In my newer game magazines, I've noticed....

[Peter Paltridge]

...half the ads are now using gratuitous bikini-clad women and cleavage, even if nothing close to that appears in the game itself.

Now, I know beer ads have been doing that same gimmick for decades, but I kinda consider video games, you know, above the lowbrowness associated with beer. All the really sleazy T&A titles coming out now from lesser publishers don't help things much either. No one bought BMX XXX, so what IS all this pathetic stuff? Not a single one has earned any respect at all from the gaming community.
Not to mention, this makes things even more awkward for any women who frequently play games(and they do exist; you know they do). With any game magazine they pick up(except for Nintendo Power), they're going to be just more embarrassed or even offended.

On the other side, this one wins the Unintentionally Hilarious award for me...
http://www.platypuscomix.net/educational/fishing.JPG

[maximumzero]

I'm curious, exactly how many copies of that "The Man Game" or whatever the hell it was sold, anyway?

[Classic Speedy]

I haven't really noticed an increase in gaming ads, but I HAVE noticed an increase in scantily clad women just for the sake of it. Like in most any OPM issue, you'll have random chicks in suggestive poses, regardless of what the content of the article is (like, it's Christina Aguillera's B-day this month! Playboy pose!). Either that, or they'll do a story on a woman... who has LITTLE TO NOTHING TO DO WITH GAMING.

Like interviewing a supermodel... Interviewer: "So, what kind of games do you play?"
Model: "I like puzzle games because, I dunno, they're fun! :anime: "

I swear, some of these mags are turning into Maxim. A game magazine doesn't need hot chicks to be good (doesn't hurt, but again, it's all about CONTEXT)- look at Games TM.

[RAINMAN]

They want the public to see that VG are mature and not for kids. If the add had a old man fishing it would turn them away insted of turning them on. It just sad how VG has come to this.:rolleyes:

[auto]

Even if they're flaunting a bikini-clad woman to sell their game, the game itself received an E rating (http://www.esrb.org/search_results.asp?key=Pro+Fishing+Challenge&x=0&y=0&type=game&validateSearch=1) from the ESRB. That's why I think its unfair to compare it to games like Dead or Alive: Xtreme Beach Volleyball, BMX XXX or The Guy Game.

[matta2fatta]

i dont find anything wrong with it i dont mind lookin at eye candy alls it is is a marketing thing guys like seeing hot girls i like a woman that takes care of her body and aint nothin wrong with that

[Nin-Nin69]

The last thing we need it for gaming magazines to follow in the tradition of Stuff Gamer, Maxim's failed attempt to attract the hardcore gaming audience. I guess making jokes about John Wayne Gacy killing those children because of Pokemon and talking more about sex didn't work out, eh Maxim? :rolleyes:

Aside from the whole "OMG T&A HURRAH!" we've been expericing the past couple of years, the advertizers and companies fail to realize one important fact. Nobody takes you seriously when you discuss video games and sex in the same article. It's true. Any review from Playboy, Maxim, and FMH are not taken seriously by the gaming community. Yet I find it offensive everytime they're mentioned in an ad or a commercial since they're only looking towards mainstream and overhyped games. You'll never see Playboy give Katamari Damacy 5 out of 5 stars. You'll never see FMH on the back of a case for Star Ocean 3 saying, "A breaktrough in the RPG universe.....it will blow your mind."

After countless articles about super models, T&A advertizments, and partying with women, do you think they can look you someone straight in the eye and say, "Gungrave:Overdose was a major improvment compared to the first one with plenty of tricky styles and fast paced action that keeps you comming back for more. I give it a 4.5 out of 5 stars." without lying to yourself that you don't need videogames because you're surrounded by women 24/7?

[EinBebop]

No one bought BMX XXX, so what IS all this pathetic stuff? Not a single one has earned any respect at all from the gaming community.That has more to do with BMX XXX being a crappy game, unlike, say, DOA Volleyball which some people actually enjoy.

[Classic Speedy]

Yup, Nin-Nin69 summed it up. Though a magazine like Stuff Gamer is obviously going to appeal to a different market than other game magazines.

Anyway, I don't know about you guys, but frankly I'd be embarrased to have a game magazine sitting on the coffee table with some Maxim-worthy pose, both on the cover AND the inside. People would be like, "......Ian.... what are you reading?" "Oh, it's a game magazine." "SUUUUUUUUURE it is." It was bad enough when I used to subscribe to PSM and every summer the swimsuit issue came out, or better yet during that time period when Lara Croft was on EVERY OTHER ISSUE'S COVER. My dad would give me the magazine and be like, "Here's your busty babes magazine." And I'd sheepishly take it.

Same deal.

[the Amanda]

As a girl gamer, I find the whole thing amusing. Especially the guys embarrassed to look at gaming magazines.

:D

[Kuja's Light]

I don't think the poses like that fit, I mean, not every guy would want to see that, it's a fact. I mean, it's like they think every male gamer is a pervert, or are deeply interested in sexual stuff. I'd take a good ol classic RPG over "The Man Game" anyday, and that shouldn't even be considered a game. It's more like a recorded Sping Break thing, with an added trivia game or whatever.....

[SirLemming]

It's just because video games are mainstream now, and that's how mainstream advertisers think. Blame it on Sony.

[Nin-Nin69]

Video Games since the begining of the 80's have always been mainstream. Sony are the people to blame for targeting the audience that doesn't need video games. They had sports, cars, women, why target those types of kids to video games.

