Name: Sex in Video Games - Art of Gaming
Uploaded: 2017-09-15T00:00:00.000+02:00
Duration: 526 s
Description: When we think about sex in video games, we think of the classic Leisure Suit Larry, or the crude representations that are a reward for the player rather than a part of the plot. Some games take a different approach. Melek discusses sex in gaming with gaming journalist Nina Kiel and sexologist Jan Winter.

Art of Gaming

Sex in Video Games

Art of Gaming: Sexo

When we think about sex in video games, we think of the classic Leisure Suit Larry, or the crude representations that are a reward for the player rather than a part of the plot. Some games take a different approach. Melek discusses sex in gaming with gaming journalist Nina Kiel and sexologist Jan Winter.

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Melek discusses sex in gaming with gaming journalist Nina Kiel and sexologist Jan Winter

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What happens when cinema meets video games? Trinity investigates with scriptwriter Jean-Luc Cano by playing ‘Life is Strange’, ‘Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice’ and ‘Beyond: Two Souls’.

What happens when cinema meets video games? Trinity investigates with scriptwriter Jean-Luc Cano. 

Lights, Cameras, Action!

Melek visits VR developers Illusion Walk at their Berlin offices and tries out the latest in virtual reality gaming technology.

Melek visits tries out the latest in VR gaming technology at Illusion Walk in Berlin.

Virtual Reality

Open world games such as ‘Grand Theft Auto’ offer an immense territory for the player to explore. But is this just an illusion of liberty? Trinity and Sébastien Genvo explore ‘Skyrim’, ‘The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’ and ‘Shadow of the Colossus’.

Open world games offer an immense territory for players to explore. But is this just an illusion of liberty?

Open Worlds

Melek and Dennis Niewerth, sociologist and consultant at the German Maritime Museum in Bremerhaven, dive in and explore worlds of water in video games.

Melek and Dennis Niewerth dive in and explore worlds of water in video games.

Water

Why do people play sports video games instead of going outside and playing real sports? Trinity and e-sports commentator Brak play ‘Kick Off Revival’, ‘NBA 2k18’ and ‘Top Spin 4’.

Why do people play sports video games instead of going outside and playing real sports?

Virtual Ball Games

Melek Balgün and games designer Anjin Anhut test out combat games with titles such as ‘Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting’, ‘Nidhogg 2’ and the atypical game ‘Johann Sebastian Joust’.

Melek Balgün and games designer Anjin Anhut focus on combat games.

Fighting Games

Do we play video games in the same way around the world? Trinity along with gaming blogger Diraen explore video games made by different cultures: They play “Gravity Rush”, “Dynasty Warriors 8” and “Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan”.

Trinity along with gaming blogger Diraen explore video games made by different cultures.

Around the World

How are dreams represented in video games? Melek and gaming critic Stephan Greitemeier play ‘Dream’, ‘The Dream Machine’ and ‘The Evil Within 2’, entering unnerving sleeping worlds that sometimes turn into nightmares.

How are dreams represented in video games?

Dream of Virtual Sheep

Doors can be scary in games such as ‘Resident Evil’ and ‘Silent Hill: The Room’. What lies behind these mysterious portals? Trinity plays and discusses their significance with gaming writer Jean Zeid.

Doors in can be scary in games such as ‘Resident Evil’’. What lies behind these portals?

Hold the Door

In some games, the text isn't just a signpost that signals a change in the action. It's integrated into the very nature of the game itself. Melek plays games that challenge our perception of the role of text in her video game alongside her guest, Lisa Gotto, a media sociologist.

What happens when the game is text and text is the game? 

Typographic Video Gaming

The goal of the platform games is clear: get from one end to the other - from left to right - without dying. Do this enough times and you'll reach a boss, before making it to another level and the cycle starts all over again. But despite how simple the formula sounds, it's actually a genre full of some of the hardest video games, such as Cuphead and Super Meat Boy. Even with Super Mario or Inside, you know you'll have to see your avatar die on a regular basis.

