Sex & Violence

Revisiting that 'fuckyeahbritisholdschoolgaming' blog due to the Francotrash thread, and these two photos are currently up:





You don't see this kind of graphic violence in gaming material anymore. Well, I haven't. It's pretty violent, but there's also a sense of whimsy to it...and a bit sinister.

Also, recall back in the day there'd be nudity in such 'mainstream' material as the AD&D books. I know it was a different time, but I started getting those books and material such as above when I was around 8-10 years old. No way is that kind of subject in games anymore without a bunch of hubbub.

So, what happened? Video games and movies seem to be as violent as ever, but the tabletop scene has gone tame.

(Don't mistake this post as someone wanting to see a lot of violence, I'm not into it. However, I do find myself drawn to the whimsy style gaming violence like above...but there again, it's probably just nostalgia)

My two favorite food groups.

It is a good question though. Maybe it's got something to do with D&D and the like trying to get away from stereotypes? It kind of reeks of PR. Video games have gone from nerd culture to mainstream so the violence is allowed because of that.

D&D 1st Ed was a pretty underground phenomenon. Sure, it was popular but it was also mysterious and taboo to the uninitiated. I'd say upper decks recent alien game is just as violent as those photos, but not the norm, but d&d wasn't the norm in 1980.

Sex? Well, Americans are funny. We by and large don't object to objectification, harassment, and gender based violence. That's sort of the issue, presenting the female breast in America is so unacceptable it's against the law. Coming from this sexually repressive culture, more free depictions of nudity are seen as sexual because that's what people associate the nude form with. Typically board gamers are pretty conservative folks, most seem family oriented, and many are over 35, so it's not surprising to me that sex in gaming is unacceptable.

Hey, this is America. It's OK to take your 11 year old to see The Expendibles 2, where you can revel in a sea of graphic body explosions, but if you take them to see something with a 3 second sex scene, you're a fucking deviant.

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Sex vs Violence is a whole different discussion (and we can have that too), but I'm really interested in y'alls thoughts on why sex and violence is ok in videogames and movies (and comics and television and music...seemingly all other forms of media), while boardgames got neutered.

deadpixel.co/

You're welcome.

Maybe because of film/interactive media's ability to be graphic. Board ages, especially traditionally, are not graphic. They also have a connection with family, as many grow up playing games with their parents or grandparents. Do board games get flack for violence or is it just the lack of violence that you find interesting?

JEM wrote: deadpixel.co/

You're welcome.

very interested in this game. I think many would look at it and see 1) it's a game about sex, and 2) it's a game about interspecies sex, but I look at it and see a game promoting the concept of discussion and consent, and in a pretty fun, interactive way.

Bull Nakano wrote: Maybe because of film/interactive media's ability to be graphic. Board ages, especially traditionally, are not graphic. They also have a connection with family, as many grow up playing games with their parents or grandparents. Do board games get flack for violence or is it just the lack of violence that you find interesting?

Well...I'd say 'interesting' as in I only thought about it recently after revisiting that blog. Boardgames/rpgs/ccgs/etc seem to have gone mainstream (sorta), yet they have gone down in questionable content while other media seems to have gone up/stay the same.

But, maybe this isn't really all that interesting of a topic.

Could it be permanence? A violent scene in a film is only on screen so long as it lasts, but a static violent image is always that. I'm not sure. I think this is more a problem with film and interactive media than board games. I don't personally object to violent imagery on principal, but there are venues where I find it completely inappropriate, mostly around children or around people that don't want to be around it.

Two people with wrestling avatars talk violence.

I find your idea of permanence as a possible reason intriguing.

I also agree about not appropriate in some settings. But what about those old GW photos posted? Are they inappropriate for kids or are they more in the Coyote v Roadrunner vein?

Remember that AD&D was associated with Satanism (if such a thing actually exists) for a period of time, and there was a cleansing of much of the art and content to make it a more accepted product. It then got purchased by a very big company with a very big reputation to maintain.

I'll be honest, both of those images look ham-fisted to me and gratuitous. It's not going to stop me from buying the product, but it isn't drawing me in at all either. It's a display of violence for violence's sake, another form a porn as far as I'm concerned and this one doesn't appeal to me.

As for nudity, the original AD&D books would fit firmly into the PG rating now, in spite of showing a little bit of above-the-waist nudity. The country's (U.S.) tolerance for nudity has GREATLY expanded since the 1970s.

I could see them being inappropriate, it depends on the child's personal development and relationship with both violence and separating reality from fiction. They have both cartoony and realistic aspects, it's hard to draw a line, but I would not say they're absolutely inappropriate.

Mr White...Limit yourself to just 10 games and your world view narrows!

Early on the use of sex and violence gets your product noticed. See CoolMiniOrNot or Early GW. The saying "Sex sells" holds true in any form.

But, if a company grows and becomes a brand the need for extremes to get your product noticed declines. What early on is an asset can become a liability.

Rockstar Games wants to push the envelope. Days of Wonder wants to be as family friendly as possible. The dude that brought us Cave Evil wants to portray things not previously portrayed in games. CoolMiniOrNot has a decapitated head flying across their cover as well as a second head exploding.

It all comes down to the brand be it Company Brand or Product Line that is looking to be established. Imagine what would happen if Days of Wonder were to suddenly release a gore filled and sex fueled game? Their brand and image would be shot to hell...That shaking isn't worth it.