Oh wait they could play a dumbed down football game and kill some hookers. Perfict way to spend the afternoon. :rolleyes:

[Shnay]

I think blaming this on companies trying to appeal to the mainstream is incorrect. The ad in question was an ad for a fishing game in a video game magazine. The casual, mainstream gamer isn't going to subscribe to a video game magazaine, and a fishing game isn't the game that's going to catch their eye.

This says more about the advertising industry than it does about the game industry. "Sex sells" has always been a mantra of the ad industry, and for the most part, I suppose it holds true. The idea behind this ad, of course, is that you'll get drawn in by woman and then check out the game. But, I don't know if that's always such an effective way of thinking. For me, looking at something like this gives the impression that those behind the ad don't think too much of their audience. I have a hard time taking a product seriously when the sales pitch uses such blatent lowest common denominator tactics.

Now, if we were to talk about Bloodrayne ads that I imagine they're running in all the mens magazines, we could talk about using sex to appeal to casual, mainstream gamers. But the stuff in the game magazines is trying to appeal to gamers, it's just doing it in a very dumbed-down way.

[Yash]

A Simpsons quote will work here:

*Marge and Homer are in space - Homer has a normal spacesuit, Marge has a revealing spacesuit*
Marge: Why is my spacesuit so revealing?
Homer: Because... that's what turns a boring adventure into an exotic adventure!

Okay, that didn't really have to do with anything. Yeah, sex sells. Get used to it.

[Classic Speedy]

That line is a bit incorrect. The actual line is, "Because it turns a boring voyage into a Fantastic Voyage!" Slightly funnier.

[Yash]

That line is a bit incorrect. The actual line is, "Because it turns a boring voyage into a Fantastic Voyage!" Slightly funnier.
You and your corrections.

[Conekiller]

Would you rather go back to the days where large fan NAKED men advertised sports games in their locker!?That was the foulest 2-page spread I've ever seen. I've blocked so much of it from my mind that i don't even remember what game it was for 9it was sports, maybe Tennis or Golf....I'm fairly certian it was DC era as well)

[Classic Speedy]

Were they attractive men? If you're secure enough in your heterosexuality you can answer that question. ;) :p

[cross blues]

I get gaming mags to look at the games. if I wanted to see half-naked girls, I'd buy some other magazine. so usually when I see a cute girl, I admire her for a second then turn the page. so maybe Shnay is right and the girls are there to be eye-catching, but just because I look at a game doesn't mean I'll buy it. they're just trying what they think will work best to sell the game. they're just people like you and me... some are smart, others are... well not so smart if you look at the "Pro Fishing Challenge" ad.

[RAINMAN]

So what if sex sale? It has no place in VG. You wonna get sick rise of a sexy woman? Go read a stuff magz insted of a VG. And sony deserve most of the blames becasue they let crap like the guy game or playboy mansion on their systems while rejecting Good RPG`s or 2D games for no reason. And you wonder why the industry is in the poor shape it is now?

[Kuja's Light]

Another thing, you can get so much more gaming inoformation from the Internet alot faster then from the megazines, so why are megazines still popular in this day and age? Well, I do suppose megazines have better editorials usually, at the least.

I know that isn't directly on topic, but it is a megazine issue I wanted to bring up, that should kinda offset those ads.

[the Amanda]

Say what you want about the ads with girls, but it sounds like all of you have noticed them. Maybe you thought they were horrible, offensive, or a childish marketing tactic, but you still noticed them, and thus you probably noticed what game they were for. Now, I'm guessing that it didn't sway your opinion, but then you are probably not the target audience. As I understand, games like Dead or Alive Beach Volleyball have done pretty well, so to say that all gamers are immune to this stuff is false.

I reiterate an earlier question: who cares? If you don't want to look at it, turn the page and don't buy the game advertised. No big.

[Invader_Spooch]

while rejecting Good RPG`s or 2D games for no reason. And Name one. Please show me an example of Sony's cruelty. (Seeing as most RPGs come out on PS2, along with Guilty Gear, King of Fighters, etc.)

Besides that, I think your hate of Sony is childish and off base ,esp. since the examples of trashy games you listed are also on XBOX (Not to mention Leisure Suit Larry and so on), but you singled Sony out. For shame, little man.

[Artimus Gigan]

So what if sex sale? It has no place in VG. You wonna get sick rise of a sexy woman? Go read a stuff magz insted of a VG. And sony deserve most of the blames becasue they let crap like the guy game or playboy mansion on their systems while rejecting Good RPG`s or 2D games for no reason. And you wonder why the industry is in the poor shape it is now?
Oh come on if you ever saw how the D&D art portrayed female warriors as scantly clad amazons, it's like standing infront of a bus and wondering why it's not a car. Not to mention Lara Croft which is an easily recogniseable videogame icon. and your sony comment Take a look at Final Fantasy 10, EVERY SINGLE FEMALE wears nothing revealing, rikku just wears shorts but aside from that everyone else wears a full cover dress, Kimari was the only one who wore next to nothing, just some beads and a kilt. Even in the sequel X-2 aside from the thief unifrom nothing is all that revealing either(heck even the warrior outfit covers everything). Really your hatred for sony is unfounded, if you are so afraid of them or somthing just get a used PS2 and a bunch of used games, none of your money will ever got to them that way...

