Sex in Video Games [Hardcover]

Brenda Brathwaite (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 30, 2006

Since the first computer games became available, sex has played a role in some form. But with the release of games like Playboy: The Mansion, Leisure Suit Larry, and The Singles, sexual content has gained a firm foothold and for the first time, ventured into the mainstream. Even casual games like The Sims have started to rev things up a bit, and in on-line games, tales of cybering have become commonplace. This sexual revolution in games has generated intense scrutiny of the games industry by political watchdog groups and family-oriented organizations. And it has brought the importance of self-regulation and rating systems to the forefront of the industry. Seeking to understand this emerging trend, developers, publishers, retailers, and consumers are asking themselves: When is sex appropriate in a game? How far is too far? What will it mean for the product? For its distribution? For my company? For me? Do games with sexual content sell better? Are they generally profitable? So far, there are no definitive answers to these questions. Sex in Video Games provides insight into this issue and presents guidelines and answers by studying the history of sexual content use in games and within the industry itself. In addition, the book considers ethical issues, parental and retailer responsibility, and explores industry attempts at self-regulation, along with a growing concern about potential censorship.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

As a 26-year veteran of the video games industry, Brenda Brathwaite is a game designer and Chair of the Interactive Design and Game Development department at the Savannah College of Art & Design. She has worked on 22 internationally known titles including the award-winning Wizardry series of role playing games and the award-winning Jagged Alliance series of strategy role-playing games. Brenda serves on the board of the International Game Developers Association and is a passionate anti-censorship advocate. She is a regular speaker at universities and conferences, and according to a 2007 article in Next Generation magazine written by Ernest Adams, Brathwaite is the longest, continuously serving woman in video game development today. She is the author of Sex in Video Games and Challenges for Game Designers.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 300 pages
• Publisher: Charles River Media; 1 edition (August 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584504595
• ISBN-13: 978-1584504597
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,220,147 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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