to play:
<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.talk2action.org/story/2006/5/29/195855/959" target="_newWindow">http://www.talk2action.org/story/2006/5/29/195855/959</a>

"Imagine: you are a foot soldier in a paramilitary group whose purpose is to remake America as a Christian theocracy, and establish its worldly vision of the dominion of Christ over all aspects of life. You are issued high-tech military weaponry, and instructed to engage the infidel on the streets of New York City. You are on a mission - both a religious mission and a military mission -- to convert or kill Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, gays, and anyone who advocates the separation of church and state - especially moderate, mainstream Christians. Your mission is "to conduct physical and spiritual warfare"; all who resist must be taken out with extreme prejudice. You have never felt so powerful, so driven by a purpose: you are 13 years old. You are playing a real-time strategy video game whose creators are linked to the empire of mega-church pastor Rick Warren, best selling author of The Purpose Driven Life."

[EngDrewman]

let me clarify something...

First I would like to state that I am a Christian and, although I may not fully agree with Bush, I still support and respect him as our leader, and I support and respect our troops. These people who call themselves "Christians" who do stupid stuff such as protesting the war at military burial cerimonies are unpatriotic and unamerican. Furthermore I do not walk around telling gays they are going to burn in hell. I believe that we should be showing them why it is wrong rather than telling them messages of hate and doom.

Also, the game David mentioned above is also the wrong image. The war Christians are involved with is strictly a spiritual battle, not a physical one. Christians are commanded to obey and respect those in authority over them, unless what the government commands them to do violates God's commands (which is usually a government commanding them to worship an idol or some other god, or forcing them to believe some false doctrine). The crusades of the middle ages were a result of corruption that had worked its way into the church, not genuine commands from God.

[newcreation]

best way to hit is through the pocket book

just imagine what if millions of men stop watching porn or buy there services

[David Trammel]

Get Religion Out of Games

Given the choice between viewing some harmless adult fun in my next video game and the hatefilled bigoted stuff many main stream religious groups want to push on society, I'll take the sex any day.

Check out this what they would like you to play:
<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.talk2action.org/story/2006/5/29/195855/959" target="_newWindow">http://www.talk2action.org/story/2006/5/29/195855/959</a>

"Imagine: you are a foot soldier in a paramilitary group whose purpose is to remake America as a Christian theocracy, and establish its worldly vision of the dominion of Christ over all aspects of life. You are issued high-tech military weaponry, and instructed to engage the infidel on the streets of New York City. You are on a mission - both a religious mission and a military mission -- to convert or kill Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, gays, and anyone who advocates the separation of church and state - especially moderate, mainstream Christians. Your mission is "to conduct physical and spiritual warfare"; all who resist must be taken out with extreme prejudice. You have never felt so powerful, so driven by a purpose: you are 13 years old. You are playing a real-time strategy video game whose creators are linked to the empire of mega-church pastor Rick Warren, best selling author of The Purpose Driven Life."

[EngDrewman]

let me clarify something...

First I would like to state that I am a Christian and, although I may not fully agree with Bush, I still support and respect him as our leader, and I support and respect our troops. These people who call themselves "Christians" who do stupid stuff such as protesting the war at military burial cerimonies are unpatriotic and unamerican. Furthermore I do not walk around telling gays they are going to burn in hell. I believe that we should be showing them why it is wrong rather than telling them messages of hate and doom.

Also, the game David mentioned above is also the wrong image. The war Christians are involved with is strictly a spiritual battle, not a physical one. Christians are commanded to obey and respect those in authority over them, unless what the government commands them to do violates God's commands (which is usually a government commanding them to worship an idol or some other god, or forcing them to believe some false doctrine). The crusades of the middle ages were a result of corruption that had worked its way into the church, not genuine commands from God.

[newcreation]

best way to hit is through the pocket book

just imagine what if millions of men stop watching porn or buy there services

[David Trammel]

Make Love Not War

I've never been able to figure out, why is it esepcially from all the moral upright religious people out there, you're perfectly happy letting children see scenes of killing and destruction in video games, yet the first time someone shows a bit of rather tame sex, you think the world is about to end?

Oh, that's right, after centuries where religion has been the excuse to murder tens of millions of people, a bit of cross burning of heretics is just harmless fun.

[Loganwxxx]

RE: Make Love Not War

I agree 100% I would like to see more in games than just religion, death, and destruction. I would love to see more video games that promote love, sex, and nudity/naturism. All this hateful religious propaganda needs to stop. We live in the U.S.A, not the holy lands.

[David Trammel]

Make Love Not War

I've never been able to figure out, why is it esepcially from all the moral upright religious people out there, you're perfectly happy letting children see scenes of killing and destruction in video games, yet the first time someone shows a bit of rather tame sex, you think the world is about to end?