[Shnay]

So what if sex sale? It has no place in VG. The companies that make video games are businesses, just like any other. In other words, sales do matter. And if sex brings in the sales, then it has a large part in video games.


You wonna get sick rise of a sexy woman?Finding a "sexy woman" atrractive is sick?


And you wonder why the industry is in the poor shape it is now?
The industry is not in bad shape. The industry is pulling in record profits. You're looking at this the wrong way again. Video game companies are businesses, not the friendly neighborhood toymakers. Maybe games you like aren't being made (although, I think that claim is bogus, too, as Invader_Spooch points out), but that doesn't mean the industry is in bad shape.

Sorry to pick the post apart, but there are a lot of people who have misconceptions like this about what the game companies should be doing for them, specifically.


Now, I'm guessing that it didn't sway your opinion, but then you are probably not the target audience.
And there's the real question. Are the majority (or at least a large portion) of the readers of game magazines swayed by these ads? I haven't seen the demographics, so I really don't know. I can say how I look at it, but I can't say if it works for others or not.

[RAINMAN]

The issue is SCEA's concept approval methods. Developers are increasingly becoming frustrated at their method for approving games, because SCEA only wants certain games to be released, particulary, games which mimic commercial formulas such as Grand Theft Auto (http://www.the-magicbox.com/forums/grand%20theft%20auto) or a FPS like Black.

In this regard, I present an interesting article (to say the least) written by Zack Meston of Working Designs. It is fascinating to notice the blatant censorship apparent on this forum (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29268) where this message originated. Since then, it has been conspicuously edited out. This should be absolute proof that something's incredibly wrong.


In the newest issue of Game Informer, they have an interview with a designer, and he was talking about a game coming out in Japan, and basically said that with scea's current policies there was no way they could release it over here, so I have to tend to agree with this post.

I was reding in the newest OPM how there was over 60 PS2 games (http://www.the-magicbox.com/forums/ps2%20games) released over the holiday season. That just blew my mind, no wonder so many have bad sales.

I mean jeez look how many people bought True Crime, when they could've had POP, damn GTA has messed up gamers between that and sports games its ridiculous, lameness and un-originality is being rewarded.
-----------------------------

And, further down....
-----------------------------
lol- i've been under a self-imposed agreement of silence with a few small publishers based on stuff we've spoken about in the past, but seeing the "new" additions to sony's already insane policies makes me cringe a bit more. now, when i look at certain import ps/ps2 titles, i KNOW just why no one has (or will ever) localize them. say what you want about working designs, but the hell sony put them through with that goemon game is a perfect example of how to kill off what could have been an interesting u.s. release. there's a lot out there that's good on the ps2, but there could be a hell of a lot MORE, and less crap if they weren't so focused on banishing 2D gaming from the planet for good.

as for sales figures, lets just say as usual, the u.s. marketplace sells WAY too many sports, and mass market focused tie-in games, good and bad. enter the matrix, true crime, and the rest of the usual cookie cutter (http://www.the-magicbox.com/forums/cookie%20cutter) wrasslin' and racin' suspects sell millions, while beyond good and evil, prince of persia (http://www.the-magicbox.com/forums/prince%20of%20persia), goblin commander (great game, btw), metal arms, and pretty much anything with any sort of niche factor swims with the fishes.
--------------------------

To further emphasize this point, have a read here (http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=644). Have a read~
---------------------------
NEWS - SHADOW TOWER: ABYSS CANCELED
Posted by Andrew McClure

Agetec has just announced through their forum that their planned US release of the From Software title Shadow Tower: Abyss is not going to happen. Shadow Tower: Abyss, a sequel to Shadow Tower for the PSX, was an interesting blend of the First Person Shooter (http://www.the-magicbox.com/forums/first%20person%20shooter) and Fantasy RPG genres and the localization was almost finished before Sony nixed the release. The reasons for this according to Agetec are:

"1. When comparing STA to other 1st shooters it failed in the graphics department

2. Due to the nature of the gameplay - they felt that there is no market for it in the US"

Agetec is currently looking into releasing the English script so that those interested in importing the title can fully enjoy the story.
----------------------------

This interview comes from www.Gamespot.com; (http://www.gamespot.com;/) here is the source (http://www.gamespot.com/features/6089278/p-27.html). This is an interview with Ben Herman, president of SNK Neo Geo USA Consumer Corporation. Here is the exerpt~

-----------------------------
GS: Did the timing of the Xbox deal have anything to do with the rejection of Metal Slug 3 by Sony's concept approval department? I recently read that you've met with resistance from Sony with regard to a home release of SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos also. Can you speak to that?

BH: The Sony approval process has many steps. It is true that Metal Slug 3 has not been approved by Sony. Development takes many months for any platform. The decision to bring Metal Slug 3 to Xbox is independent of Sony's decision. We originally planned to bring the game to both formats. Metal Slug 3 was already in development for the Xbox before the announcement was made. Japan has been in development on that for months. I believe we're planning to bring it out here in May.

GS: So does that mean Metal Slug 3 is pretty much dead for PS2?

BH: Yes...

