Sex in Games SIG

International Game Developers Association

Jump to: navigation, search
Special Interest Groups
FAQs

The Sex in Games SIG Special Interest Group (or Sex SIG) was formed in April 2005 as the result of two successful roundtables at the Game Developers Conference. It exists to address the challenges and possibilities for adult content within games.

The Sex SIG provides an outlet where information can be shared among developers and those who wish to enter the field. The SIG is also a repository of business related links related to the production and distribution of adult themed content.

Contents

Overview

The Sex in Games SIG will serve as an arena for developers to address the issues and challenges facing the use of mature content in video games.

Sexual content is, of course, found in all forms of media, from Homer's Odyssey and The Iliad to movies like The Graduate, Sideways and even Shakespeare in Love. It is a valid storytelling mechanic and central to the human experience. As such, the Sex SIG embraces sex and sexuality as a natural, healthy and positive force in our lives.

The Sex SIG serves as a source for related industry news and the collected knowledge of its members. The Sex SIG also provides an online discussion forum and mailing list to promote developer interaction.


IMPORTANT NOTE

Viewing of some of the links provided on this information page 'May Not Be Suitable for Work'

Links listed throughout this wiki are to be used at the discretion of the reader and intended for users of this wiki 18+ years and older


Principles

The Sex in Games SIG recognizes:

  • The right of developers to work together to create games that include the full range of the human experience, including representations of relationships, love, intimacy, and sexual themes.
  • A parent's need to be informed and oversee/control their children's access to content.
  • The responsibility we as developers have to make sure that the content that's in the game is reflected in its rating and its rating descriptors.

Membership

The Sex in Games SIG welcomes everyone interested in the topic of sexual content in video games, from developers actively creating such content to parents to those working in or with organizations that seek to restrict such content.

History

THIS PAGE IS CURRENTLY WORK IN PROGRESS. STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES - January 30, 2011

Good links to 'History of Sex' in videogames.

These articles go back to the early history of sex in videogames from the 70's to the 90's.

http://www.gamecritics.com/feature/report/gameforsexvol1/page01.php

http://www.i-mockery.com/minimocks/sexual-games/

A great commentary on the state of sex in videogames by Daniel Floyd. From 2008 but still relevant in 2011 as not much has changed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFywW99Uvwc

Affiliate related review sites that lists most current adult video games that are currently available.

Viewing of links below is at the discretion of the reader and intended for 18+ and older!

http://www.sexgame-reviews.com/3D-Sexvilla-2-review.html http://www.adultgamereviews.com/news.php http://www.adultsexgamereviews.com/ http://www.thebestporn.com/review/3dsexgames/


Initiatives

Working with Ratings boards, computer and software manufacturers to responsibility introduce sex into video games as a genre and with the bounds of storytellng

Age Verification

Most Adult Only rated products are not sold at any kind of retail point of sale, and are only available online.

Payment is usually always made via credit card for AO titles, thus age verification is typically a function of age verification required by the credit card companies which do not let minors obtain or use credit cards.

Third party billers that process credit card information for the major merchant account holders have stringent and strict guidelines in regards to which sites can process transactions for Adult Only video game content which depicts content of a sexual nature.

More information on these rules can be obtained directly from Visa, Mastercard and other major distributors of credit.

Third party processors that have worked with the online adult content providers have pioneered many of the processes and practices that are now mainstream.

The following is a short list of some of the major processors that have expertise in distributing AO product online via credit card payment.

http://www.ccbill.com/online-merchants/index.php

https://epoch.com/en/our_services.html

http://www.commercegate.com/

http://www.webbilling.com/European-Direct-Debit/online-payment-processing.html


The above is only an introductory list of third party processors, and each biller has different areas of expertise and services for different parts of the distribution system from PC digital download games to mobile content delivery with micro transactions.

Besides using third pat processors distributors can set up their own merchant accounts and bill directly. An example of a company that helps setup merchant accounts is Humboldt Merchant Services http://www.hbms.com/


Game Distribution

Most Adult Only rated products are not sold at any kind of retail, and are only available online.


Design Issues

Designing for adult only games is a very specialized discipline. For advanced sex simulations and role play games third party game engines and programming tools are often not well suited to the task. Most game engines are designed for things like sports games, violent first person shooters, and are thus well suited for bone crushing physics, explosions and ultimate fighting action, and are not suited for simulating intimacy, foreplay, softcore or hardcore sexual activity.

Most AO game content thus relies on custom coded application frameworks. Challenges include creating animations that involve close contact, and thus occlusion of markers when capturing data with traditional cameras and optic markers or gyroscopic systems, creating rigs that are not used in sports games or fighting games and have to include anatomically correct and functioning sex organs, and challenges like not baking textures directly onto 3D game character meshes so clothing can be removed layer by layer simulating undressing.

Also the whole areas of physics related to realistic animation and artificial intelligence related to seduction and sexual play are a science unto themselves that is totally different than any other game design paradigm.

