Motion capture game teaches tween girls to avoid the come-ons of boys from the Metaverse

The University of Central Florida has been awarded a $434k grant to develop a video game for tween girls. The game, which is still in development, is apparently designed to allow girls to "practice" rejecting peer pressure from boys for sex and make outs. Of course, the only natural way to immerse the player in such a game is to put her into a motion capture suit, where her jittery marionette of an avatar is surrounded by the most diabolical 3D models of teenage males obtainable on that $434k budget -- if it was paid to Neal Stephenson in 1992. "It's a place to practice where there aren't any social consequences," says Professor Anne Norris, who is heading the project. But who will protect them from the psychological consequences, Anne? And will there be any escape from the meta-virus? Check out the unintentionally hilarious video after the break.

[rmbrown09 Posted Jul 29th 2010 1:11PM]

@Bud92 it appears my comment was removed?
Doesn't change the truth.

[Toyzer Posted Jul 29th 2010 12:23PM]

Damn, this is going to make it harder for us. No pun intended.

[Jason B Posted Jul 29th 2010 12:25PM]

@Toyzer

Harder for you to pressure preteen girls?

[lucky1995 Posted Jul 29th 2010 12:26PM]

@Toyzer
I just lol'd... Bad puns are great

[TheRealCJ Posted Jul 29th 2010 12:37PM]

...until some geek figures out the hack, and suddenly these poor girls are trapped in motion capture suits in the seediest parts of Second Life.

Either that, or some toy company will sell these as "your own virtual Justin Beiber" machines.

[Psyclotr0n Posted Jul 29th 2010 12:42PM]

@Toyzer Nobody cares if your puns were intended.
http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=puns

[kineticdamage Posted Jul 29th 2010 2:12PM]

@Toyzer
And then Strange Days started to become real :)

[crawcraw Posted Jul 29th 2010 3:01PM]

@Toyzer

Boy #1: Hey toots! What's your sign?

Girl: Boom! Headshot! Haha, later n00b.

Boy #2: I am 733t H4X0r. Ph34r m3!

Girl: Uh-oh.

[credo Posted Jul 29th 2010 8:23PM]

@Toyzer
Yeah, you'll never get Beiber once she takes this training!

[smallj Posted Jul 30th 2010 2:09AM]

@Toyzer Thats one sick mind if ur thinkin about tweens...

[Juggernaut408 Posted Jul 29th 2010 12:26PM]

DAMNIT!!!!!

[Ysleiro Posted Jul 29th 2010 3:18PM]

@Juggernaut408 Damn it isn't enough. It was hard enough getting conceited ass young girls to pucker up when I was in HS.

The game should be called "Cock Blockers". To counter this game I will begin working on a game for boys that teaches the opposite of this...

[mixit Posted Jul 29th 2010 12:27PM]

If nothing else it'll increase terrets awareness. Those avatars were all over the place

[Daru Posted Jul 29th 2010 12:32PM]

Using video games to teach social skills.

I'm not sure if this is a step forward or backward.

[invert y Posted Jul 29th 2010 12:33PM]

I really don't see the point of using a motion capture suit for a game teaching resistance to peer pressure. Seems like this project's focus is more about the interface and less about the game itself.

[Shalabi Posted Jul 29th 2010 12:35PM]

More anti-male propaganda.

[frosted1030 Posted Jul 29th 2010 12:38PM]

Total crap! Why would you preach abstinence?? That causes sexual problems later in life. This is something that the church has preached for years, no sex until marriage. There are many studies that show the preaching of abstinence is outmoded, outdated, and ineffective. Why are tax dollars being used for this?!

[Jonathan K Posted Jul 29th 2010 12:56PM]

@frosted1030

What aren't tax dollars being spent on?

[jiggpig Posted Jul 29th 2010 1:44PM]

@frosted1030

Since this is aimed a preteen girls, I don't necessarily think its "wait until marriage" but rather "wait until your body is physically supposed to be having sex".

[SuperModified Posted Jul 29th 2010 1:57PM]

@frosted1030 It's obvious you don't have a daughter. I have three. Google morals.

[E30 Kid Posted Jul 29th 2010 2:15PM]

@SuperModified
I've had your daughters.

[Psyclotr0n Posted Jul 29th 2010 2:54PM]

@E30 Kid
ROFL

[Shalabi Posted Jul 29th 2010 3:14PM]

@SuperModified Google 'parenting'

[Bacchus027 Posted Jul 29th 2010 3:55PM]

@SuperModified That response is getting tired. You need to stop living in denial. Your daughter will do all of the things with boys that you used to do with girls. Get over it, they're human.

[michaspi Posted Jul 29th 2010 4:23PM]

@frosted1030:
>Total crap! Why would you preach abstinence?? That causes sexual problems later in life.
Dohoho, nice try.

>This is something that the church has preached for years, no sex until marriage.
Sexual promiscuity is generally regarded as immoral.

>There are many studies that show the preaching of abstinence is outmoded, outdated, and ineffective.
Common sense shows that practicing abstinence eliminates one's chances of contracting venereal diseases.

>Why are tax dollars being used for this?!
It's a research grant. The government makes sure that grant money is used properly and the portion that isn't used gets sent back.

[Player1 Posted Jul 29th 2010 7:18PM]

@michaspi "Common sense shows that practicing abstinence eliminates one's chances of contracting venereal diseases."

Yeah, practicing it does. But teaching it doesn't mean kids will practice it. And when you teach abstinence to kids without teaching them how to have safe sex, they end up with a kid or a venereal disease when they inevitably have sex because they were never taught how to use a condom.