[Editor's note: Although Herman wouldn't elaborate further on the Sony approval process, other sources tell GameSpot that SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos likely will not be coming to the PlayStation 2 in North America. Another of SNK Playmore's games, Samurai Shodown 5, is also in doubt for the PS2 stateside, but SNK is tweaking the game and will apparently resubmit it to SCEA for approval.]
--------------------------

This next comment was made by somebody on www.GamingForce.com (http://www.gamingforce.com/), exact source found here (http://www.gamingforce.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30781). Here is the comment~
---------------------------
Sony's being a pain in the ass right now, that's what's wrong.

here's an excerpt taken from a thread over at Digital Press

Quote:
The problem is that SCEA won't even allow hardcore games to ship anymore. Working Designs doesn't expect to sell a million copies of Growlanser Generations, but it's a solid strategy/RPG that will most assurely sell to a rabid segment of gamers. (Just ask Atlus, which had a sleeper hit with Disgaea.) And yet WD has had to make endless concessions in order to get GG through concept approval. It doesn't matter that the game is good fun and incredibly deep; all that matters to SCEA is that it's not using a hyper-mega-ultra-3D engine.


Sony's not approving 2D games, because graphix whores run rampant now. Tis a sad day to be a true gamer.
-----------------------------

Taken from www.RPGamer.com (http://www.rpgamer.com/), this article (http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q2-2003/042803a.html) proves just how ignorant SCEA is.
-----------------------------
Working Designs to Skip E3

Victor Ireland, President of Working Designs, recently announced on the company's message board that it will not be showing any of its three upcoming games at this year's E3. He cited a dispute with Sony Computer Entertainment America over concept approval. The games in question, Growlanser II, Growlanser III, and Goemon, were all announced for release in 2002 but have yet to appear on the company's calendar.

The two Growlanser games were released in Japan in 2001 by Atlus. Goemon was released by Konami in Japan. Several of Working Designs' recent releases have seen significant delays. Its last localization was Arc the Lad Collection in April 2001.

Sony and Working Designs were at odds over the games' graphics. The final deadline for keeping a booth was in February, and at that time the problem was not yet resolved. Ireland stated that due to the dispute, it would have been financially unsound to pay the booth price for games that could not be officially listed. The dispute is now largely resolved and Working Designs plans to continue promotion of the games in the near future. "I would expect we'll release information and pics before E3," he continued. Ominously, Ireland added, "I don't think how it was resolved will please many people." We should find out specifically what Working Designs' president means sometime before E3.

by Aren Jidarian
------------------------
It is interesting to note that this article was written in 2002. It's currently 2004 and still Working Designs hasn't been able to release the Growlanser titles nor Goemon. http://www.the-magicbox.com/forums/images/smilies/sm-annoyed.gif

Some may be confused, thinking "Wait, then how come Vampire Chronicles is coming to PSP?" Because it's not on the PS2, and it is a popular series by Capcom. Also, due to the power restrictions being placed on developers who develop for PSP, 2D games don't eat up the battery life like the 3D games inevitably will.

And even so, as Agetec has proven, SCEA does reject even 3D games. Interesting, considering the massive quantity of games that they're allowing to be released this holiday season alone, most of which will inevitably be crap which sits on the store shelves. They are extremely incompetent.

I agree with the people who are speculating about another market crash. If so, expect a real game company such as Nintendo or Sega to pick up the broken pieces and try to restore gaming to its former glory. One thing is for certain: No matter how bright the future could be, there's always a long shadow being cast by Sony which spells certain doom for true gaming.

And that's my two cents.

[goten_1000]

So what if sex sale? It has no place in VG. You wonna get sick rise of a sexy woman? Go read a stuff magz insted of a VG. And sony deserve most of the blames becasue they let crap like the guy game or playboy mansion on their systems while rejecting Good RPG`s or 2D games for no reason. And you wonder why the industry is in the poor shape it is now? Nice use of the English language :rolleyes:

Anyway that pic was pretty funny actually. The expression on her face...Priceless.

And magazines with
gratuitous bikini-clad women and cleavage must be in the US only. The magazines over here (Australia) don't have stuff like that :anime:
Meh, oh well.

[SSJPabs]

RAINMAN seems to like to post that particular message. I think this is the third time?

Anyhow, I don't mind them using scantily clad chicks... as long as they're actually hot. So many of them are just so over-the-top I want to burst out laughing looking at them.

Whatever happened to taste?

[Invader_Spooch]

RAINMAN seems to like to post that particular message. I think this is the third time?

That's what happens when someone has nothing valid/new to say. They keep beating the same tired message into the ground.

Great. Appearantly now being a "true gamer" is equated with being anti-Sony (ie. Pro Nintendo). :shrug:

I guess my lifelong love of games (back in the Sega Master System days) is negated by the fact that I like the PlayStations. :rolleyes:

[Artimus Gigan]

Actualy RAINMAN has posted the anti-sony message 6 times to my count

Yeesh really I don't pick sides, to what's coming out for which system only means I have to lean to different angles to turn the different systems on.

I mean really if he have ever played a PS2 he wouldn't be outwardsly bash the system. Yeah there are hardware complaints but for the most part all systems that read discs have them to varying degrees so it's nothing new. But then again running a machine for a few thousand hours things do tend to break down and need replacement parts just like everything else.

Also Sony had La Prucelle Tactics released on PS2, a game that uses sprites to render things. Not Polygons/Cells like Viewtiful Joe, so his point is moot. Yes sony has rejected many 2D games, but many of those games were crap. He just wants 2D games because that's how things were back then and he's so tied up with the past that he can't proceed forward. So While he yells and blames graphics whores, he's just as bad as them just at the opposite end of the spectrum.

