Posted on 09/07/2004 7:51:27 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan
Playboy to Feature Video Game Characters
Tue Sep 7, 7:12 PM ET Add Technology - AP to My Yahoo!
By ANTHONY BREZNICAN, AP Entertainment Writer
LOS ANGELES - Playboy is taking a chance on silicon instead of silicone. The October issue of the men's magazine features several video game characters posing in the nude — images created by the game companies through detailed computer illustration.
"Hopefully the purists won't get too bent out of shape. This is just the next version of the pinup," said Playboy senior editor Scott Alexander, who developed the project.
The computerized models are part of the magazine's video game preview, titled "Gaming Grows Up." The five-page section starts with a topless image of the half-vampire, half-human title character from "BloodRayne," a leather-clad woman who fights with three-foot blades attached to her arms.
The next image is a full-frontal, two-page foldout of a character named Luba Licious from the upcoming mature-rated comedy game "Leisure Suit Larry," which is about a shrimpy guy who travels a college campus courting impossibly buxom coeds.
The images even feature the signature Playboy centerfold-style bio. "We treated these women just like they are celebrities," Alexander said. "We treated them real, as if they had turn-ons and turn-offs."
In between are short articles about upcoming games like "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas," racing games like "Need for Speed: Underground 2," and "Gran Turismo 4," and battle games like "Men of Valor," "Full Spectrum Warrior" and "Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault."
"Part of the thrust of the piece is that gaming is not just for kids," Alexander said. "We want to establish the way Playboy's going to be covering video games. We want to cover them from perspective of an adult who has a life. We're not writing video game reviews for kids who play five hours a day. We're writing for the grown-up who may play five hours a week, if that much."
While real models with silicone-implanted curves are no stranger to Playboy pictorials, digital women rendered through silicon computer processors could become a regular feature if reader reaction is positive.
All the images from the October issue are from mature-rated games carrying Entertainment Software Ratings Board warnings that the titles are inappropriate for those under 17.
Charles Hirschhorn, founder and chief executive of the G4techTV network, a 24-hour cable channel devoted to video games, said grown-up gamers aren't prudes, so Playboy's pixel-torial was unlikely to offend.
"Video games are inherently based on fantasy," he said, "so it's only natural that you'll be able to race cars, and go into outer space and find attractive sexy women as characters."
Not all the video heroines bare all.
The Native American vampire Tala, from the upcoming horror-shooter "Darkwatch," is featured in a smaller image wearing only a feather in her hair, while an anonymous model from the "Sims"-style party game "Playboy: The Mansion" is shown with only a joystick.
The blonde, chaps-wearing Daisy from the female wrestling game "Rumble Roses" is depicted topless, but strategically covered by her elbows.
Other modest models: the kitana-blade wielding Mileena, from the new "Mortal Kombat" fighting tournament, bares only her midriff. "Red Ninja's" Kurenai sports her signature crimson miniskirt robe. And Ayane from "Dead or Alive: Ultimate" wears a tiny turquoise bikini.
Persuading game companies to showcase their characters was a delicate task, according to Alexander.
"There's a funny kind of almost paternal feeling that a lot of these game creators have about their creations," he said. "'Are you going to let your little girl pose in Playboy?' is the question we were asking. But a lot of them saw the benefit, both aesthetically, and ... hey, sex is part of life."
Pffft. No Lara Croft?
Indeed, one of the charming things about the game was the way it was more humorous than lacivious. Somehow I think modern technology will probably alter the character, and not for the better (though I suppose I could be mistaken).
Though I'll admit I'm surprised there's no mention of Lara Croft.
Knowing how big Lara is (pun intended), I'm betting they couldn't get the rights.
Anything to add? :)
I am waiting for the virtual-porn remake of Leather Goddesses of Phobos.
-ccm
Can't be any worse than what EA has planned for The Sims 2.
Damn, you didn't mention any of the characters from the Resident Evil games (okay, I admit -- I'm a fan of anything that has to do with zombies [especially b-movies] LOL). Hey, cheesy movies are great when you've got a couple of friends by for beer and nachos :)
//I am waiting for the virtual-porn remake of Leather Goddesses of Phobos.//
Have you seen LGOP2?
But how can it be "child porn" if they're not real children? Do you use JB Weld to permanently affix the clothing on Barbie dolls in your home? If not, then you must be "supporting child porn".
Think of them as electronic Barbie dolls, don't buy Playboy, and calm down.
Back in 1999, Playboy had a pictorial of the model who portrayed Ms. Croft at some trade shows. So, it's been done.
IIRC, the real life model wasn't quite as well endowed as Ms. Croft was.
Not many are. ;)
Yes, that was Nell McAndrew.
I believe Barbie goes commando.
To be completely honest, I've never peered at a Barbie doll closely enough to tell for sure (I was a cap gun and rocket ship kid myself). Thank the Landover Baptist Church that you apparently pay more attention to the construction of plastic toys than I do.
It's nice to see you're one of those who'll defend CG representing intercourse between adults and 10yos.
Why did you start that sentence with "It's nice to see" when it is obvious to even the most disinterested observer that you didn't think it was nice at all? And, you be sure to let all of us know the very first time you see cartoon adults boinking cartoon children. We'll all be on tenterhooks awaiting your report.
John Edwards will like to have a beer with you.
NOW you're getting nasty and inaccurate. Snakes don't drink beer :)
Oh c'mon...like I'm the only one who peeked.
> all this "virtual porn" thing is part of an elaborate plan to make child porn "acceptable" and "mainstream". Because it won't be "real children". You read it here first.
Old news. As memory serves, somewhere around 5 or so years ago, Congress made all forms of kiddie porn illegal, including sketches, sculpture, cartoons, CGI, you name it. I recall court battles on 1st Amendment grounds (pointing out the blisteringly obvious fact that a sketch from imagination ain't a kid), but I don't remember the result.
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