from the don't-be-sexy-while-I'm-blowing-dudes('-heads-off) dept.
Sony explains its new policy regarding sexual content in games
Sony has a problem with sexual content on the PS4. While that was mere speculation for the last year or so (despite numerous stories saying otherwise), a recent report from the Wall Street Journal has outright confirmed the policy shift from the platform holder. In an interview with the publication, a Sony US official said, "Sony is concerned the company could become a target of legal and social action," hence the shift on sexual content.
As detailed in the report, a lot of this new policy is a reaction to the #MeToo movement. Executives at Sony are worried about the reputation of the platform if it continues to host content that sexually objectifies women. As well as social movements, Sony is concerned over the advent of streaming services allowing region-specific content to be viewed on a global scale. Since some standards only apply to certain countries, Sony doesn't want to be seen hosting a game in the US that's hyper-sexually charged.
This has obviously angered some game developers. As one unnamed [chief executive of a small game developer in Japan] told the Wall Street Journal, "You don't know what they will say until you complete the work and submit it for review. And if they are not happy, even if they allowed the same degree of sexuality a few days before, we need to take it back and ask our staff to make adjustments. That's very costly."
Also at Kotaku.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 19 2019, @11:19PM (1 child)
All of Sony's rootkits are going to be female from now on.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 20 2019, @12:23AM
Is that what they meant by "crack down"?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 19 2019, @11:32PM
Who dis?
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Thexalon on Friday April 19 2019, @11:39PM (6 children)
About the only relationship between #MeToo and video game sex is that they both involve sex. #MeToo is about acknowledging that sexual assault and rape is depressingly common and trying to do something about it. Video game sex isn't real life sex, and there's not much indication that people who engage with video game sex are any more likely to engage in sexual assault or sexual violence than those who don't.
So really what this is is yet another excuse for killjoys to say that sex is bad but violence is fun, which has been the official position of popular culture for a long time now.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 20 2019, @12:01AM (3 children)
Thing is, this is not a 'bad' thing. Most 'sex' in video games is cringy as fuck. Usually borderline 'hur de dur tee hee they had sex'. Rarely does it fit the game unless that is the point of the game. Every once and awhile it fits. But even then it is usually a 'what the hell is this doing here' and usually distracts from the main game.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 20 2019, @01:13AM (1 child)
Call me a killjoy, but I think that because this is not to my taste, no one else should be able to enjoy it.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 20 2019, @01:16AM
Oh I do not disagree with that. I am more along the lines thinking perhaps they will make a better game... I can always hope. But now that I own well over a couple of thousand games my hopes are not high. I think it is usually a lame way to create controversy to get someone spun up to sell more games. Maybe I am just cynical tonight...
(Score: 3, Informative) by takyon on Saturday April 20 2019, @01:27AM
It's not really about sexual intercourse. Some examples are given in TFS. It could come down to games with "jiggle physics" and other objectification, and particularly young-looking anime characters. Possibly still cringy depending on your point of view, but different than "hot coffee" [wikipedia.org].
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 20 2019, @02:00AM
In 2016, Sony Interactive Entertainment (subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, which is subsidiary of Sony itself) moved headquarters from Toyko to San Mateo, California (20 miles south of San Francisco).
California.
Starting to make a bit more sense now?
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Saturday April 20 2019, @01:29PM
I'm still going to read it as "pound me too". Best unintended interpretation hashtag in years.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Snotnose on Saturday April 20 2019, @12:29AM
Nowdays it's not how much merit your complaint has, but how much noise your complaint can generate.
I'm old, I remember when Political Correctness took hold in the 80s. Oh, you're offended? Tough shit, grow some skin. Seems to me it's more your problem than mine.
Not to say some of the PC warriors weren't right, but I'm guessing 90% of them were blowing smoke, are still blowing smoke, and somehow they've gained the upper hand where those of us who say "um, you're blowing smoke" get marginalized.
