Sex in videogames

[Doug.Mellon]

I was just watching the news about this whole "hotcoffee" topic with GTA: Sand Andreas. They where saying how the graphic nature is awfull in video games and that the video game companies should not get any further and that there should be major law suits against any companies that do. I was wondering do you think that video games are becoming way to inapropriate, and what your side of this topic is.

My View
I dont think that this is right. I feel that the creaters of video games should be able to go as far as they want. There is a rating on the game and an age limit to who can purchase them so its the parents who will be purchasing the game. After the parent buys the game they then go saying that the company should be sued. Why? If you would have payed attention in the first place then you would have known that this game was to mature for your child. After all there are adult videos out there with age limits for purchasing yet they dont put a limit on them... why should they on video games. Well that is just my opinion.

Adios,
Doug

[Dudex]

I feel the same way. GTA Hot Coffee blaming spree has gone on long enough. Heck, the whole GTA series blaming spree. I read somewhere where a grandparent who bought the game for their kid decided to sue rockstar. Come on! Your the one who bought the game and if your kid decides to download a patch to include sex in it, than well, it's the kids fault. Not like the game came with it already activated. Heck, you might as well sue the creators of the internet because it can unlock a lot of sex and porn. I think the parents that ignore the age warnings should grow up and act like a real parent.

Congress needs to sit down and shut up IMO. If they wanna help, go tell the parents to pay more attention to the warnings. The ESRB ratings are there for a reason and if they don't want to follow it, tough luck.

Anyways, that's my rant :)

[Pegasus]

The sad thing is that quite a few people wouldn't buy videogames that didn't have sex and/or violence in them. I think they should all be limited to 18 or older. I think there are only a handful of games that are really suitable for young teens/preteens and the rest aren't worth the money. The worst ones, I think, are the ones that try to mimic/cash in on Dungeons & Dragons. From what I've seen, the female costumes aren't much more than two bandaids and a cork and no self-respecting warrior-type would wear something that impractical. <sigh>

Either that or I'm getting old.

Peg

[Doug.Mellon]

The sad thing is that quite a few people wouldn't buy videogames that didn't have sex and/or violence in them.
Agreed, yeah alot of the good videogames out there do involve violence, yet there are also alot that dont involve it. For example: mario party, GT3, ect.

[Joe]

I want to know how Rockstar Games can be held liable for this 'hotcoffee' hack though, the game is rated 18 which means that only adults should be able to buy the game ... and considering once you turn 18 you can drive, buy porn, drink and everything else (UK) then why would a little violence and pixelated porn be a problem?

If it was real porn and sex being shown in GTA then I would be able to see the protestors stance on the matter ... but as they're only computer characters, wheres the harm? It's not like the computer sprite is under 18 and hasn't given consent to be filmed naked, I just can't understand some people's views on this matter.

[Mrs. Skywalker]

Ok I believe that Sex and crap such as that SHOULD NOT be put in video games no matter what the rating. It's sick and perverted any way you look at it. I mean kids are already shooting people in schools due to violent video games (not saying that's the only reason why but it influences) it alters your sense of reality. Of course I was against violent, smutty video games fromt the start

[Doug.Mellon]

I can totaly see your point of view and agree with you to a point. Yeah its dumb that someone would spend their talent involving sex in a video game, but a company shouldnt be punished for doing it. Thats like saying that all pornography videos should be banned. Yeah I think it isnt sutable for most people yet they should still be out there as there is also alot of people who enjoy it. Just my opinion.
Adios,
Doug

[Reginald]

While many of our personal preferences are opposed to violent and sexual video games, it doesn't give us the right to censor or restrict it. There are those people, who are past the "impressionable" teenage years who prefer this kind of game. They enjoy it. This does not make them bad people, I know such people, and they are by no means bad. There is no reason to deprive them of something that gives them pleasure by restricting gaming content.

With regards to suits against game producers. It's an absurbity. We live in a capitalist society. Successful businessmen fulfill the desires of their customers. There is nothing wrong with doing so. The games are ERSB rated and if they happen to be rated for mature audiences, when they leave their producers, they are not headed for an innappropriate teen audience. They are headed to distributors who, if they function properly, should make sure the games go to the appropriate audience. Unfortunately, many times these distributors sell games with, for example, an "M" rating to under-17 customers. This is wrong. Still then, the games are not played by children. In an ideal household, parents would monitor or take interest/restrict their children's gaming tendencies. Unfortunately it isn't always so. The path through which children play games is simple: Producers --> Distributors --> Monitors(Parents). Two stages function improperly. One functions properly(Oddly enough, this is the one that is being sued and blamed). If the two flawed stages worked correctly, there would be no innappropriate exposure. It is not the fault of the correctly functioning stage...AKA Rockstar Games etc.

Please blame those most responsible, not those most convenient.

[Joe]

The games are ERSB rated and if they happen to be rated for mature audiences, when they leave their producers, they are not headed for an innappropriate teen audience. They are headed to distributors who, if they function properly, should make sure the games go to the appropriate audience. Unfortunately, many times these distributors sell games with, for example, an "M" rating to under-17 customers. This is wrong. Still then, the games are not played by children. In an ideal household, parents would monitor or take interest/restrict their children's gaming tendencies. Unfortunately it isn't always so. The path through which children play games is simple: Producers --> Distributors --> Monitors(Parents). Two stages function improperly. One functions properly(Oddly enough, this is the one that is being sued and blamed). If the two flawed stages worked correctly, there would be no innappropriate exposure. It is not the fault of the correctly functioning stage...AKA Rockstar Games etc.

Please blame those most responsible, not those most convenient.

I completely agree with you! I actually saw 2 little boys (must have been what ... 11 or 12 maybe younger) in Woolworths with their mother asking them what game they wanted ... and picking out GTA: SA ... and she bought it for them. When children are not properly supervised by their own parents how can the parents then turn around and say that games developers are distributing disgusting content to their children. If my son/daughter asked me for a game or film, I would make sure that I had played/watched it first and assessed whether I would allow them access to it.

I have to end it there because I get really angry about these types of things ...

[Horus_Kol]

I think the videogame/violence link is extremely tenuous at best... I know there are some high-profile cases, such as Columbine (which was linked to Doom), but the influence in something like this must be minimal at most - the boys' almost complete social exclusion at the school is not going to promote a healthy mind at all, for a start.

As for 18 ratings - in the UK at least, a game must be submitted to the certification authorities prior to release, with screenshots, descriptions, and is checked out. If a game was released without going through this process, the publisher will fall foul of a significant fine, and could even lose the right to distribute.
Only games with sexual content and/or extreme violence towards people (killing aliens is generally okay, so long as the gore is minimalised) get an 18 rating, and that is the only one that is legally required for games (we also have a voluntary certification from ELSPA which has 4 grades of recommended "suitability").
I have heard many stories of shop assistants asking obvious parents if the game is for their kids, then advising against the purchase of an 18 rated game, only to be told "are you going to sell it to me? I am the customer, and I demand it".

In my opinion, parents are ultimately responsible for what kids see and take in, and if they are conscientious enough not to take them to the cinema for an 18 rated movie (or 15 or 12 or PG-12...) then they should sit up and realise that not all games are for kids.