The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
Sex in Videogames was the worst panel I've ever been to.
monotreme
Registered User new member
Registered User new member
First of all, I love PAX, I've gone for 3 years so far and am always stoked to go to panels, but this one was utterly disgraceful.
I don't know who the panel was consisted of, but I think they seriously need to rethink their approach.
The panel started off with a guessing game featuring a guy dressed as Hard Gay, a reference which nobody seemed to get.
It then moved on to a PPT showing the history of sex in western gaming, which was pretty interesting.
From here, I was just disgusted with the panel. A BBC documentary on Japanese sexuality was shown for about 20 minutes, which made broad generalizations about the population. I studied Japanese culture in college, have lived in Japan and have many Japanese friends, and found the documentary quite insulting.
Next up, the panel showed another PPT in which they just read off statistics about sex and sex crimes in Japan, compared to the US. This was fine, but what made me really angry was that these were presented as fact without any cultural context.
There was one that claimed sexual assaults had decreased over the last thirty years. What they failed to mention was that reported sex crimes had probably decreased, but sexual assault is still so prevalent in Japan that female-only train cars are now in use in major cities.
At this point I stood up and asked what qualifications the panel had to talk to such a large group about sociology and sexual practices in Japan. They didn't have an answer.
The panel would have been great if they just stuck to video games, but to present on Japanese sexual identity and practices seemingly without much knowledge on the subject, I just thought was incredibly irresponsible. I realize they were trying to give cultural context, but in doing so they made some broad generalizations could easily have been interpreted as fact to many audience members. So I left.
For next year, I'd suggest the panel to stick to video games. Just show us the difference, don't try and give us a sociology lesson on something you don't seem to know anything about.
I don't know who the panel was consisted of, but I think they seriously need to rethink their approach.
The panel started off with a guessing game featuring a guy dressed as Hard Gay, a reference which nobody seemed to get.
It then moved on to a PPT showing the history of sex in western gaming, which was pretty interesting.
From here, I was just disgusted with the panel. A BBC documentary on Japanese sexuality was shown for about 20 minutes, which made broad generalizations about the population. I studied Japanese culture in college, have lived in Japan and have many Japanese friends, and found the documentary quite insulting.
Next up, the panel showed another PPT in which they just read off statistics about sex and sex crimes in Japan, compared to the US. This was fine, but what made me really angry was that these were presented as fact without any cultural context.
There was one that claimed sexual assaults had decreased over the last thirty years. What they failed to mention was that reported sex crimes had probably decreased, but sexual assault is still so prevalent in Japan that female-only train cars are now in use in major cities.
At this point I stood up and asked what qualifications the panel had to talk to such a large group about sociology and sexual practices in Japan. They didn't have an answer.
The panel would have been great if they just stuck to video games, but to present on Japanese sexual identity and practices seemingly without much knowledge on the subject, I just thought was incredibly irresponsible. I realize they were trying to give cultural context, but in doing so they made some broad generalizations could easily have been interpreted as fact to many audience members. So I left.
For next year, I'd suggest the panel to stick to video games. Just show us the difference, don't try and give us a sociology lesson on something you don't seem to know anything about.
monotreme on
0
This discussion has been closed.
Posts
I've also always been curious as to what makes people qualified to give presentations like this.
Organizer of the Post-PAX Party. You should come!
Satellite Theater for life!
The panelists just meandered around aimlessly never actually forming complete sentences that didn't include about 40 uhhhs and ummms and through clearings. And their slide show took about 10 tries to make it work.
For the majority of the panel they just showed a BBC video (that they could hardly figure out how to work). The video's subtitles were minuscule, and so low down on the screen anyone past the 5th row couldn't see.
In the future:
1) test your equipment first
2) at the very least read over what your going to say BEFORE the panel
3) make sure at some point of in your panel, you actually GET TO THE POINT of your panel: even if you have to say it at the beginning
It was a great topic, well worth talking about, but please, next year a little more organization and cultural sensitivity PLEASE
purrrrrrrrrrrrr*snuggle*
If only it had been as well done. I spent the entire three days jumping from session to session, yet this was the *only* that literally had me, and much of the room wondering wtf was going on. Given the culturally relevant nature of the topic, this should have been a very *very* difficult panel to screw up/ and yet, somehow these self-proclaimed experts managed to do it.
Out of so many things they could have easily filled several hours with; comparisons of sex and gender portrayal in other media, history of sex topic portrayal in video games (overly pornographic, or otherwise), a legitimate look into Hot Coffee, dating-sims, the ecchi phenomenon, to Fox News called the 360 the "SexBox", or LGBT / gender issues in games (as several audience members asked), virtual relationships in MMORPGs, sex as portrayed in Second Life, actual sex simulators such as Virtually Jenna, Ultravixen, etc... this tech-handicapped, intellectually challenged, and as far as I'm concerned, unqualified group of panelists present an unsubstantiated, heavily generalized, and self-contradictory vomit of figures and videos, that not only insults the subject matter, but the intelligence of the audience as well. Even the section on the history of sex in American video games was highly glossed over, and skips entire decades and worlds of discussion. And don't make me get into the section on "Japan". Aside from the brief mention of the Japanese "rape game" (which was banned), the entire section consisted of the BBC video on the "mysterious East", a 15-minute long Powerpoint on sex-rate, crime-rate in Japan, and some random comparisons to which country has sex more. Seriously, these might have been interesting figures in some context, but otherwise who gives a frak and what does it have to do with games? How this panel could have been approved is beyond me; let alone, twice (apparently, most of this panel was identical last year).