When the dust settled America realized it was saved by a porn star.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 20 2019, @12:44AM (1 child)
Hookers, drugs, murder, everything you can find in LA. Remember Sim City when a disgruntled programmer added a goatse scene?
(Score: 2) by Magic Oddball on Saturday April 20 2019, @01:40AM
I haven't played the others yet, but in GTA IV at least, drugs aren't an option and the game never indicates that it's possible to have sex with the prostitutes, let alone how to hire them; even if you do, most of the time the character (Niko) makes comments indicating that he's not at all happy about it. Further, when one drug-addicted young woman does offer in a cutscene, he reacts with paternal horror. The only time the game makes sex an obvious option AFAIK is at the end of a date.
(Score: 2) by PinkyGigglebrain on Saturday April 20 2019, @12:46AM (6 children)
I find it amusing that an article talking about new policies by Sony restricting the use of sexual and suggestive imagery in games has an image of 2 bikini clad game characters that have nothing to do with the article featured prominently on the page.
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."
(Score: 2) by takyon on Saturday April 20 2019, @01:30AM (5 children)
The image is from Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 [wikipedia.org], which is on topic even if they don't mention why:
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by takyon on Saturday April 20 2019, @02:01AM (3 children)
BTW, here's the recent game from the main series:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_or_Alive_6 [wikipedia.org]
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by Snotnose on Saturday April 20 2019, @02:24AM
In other words, I've just added Dead or Alive 6 to my list of games I want to buy (Evernote for the win).
Heard of it before, never played one yet. But here we are.
When the dust settled America realized it was saved by a porn star.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 20 2019, @09:33AM (1 child)
Are you trying to point out how DOA6 characters are dressed up a lot more than previous games as a way of them potentially trying to clean up the game?
If so, don't worry, I highly doubt that even registered with them. It's far more likely they did it to help increase sales in the hundreds to eventually thousands of dollars of scantily clad costume dlc the game will have before it's run it's course. They tried it with DOA5 and apparently made a good deal of cash from the whales, but probably realized the default costumes were fanservice enough for a good portion of the customer base. So they 'fixed' that.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Saturday April 20 2019, @05:01PM
No, the studio apparently pulled a bait and switch with its critics, or was misinterpreted. Regardless of any $93 DLC profit motives, the results [eurogamer.net] were hilarious [eurogamer.net].
I wouldn't urge Snotnose or anybody to blow $160 on the full game or whatever it is, but getting the game on sale or trying out the previous titles would show some support for the studio for not giving a fuck about puritans.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by PinkyGigglebrain on Saturday April 20 2019, @05:08AM
I thought those two were from DoA but wasn't sure. Only DoA title I ever played, badly, was the original Xtreme Beach Volleyball back in 2006.
As to your view that the image is ontopic I have to disagree. If the article had mentioned DoA, quoted the Wiki, or even just linked to the Wiki that you quoted from then I would agree that image being is at least marginally relevant to the article. But since it's just an image of two sexy video game characters with nothing about the context or connecting them to the article then it looks to be more than a bit gratuitous eye candy.
Just my opinion, and like millage, yours may differ.
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 20 2019, @07:11AM (1 child)
never forget, never forgive
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/sony_rootkit [wikipedia.org]
(Score: 2) by Bot on Saturday April 20 2019, @07:20AM
also to forgive someone, he must admit he was in the wrong.
Account abandoned.
(Score: 1, Troll) by Bot on Saturday April 20 2019, @07:18AM
Either all games become pro gender theories and so another avenue of indoctrination or we sue them out of existence.
Account abandoned.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 20 2019, @12:03PM (1 child)
Sony does what nintendon't
(Score: 2) by takyon on Saturday April 20 2019, @05:10PM
Gotta target the rampant hentai babes on the Nintendo ecosystem now.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 22 2019, @02:25AM
"...while-I'm-blowing-dudes"
The mind simply reels.
RIP MDC!