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Now, we all know that sex is a huge aspect of mainstream entertainment media, but have we been limiting ourselves in how we explore the tantalizing-yet-taboo topic? Quantic Dream, the ambitious development team behind Spring 2010’s Heavy Rain, will address this question through a controversial scene within their anticipated title. The sequence in question will force players to perform a strip tease for a slimy mob boss.
So, why would this be controversial, you ask? Well, any allusion to sex in video games is bound to get a rise out of the broadcast media outlets, but that’s besides the point. What’s potentially controversial is the developer’s approach to the whole idea of sex in video games. Quantic Dream hopes to address the psychology behind sex rather than merely the physical act. Find a bit more discussion and the opportunity to chime in after the break.
By tasking players with conducting this intentionally uncomfortable and even degrading sexual act, the guys and gals at Quantic Dream seem to hope to provide not only a mature entertainment experience, but perspective. Perspective in the form of testing gender roles as well as providing their audience the opportunity to experience something they may never suffer: sexual objectification.
The issue of sexual objectification has been prevalent in video games since Tomb Raider (and you could argue before even then) and, while developers like Bioware have been addressing in a somewhat tasteful manner, Quantic Dream wants to approach the issue head on. Is the way to approach the problem through gameplay? Are Quantic Dream taking the issue too far? How should the issue of sexual objectification in video games be addressed? You know where to go, so get on into that comment box and start typing!
(Images Via Gamespot and Pass Them Sticks)
Ah, Heavy Rain. I can’t wait for this game. And you’re right, any allusion to sex in a video game is going to send the media into a tizzy.
I feel like Quantic is going to achieve their goal of making players feel serious discomfort, not just through the degradation involved, but due to the fact that the game looks so damn realistic. Look at that face in that screengrab! I kinda hope that I can skip the scene.
That’s interesting that people would want to skip this sequence, which I assume is because of the uncomfortable tension it will potentially cause in (primarily but not limited to male) players. It’s interesting to see how Quantic Dream is presenting a role reversal within the sexual paradigm.
This is something I can’t recall ever being done before and will hopefully change the dynamic of sex in video games from simply displaying people in the act and dumbing said act down into a quick-timed event to truly exploring the psychology and possibly physiology of sexual relations.
Thanks for sparking this discussion, Eric, and kudos to Kotaku for their initial post involving the issue.
[...] affected the game’s narrative nor its gameplay directly. Since you all know how I feel about Heavy Rain and how Quantic Dream is approaching death I won’t even mention – [...]
I read this article then looked over to the right at the Evony “Ads by Google” Banner Ad and laughed. If you have seen their Ads, you would know why.
As well you would know indirectly how effective the “Ads by Google” are at targeting their audience…
ROFL!