Editorial: Sex in Video Games

Heaving breasts, sex mini-games, a 17-year-old wearing thongs...is this really necessary? Why, yes, it's been proven that "sex sells" but I don't buy a video game for the scantily-clad women. For example, Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude, High Voltage Software, (not to mention the eight or so games before it) is all about, you guessed it, sex! Wow, a video game that has nothing to do except find a hot girl. Of course, I've never played this game, or any of its kind, so I can't say if the game is fun or not, but that doesn't excuse the overly-presented sex in it. And I mean, is it really necessary to have The Guy Game, Top Heavy Studios? Well, I'm not saying it's bad to have this in video games, but it's not necessarily a good thing, either. Hey, I'm a teenage guy; I'm going to like hot girls showin' it off. You may complain, or call me a perv for ogling of polygons, but hey, I cannot deny my male instincts.

Final Fantasy X-2, Square-Enix, the sequel to my favorite game of all time, Final Fantasy X, originally Squaresoft, features three young women sword-wielding, gun-dueling, and even magic-casting (both White and Black Magic). Not only are these teenagers tough, young, and beautiful, they also dress in a way that their mamas probably wouldn't agree with. The youngest of the three, Rikku, is only 17 years of age. In this RPG for the PlayStation 2, players can change their character's job in the heat of battle, calling for a costume change. In every single one of Rikku's outfits, you can see her thong, not to mention that she's usually wearing a bikini top with a scarf (WTF?!), and a micro-skirt. While I do agree that while I'm playing a video game I would prefer to see pretty girls on screen, so I don't have to stare at the usual male characters the whole game, but that doesn't mean they have to dress like sluts to be pretty, though I may enjoy the view from time to time.

Why yes, I own Final Fantasy X-2, God of War, and God of War II (both SCE Studios Santa Monica [SCE stands for Sony Computer Entertainment]), I do not own these games because of the suggestive themes or nudity; I simply enjoy these games for the gameplay and the storylines. In my opinion, what most game-makers are doing these days are just using women in video games so the male-intended audience will be even more obligated to buy a game. Some people may complain that most girls aren't into gaming, so if we can lose the stripper costumes, this might help boost the female interest in video games.

You can stay away from these games at all cost if you must, or you could skip the occasional, sometimes optional sex mini-game. All I am trying to say is, there are things in this world that aren't necessary (sex in games, violence, etc.), but we still find these enjoyable. I enjoy violence in video games, but I just think that the sex is really uncalled for at times, and a game can be great without it. Not to say that violence makes a game great (Pacman anyone?), I am just against the heaving breasts (Ninja Gaiden, Team Ninja) [doesn't your back hurt?] and the over-the-top sex mini-games (Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Rockstar Games, among others) present in video games. Looks like the hot-coffee mod got you an AO rating, San Andreas. Ha.

In case you're missing the point, here's my stance: Sex DOES sell. It's not bad to have it in games. I just don't think it should take away from the game by over-presenting it, or the female characters having overly large boobies, I mean, breasts.