Allen replied to my last topic asking me to elaborate on why I think it's so important for the industry to monitor the use of sex in games. I had to think about it a bit... but here's what I came up with.I think that it's more about American society than anything else. Sex is still kind of taboo in this country and I feel like we're far more likely to be censored as an industry for featuring sex than we are for featuring violence. Sex feels like a major hot-button for conservatives and "family-values" organizations. I don't want to see the games industry relegated to comic-book-like status. The comic code of the 50s was really detrimental to the success and growth of the comic book industry, and now comics have sort of been pushed to the fringe and only enjoy cult status amongst nerds. (You probably know all that, but I really think there's a parallel here... and here's the wikipedia page for more info if anyone needs it... I know that I did!)
There's also the negative stigma that games are just for children. This really isn't the case, but I can certainly understand why those on the outside would have that view. It's up to the folks inside the industry to try to broaden the appeal of games and snap this mindset, but there's sort of a chicken-egg problem here. You can't really prove that games aren't just for kids if they only deal with kid-friendly issues. But then when you put sex or other mature themes in your games people are going to attack them outright. It looks like games are targeting children and trying to expose them to filth. Blech.
I do feel like Mass Effect is going about this the correct way by putting in tasteful sex scenes that feel more grownup. This is good way to avoid offending people and also show them that we can responsibly approach mature themes. It's basically the exact opposite of Manhunt's approach to violence.
I try not to get super defensive when people attack games for being too violent or too sexual. They're trying to protect America's youth and that's a noble goal. And it still hasn't really been proven if gaming or other media can sculpt someone's psyche. But even with ESRB ratings kids are going to get a hold of the games and they're going to experience the content. I don't think that we should be censoring extreme content but I also don't want to personally work on a game like Manhunt. You have to take the good with the bad though, so I guess we have to just do our best as responsible adults to keep the material out of the hands of kids as best we can.
Hope that clears it up! Thanks for reading, Allen!
-Brad!
4 comments:
Brad: Doesn't the job of keeping unwanted materials out of the hands of children fall to the parents? Sure, a lot of kids only have one parent who works, but communication between parent and child works. And, parents do not have to buy all the sugar-coated cereal or every game a kid wants.
Also, while I'm on it: A twenty dollar bill on the table with a note for the kid when he gets home from school that reads, "Order some pizza for yourself" does not a family dinner make!
I don't have any figures to back me up, but a trip to the local supermarket tells me that the number of asshole deadbeat parents in the US is astounding. You don't exactly need a license or have to take a test to make a baby. :D
It doesn't feel appropriate for entertainment-producing industries to sit on their hands and let the parents handle everything. I just don't think it works in practice.
I agree that it's primarily the fault of the parents, but if media can truly damage a kid then I think the parents could use some help. Ratings boards, parental controls on the machines, cooperating retailers that refuse to sell to minors... these things don't form a substitute for good parenting but it can hopefully be a small band-aid for really shitty parenting.
Bravo, Brad. Well said. "...Ratings boards, parental controls on the machines, cooperating retailers that refuse to sell to minors... "
We have a sort of rating system on games. But, why don't we have parental controls on machines? We have them on TVs (THE CHIP!) and on cable boxes; why are the big boys (MS and Sony) falling down on this one? What are they afraid of?
And, retailers seem to be able to refuse kids booze and cigarettes; why not video games?
As you know, I am a big believer in keeping the government out of our collective hair, but as you say, if the industry does not show some leadership on this issue (sex and violence) they you/they may not like what the tight asses in Washington come up with.
To William, every console you own have parental controls on it. They aren't that difficult to find, they are super intuitive, and highly effective when used.
And Brad, when are you going to update the blog? Keep it coming mate.
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