3. Sex, BDSM and Most Fetishes
Much like how killing isn’t always just about killing, sex isn’t always just about being sexy. Sex can represent a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Sex is a form of relating to other people, and it’s as dynamic and as diverse as any other form of relationship. Games have a tendency to be pretty immature with it, but they aren’t incapable of demonstrating adult relationships.
When Milne discusses his concept of sex as being ridiculous in games, he highlights ridiculous examples, while ignoring the possibility of mature examples. As awkward as it is, Heavy Rain tries to depict sex as adult, without the implicit goal of titillation. When Naked Snake and EVA have sex in Metal Gear Solid 3, it isn’t meant to be some sexy romp, it’s a finality in character, and a breaking down in Naked Snake’s guard. Games and their developers realize that it is something that people do, without trying to turn it into a reward, or transform it into some erotic, vulgar envelope-pusher. They have it because it is appropriate to the story.
These developers aren’t too insecure to show adults having an adult relationship. The idea of being so terrified of sex, and yet so comfortable with violence shows a fundamental flaw in the values that people hold. It’s incomprehensible that Milne would say that sexual violence is a potentially acceptable theme in games, while sex itself, and its many consented forms, are unacceptable.
