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Stimulating peripherals
Finding life a little dull? This Wired article gives a hefty rundown of a variety of gaming peripherals suitable for one purpose alone: sexual stimulation. From the much-lauded Rez Trance Vibrator to the modded SeXbox -- something we have had the pleasure of seeing first-hand -- this matter-of-fact article has it all.Teledildonics is increasing in popularity, although it has skirted around the edges of the mainstream so far. As its profile is raised, we could see some run-of-the-mill adult titles with accessories on our shelves, providing a whole new genre of games for protesters to vilify.
Sexy games: a rich and racy history
If you want a refresher course in the history of sex and games, 1up and OPM have just the thing. Their illustrated timeline gives a quick rundown of the seedier side of gaming, hitting important milestones such as the advent of Tomb Raider and Rez's infamous vibrator.Like some games' attempts at sex, it's ultimately shallow and unfulfilling, charting mainstream milestones for the most part. The advent of realistic "jiggle" technology isn't necessarily on a par with the GTA "Hot Coffee" mod in the history of sex and gaming; however, sexual content in games continually skirts the boundary between mainstream acceptability and outright scandal. The increasing acceptability is demonstrated by a recent sex-based advergame for Running Scared--it seems the motto "sex sells" has well and truly found its place in video games.See also:If you're looking for a special gift this Valentine's, the Sex and Games shopping list is a good place to start, and there are several sex-based MMOs in the pipeline if you're still mulling over the idea.
Upcoming sex games: what's the point?
Ever-interesting weblog Terra Nova has a list of upcoming MMOs that fit into the "erotic" or "virtual sex" category, all scheduled for release this year. Including such titillating titles as Naughty America: The Game, and Spend the Night, the list leaves us in no doubt that 2006 will be a crucial year for the increasingly high-profile issue of sex in games. The most insightful piece of commentary on this marketplace yet is the most crucial question for these embryonic MMOs: as Terra Nova's Ren Reynolds asks, "What's the point?" All of these titles need to find some way to innovate on the current ways people integrate sex and romance into their online lives, and while they look to be trying for different niches--from online dating to gaming which keeps itself separate from real life--it'll be interesting to see how many survive, and what sort of clientele they attract along the way.