There are also no API's or SDK's from any game developer that are specific to social network sex game development, and lastly budgets are few and far between to develop top notch triple AAA style video game content. Budgets are typically $500.00 to $10,000 for flash based AO games, and only a few game titles in adult have had multimillion dollar budgets, thus most adult games go for the low hanging fruit in regards to simplified content for gamers to play with, typically called poke the doll games.


Hetero-centric Design

Text

GLBT-centric Design

Text

Female-centric Design

Text

Fetish-centric Design

Text

Accessible Design

The IGDA's Accessibility SIG is an excellent resource for those looking for information on accessible design.

The Ultimate Guide to Sex and Disability: For All of Us Who Live with Disabilities, Chronic Pain and Illness [1] is also another excellent resource.

Rating Boards & Awareness

http://www.rtalabel.org/

The "Restricted To Adults" website label was created by the Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP) to better enable parental filtering, and to demonstrate the online adult industry’s commitment to helping parents prevent children from viewing age-inappropriate content.

The RTA Label is free to use, voluntary, and universally available to any website that wishes to clearly and effectively label itself as being inappropriate for viewing by minors.

The RTA Verified service will allow you to verify that you have labeled your site(s) correctly. With this service you will be issued a special button and link to a verification page to let all your visitors know that not only are your site(s) labeled but they have also been verified by RTA (Restricted to Adults). Please make sure you have already labeled your site(s) before using the RTA Verified service.


http://www.esrb.org/ratings/ratings_guide.jsp

The following is from the ESRB

ESRB Rating Symbols

EARLY CHILDHOOD Titles rated EC (Early Childhood) have content that may be suitable for ages 3 and older. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate.

EVERYONE Titles rated E (Everyone) have content that may be suitable for ages 6 and older. Titles in this category may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language.

EVERYONE 10+ Titles rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) have content that may be suitable for ages 10 and older. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes.

TEEN Titles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language.

MATURE Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.

ADULTS ONLY Titles rated AO (Adults Only) have content that should only be played by persons 18 years and older. Titles in this category may include prolonged scenes of intense violence and/or graphic sexual content and nudity.

RATING PENDING Titles listed as RP (Rating Pending) have been submitted to the ESRB and are awaiting final rating. (This symbol appears only in advertising prior to a game's release.)

ESRB Content Descriptors 

   * Alcohol Reference - Reference to and/or images of alcoholic beverages
   * Animated Blood - Discolored and/or unrealistic depictions of blood
   * Blood - Depictions of blood
   * Blood and Gore - Depictions of blood or the mutilation of body parts
   * Cartoon Violence - Violent actions involving cartoon-like situations and characters. May include violence where a character is unharmed after the action has been inflicted
   * Comic Mischief - Depictions or dialogue involving slapstick or suggestive humor
   * Crude Humor - Depictions or dialogue involving vulgar antics, including “bathroom” humor
   * Drug Reference - Reference to and/or images of illegal drugs
   * Fantasy Violence - Violent actions of a fantasy nature, involving human or non-human characters in situations easily distinguishable from real life
   * Intense Violence - Graphic realistic-looking depictions of physical conflict. May involve extreme and/or realistic blood, gore, weapons and depictions of human injury and death
   * Language - Mild to moderate use of profanity
   * Lyrics - Mild references to profanity, sexuality, violence, alcohol or drug use in music
   * Mature Humor - Depictions or dialogue involving "adult" humor, including sexual references
   * Nudity - Graphic or prolonged depictions of nudity
   * Partial Nudity - Brief and/or mild depictions of nudity
   * Real Gambling - Player can gamble, including betting or wagering real cash or currency
   * Sexual Content - Non-explicit depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including partial nudity
   * Sexual Themes - References to sex or sexuality
   * Sexual Violence - Depictions of rape or other violent sexual acts
   * Simulated Gambling - Player can gamble without betting or wagering real cash or currency
   * Strong Language - Explicit and/or frequent use of profanity
   * Strong Lyrics - Explicit and/or frequent references to profanity, sex, violence, alcohol or drug use in music
   * Strong Sexual Content - Explicit and/or frequent depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including nudity
   * Suggestive Themes - Mild provocative references or materials
   * Tobacco Reference - Reference to and/or images of tobacco products
   * Use of Drugs - The consumption or use of illegal drugs
   * Use of Alcohol - The consumption of alcoholic beverages
   * Use of Tobacco - The consumption of tobacco products
   * Violence - Scenes involving aggressive conflict. May contain bloodless dismemberment
   * Violent References - References to violent acts


Existing Games with Mature Content Games

Sex Games & Art Communities


Games with Sexy Leads

  • Phantasmagoria 2 was the first computer game to establish the playable character as being bisexual.