To achive true balance one must seek the middle, accept old and new, original and familar.

and always buy a healthy stock of Mountain Dew and rmember that those Stadium Buddy Bags, while helpful, can breal easily especialy when full...

[Master Moron]

Oh come on if you ever saw how the D&D art portrayed female warriors as scantly clad amazons, it's like standing infront of a bus and wondering why it's not a car. Not to mention Lara Croft which is an easily recogniseable videogame icon. and your sony comment Take a look at Final Fantasy 10, EVERY SINGLE FEMALE wears nothing revealing, rikku just wears shorts but aside from that everyone else wears a full cover dress, Kimari was the only one who wore next to nothing, just some beads and a kilt.


I'm not sure what this has to do with the topic, but Lulu's breasts are practically popping out of her dress. Hell, her winning pose consists entirely of her bending over in attempt to show off her breasts more. So really the only Final Fantasy X female that doesn't try to show off her goods is Yuna. But, one out of three ain't bad.

[Artimus Gigan]

I'm not sure what this has to do with the topic, but Lulu's breasts are practically popping out of her dress. Hell, her winning pose consists entirely of her bending over in attempt to show off her breasts more. So really the only Final Fantasy X female that doesn't try to show off her goods is Yuna. But, one out of three ain't bad.
Bah it's only top-down cleavage...

it doesn't count, side-boobage however does.

which there is none of...

[guinaevere]

This sort of thing is nothing new. Nope, not even in the pc/it industry. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/guinaevere/serverad.jpg
(this ad was out about 10 years ago, but don't quote me. My memory fails me the exact year.)

[Juu-kuchi]

Would you rather go back to the days where large fan NAKED men advertised sports games in their locker!?That was the foulest 2-page spread I've ever seen. I've blocked so much of it from my mind that i don't even remember what game it was for 9it was sports, maybe Tennis or Golf....I'm fairly certian it was DC era as well)
Yep, I think it was Virtua Tennis.

[Sailor Chibi Otaku]

What I've noticed in gaming magazines are articles and letters about how we (female) gamers MUST stray away from violent and scary video games and that we need to stick to cute video games because we won't be able to handle so much gore and violence.

Did you know: people who have just recently picked up Resident Evil 3: Nemesis or are replaying it to get to see every little thing in the game come to me for help?

I love Pokemon, too, you know.

Remember: gaming magazines main targets are males. With many males, they want more ladies barely clothed. I have nothing against that but PLEASE use hot looking women!!

[guinaevere]

What I've noticed in gaming magazines are articles and letters about how we (female) gamers MUST stray away from violent and scary video games and that we need to stick to cute video games because we won't be able to handle so much gore and violence.
<snip>
I love Pokemon, too, you know.I'm with you. Along with the standard vg girl fare, I love a lot of the non-typical female genres. (Yeah, I'm no good at FPS/3rdPSs, but I still love them.) Action, hack & slash, god/military sim, RTS, et cetera. These are games that most women just aren't into.

Why? I haven't the foggiest idea. Honestly, it's beyond me why girls don't dig some of these great games. They're fun. Why wouldn't you play these games?!

Anyway. Back to the issue of game periodicals subscribing to VG girl stereotypes. Again, most females, if they play games at all, they're the more simplistic rpgs and sim types. So, it makes sense for articles to discuss this. But it makes no sense to encourage the girls to limit themselves and NOT try new, more challenging and exciting genres and games.

More than anything, I see them acting like they've discovered the missing link when some fella writes in and says that his girlfriend plays Halo with him. To me, that should be the norm. Not the exception.

But that's just how it is.

ps. when I first saw the title of this thread my immediate thought was ... that they all suck.

pps. Alright. Back to obnoxious, demeaning ads.

[Sailor Chibi Otaku]

I have two hot and sexy video game guys (Carlos Oliveira and Samanosuke Akechi). There are others that many other ladies find hot.

There are a whole bunch of cute video game guys, too, like Link, for example. Well.. from what I hear, he's an adult now or close to it.

Regina (Dino Crisis) cannot be beat when it comes to hot women in video gaming. Kaede (Onimusha) is pretty hot, too. ;)

It's not an equal balance but it's getting there.

I don't look at that many ads to begin with, unless it catches my eye.

[Ninja Murasaki]

I enjoy these sort of pictures :D but I feel bad that it makes other gamers uncomfortable.:crying: It is kind of getting out of hand though with this kind of stuff in almost every article in OPM and EGM among others.

[RAINMAN]

I post things I don`t like about sony I get called a anit-sony fanboy, yet matt does it all time whit Nintedno and it O.K.? Talk about doubel stander.:rolleyes:

[EinBebop]

I post things I don`t like about sony I get called a anit-sony fanboy, yet matt does it all time whit Nintedno and it O.K.? Talk about doubel stander.:rolleyes:LOL... yeah, noone ever criticizes Matt Wilson about ANYTHING. http://smilies.jeeptalk.org/otn/laughing/yelrotflmao.gif

[Kuja's Light]

I saw him critized on the Toonami board, hahaha.

Anyways, as for on topic, i don't really see the ads to begin with, cause I choose not to read gaming megazines anymore. Seeing as the Internet is so much more useful in finding that and otherwise. Go Internet!

[matta2fatta]

I saw him critized on the Toonami board, hahaha.

