Hello fellow Escapists, I have some exciting news. Our clan just grew one larger. Russ Pitts, previously of Gamers with Jobs, has joined our editorial team as Associate Editor for Acquisitions. We’re all pretty excited to have him, and look forward to incorporating his ideas into The Escapist. Everyone please welcome Russ!
And now, onto this week’s issue – “Rated M for Mature.” This title is taken from the ESRB’s rating system. From the official ESRB site: “Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.” This is quite similar to the MPAA’s “R” rating for movies.
But, rather than taking on the whole range of topics covered under this M rating, we have focused on the sex part. Yep, we talk about kink, teledildonics, cybersex and sexgames in this issue. We have tittered, blushed and sat in uncomfortable silence all to bring this issue to you, our readers.
Why?
Because it’s out there. We should talk about it. If we don’t talk about it, it’s more likely to go places that’s not healthy. If we try to sweep it under the bed, it will be hidden in the darkest, dirtiest crevices of the internet that are not always safe. So, let’s bring it out in the open – we’re all adults here.
What? Adults play games? They’re not just child’s toys? Yes, that is correct. And as such, we need to make it very clear to the mainstream media and the masses that we are adults and sometimes look for adult content. And I firmly believe it is our responsibility, as media, to convey this message.
You see, in the past, we’ve had messaging problems. The gaming media is largely to blame. Mainstream media will look for information on games from what’s familiar – games media. And when they look at that media, if what they find is pictures of scantily-clad, large-breasted women and taglines advertising the Most Mayhem Ever, things smacking of immature, masculine fantasies, they make broad assumptions. Those assumptions are: Immature males are all that play games. Immature is the same as youth. Young! Our young boys are being exposed to age-inappropriate material!
Can you blame them? I sure can’t. What needs to happen, before games can comfortably be seen as accepted entertainment for people over the age of 18, is not just that developers need to make games appealing to adults (which many are), but the media needs to change our message and the ways in which we convey it. The Escapist was born of this need, and this is our take on sex in games.
Cheers,
-Julianne Greer
