The Affect of Mass Effect

By now I am sure most of you have heard all the flack going on about Mass Effect, an Xbox only M rated release from the developers at BioWare. From you quick perusal of the Google (you know you have to capitalize it now because Google I am sure you can see that not everyone is happy about the game Mass Effect. Technically they are not happy about the frontal nudity and graphic sex scenes. There have been all sorts of news conferences about this topic but none has really caught the public's opinion as one recently aired on Fox News showing Geoff Keighley, a well known game critic, and a panel of network appointed experts debating the effect the game has on young boys. Main complaints are the nudity and that it will make the boys objectify women.

Let's address that last point first. Of all the things that we interact with on a daily basis I find it hard to believe that playing a video game for a few hours will cause some guy to objectify women. He is much more likely to get that idea from the way his father treats women, or the guys down on the corner, or the main stream media, or you get the idea. Video games can certainly contribute to this mindset but they are far from the major cause.

Next point, nudity. I have to admit I have never played Mass Effect but I did spend some time watching a rather proficient player. I even went so far as to explain why I was watching and asked if he could demonstrate some of these graphic sex and nudity scenes. Note to self next time ask someone over the age of 18, this guy REALLY had a hard time concentrating when I asked him to show me the sex scenes. Anyway, he proceeded to play until we got to it. The SEX SCENE. From what I saw and it was more along the lines of a shower scene in The Sims than what you might see in the after 6pm movie channel, I have to say that I don't see what all the fuss is about.

Yes the player had sex with a computer character. Yes there were a few seconds where you saw all the virtues of the female character. Yes it could be considered graphic. No it could not be considered pornographic. No it wasn't a full hands on down in the dirt sex scene like in say ... 9 Days. No I don't think it objectified woman, any more than using humans as characters in the game objectifies humans. You understand my point right?

I guess what I am really trying to say is, IT IS A GAME! If you are not old enough to differentiate what you do on the screen from what you are suppose to do in real life, then you aren't old enough to play regardless of the age limit on the front of the box. I say the same thing to those parents out there who complain it is rotting their kids' brains or shaping their young minds. If their minds are that easily manipulated, then they shouldn't be allowed to play. Get them out of the house and go do something together. Explain to them why you don't want them to play that game. Listen to them when they tell you why they feel they should. Then make a decision. You know be a parent!

I'm not going to get started on the whole Television Raising Your Kids thing. I just want everyone to understand my point of view. I know there is sex in the game. I am old enough to know the difference between what I do to advance my character and what I have to do to advance my life. If you are not then simply DON'T PLAY!