Anyways, as for on topic, i don't really see the ads to begin with, cause I choose not to read gaming megazines anymore. Seeing as the Internet is so much more useful in finding that and otherwise. Go Internet!

trueness but magazines got demos

[NachoHat]

I post things I don`t like about sony I get called a anit-sony fanboy, yet matt does it all time whit Nintedno and it O.K.? Talk about doubel stander.Though, as EinBebop says, that's not true at all, Matt does make his arguments in more logical and convincing ways. I may not necessarily agree with everything (though quite a bit of it I do agree with) he says and most of what he says doesn't synch up with the average video game player here, but you can definitely understand where he's coming from.

Not to mention that you can actually understand what he's saying. Sorry man, but you REALLY do need to work on your typing. Please? :(

[RAINMAN]

Really? His doughts on the DS make perfect sense.

[NachoHat]

I feel the same way.

Except I'm not being sarcastic.

[Artimus Gigan]

Rainman you really need to get over yourself.


preferibly fast...and/or furious

Really the arguments you make are just blatent acusations with nothing to back them up. For example I recent went on a tairade on Nintendo's slacking but I backed it up with other examples from past and present generations. Honestly your mind set appears to be IF IT'S NOT LIKE IT USED TO BE THEN IT SUCKS. Really you outright bashed KOF:MI and you can't even play it because you don't own a PS2. Also your hatred towards sony really is unfounded, using THE GUY GAME as an example is really piss poor. The Game Sucks everybody knows it sucks it's suckage is understood. However it's not the first game like that, before there was the NES. A company released a game called Custer's Revenge, it involved you playing a nude Gen. Custer who had a giant boner(yes his package was renderd) and the objective of the game was to rape indian women. Now then that was in the 1980's(back in the "good ole days"). So that stuff has been around. Also your claim that Sony s phasing out 2D games on PS2. Which is untrue due to the fact that Capcom Fighter Generations is set to be released NEXT MONTH on PS2(but not on Gamecube). Not to mention that La Prucelle tactics was released awhile ago, and Guilty gear: Isuka is also going to be released on PS2. None of these 2D games were ever set for Gamecube, none. PS2 is also getting Veiwtiful Joe II where as GC is not if I remeber correctly, so really there is much mootness in your points that you make.
If you are really so afraid of Sony getting their faceless corporate hands(the same kind of hands that Nintendo and Microsoft have) on your money go out and get yourself a used PS2. You can also get the games used, I mean really the PS2 has more A grade platfromers than the Gamecube....not to mention a massive library of 2D games and 2D game collections...

so I mean really...

[Punisher]

I don't think that custers revenge was legally oublished. A ton of sex games came out in Japan for the NES that were illegally published.

Im a nintendo fanboy, but i try to avoid bashing the other systems. but notice how NONE of those ads are in Nintendo Power(bad example, but NP is solely Nintendo). Nintendo doesn't push "sex sells"

[Artimus Gigan]

I think because Nintendo really doesn't have any females on the calibur of Mai,Christie, Cammy, Chung-li, Ivy, or anything like that. However a few issues back they did have that deformed Hunchback from RE4 on the cover. So while they may not push sex as much, they still push violence in the magazine. However on Metroid Fusion the perfect ending is that you see Samus wearing a sports bra...so they still do both the sex and the violence

oh and I just remembered there was an old game on the NES where you would graphicly tourture victims in a tourture chamber. The entire point of the game was to get the most points on how much pain you caused(ripping out limps, tearing out innards, decaptitating) yes it was very bloody.

[Shnay]

I think because Nintendo really doesn't have any females on the calibur of Mai,Christie, Cammy, Chung-li, Ivy, or anything like that.
Yeah, but that's a conscious choice on their part. If they wanted to create big breasted female character in skimpy clothes, they could. It's not as if those at Nintendo are simply unaware of how to design characters like these. They choose not to. You can debate whether or not that's a wise decision, but you can't say they're not doing it because they can't design ludicrously endowed female characters as well as Capcom or Namco.

[Jade_GL]

As a gamer and a female, I have to chime in.

I don't care. It's as ludicrous to use sex to sell anything really, but we use it to sell everything anyway.

Doritos, beer, electronics, suits, games, it's everywhere and has been a part of the culture for as long as I can remember. I mean, sex is something that is universal, almost all guys like a pretty lady and almost all girls like a handsome guy and so long as that's true companies will try to connect their products to fond memories and ideas. Namely, half naked people, either scantily clad bombshells or shirtless, hunky dudes.

Just deal with it. Its part and parcel with the culture we live in. And as was shown earlier, games and tech have used sex before in much more *innocent* times to sell thier products.

Worrying about something so minor will shave years off your life, so just sit back and if the cleavage or six pack scares you, flip the page and find an ad for something else.

And remember, this is from a female and a lifetime gamer who could care less about the advertisments for a game, and thinks we should care about the game's quality instead.