Games with Romance/Love Stories

  • Harvest Moon series (Natsume, Inc., 1996-present)
  • Baldur's Gate II: Shadow's of Amn (Bioware, 2000)

Mass Effect - Bioware (2009)

Games with Sex Scenes

  • God of War (SCEA, 2005)
  • God of War II (SCEA, 2007)
  • Indigo Prophecy (Atari Europe S.A.S.U., 2005)
  • Fahrenheit (SEGA, 1995)
  • Phantasmagoria (Sierra On-Line, Inc., 1995)
  • Phantasmagoria: A Puzzle of Flesh (Sierra On-Line, Inc., 1996)
  • Fable (Lionhead, 2004)

Hentai Games

A leading site for Japanese and English translated Hentai games http://www.dlsite.com/

google hentai games and results indicate 78,000,000 repsonse for this popular category so too numerous to mention

Hentai is actually a slang word used in the west to describe the sub genres or erotic anime produced in Japan. Japanese pornography laws are a legacy of the Marshall plan from World War II. The laws wihc are still in place for th e50's result in the Japanese art form being very strange by western standards, and thus th9ings like bukakee are popular.

As a for instance in Japan it is illegal to show genitalia with out a mosaic or censor bars hiding the details of the sexual organs, while it is legal to show the ejaculate from orgasm. This allows for the strangeness and fetish following of bukakee where groups ejaculation is allowable as long as the viewer does not see sex organs.


Cell Phone Games

Android is the most open platform for games that have sexual themes and content.

www.mikandi.com is an app store portal related to the promotion of adult themed content for Android

Apples app store and many other mainstream app stores for smartphone devices have banned adult themed content from being distributed at this point in time.

Top sources for adult themed content for sexy mobile apps are based in Europe where billing is allowed to be processed via multiple mobile payment methods including SMS.


Educational Games

Text

Therapy Games

Text

Hardware

www.vstroker.com www.realtouch.com


Emergent Sex

Text

Commerical Sex Trade

Text


Sites Covering Emergent Sex

Text

Censorship

Text

Research

Text

FAQ

Q: Did the IGDA's Sex SIG start in response to Hot Coffee?

A: No. The Sex SIG was well in the works by the time the Hot Coffee scandal broke in June of 2005. The SIG was actually started because a handful of developers had created mature, sexually themed content for the consoles, but had not networked and faced a lot of hurdles that were unique to this form of content. Playboy: The Mansion, The Singles and Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude all released that year, the latter two featuring add-on AO versions for PCs. These developers and the publishers of the games faced unique marketing, rating, distribution and retail hurdles that other developers hadn't faced. At the 2005 Game Developer's Conference, a series of roundtables were held to discuss mature content development: "Sexuality In Games: What's Appropriate?" The roundtables were packed, and developers wanted to stay in touch to discuss these and other issues unique to adult content development. In March 2005, a mailing list was formed. By April, a full SIG had been created. We continue to host a well-attended roundtable at GDC every year.

Q: Does the SIG focus only on hard-core content?

A: No. We are interested in preserving the rights of developers to explore the full range of human emotion in games... which is not the easiest thing to do in today's political climate. Some games have come to North America self-censored in order to avoid potential or perceived issues at retail or in the ratings process. Today's M-rated games still don't hold a candle to R-rated films.

Resources

TBD

Member Sites

IGDA Sex SIG Sex & Games blog http://www.igda.org/sex

Listed in alphabetical order:

DreamStripper (Virtual 3D Stripper Game) http://www.dreamstripper.com

GayGamer (Blog and Forum) http://www.gaygamer.net

MMOrgy (Emergent sex in virtual worlds) http://www.mmorgy.com

Sexy Dreams 3D (Adult Game for Couples) http://www.sexydreams3d.com

Slashdong (Teledildonics and sex tech) http://www.slashdong.org

Virtually Jenna (Jenna Jameson's game) http://www.virtuallyjenna.com

Middleware

Text


Publishers & Distributors

[2] - Affiliate program for thrixxx software gmbh. http://www.gameboxxx.com

[3] - Affiliate program for redlightcenter.com. http://webmaster.utherverse.com/

[4] - Affiliate program for bonetown.com http://www.dubcash.com/

[5] - 3D game Portal with various 3D gaem titles and bundles. http://www.somavision.com/

J-List - Imports of Japanese stuff, as well as translated hentai games. http://www.j-list.com

Newgrounds Mature area - Anyone with Flash can submit games to Newgrounds for others to play, so it's a kind of grassroots web publishing effort. http://www.newgrounds.com/mature

Peach Princess - Translations of Japanese erotic games ("hentai"). http://www.peachprincess.com


Existing Interviews/Articles

  • BBFC report (2007): 'Video Games: research to improve understanding of what players enjoy about videogames, and explain their preferences for particular games' [6]

Relevant Academic Publications

  • Consalvo, M. (2003) 'Hot Dates and Fairy-Tale Romances: Studying Sexuality in Videogames' in Wolf, M. J. P. Perron, B. The Video Game Theory Reader. London: Routledge. pp. 171-194.
  • Skirrow, G. (1986) 'Hellivision: an analysis of video games', in MacCabe, C. (ed) High Theory/Low Culture - analysing popular television and film. Manchester: Manchester University Press. pp.115-142.
  • Surman, D. (2006) 'Style, Consistency and Plausibility in the Fable Gameworld' in Buchan, S. (ed) Animated Worlds. London: John Libbey. pp. 151-170.

External links

Retrieved from "http://wiki.igda.org/Sex_in_Games_SIG"
Personal tools