Playing a platform game like Super Mario means that you have to be OK with the fact that you'll watch your avatar die on a regular basis

Jump 'n' Run

Melek Balgün plays "Anno 1404", "World of Warcraft" and "That Dragon, Cancer" with Andreas Lange, and interviews Tobias Knoll about how players perceive religion in games.

Melek Balgün interviews Tobias Knoll about how players perceive religion in video games.

Religion Art of Gaming

It seems that nearly all computer games are based on capitalist ideology, always collecting and amassing possessions whether they be gold coins, apples or weapons. With philosopher Mathieu Triclot, Trinity explores the political ideology of video games.

Always amassing things whether it is gold coins, apples or weapons.... Are all video games capitalist?

Capitalism

Two lines and a dot were enough for Pong to conquer the video game world. Melek Balgün looks at minimalist games Duet, Hook, Necrosphere and Limbo with specialist researcher Sebastian Standke

Melek Balgün looks at minimalist games Duet, Hook, Necrosphere and Limbo with researcher Sebastian Standke.

As simple as that

The first person perspective allows the player to truly embody the character and immerse themselves in the game.

First Person Perspective

Video game photographer Martin Geisler shows us with examples from “Skyrim”, “the Hunter” and “Squad” that photography within gameplay has become as art form.

Video game photographer Martin Geisler shows us that photography within gameplay has become as art form.

In-Game Photography

Love is a major theme running through all art forms. From the medieval chivalry of ‘The Witcher 3’ to the consumerist world of  ‘The Sims’, how is it represented in gaming?

Love is a major theme running through all art forms. How is it represented in gaming?

Love is a Game

Don’t play with your food! we were all told as children. In video games from Pac-man to the latest survival titles like “Don’t Starve”, the opposite is true.

Don’t play with your food! we were told as children. But with video games we always have...

Eat it!

How does it feel to cross deserts, prairies or forests in a virtual environment? Melek and her guest play ‘Red Dead Redemption’, ‘Firewatch’ and ‘Flame and Flood’ and discuss how nature is represented in art, films, and gaming.

Melek and her guest play ‘Red Dead Redemption’, ‘Firewatch’ and ‘Flame and Flood’ and discuss how nature is represented.

Nature

Female representation in video games has long been a source of frustration for female gamers. Protagonists were almost always male with female characters often reduced to sexual objects. Things have changed since Lara Croft and “Horizon Zero Dawn”.

Female representation in video games has long been a source of frustration for female gamers. 

Women as Heroes

Why are racing games so popular? Sports science researcher, Nicolas Besombes, is Trinity’s guest in this episode all about speed. Featured titles are “Sonic Mania” and two racing classics: “Gran Turismo” and “Wipeout”.

Sports science researcher Nicolas Besombes is Trinity’s guest in this episode all about our need for speed.

Go Fast

In the human mind monsters have always existed, finding representation in myths and sagas all over the world.  But what is our peculiar fascination with terrifying beasts in video gaming?

Monsters haunt the human mind. What is our peculiar fascination with them in video gaming?

Monsters

Why are there so many birds in video games? This episode of Art of Gaming is going to find out with a survey of the best bird-theme games.

Why are there so many birds in video games?

Birds in Gaming

The multiplayer mode in gaming lets you play against your family, your friends, and even people you've never met before. How does playing against a real person change how you view the game, and how you play?

How does playing against a real person change how you view the game?

Versus

Do video games make us lonely? This is what the media often implies. And yet today, it's impossible to be a good MMORPG player without also beign in a team. Many games require effective cooperation to advance to the next level. So, are video games actually a way of improving our social skills?

Team Spirit

Trinity and Thomas Gaon, a psychologist, cheerfully kill each other in Call of Duty 4, and then team up to destroy their enemies. Sounds healthy to you? In this episode, Trinity tries to understand why we enjoy killing characters in video games so much.

In this episode, Trinity tries to understand why we enjoy killing characters in video games so much

The Act of Killing

Video games are often full of action and face-to-face showdowns. But sometimes they can also leave the player alone with his thoughts, giving him or her a sensation of solitude and the space for introspection. Melek analyses the genre with three loneliness experts: an ESA astronaut trainer, a philosopher and a media specialist.

