Mass Effect Criticism

OK. I want everyone to watch this clip from Fox News about the newest controversy over Mass Effect. I have never seen such an example of shoddy journalism. Oh wait, yes I have, the jackass over at townhall. Now for those of you that haven't played this game, it is a space based, open ended RPG created by Bioware. I have played this game all the way through, 38+ hours and I have seen the sex scene that they are talking about. All you see is a side shot (no nipple) of a boob and the occasional butt shot, and a little bump and grind. This scene lasts about 1 minute, and if you don't play your cards right in the game by talking to the person in a way that relates to them, you will never see it.

Now to the problems I have with this piece.

1. "Contains full digital nudity" and "allows the player to engage in graphic sex and allows the gamer to decide how they interact, you know what I mean". Not true in the least, I've seen more nudity on cable shows (Dennis Franz' ass...was that ever really necessary), and it is a non interactive scene.

2. When the "journalist" is talking about the parental controls, she states that you have to hover over them and says something about the Internet opening pandora's box. The parental controls on the 360 and other systems make it so a game, movie or downloaded content cannot be accessed over a certain parental chosen level without the parents knowledge or control code. Never mind the fact that you can't use the 360 to access the Internet or the web directly. I guess having parents do their job is just too damn hard. Even when I was in high school in the mid eighties, our cable box had a key that would lock out the channels you didn't want kids to see.

3. When the "expert" states that "they don't show women having any value other than their sexuality" and "it's a man that decides how many women he wants to be with". Let's see, you can play either as a man or woman. Of the 6 squadmates that you end up with 3 are women, and the only combat specialists is female. There are only 2 possible romances for any character, and the other really will have nothing to do with you once you choose the other.

4. The "journalist" states that the website makes you put in your age as the verification to see the videos and there is no graphic content. Soooooo, your point is?

5. I love the fact that the "expert" does not care that you can play the entire game without choosing to have sex, of course all boys are going to not choose sex, and that there is a study that kids who play games can't separate games from reality. I guess this is the part where I grunt, scratch my balls then hit my fiancee on the head with a caveman club and drag her to the bedroom by her hair. Where did they get this lady, is she Jack Thompson's daughter? The "study" she's talking about can be found here. Let me get this straight, all the subjects realized that its not reality so what's the harm and that's the problem.

6. I love how the "journalist" states that you have to check the back for the rating of a game. Let's see....everyone look at the front cover of any game they have in their house. What do you see in the corner. I'll wait.... Ohhh, there's a rating on the front. Now take a look at a DVD, where does it tell you its rated "R". In micro-type at the bottom....on the back. Do some research dumas.

7. Homework time....Somebody find the "Princess Enchanted Bride" game that Clark Kent is talking about and the "journalist" is agreeing about. He might be talking about "Barbie as Princess Bride". Oh yeah, don't get me started on Barbie.

OK. I've ranted way too long. Maybe I'll rant some more in the comments.

/rant off