Indeed, it may also be an uncomfortable one as traditional gender roles and perspectives may be tested and reversed as a result of being made to “believe you were Madison” because players will participate in this humiliating act rather than merely view it.Ĭertainly, Cage and Quantic Dream’s efforts are not entirely new.
If feminist theory concerning the tendency for women to become the object of the male gaze holds any credence, the experience of being made object to that gaze may be an entirely new experience for many players. In this particular instance, the psychology is particularly fascinating as it is likely a rather novel experience for the largest demographic of video game players, males. Instead, what seems to be offered here is a potential simulation of some of the psychology of the sexual experience. If I am interpreting Cage’s thinking correctly, he seems to be suggesting that Heavy Rain is moving beyond the voyeuristic simulations of sexuality offered by countless other forms of more passive media and also beyond simply making a participatory simulation of sexuality into a mere simulation of the “‘ol in-out, in-out”. The Gleam of Electric Sex: What Video Games Might (or Might Not) Teach Us About Sex
#Heavy rain characters skin#
This is a departure from other gameplay-based depictions of sex, Williams argues, where the object was either to reveal skin or engage in a mini-game that “reduces sex to the stabbing motions of button mashing.” He says the breakthrough lies not necessarily in a mature depiction of sex, but in delivering a new perspective on how it is understood, even if it means forcing someone in an opposite gender role to see its more degrading side. But if we managed to make you feel uncomfortable it is because at some point we made you believe you were Madison.” … Yes, it’s a strong moment for the character. “You know what? That is exactly what we wanted. “Fantastic,” Quantic Dream’s David Cage tells Game Informer.
Christopher Williams picked up on an interview with Quantic Dream, the developer of Heavy Rain, in which the writer confessed he felt uncomfortable being forced to perform the striptease. It’s sex but it’s not sexy, and it moves the needle for games teaching us to differentiate the two. The upcoming Heavy Rain features a sequence in which its female protagonist is forced to strip for a disgusting mob boss. So, we’ll see if this bears out, but I’m looking forward to it. This report, however, speaks to an emotional depth that I would expect to be seriously lacking from that mostly cinematic, thus passive, mechanic. On the one hand, what I understand from watching development trailers, the game mechanic will be like a HD, next-gen Dragon’s Lair. Although I think its odd for the article quoted to suggest that the gaze will be a “new experience” or to suggest that playing a gazed-on character is the same as experiencing gaze, still, the suggestion is that Heavy Rain offers an interesting interpretation of the relationship between user and character has interesting potentials.
The reason is because of possibilities for gaming like the ones described below.
#Heavy rain characters ps3#
I am really excited about this game, Heavy Rain I even bought a PS3 just to play it.