Oh, and games like The Man Game are a big, dumb joke. Anyone who buys it is pretty darn lame, seeing as how you can buy real pornography for less, and get more bang for your buck as well. Not trying to be crass, but anyone who thinks this is anything but a joke on people stupid enough to shell out the money for it is sadly mistaken. They're going for the *dumb* niche I believe, people easily parted with their money. :D

[Classic Speedy]

oh and I just remembered there was an old game on the NES where you would graphicly tourture victims in a tourture chamber. The entire point of the game was to get the most points on how much pain you caused(ripping out limps, tearing out innards, decaptitating) yes it was very bloody. "Chiller". It's for MAME, too. "Disturbing" isn't a word that can do justice to that game... :ack:
Oh, and games like The Man Game are a big, dumb joke. Anyone who buys it is pretty darn lame, seeing as how you can buy real pornography for less, and get more bang for your buck as well. Not trying to be crass, but anyone who thinks this is anything but a joke on people stupid enough to shell out the money for it is sadly mistaken. They're going for the *dumb* niche I believe, people easily parted with their money. :D Well yeah, I think that's all people are saying. Of course sex has been used to sell games for the last two decades. It's when it's blatantly advertised as "Look at us! Our game has sex and nudity! We're hardcore!" when it's offensive, like what The Man Game does. It's like the obnoxious gradeschooler who does something shocking just to get some attention.

[Artimus Gigan]

Yeah, but that's a conscious choice on their part. If they wanted to create big breasted female character in skimpy clothes, they could. It's not as if those at Nintendo are simply unaware of how to design characters like these. They choose not to. You can debate whether or not that's a wise decision, but you can't say they're not doing it because they can't design ludicrously endowed female characters as well as Capcom or Namco.
I'm not saying they can't, I ment that they don't have any currently. However when Perfect Dark was going to be released JD did grace the cover...

or you could count Zelda...however Zelda really doesn't do anything...you would think Legend of Zelda would focus on Zelda more than Link....

[Shnay]

I'm not saying they can't, I ment that they don't have any currently. The way I understand your logic, though, is that you're saying they're not using sexual ads because they don't have sexy characters. I'm saying they don't have sexy characters* because they don't do sexual ads.

*I don't think sexy is the right word, but I don't know what else to say. Overly sexual characters?

[RAINMAN]

Rainman you really need to get over yourself.


preferibly fast...and/or furious

Really the arguments you make are just blatent acusations with nothing to back them up. For example I recent went on a tairade on Nintendo's slacking but I backed it up with other examples from past and present generations. Honestly your mind set appears to be IF IT'S NOT LIKE IT USED TO BE THEN IT SUCKS. Really you outright bashed KOF:MI and you can't even play it because you don't own a PS2. Also your hatred towards sony really is unfounded, using THE GUY GAME as an example is really piss poor. The Game Sucks everybody knows it sucks it's suckage is understood. However it's not the first game like that, before there was the NES. A company released a game called Custer's Revenge, it involved you playing a nude Gen. Custer who had a giant boner(yes his package was renderd) and the objective of the game was to rape indian women. Now then that was in the 1980's(back in the "good ole days"). So that stuff has been around. Also your claim that Sony s phasing out 2D games on PS2. Which is untrue due to the fact that Capcom Fighter Generations is set to be released NEXT MONTH on PS2(but not on Gamecube). Not to mention that La Prucelle tactics was released awhile ago, and Guilty gear: Isuka is also going to be released on PS2. None of these 2D games were ever set for Gamecube, none. PS2 is also getting Veiwtiful Joe II where as GC is not if I remeber correctly, so really there is much mootness in your points that you make.
If you are really so afraid of Sony getting their faceless corporate hands(the same kind of hands that Nintendo and Microsoft have) on your money go out and get yourself a used PS2. You can also get the games used, I mean really the PS2 has more A grade platfromers than the Gamecube....not to mention a massive library of 2D games and 2D game collections...

so I mean really...

You don`t really get it. Sure they let capcom make 2D games but that because cap is a big gaming company where SNK is not so they bully them around like they try to do years ago whit capcom. They would no let capcom make MM8 unless they made a 3D MM game. Anywho saw the G4 interview know this. By the way, sony rejected VJ for their systems but sense the game did well on the GC they change their minds. They also rejacted K7 but fear the GC verison would get great sales. Sony could careless if the guy game sucks, they know the maintreme would buy it due to the juvenileness in the game. Custer was banned so that game has nothing to do whit this. I always back up my clame it just that you and other sonyfanboys just ignore it. Just because I don`t want to jump on the sony hype machine don`t make me the bad guy.

[James]

Just because I don`t want to jump on the sony hype machine don`t make me the bad guy. I think the fact you jump on the Nintendo hype machine and keep rubbishing the Sony makes you pretty bad my friend, I wish I could make you see neither company is evil, just making money in different ways.

As for Matt - Matt doesn't like anything across boards - it's not particular to Nintendo - there are just a lot of Nintendo fans here he refutes. What he does say he backs up and he certainly doesn't have a bias for the opposing console as you have from your position.

Sex has sold computers since before you were born RAINMAN, it's not new. It's mass consumer - so what? I bet you watch films which have generic women to sell it. It's life, it's not Sony being bad - Sony just caters for a different market to Nintendo. And not a stupid one. Most of my friend base LOVES GTA - and we are all well educated and bright little Brits. So careful who you generalise. They offer service to a DEMAND. :)

Please step back before you say something you are going to regret - people seem to be finding your comments repetative and I don't think these are your "SONY FANBOYS", you are just smacking "your" opponents console whenever you can - that's what it's beginning to look like.

Are we are going to have to police this thread? Let's hope not - that's no fun for anyone.

