Romance and Sex = marketing for rpgs?

[qaz156]

We've all seen the so called "action/rpg" where a lot of us who enjoy the obsidian/black isle/bioware games sigh, because we know we're not really getting a "hardcore" rpg with a good story, characters etc... Instead we get a hack n slash/shoot em up fest, with rpg elements combined with a bland storyline. Unfortunately a lot of rpg companies feel the need to make it an "action" rpg to appeal to the more casual gamers. My query though, is whether the hardcore rpgs could play up the romance and possibly sex instead, thereby attracting other gamers, and not having to resort to the "action rpg." Many gamers would be attracted to this idea, because the game wouldn't be known for its romantic/sexual content, but they would know that it is in it. Now I already hear you all saying that that will never happen, that the market demands "action" as opposed to romance and such, but personally I'd rather have a more depthful rpg that has blatant sexual/romantic content than a bland rpg that is blatantly trying to appeal to the action gamer. What do you all think?

[Diamond]

Sexual content will have impact on game rating further shrinking game's potential audience.

[qaz156]

Not neccesarily. Why does GTA sell so well? It's got a mature rating.... Also remember that sexual content may not necessarily increase the rating. Sexual content itself is ambiguous and I left it at that. BG2 had sex in it, that didn't raise the the rating. Many pg-13 movies have sex, but the sex doesn't make it go to R.

Edited January 6, 2006 by qaz156

[Child of Flame]

He's got a point. I was watching Spanglish with my family and then BAM! Five minute orgasm scene, but it's PG-13 because it didn't show anything, it was just contextual and spoken.

[Darque]

Sex in games is a pointless thing unless it fits the genre, and even then needs to be toned down.

[Volourn]

No.

 

I think its' funny that some people love violence in games; but ahbor sex in them. Much like movies, tv, and the like. Weird.

 

To me, anthing should be allowed in games. If ya don't like it; don't play it. Simple yet logical rule that hurts nobody.

[qaz156]

No.

 

I think its' funny that some people love violence in games; but ahbor sex in them. Much like movies, tv, and the like. Weird.

 

To me, anthing should be allowed in games. If ya don't like it; don't play it. Simple yet logical rule that hurts nobody.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

That's a very good point. A lot of people argue that if you're going to include sex, there needs to be a POINT or it needs to serve some sort of FUNCTION. Yet when it comes to violence, no one really says anything. Sex is a part of life, even in the DnD world. I mean how do people reproduce in the land? (I can just hear one of you sarcastic ones saying the dm spawns them, har har.) and like I said before sexual content is ambiguous, it could mean anything. It doesn't need to mean porn or nudity even. Companies exploit violence to sell games, especially action games. And I'm not saying that RPG companies should exploit romance and sex. All I'm saying is that if they want to, then I would in some ways prefer that to them exploiting violence and action, because that usually leads to another "action/RPG", whereas if they use romance and sex to lure new gamers, you can still have a "hardcore" rpg, as defined by the industry.

Edited January 6, 2006 by qaz156

[Child of Flame]

Well trolls are asexual.

[Nick_i_am]

Hi Llyranor!

 

But yeah, over here in Europe it can seem slightly different, and it seems mostly to be america that has hangups over the 'violance is okay as long as their is no sex'. The bare breasts from Giants being removed and the sex scene from Fahrenheit being two key examples of this (though Giants is an old game while I THINK the American version of God of War still contains breasts).

 

This is no suprise though as in all mediums america has always come of as more 'prudish' than most of europe and russia.

[Surreptishus]

Gaz, it sounds like you want to add porn to game just as a gimmicky sales hook. I personally think that is a pretty cheap and tacky way to garner sales.

As darque stated there has to be a good reason for sex in a game e.g. the last Leisure suit Larry game - that was mildly amusing in some places but largely a dull game.

Conversely the reason violence is a staple of games is because they are based around confrontation.

[Darque]

No.

