Does Sex Sale?

Well i asked and u responded :) Here's some of the replies. I'll try to change these out every other day since
I got more than I anticipated. The replies have been great, hope ya'll enjoy them as much as I did :)

Updated 4-28-98

Subject: The "Sex Sells" Article

Hey there what's up? I just read the article... What a read! I agree, I think the best thing for women gamers is to just forget the differences between women and men and just make the games. I really think it's disgusting when a company makes a "Girl game", or when men playing Quake refuse to attack the women playing. Sex should not be an issue at all.

As for the scantily clad babe bit, I am in tune with my sexuality and am not going to deny that Lara Croft was a, ahem, well designed character. But that was not the real draw of the game to me, and I don't think it was for most people. Most people I know liked the game because it was good! I'll tell you the real problem (and I should know b/c I work in the game industry), it's MARKETING.

You see, in every game company there is the department called marketing. Basically their job is to sell a product that they are totally ignorant about. They don't know jack shit about games, but since they have a degree they are hired to sell them. You see, it isn't the gamers that ask for sex in game/advertising, it's the marketing people. Marketing personell think the secret behind Tomb Raider's success was the sex. They can't fathom the idea of "good gameplay". The idea of "Good gameplay" is foreign to them because they don't play games. They may play games every once in a while, but they don't REALLY play games like we do.

Well I will get off my soapbox now. Thanks for the read!

Sentient Incubus

Subject: Does sex sell

To tell you the truth I think sex sells very well. The sex part of a game doesn't make us guys buy the game but it does grab attention which is the point of any advertizing. Also asumming the role of an interesting character(Lara,DukeNukem,any rpg character) is part of the fun of a game(who would want to play a boaring character?). As to your question about scantily clad men as long as it wasn't too much I think it would be fine but if they really pushed the envelope on it I think that it would not sell well (at least in america) unless the game was very good because while it seems awful to say the explotation and use of sexy women is expected and common while the use of the men is hardly ever used and will be strongly rejected(especially by the homophobic nature of most americans). As for my personal opinion what I really care about in any game is the gameplay, not graphics, characters, sex, sound effects, music, or least of all, hype.

BTW: Nude Raider Patches??? I'd be interested in see what exactly they are just for curiosity sake... honest.

Zemeron

Subject: Does nto obther me ...

Hello,

Just read your www page with regard to the underdressed women in games issue. Personally, I never by a game because the characters are well dress or have very little on. I buy games that I like to play, that have great play value and good plain fun. How the critters are dress make no differences to me as long as I can nukem then to the other side of the planet or equipment them with some much armor that only a well place supper nova will get them. :):)

Oh sorry if there are any miss spelled words in here but in Real World I am Dyslexic.

Thanks,
Andrew "Dyslextic" B.
Technical Support Engineer,
School of Engineer, XXXXXXXX University

Thanks for all the emails - the response was better than i hoped for :) i mean these things are great! i found them well thought out, informative and some just had me ROFL. it was great to hear insights from a male point of view on this. i was really surprised by your openess, awareness and dare i say it?? *gasp* support :) any ladies reading this, i'd like to hear your side also. agree, disagree, it doesn't matter to me :) thanks again guys, and to all those wanting a game...look for me when SC comes out. off to get Quake II, finally! so be warned, if u get shot in the back and then hear a small *tee hee hee*.....well...gotcha! *wink* hehehe ( read the original article here. read the original post here. ) feel free to send your comments, i'll keep posting replies as long as i get them.