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The rest of the world is ridiculing Australia for this attitude towards a strong contender for Game of the Year 2003 - but all around us, high-street retailers are snubbing a new game called BMX XXX. Made by Z-Axis, creators of the ace Aggressive Inline, it's a BMX sim. It was going to be the new Dave Mirra title, until the world champion bike rider pulled out of the deal with Acclaim, refusing to be associated with such a game. BMX XXX features swearing, crude jokes and...yes, that's right...unlockable porn videos.
In-game, you earn money which you can spend unlocking DVD-quality clips of strippers. Gamers everywhere are having a right good laugh at Acclaim's expense over this game. After all, what kind of an idea is that? Pornography in a videogame? "Disgusting! I'm not letting my children anywhere near that!" is the reaction from many parents and so, in turn, video game stores such as GAME both sides of the Atlantic are refusing to order stock of BMX XXX. They, just like Dave Mirra, do not want to be associated with such a game.
Can you see the double standard?
Grand Theft Auto 3 was a masterpiece. Everyone that played it agreed that yes, it was very violent, but underneath there was a stonker of a game. Huge interactive levels, 80+ varied missions, and freedom the likes of which had never been seen before in a console game. It won awards left right and centre, shifting a hell of a lot of consoles, not to mention the 7million copies of the game itsself. The sequel, ready to come out soon as I've already mentioned, is one of the most anticipated games of all time. There's been barely any mention of its violent nature in the papers this time around; no "in-depth features" on Newsround.
So, GTA3 was saved by being a great game. The likes of Kingpin, and Wu-Tang Taste the Pain didn't fare so well, with the mindless brutality depicted in them not backed up by a fun gaming experience. So, what about BMX XXX? Have any of the stockists actually played the game? No. As I said, Z-Axis are at the helm of the project, which leads me to believe that underneath the urinating teenagers and juggling midgets, there's a great BMX sim to be had. Unfortunately, with Acclaim's PR company they're pushing the 'T&A' angle more than the 'fun to play' one. Aggressive Inline gave Tony Hawk's a real run for its money, so why can't this do the same for Matt Hoffman?
Because people are too busy looking at the wrong things. Sure, there'll be some guys that buy it for the porn...but really, what's wrong with porn? If it doesn't degrade the men or women in question, if there's no child or animal abuse in it...what's wrong with watching a porn video? Of course, some people will buy the game and deliberately AVOID the naked ladies, determined to play what could be a very fun game.
Are we living in a world where Joe Public would rather see his son chop off a breast than caress it?
BMX XXX might be great. Then again, it might turn out to be every bit as silly as the 'bike game with porn' description sounds. Still, why won't anybody give it a chance? We've learnt to live with violent video games...maybe it's time to live with sexually explicit ones too.
Thanks for reading.
-El Blokey
And we're all spawn of satan anyway right? We play these 'evil' games where we kill people with guns and beat other people up and stuff, so we must all be murderers right? So what does it matter if we add perverts or pornaholics to that list...?
Remember kids, videogames are evil.
How that work then? A stupid decision by many retailers to do such a thing, if games with images of naked people are unfit to sell to gamers, then why are games with images of harsh violence?
I think it safe to say the game will come with an 18 certificate, so won't really be bought by (many) youngsters, and if the argument is "kids will get a hold of the game anyway even if it's rated an 18" then the same would go for GTA3. I really just have to laugh at these games retailers, they’re so hypocritical.
Good old SR though, it looks like they’re still selling the game, and why not, they'll probably make a mint on it. He he, cashing in on other game retailers stupidity, good on them.
The rest of the world is ridiculing Australia for this attitude towards a strong contender for Game of the Year 2003 - but all around us, high-street retailers are snubbing a new game called BMX XXX. Made by Z-Axis, creators of the ace Aggressive Inline, it's a BMX sim. It was going to be the new Dave Mirra title, until the world champion bike rider pulled out of the deal with Acclaim, refusing to be associated with such a game. BMX XXX features swearing, crude jokes and...yes, that's right...unlockable porn videos.
In-game, you earn money which you can spend unlocking DVD-quality clips of strippers. Gamers everywhere are having a right good laugh at Acclaim's expense over this game. After all, what kind of an idea is that? Pornography in a videogame? "Disgusting! I'm not letting my children anywhere near that!" is the reaction from many parents and so, in turn, video game stores such as GAME both sides of the Atlantic are refusing to order stock of BMX XXX. They, just like Dave Mirra, do not want to be associated with such a game.
Can you see the double standard?
Grand Theft Auto 3 was a masterpiece. Everyone that played it agreed that yes, it was very violent, but underneath there was a stonker of a game. Huge interactive levels, 80+ varied missions, and freedom the likes of which had never been seen before in a console game. It won awards left right and centre, shifting a hell of a lot of consoles, not to mention the 7million copies of the game itsself. The sequel, ready to come out soon as I've already mentioned, is one of the most anticipated games of all time. There's been barely any mention of its violent nature in the papers this time around; no "in-depth features" on Newsround.
So, GTA3 was saved by being a great game. The likes of Kingpin, and Wu-Tang Taste the Pain didn't fare so well, with the mindless brutality depicted in them not backed up by a fun gaming experience. So, what about BMX XXX? Have any of the stockists actually played the game? No. As I said, Z-Axis are at the helm of the project, which leads me to believe that underneath the urinating teenagers and juggling midgets, there's a great BMX sim to be had. Unfortunately, with Acclaim's PR company they're pushing the 'T&A' angle more than the 'fun to play' one. Aggressive Inline gave Tony Hawk's a real run for its money, so why can't this do the same for Matt Hoffman?
Because people are too busy looking at the wrong things. Sure, there'll be some guys that buy it for the porn...but really, what's wrong with porn? If it doesn't degrade the men or women in question, if there's no child or animal abuse in it...what's wrong with watching a porn video? Of course, some people will buy the game and deliberately AVOID the naked ladies, determined to play what could be a very fun game.
Are we living in a world where Joe Public would rather see his son chop off a breast than caress it?
BMX XXX might be great. Then again, it might turn out to be every bit as silly as the 'bike game with porn' description sounds. Still, why won't anybody give it a chance? We've learnt to live with violent video games...maybe it's time to live with sexually explicit ones too.
Thanks for reading.
-El Blokey