 

I think its' funny that some people love violence in games; but ahbor sex in them. Much like movies, tv, and the like. Weird.

 

To me, anthing should be allowed in games. If ya don't like it; don't play it. Simple yet logical rule that hurts nobody.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I think it's funny that some people want to just throw things in just to throw things in

 

If you don't like the fact that developers only have so much to work with resource wise and thus have to limit their games... don't play it

[CoM_Solaufein]

Sexs sells. The problem with sex in a game is it will get that nasty M rating.

[Nick_i_am]

There is nothing more sexy than polygonal boobies.

[CoM_Solaufein]

Especially when they jiggle.

[BattleCookiee]

Romances are already in games, even in "Action-RPG's". Not that very advanched, but still a romance (think KOTOR-Bastila)

 

So, you say to get "Hardcore RPG" we need "Hardcore sex"? Kissing ain't the final step, we need alot more?

 

And just to note, GTA doesn't sell because of the sex. Hell, it selled VERY well even before "Hot Coffee" was discovered. I mean, it had been 6 months on PS2 without anybody knew of "Hot Coffee" and it still sold millions of games.

The biggest + of GTA is the total freedom in a modern city...

[Jorian Drake]

There is no real sex or any not negative feelings in RPG-s of today, 'larry 8' was a laugh, and max what they show is a kiss, not even that in most games.

[BattleCookiee]

I blame the Americans (specifically Jack Thompson and the "Child molestati...preservation organisations" with the parents who have no understanding what a video-game is...)

[Nick_i_am]

Isn't that the 'our child is screwed up because of computer games and not because we're bad parents' thing?

[Jorian Drake]

Yes it is ,and the 'kids killing teachers and suicide than, it HAS to have connection to that horrific games they play'

,even if it shows up nearly no kid-game-killin' connection there is, and by the way:

they let the kids go see TV ,movies and News ,let kill someone in the game (if some parents let him/her play diablo,doom and such)

, BUT NO EMOTIONS, SEX 'couse it hurts the kid more than nuke an entire city

[Atreides]

I blame the Americans (specifically Jack Thompson and the "Child molestati...preservation organisations" with the parents who have no understanding what a video-game is...)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I blame Europeans (specifically the rabid anti-Americans). (w00t)

[Hell Kitty]

^ Now you're just being silly. Where are all the Euro parents wanting to sue game companys for turning their kids into killers, or the Euro teens blaming GTA for their cop killing?

 

Anyway, how can sex be used in games in a non-pornographic (softcore or hardcore) way, as a part of the gameplay rather than a dialogue option that fades to black?

[Darque]

I blame the Americans (specifically Jack Thompson and the "Child molestati...preservation organisations" with the parents who have no understanding what a video-game is...)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I blame Europeans (specifically the rabid anti-Americans). (w00t)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[LadyCrimson]

From one female's point of view...most of the time, seXXy-stuff in non-X rated entertaiment is just plain boring, especially when it's often from a stereotypical male-cameraman/director point of view. <_<

 

Honestly, watching faces comically contort while you see bodies writhing under silk sheets, with the occassional flash of skin....YAWN. Immediate fast-forward. If I want porno, I'll watch real porno...the stuff in most movies/games is just a big snore - it's dull time-filler and sex-sells fodder, that's all. You don't need that to get the point across that, y'know, these characters are doing it. Oooooo.

 

Romance, however, is something different, as that's an emotional hook and there are bits of that here and there in some games. Just nothing, so far in my limited gaming experience, that goes much beyond a few one-liners or something.

 

I agree, however, that it's pretty silly to have all the guns/violence and think that's casual, but get in an uproar because of a little seXXy. One is not worse than the other. Just don't start putting long boring in-bed cutscenes in games that I can't skip, please. Zzzzz.

[Calax]

well... don't forget you can screw your pids brains out in Singles...

[Ellester]

I think romance adds a realism factor in crpg