Melek analyses loneliness with three loneliness experts: an ESA astronaut trainer, a philosopher and a media specialist

Art of Gaming - Loneliness

Some video games created the soundtrack to the childhood of a generation. Who can forget the catchy Tetris music, the hopping theme of Super Mario Bros, or the intro of PacMan? Since then, video game music has become more and more cinematic. Author Damien Mecheri and Trinity trace the development of music throughout the history of gaming.

Some video games created the soundtrack to the childhood of a generation

Let The Music Play

Some worlds in games seem lifeless, but for most games, background characters are part of what makes the games so vibrant and convincing. Though powered by an algorithm, these characters can come to feel like friends. Via Bioshock: Infinite, Transistor and Gears of War 3, Melek and her guest Jonathan Harth, a sociologist, analyse the different forms that these characters can take.

For most games, background characters are part of what makes the games so vibrant and convincing

Ghost in the Machine

Can video games, just like movies, be comedies? Usul and Trinity analyse how humour works in Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon and The Stanley Parable. The burlesque, irony, or the absurd, often take centre stage in these types of games. It's what makes them worth playing.

Usul and Trinity analyse how humour works in Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon and The Stanley Parable

Humour

Video games, unlike other forms of art, have to integrate instructions into the game. But how do you integrate instructions creatively, without being overbearing but still getting the message across? Melek talks through the issues with Jörg Friedrich, a game designer, as they play Spelunky, Warcraft 3 and Far Cry.

How do you integrate instructions creatively, without being overbearing but still getting the message across?

Tutorials

In literature and cinema, it is often the bad guys who captivate us the most. In video games, you can actually become them: the iconic Dark Vader (Star Wars: the Force Unleashed), a violent psychopath (Man Hunt), or even an immigration officer (Paper Please). Trinity and Yann Leroux plunge into the dark side of video games.

In literature and cinema, it is often the bad guys who captivate us the most. In video games, you can actually become them

Bad Guys

Above, below, left, right. Our sense of direction comes naturally to us. But how do you create this sense of realistic, physical space in video games? And if gravity is optional, how can a game mantain a sense of realism?

How do you create a sense of realistic, physical space in video games?

Orientation

History is a playground for game designers. Sybile Collas (Narrative designer) and Trinity go back to WW1 in Battlefield 1, rewrite history with Wolfenstein: The New Order, and discover an imagined history in Bioshock Infinite. Utopia, dystopia or uchrony, why these genres so compelling?

History is a playground for game designers

Alternate History

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From an incredibly varied selection of 19th century postcards, the Paris of the Belle Epoque (1871 – 1914) comes to life. Street-photography captured Parisians from all walks of life and conveyed the optimism and elegance of the period.

From an incredibly varied selection of 19th century postcards, the Paris of the Belle Epoque (1871 – 1914) comes to life.

Paris in the Belle Epoque

The Berlin Palace, home of the Prussian royal family for centuries and an imposing presence on the Berlin skyline, was badly damaged by bombing in 1945. After the war the East German authorities demolished the ruins and built the Palace of the Republic, the seat of the parliament of the GDR.
After German reunification this communist-era edifice was torn down to make way for a replica of the baroque palace, finally completed and reopened to the public in June 2021. The controversial building houses the Humboldt Forum, a museum of non-European art, itself controversial in an age where the debate is raging over the restitution of art and artefacts from former European colonies.

The Humboldt Forum

Berlin's controversial new (old) palace houses a controversial museum, the Humboldt Forum with its collection of non-European art.

A New Palace for Berlin

Portrait of a visionary fashion photographer, celebrated in the 1950s and 1960s for his novel and elegant images.

F. C Gundlach  - Master of  Fashion Photography

Death and the devil, nudity and eroticism, horror in blazing colours, Gothic art cast a spell over people 500 years ago. In these image-poor times, art deliberately and skilfully played with the emotions of the viewer, triggering fear, devotion, but also rapture. Art documentary on German gothic art of the late-middle ages.

The Genius of Gothic Art

Four women comic book artists from the Arab World, Tunisian Nadia Khiari, Lebanese Lena Merhej, Moroccan Zainab Fasiki and Egyptian Deena Mohamed open the doors of their studios and tell us about their experiences and their struggles. Ten years after the beginning of the Arab Spring how can they express themselves in the medium as Arab women?