[goten_1000]

I post things I don`t like about sony I get called a anit-sony fanboy, yet matt does it all time whit Nintedno and it O.K.? Talk about doubel stander.:rolleyes:Ooh ooh pick me, pick me. I know the answer.
Cause Matt replies in CLEAR ENGLISH.

And on to the topic of sex/video games (http://searchmiracle.com/text/search.php?qq=games). I find it all rather amusing. Keep it up, highly entertaining.

[RAINMAN]

I think the fact you jump on the Nintendo hype machine and keep rubbishing the Sony makes you pretty bad my friend, I wish I could make you see neither company is evil, just making money in different ways.

As for Matt - Matt doesn't like anything across boards - it's not particular to Nintendo - there are just a lot of Nintendo fans here he refutes. What he does say he backs up and he certainly doesn't have a bias for the opposing console as you have from your position.

Sex has sold computers since before you were born RAINMAN, it's not new. It's mass consumer - so what? I bet you watch films which have generic women to sell it. It's life, it's not Sony being bad - Sony just caters for a different market to Nintendo. And not a stupid one. Most of my friend base LOVES GTA - and we are all well educated and bright little Brits. So careful who you generalise. They offer service to a DEMAND. :)

Please step back before you say something you are going to regret - people seem to be finding your comments repetative and I don't think these are your "SONY FANBOYS", you are just smacking "your" opponents console whenever you can - that's what it's beginning to look like.

Are we are going to have to police this thread? Let's hope not - that's no fun for anyone.


I`m not saying sony is evil nor N is perfect. I like N cause they are trying to stick to what gaming really is. Fun. While sony is trying to implade gaming need mature themes to be good,that is what I don`t agree whit. Games can be just as fun whitout mature themes but it seems now a days gamers won`t touch a game unless it has a half naked chick or gun crazy madman in it. Now if a person like those sort of games than that fine. But if they trully think that what gaming is about then they don`t understand the true funiness of gaming.

[James]

Games can be just as fun whitout mature themes but it seems now a days gamers won`t touch a game unless it has a half naked chick or gun crazy madman in it. Always been the case - as early back as the Spectrum and Commodore girls and violence has led videogames. Barbarian on both systems had a page 3 model drooped over a "barbarian" (British Gladiator Wolf in a bad wig) and also had decapitation as it's selling theme. Game Over by Dynamic had half a nipple gratuiously exposed on a character which was irrelevant to the game (it was later airbrushed out), Moonstone for the Amiga had gore aplenty, as did Technocop on the same system.. Deathwish 3 had murder GTA style and prostitutes.. Duke Nukem - remember him? We can go and on here.

Nothing what Sony is doing is new, nor is it bad. It's mature so far as it's adult content, they've never claimed to be leading in any intellectual race.


Now if a person like those sort of games than that fine. But if they trully think that what gaming is about then they don`t understand the true funiness of gaming. The irony is, the only person getting snobbism about "what gaming is about" is you. I've played nasty and light games for over 20 years now and do I claim to know what "gaming fun" is more than you? No. Each to their own. Please, no more superiority in your puritism - gaming experience is like anything else - a matter of taste. Deal with it. :)


Ooh ooh pick me, pick me. I know the answer.
Cause Matt replies in CLEAR ENGLISH. I don't mean to pick on Goten specifically, but please, no more attacks on RAINMAN - or vise versa RAINMAN. ;) Let's try and put the question of RAINMAN specifically behind us and keep on topic.

Before doing that, I must say Goten has a point - if you have a problem with spelling RAINMAN - or anyone for that matter, just run it through a quick spell check. It will make your posts far more accessible and you may even find people find your points less annoying. If people have found it frustrating to comprehend your diction and grammar, they aren't going to be in the best mood when it comes to debating your point.


No one should be expected to have perfect grammar, god forbid, but when debating, some reasonable attempt to make sure spelling is reasonable will only help get your opinion across!

[BrendaBat]

Another gamer chick chimes in

This thread reminds me of the BIG fuss that G4 was making over the Playboy game not too long ago. Whenever I switched on G4 I felt like I was watching The Man show.YUCK! >_<
But I never liked G4 anyway. They spend more time kissing the butts of D-list celebrities than appealing to gamers. :rolleyes:


I loved reading game magazines as a kid; but now they just annoy me. I understand that games are mainly designed for males and males like seeing sexy girls. But now all the magazines I used to read (like OPM and Tips and Tricks) go overboard with the T&A and it makes me feel uncomfortable to read them.

Origionally posted by Sailor Chibi Otaku
What I've noticed in gaming magazines are articles and letters about how we (female) gamers MUST stray away from violent and scary video games and that we need to stick to cute video games because we won't be able to handle so much gore and violence
That bugs me, too (its also the main reason I lost interest in gaming magazines). I still remember how pissed off I got when a OPM reviewer was reviewing a girly RPG called 'Rhapsody' and constantly said things along the lines of "why would anyone make a game for girls when only 7 girls on the whole planet play video games?" or "Rhapsody is full of bright, cutesy characters and sappy songs; but girls like that kind of crap so I guess they'll be able to enjoy it".

It ticked me off because the review didn't come across as a joke (either the reviewer was serious, or just not funny). Either way, it turned me off of the magazine.

[Classic Speedy]

Heh... I remember that quote! If I'm reading that OPM quote correctly though, they're taking a back door approach to saying that just because some girls may happen to like bright cutesy characters and sappy songs doesn't mean that they'll want to play a crappy game containing them.