I distinctly remember the OP asking the panel for their credentials, to which I don't remember hearing an answer. I think my entire row asked "did they just blow off that question?" and we were sitting pretty close to the front too. It was that stupid.
By contrast, the topic on Sunday on "Murder, Sex, and Drugs"; a topic of actual experts from industry, blogs, and media and one that effectively illustrated the nature of the topics, and allowed for intelligent fun discussion. Personally, I'd like to hear what the panelists were thinking when they made the agenda, what they were trying to portray, and if we're lucky, an apology for wasting everyone's time.
While the points made about the extremely poor (and mis-advertised) way in which the topic was addressed are valid and well articulated, what really grinds my gears is my wasted time during the ever so brief hours of PAX. By choosing to attend this panel I missed out on other panels that occurred around this time. With so much being offered in so little time, it was not just a half-hour I would like to have back, it is a panel I didn't get to see instead that I would like to have the opportunity to have back.
Boooo Nathan Paine [Owner, Pink Gorilla] (according to the PAX schedule)! You broke Wheaton's Law: Don't be a dick!
My Body Is always Reggie
Then the BBC video came on and the audience was treated to the sight of a Japanese guy getting a handjob. Our group got up and left when it became clear that the speakers were never going to get back around to discussing video games.
While setting a context for how Japanese views on sexuality differ from Western views is important, I think that could have been done on a single powerpoint page, not dedicating a 20 minute video and a second powerpoint to it. Hell, they could have let the audience realize that difference themselves if they had actually started talking about and showing sex in Japanese games at some point.
Twitter: Cokomon | dA: Cokomon | Tumblr: Cokomon-art | XBL / NNID / Steam: Cokomon
There are so many fantastic panels at PAX that I'd hate for anyone else to waste their time waiting in line for, and attending this one.
I really like Pink Gorilla (or Godzilla as they are to me). I've purchased many NES games and figurines there and they have been very friendly and knowledgeable every time I've gone in. I just won't be going to any panels that they put together.
If anyone finds a place to contact them, let me know and I can do it.
I'm not saying this panel should be cancelled in the future, it could be really cool, but it was just poorly executed.
Since context is important, maybe next year they could bring in a Master's or PhD student to give a super-quick overview of sexuality in Japan, I'm sure anyone would be stoked to speak at PAX.
Also, I don't mean any insult to the Pink Gorilla guys either. I think the panel was just overcomplicated by trying to explain cultural context. Japan has a different sexual culture than America does. Done.
Tycho@penny-arcade.com
Gabe@penny-arcade.com
I didn't attend the panel, but I was most surprised in just how long the line for it was. Which makes me feel bad for the guys at the front, considering they must have been their for an hour.
I started the line. Waited over an hour. I'm such a dumbass for attending this panel.
Stuff like this is why I only go to the panels from developers/publishers or those that are going to be pretty big hotspots. With the exception of some of Medium is the Massage, every panel I went to was fantastic.
Also, this is sort of veering towards offtopic territory but Pink Godzilla (or Gorilla, whatever) really sucked this year. Their NES game selection was garbage except for a copy of Bionic Commando, which you can find practically everywhere. The only new thing of signigigance was the sequel to Rose Colored Rupee Land. There were practically no accessories.
.
Great topic idea, but poorly executed by the panelists. Now, the panelists from the women and gaming panel were EXCELLENT. Also, the guy who presented on psychiatry, violence, children and video games was top notch. That's how you present a thoughtful, intellectual panel.
Also I did not like when one of then thinks that the U.S.A. should lighten up on sex. I'm like WTF. He never seen prime time TV at 8:00 P.M.? See a news stand before with Mag's like GQ, FHM, Maxim etc? Also why didn't they show any Japanese games? Pink Gorilla are Fools!! Step your game up Pink Gorilla!
360Voice Blog
GamerDNA Profile
Playfire Profile Pwned Profile
Thanks for acknowledging "message received" Khoo. That gives me (and I'm sure all of us) warm fuzzies knowing that the information has been passed on to the powers that be.
From what I heard from other people it didn't get any better from that point. Before the video they showed some videogames throughout gaming history that had some element of sex in them, but there was barely any discussion on them. He just wasn't a very good presenter, he was very bland.
In comparison to the Geek Nights hosted panel, it just doesn't stand up. Thank you Khoo, for pronouncing the non return of this particular version of this panel.
I know you're a busy man, so thanks for taking the time to read our posts. The work you do is just as appreciated as Mike and Jerry's.
Hear! Hear! Feedback make us love you more!
Honestly, whoever it was in the S,M, & drugs panel that said that sex in games has to expand beyond a simple minigame should be tapped to be involved in the next panel, him, that that woman from Hothead games who I feel so bad that I cannot remember her name!
Previous PAX: PAX Prime 2012
"Money can't buy you love, but it can get you some really good chocolate ginger biscuits."
Like I said, I was just disappointed. They had a great panel on Japanese videogame commercials at a past PAX and that was the reason I went to this one.