Sex talk: conference agenda released
by Jennie Lees 
{ Apr 26th 2006 at 8:00PM }
The agenda for the Sex in Videogames conference has been published, and there are some interesting topics up for debate in San Fran this June. From the cultural to the technological, the conference will cover such diverse topics as cybersex, emergent behaviour, technology for realistic simulation and MMOEGs.
This will definitely be one to watch; sex is becoming part of gaming as a specialist genre, as well as becoming integrated into our everyday gaming lives with emergent behaviour. As with other media before it, the human interest in sex is likely to fuel some interesting developments in games -- and not just in the field of "jiggle physics".
[Via Sex & Games]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tom Cruise @ Apr 26th 2006 8:10PM
I want camel toes in video games!!!!
http://ratemycameltoe.com/
Imadogg99 @ Apr 26th 2006 8:19PM
Hope there aren't any talks, or even worse, plans of gay sex in future games for equality's sake... with the conference being held in San Fran and all...
jaemz @ Apr 26th 2006 8:29PM
An opportunity to provide positive role models in promoting healthy sexuality in relationships or a chance to strip us of our morals and respect long enough to make a quick buck?
Having personally volunteered time to helping high school kids understand and promote healthy relationships, I know which way I would like to see this go.
Likely we will just see this as being an extension of the porn industry…
Varian @ Apr 26th 2006 10:46PM
Jennie, this is absolutely stupid. Sex and video games have always been around ever since the text games yet this conference acts like it is a 'new' thing. What a joke.
The myth is that video games began for 'kiddies' and evolved over time into more 'mature' titles. But video games have always been for adults from Pong to the NES. Only starting in the 16 bit generation did games get so complicated that only kids who grew up with them could follow them.
Now we suddenly need a 'conference' on sex and games as if they are new? Please! I guess Custer's Revenge and Leisure Suit Larry never existed.
This conference is actually a trojan horse to bring sexual politics into video games. That means the five genders, homosexual, transexual, pansexual, all-the-rest sexual labels and everything else.
What is stupid is that games have always had extreme sexuality. Not in intercourse but in elements such as masculinity. Contra III was a very masculine game (which even Maddox still worships). Like the Illiad, many games share that masculine spirit of a hero saving the world or saving the princess. Will the conference study that? Nope. Because to the conference, sexuality is only about intercourse, not about masculinity or feminity.
With many young males not going to college, they are skipping the typical feminist brainwashing. Mark my words: they will attempt to diminish the traditional 'masculine' (and 'feminine' style games) and replace it with the usual hogwash of sexual politics.
Are you guys ready for Brokeback Mountain: The Video Game? It's coming.
jennie @ Apr 26th 2006 11:19PM
Interesting point of view Varian. Of course, with online multiplayer games on the rise, you get sexual politics and issues that weren't really the case back in the MUD days. I don't think the Sex in Games conference is an excuse for feminists to get together and bitch about the games industry, though. The talk Brenda Brathwaite gave at the Women's Games Conference was very well-informed and drew on the rich history of sex in games -- and yes, it included Custer's Revenge and LSL! I'm pretty sure (I'd have to check my notes) that the inherent masculinity save-the-day mentality core to so many games was discussed, too, along with its counterpart the "dollhouse" games like Sims, Second Life etc. Not as one-sided as you might expect.
It's good to have a place where all this can be discussed in a reasonable, adult manner, where the people who know about humanity and sexuality can talk to the game developers using it in their games. The conference looks interesting from that angle, too. I just need to figure out a way to attend ;)
Don Jose @ Apr 27th 2006 7:38AM
Imadogg:
If you indeed feel that way, then you certainly live up to your name. Gays are everywhere, and they're long overdue to pop up in video games in a major way (in major roles, nontheless). Leave the small-minded, midwestern bitching to Fox News, if you would, please.
Pickypants @ Apr 27th 2006 12:04PM
Yeah I sort of don't see the problem of people getting together and discussing a part of video games long dominated by the interests of 17 year old boys. If you like to play a certain type of game, and you are willing to pay for it, then it won't be going away.
And yeah, saying things like "With many young males not going to college, they are skipping the typical feminist brainwashing." completely dissloves whatever point (good or bad) you are trying to make, Varian.
A little tolerance from people, please.
fildo @ Apr 27th 2006 1:17PM
I agree whole heartedly with Varian.
The conference will serve no other purpose than to give politicians something to point at when they're discussing the "seriousness" of video game's negative effect on children.
This conference is just away to publicise and politicise the topic of sex in video games so that it can be seen as more of an issue than it is.
I want to see the sex in movies conference.