Four women comic book artists from the Arab World open the doors of their studios and tell us about their experiences and their struggles. 

4 Arab Women Comic Book Artists

Portrait of German author Ernst Jünger (1895-1998), the great stylist of 20th century German literature for some, a precursor of National Socialism for others. The writer was a critic of the Weimar Republic and remains a controversial figure in Germany to this day.

Between Nature and Nationalism

Portrait of German author Ernst Jünger (1895-1998), the great stylist of 20th century German literature for some, a precursor to National Socialism for others. 

Ernst Jünger

Love is political, says journalist and author Şeyda Kurt. In her book Radical Tenderness she does away with the myth of romantic love. Ultimately, the widespread ideal of romantic, two-person love only serves to preserve existing patriarchal power relations, she says. Maria Schrader's new movie Ich bin Dein Mensch revolves around a humanoid robot with artificial intelligence that is programmed to serve as the 'perfect partner'.  Plus: Philosopher Peter Trawny, who says that freedom and love are incompatible, and LBGTQI+ groups fight for the freedom to love in Islam. 

Twist

Love is political, says journalist and author Şeyda Kurt. In her book Radical Tenderness she does away with the myth of romantic love

Why is Love so Hard?

Is Saint Thomas' touching of Jesus' wounds homoerotic? It's certainly in stark contrast to Mary Magdalene, who is told not to touch him and spends the rest of her life living in a cave.

Look but Don't Touch

Is Saint Thomas' touching of Jesus' wounds homoerotic?

The incredulity of Saint Thomas - Caravaggio

An author once described this work as a portrait of a woman done by a painter who had forgotten to paint the feet, legs, thighs, stomach, hips, chest, hands, arms, shoulders, neck and head. 

The Origin of the World by Gustave Courbet

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Amsterdam’s famous red-light district attracts hordes of noisy tourists making the neighbourhood unliveable for many of its residents. With the city authorities considering measures to push sex workers out of the area, does this spell the end for the historic trade in the city centre?

Amsterdam’s famous red-light district attracts hordes of noisy tourists making the neighbourhood unliveable for many of its residents.

Re: Mass Tourism in Amsterdam's Red Light District

A century ago the Treaty of Trianon formally ended World War I between the Kingdom of Hungary and the allied powers. Hungary lost two-thirds of its territory at Trianon which is still a contentious subject in Hungarian politics and society.

Hungary's Trauma

Second or third children born illegally during China’s One Child Policy are banned from marrying, having children or simply boarding a train. Condemned to a non-life, these ghost children do not officially exist according to the Chinese state. ARTE Reportage goes in search of these ‘Haihaizi’,  those children who should not have been born.

Arte Reportage

Second or third children born illegally during China’s One Child Policy are banned from marrying, having children or simply boarding a train. 

China's Ghost Children

In Myanmar the veneration of the Buddha is a popular practice which takes many forms. In the second city of Mandalay, craftspeople make thousands of statues of Buddha in the local white marble to satisfy the demand coming from temples and monasteries throughout Asia.

GEO Reportage

Mandalay's Buddha Statues

Ayn Rand was a survivor of Communism, and as a result, her writings fiercely advocate uncompromising individualism. Her high profile fans include Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and Angelina Jolie.

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Ayn Rand was a survivor of Communism, and as a result, her writings fiercely advocate uncompromising individualism

Ayn Rand, Capitalism Guru

From the late 1990s, Rødhåd laid the foundations for his DJ career. His perfectionist mixes of dub techno and percussive grooves earned him widespread recognition and since 2010, he has been a resident of Berlin's Berghain.
At the same time, Vril took the techno scene by storm, almost out of nowhere. As a producer, he pursues a timeless sound aesthetic that serves no trend in the genre. With his energetic live sets, he has impressed audiences across the world.
The techno giants perform from the post-industrial space of the Ruhr Museum. 

Stone Techno X Zollverein

Techno giants Rødhåd and Vril perform from the post-industrial space of the Ruhr Museum.

