Sex in video games: The Mass (Effect) debate

Mike Bantick
Saturday, 26 January 2008 20:43

Opinion and Analysis

It all started with Lara Croft in Tomb Raider, now the worlds children are being corrupted by Mass Effect according to Fox News in the U.S.  This of course has raised the ire of new Bioware (developers of Mass Effect) owner Electronic Arts.  Ding! The battle of the media giants has begun.

Writing this particular piece is somewhat of a double edged sword.  I know that the majority of readers will have a similar view and understanding of the stereotype imposed on the term 'gamers'.  So I am preaching to the converted.

Despite massive changes in the gamer demographic in recent years , partly due to the popularity of the Nintendo Wii, but more so due simply to younger gamers growing older, the stereotype remains.  Video games are for children according to mainstream media.

This has been no recently highlighted than the public (at least on-line) spat between the U.S based tabloid news service Fox and video game developer/publisher giant Electronic Arts.

Before clicking on this link to the clip of the Fox News snippet on Kotaku.com, ready your state of mind.  Remember this is a news service frequented by many people, and not a comedy satire show.  In the clip, cleverly titled “SE”XBOX?, the panel bleat about the horrors of modern video games, specifically in this case the adult nature of recently released Mass Effect for the Xbox 360.

“what happened to PAC-MAN” states one in-touch panellist.

And then there is the “expert” called in to rant about the dangerous faced by children and parents alike in this digitally connected age, oh and to sell her latest book.  The video game expert, Geoff Keighley, called in as the witness for the defence, did well not to lose his cool in the face of the self righteousness ignorance thrown up by the panel.

Bioware's new owner EA was quick to jump to the defence of one of the new thoroughbred franchises in their stable, sending a letter to Fox pointing out the glaring fact omissions in the report.