I was struck by a nugget of information which opened Gamepro's interview with God of War III's Sig Asmussen (That's the kind of name a fella named Cole Stryker can get behind) regarding the game's use of sexual mini-games.
Will the sexy mini-games return for God of War 3? Yes, that is my first question. [laughter]
Stig Asmussen: It's definitely something we're looking at. The sex mini-games are a double-edged sword: we're damned if we do, we're damned if we don't. If we do include a sex mini-game and don't add anything new to it, then people will say it's getting old. If we don't include the sex mini-game, then the fans will be in an uproar. We're trying to come up with a clever new way of advancing it. If it works, and it plays into the experience, then we'll do it. If it doesn't work, I have no problem saying "this is turning into a gimmick" and putting those resources somewhere else.
Really? Fans will be in an uproar if they don't include a sex mini-game. Can it be true that developers spend so much time hearing about these controversies from the mainstream media that they actually believe controversial content to be relevant to gamers? So much so that they would be in an "uproar" if God of War III didn't include one? How out of touch with reality can one possibly be?
Speaking as someone who mildly enjoyed the first God of War, the sex mini-game was a stupid diversion. Back in '05, Gamepro summarizes:
In the Beginning of Act 2, there are 2 women in your bed when you are inside your ship. If you jump on the bed, A circle will appear above the bed, indicating a Mini-game. Press Circle, and the game will start. All you see is the vase, but as you get further, the vase will shake more and more, until it falls and breaks. you have to press the buttons as it commands it. closer to the end, you have to rotate the Left Analog Stick. If you win, the first time, you get a large amount of Red orbs. Everytime afterwards, you get 5 more.
Stupid and boring. It's a quick-time event. Why are we even having this discussion?
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