Vril & Rødhåd: "Out Of Place Artefacts"

Pasta made from worm flour, grass-hopper salads or muesli bars with cricket… Insect food products could be appearing on our plates soon if Laetitia Giroud and Julien Foucher get their way. 360° Geo visited the couple at their insect farm in Spain.

Insect food products could be appearing on our plates soon if insect farmers Laetitia Giroud and Julien Foucher get their way.

360° Geo: Insects - the Food of the Future

Glaciers contain essential data on the climate of previous eras. The melting ice is a major concern for scientists, who are racing against time. The presenters of Xenius survey a cave in the Stubai Alps, discover the working methods of glaciologists, and learn about the wealth of information hidden in the layers of ice.

Xenius

The melting of the glaciers is a major concern for scientists, who are racing against time

Glaciers in a Changing Climate

Better known by his stage name Kyteman, Dutchman Colin Benders has had an impressive career on the hip-hop scene. More recently, his talent has also been noted on the techno scene.

Colin Benders

Millions of people worldwide suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), an extreme and persistent exhaustion for which there is no cure. An investigation into a little known illness focusing on the experiences of three individuals suffering from CFS: Ralf, Sonja and Aileen.

ME/CFS – A Misunderstood Illness

 An investigation into little understood illness focusing on the experiences of three individuals suffering from CFS: Ralf, Sonja and Aileen.

Living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Every year Russia celebrates Victory day on 9 May to mark the end of the Second World War with great pomp and ceremony. The story of a steadfast Soviet Union defeating the forces of fascism looms large in the Russian imagination, a story that Vladimir Putin uses to his own ends.

ARTE Reportage

 The story of a steadfast Soviet Union defeating the forces of fascism looms large in the Russian imagination, a story that Vladimir Putin uses to his own ends.

Russia: Putin's World View

The Franco-Venezuelan singer’s performances are as emotional as they are upbeat, impressing audiences with her refreshing electro-pop blend of European and Latin American sounds

Nancy Jazz Pulsations

La Chica

Elton John may have been knighted, but his rock ‘n’ roll past is less than noble. Three minutes to round up Elton’s Captain Fantastic past.

TAPE

Elton John

Freddie Mercury and Queen brought Queer culture into the family home in a series of audacious music videos and live performances shown on TV at a time when homosexuality was still taboo in the media.

TAPE: Queen

Conductor Raphaël Pichon and director Cyril Teste team up to bring Beethoven’s Fidelio to the stage of the Opéra Comique.

Beethoven’s only opera conducted by Raphaël Pichon.

Beethoven's "Fidelio" at the Opéra Comique

The Italian island of Stromboli is home to just 300 people, mainly farmers and fishermen. They fish using sustainable, traditional methods that generates little profit, but empowers this small community to live outside of mainstream capitalism.

The Italian island of Stromboli is home to fishermen who live using sustainable, traditional methods

Stromboli - Land of Fire

As Daniel Hope has been awarded the distinguished Opus Klassik prize, we celebrate with highlights from his much-loved lockdown series, Hope@Home.

With Daniel Hope, Christoph Israel and Guests

The Best of Hope@Home

The world's tech giants - the likes of Facebook, Apple or Google - now have a political role to play. They can curb misinformation or spread it, along with all of the massive social issues that entails. An in-depth analysis of social media uses and regulations in China, the United States, and Europe.

Mapping the World

An in-depth analysis of social media uses and regulations in China, the United States, Europe and Russia.

The Geopolitics of Social Media

Sting appears at the Reeperbahn Festival opening gala in Hamburg performing "Rushing Water", a track from his forthcoming album "The Bridge", due for release on 19 November. Discover the track exclusively! As a bonus, one of the Police's biggest hits "Every Breath You Take".

Reeperbahn Festival 2021

Sting appears at the Reeperbahn Festival opening gala in Hamburg performing "Rushing Water", a track from his forthcoming album "The Bridge", due for release on 19 November. 

Art of Gaming

Art of Gaming

Lights, Cameras, Action!

Virtual Reality

Open Worlds

Water

Virtual Ball Games

Fighting Games

Around the World

Dream of Virtual Sheep

Sex in Video GamesArt of Gaming

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