Because if there's one way to get a kid not to do something that seems fun, exciting, and will make them feel grown up, it's telling them not to do it. That's sarcasm BTW.

[Thedude983 Posted Jul 30th 2010 12:37PM]

@michaspi
Teaching safe sex and that it's okay to have the urge to have it to teens is much more important than preaching abstinence till marriage or you are a bad person.

And there is nothing wrong with sexual promiscuity if you are safe and its consensual. Either you didn't go to college or you didn't have any fun there.

[michaspi Posted Jul 30th 2010 8:09PM]

@Player1:
>But teaching it doesn't mean kids will practice it.
Same goes for safe sex.

>they end up with a kid or a venereal disease when they inevitably have sex because they were never taught how to use a condom.
VD can happen to anyone no matter how many precautions one takes. Wearing a condom? It can break. Using an IUD? It can fail. Taking contraceptives? They can fail. Also, when they're ready to have sex to have a child, isn't that the point?

>Because if there's one way to get a kid not to do something that seems fun, exciting, and will make them feel grown up, it's telling them not to do it. That's sarcasm BTW.
Thank goodness that statement was sarcasm :3

@Thedude983:
>Teaching safe sex and that it's okay to have the urge to have it to teens is much more important than preaching abstinence till marriage or you are a bad person.
I must be a terrible, terrible person.

>And there is nothing wrong with sexual promiscuity if you are safe and its consensual.
Dohoho, that slaps me on the knee.

>Either you didn't go to college or you didn't have any fun there.
I'm currently in college and partying is not my thing, which obviously means that having fun is not my thing, either, right?

Thanks for playing, try again next time. 0/10

[noloco Posted Jul 29th 2010 12:40PM]

Isn't rejecting boys built directly into girls DNA?

[Psyclotr0n Posted Jul 29th 2010 12:57PM]

@noloco
nah, only those who read engadget or care a lot

[kineticdamage Posted Jul 29th 2010 2:13PM]

@noloco
LOL

[ejflyingeye Posted Jul 29th 2010 12:42PM]

Oh yes, I am sure kids will take this serious... They should include a wrath mode where your supreme deity of choice lays down a lightening strike when you build up enough no-hit on points..

[Killing Time Posted Jul 29th 2010 3:28PM]

@ejflyingeye
i'm hoping Bioware produces it so the girl i play can be a lesbian and earn renegade points.

[fylraen Posted Jul 29th 2010 12:45PM]

I love Fox News... start with the "It's YOUR money!" thing to piss people off, then swing the opposite way and be sort of favorable about the program because it's teaching kids "abstinence".

[Da Bears Posted Jul 29th 2010 12:46PM]

So this is what we choose to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in? Really? I mean I understand the message and it good intentions but seriously, I think there are more pressing issues that can be handles rather than making a game for this. Not to mention, is this really going to be effective?

And like someone stated above, I think as a parent I would be more focused on monitoring what my daughter wears rather than how good she is at rejecting someone.

[MrScottFletcher Posted Jul 29th 2010 12:56PM]

"The game works by using simultaion and digital pupetry. Sounds complicated..."
Sure, if you're 90 years old and have never driven an automocar.

[schema Posted Jul 29th 2010 2:01PM]

@MrScottFletcher

It's obviously super advanced.

http://i28.tinypic.com/2cmt4k8.png

[bstear Posted Jul 29th 2010 7:29PM]

@MrScottFletcher

Or tried to spell....

[iucidium Posted Jul 29th 2010 12:58PM]

What if they wanna....y'know?

[Karate Tortoise Posted Jul 29th 2010 1:00PM]

This will be played by preteen boys looking to step up their game. Nothing like learning the enemy's tactics

[engadget fanboy Posted Jul 29th 2010 1:05PM]

At least this is a funny waste of money. The lady selling the thing in the video didn't even look convinced. (She had a kinda man hating lesbian vibe). I think the money would be better spent teaching tween girls how to put a virtual rubber on it.

[Gavin M Posted Jul 29th 2010 1:08PM]

Since the first time I posted this comment, engadget has been doing a great job.

Even still I can't see the video on my iPhone!

I know I know, it seems like I'm trolling but if they make an app especially foe the iPhone the could code the video they post to be iPhone friendly. ( or Steve could allow flash!) but seeing as how everybody says engadget is paid off by apple maybe they could so this at least for me.

[Stormstrike Posted Jul 29th 2010 1:48PM]

@Gavin M

Want to see video ?

Buy a real phone...

[Psyclotr0n Posted Jul 29th 2010 2:07PM]

@Gavin M troll fail

[Richyrocket Posted Jul 29th 2010 3:29PM]

@Gavin M I know! I have an iPod touch and a palm pre, I can watch some videos on my iPod but none on my pre. WTF engadget? I wanted android on sprint but their either crap or 200 bucks with an extra $10 a month! WTF!

[Richyrocket Posted Jul 29th 2010 3:37PM]

@Gavin M Download cloud browse it's completely free in the app store it's lighting fast and it has flash player java and all that other stuff and it's for iPhone.

[HateEveryBody Posted Jul 29th 2010 1:40PM]

Its easy to reject a 3D virtual model... especially since it don't look like your dad.

[Stormstrike Posted Jul 29th 2010 1:46PM]

And then women wonder why they are being seen as mentally challenged people...

Things like this are a huge step backwards for women *and* men who are again the bad guys.

pathetic !

[JustinSaneV2 Posted Jul 29th 2010 1:50PM]

And of course this is coming from Fox news...

[Someguyperson Posted Jul 29th 2010 5:50PM]

@JustinSaneV2
Wrong Fox News; this is a local brodcast.