BioWare and Sex
February 5, 2010 at 11:45 AM 
If there is one thing BioWare knows it's RPGS. And if there are two things BioWare knows it's RPGs and balancing sex in video games. Sex in video games has always and will probably always be a tricky subject. Video games are first foremost games and when the public hears "game" it's not quick jump to associate that with children. Ergo, the sex mini-game in God of War and the Hot Coffee mod for GTA were met with less than open arms.
Those two examples however aren't the only two offerings. Sadly, the controversy surrounding them makes it seem like sex is a gimmick to game developers. This isn't the case. Game developers like BioWare see sex as an important tool in building relationships with people. AI are people too.
In the first Mass Effect being able to "romance" a member of your team wasn't a goal, nor was it a mini-game. Rather it was part of the development of your characters relationship that they built through hours of dialogue, cut scenes and choices. You had sex because you were in love. The achievement for it was nice too. I definitely developed an e-crush on Kaidan Alenko, the biotic on my squad. We had something special.
Dragon Age, BioWare's next RPG also had the option of sexing up a member of your squad. The same rules applied, you want some ass, well you're going to have to work for it. Conversations, gifts, and heroic gestures, and then maybe... I chose to romance to Alistair. He was cute, brave, charming and I went back multiple saves to make sure I got to tap that. Dragon Age was different though because there was a brothel and your character could engage in whatever sexual deviance he or she wanted.
Then came along Mass Effect 2. In this game you, can peruse almost any member of your squad. Once you gain the loyalty of a squad mate it's only a few clicks on the dialogue tree until they want to bed you. Team members you couldn't be with in Mass Effect 1 can now be romanced. Sadly, still no krogan love allowed.
Here's the kicker. The relationship you built in Mass Effect 1 is missing in the sequel. I chose Kaidan and now there is no contact with him whatsoever. But why not Kaidan? Where is he? I've recruited Garrius and Tali. I've helped Wrex and Liara. I can talk to any of them anytime I want. Whether you chose Ashley or Kaidan, it doesn't matter, neither are a part of the game past your encounter with them on Horizon. Why?
I've done some trolling and found out that if you do peruse another squad member you put away the picture in your cabin of Kaidan. I've made a very serious decision. I've decided to not romance anyone. No achievement. No steamy cutscene. Why you ask? Because on the off chance that BioWare will reward me for staying faithful.
My logic is that BioWare purposely kept Kaidan/Ashely out of this game in order to have some type of relationship in Mass Effect 3. It makes sense right? If you chose not to romance someone else then you pick up the picture of him and smile in the closing cut scene. I hope BioWare realizes that I'm denying myself Drell ass because I want Kaidan back, it's only fair!
I do think that BioWare gets how to use relationships to tell a story. Even in Jade Empire they showed a sophistication to sexuality that most games lack. It's this ability to be adult about an adult situation in an adult(rated M) game that makes me confident that Kaidan/Ashley will be back in Mass Effect 3. If not, I will totally throw a hissy fit.
Since I didn't persue any relationships in the game I had to youtube the multiple endings in order to get my fix. You can see Miranda's bra and Jacob's six pack in their end scenes but Thane's and Garrus's was down right boring. Eskimo kiss boring. You can do Tali which my brother was excited about. You don't get to see her face though. Am I the only one who thinks Jack is kinda hot? All the guys I know think she's gross.
Reader Comments (6)
Next time maybe you should title this 'BIG FAT FUCKING SPOILERS AHEAD'
"Pardon my French, but Cameron is so tight that if you stuck a lump of coal up his ass, in two weeks you'd have a diamond." :P
Danke Schoën for that opportunity, Cameron, Danke Schoën. lol.
Any who, I was all about Ashley in Mass Effect 1. But I think there was also some blue fever at one point if I remember correctly...but in the end it was Ash. And I was sad to see how things turn out between us in ME2, it would be cool if somehow in ME3, happily ever after was a possibility.
I rushed through the first 15 hours or so of ME2...and I took a break mid week, and I'll play more this weekend/next week.
Going paragon and doing everything "right" as I usually do, the first time around. Maybe I'll go through as a dick my next play through. But according to the psychologist lady, Kelly, (who I flirt with non-stop, and am interested to see what happens there!) Jack won't respect me if I'm just after sex, instead I'm listening to all her problems and letting her open up...IDK how that will work out, but she's alright in my Shepard's book and I bet she'll be, I guess, less insane by the end and better off. Miranda seems to be the one, for this play through any how...she was cold early on, but like Jack, I bet she'll change for the good...we'll see as I still don't have everyone recruited.
But yea, definitely improves the attachment to characters and story...if done right.
You are only kind of ridiculous... <3
Maybe Kaidan wasn't there because he's just not that into you?
...Sorry, I just had to say it. :)
No worries, Nikole. Bioware has confirmed that the love interests from Mass Effect will be back in ME3, which is why they weren't in your party for ME2's suicide mission.
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