Oh, that's right, after centuries where religion has been the excuse to murder tens of millions of people, a bit of cross burning of heretics is just harmless fun.

[Loganwxxx]

RE: Make Love Not War

I agree 100% I would like to see more in games than just religion, death, and destruction. I would love to see more video games that promote love, sex, and nudity/naturism. All this hateful religious propaganda needs to stop. We live in the U.S.A, not the holy lands.

[mgreere]

And while they slept.... the Sexbots...

Having killed their masters in the early 80s, they perfected their
genitalia in secret.

Waiting for gay marriage and full-length internet porn to soften
society, they sprang forth in 2014.

No we find the American male family-less in his one-bedroom
apartment with only Kleenex and jar of pickles... and his Mindy
Mk4.

[mgreere]

And while they slept.... the Sexbots...

Having killed their masters in the early 80s, they perfected their
genitalia in secret.

Waiting for gay marriage and full-length internet porn to soften
society, they sprang forth in 2014.

No we find the American male family-less in his one-bedroom
apartment with only Kleenex and jar of pickles... and his Mindy
Mk4.

[David Trammel]

Before You Blame Porn - Get Facts Straight

I see alot of people here blaming porn for society's ills and possible downfall. Blaming it for some percieved rise in sex crimes, especially against children. Before you do that, you might want to check your facts. They don't support you.

<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-08-24-sex-crimes-cover_x.htm?POE=NEWISVA" target="_newWindow">http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-08-24-sex-crimes-cover_x.htm?POE=NEWISVA</a>

"Yet gut-wrenching as these high-profile cases are, they don't tell the whole story of sex offenders in America. They don't reflect the surprisingly good news: Sex crimes against children have dropped dramatically in the last decade. An online national sex-offender registry was launched in July. And recent research shows doctors can better predict which offenders may strike again.

"There's a success story here," says Roxanne Lieb, director of Washington state's Institute for Public Policy. She sees a "trickle-down effect" as famous cases raise public awareness and legislatures toughen public policy.

The headline-grabbing cases tend to be anomalies, because kids are rarely abused by strangers, and even less often killed.

"It's not the creepy guy who moves in next door you need to be most concerned about, but family, friends  people who have access to your children on a regular basis," says Pamela Schultz, author of Not Monsters: Analyzing the Stories of Child Molesters. She says most kids are abused by people they know."

Now is it just possible that online adult entertainment is contributing to this decline? That just maybe some guy who has fantasies about his underaged niece, instead of actually abusing her, goes online and looks at porn to get his jollies, AND doesn't end up abusing her?

Nah, we can't actually admit porn might be socially redemming, can we?

[mgreere]

It's conclusion --> selection of supporting data (if there is any)

not the other way around, as it ought to be.

I hear you.


The complainers are starting from a position they learn from
self-proclaimed experts, not a place of objectivity. They do no
one any good.

I blame it on our current devaluation of science and critical
thinking.

Yes, sex crimes against humanity are actually on the decline
even as porn becomes more accessible. God forbid someone
think for themselves and consider data from non-partisan
sources that use sound collection methods. They'd have to admit
there isn't a fire after they've spent all their personal resources
on their fire house.

What does someone in hsyteria do when they confront objective
data that contradicts their hysteria?

They squash it, often through the only mean at their disposal:
Assassinate the source or the messenger so one can feel
legitimate when dismissing the data.

[newcreation]

socially redeming?

even if the so call claim about childern is right,
how many people and lives are ruined by porn as well as their finances.how many familys get split apart from husbands being addicted to porn?.
i wouldnt believe everything the liberal press says

[David Trammel]

And Porn Doesn't Cause Rapes Either

I wanted to add, you often see the additional claim that since porn is so much more available now given the Internet, has cause an increase in sexual assaults. All us porn watching madmen are getting excited and sating our lust on innocent passing women. (Yeah, right!)

Again the numbers don't add up.

(From the DOJ's own website: <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/glance/viort.htm" target="_newWindow">http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/glance/viort.htm</a> )

You have to review the individual pdfs for yearly numbers. Don't think you could call the DOJ "left leaning".

Reported "sexual assaults" numbers:
1996: 291,820
1997: 305,620
1998: 328,130
1999: 381,400
2000: 256,770
2001: 240,980
2002: 247,730
2003: 191,350

I know that sexual assaults are under reported, something like 65% of rapes victims don't go to the polic, but the trend holds up. Sexual assaults have dropped at the same time assess to porn has skyrocketed.

I might argue its a stretch to attribute the drop in sexual assaults entirely to the fact you can find your jollies on the Net now, but by the same token, you CAN NOT use sexual assaults as an excuse for censorship.

[pedershk]

Sex..

Pretty obvious that no one thinks as much about sex as right-wing christians do. Seriously - they are so occupied about the sexual "health" of others and themselves that they can't possibly have any other thoughts in their heads.