The Sims 2 deemed X-Rated by Ashcroft

Memnoch · 05-16-2004, 01:47 PM

Geez, games are resembling real life more and more every day, aren't they. Check this out.

Electronic Arts announced the release date for its much anticipated followed up to The Sims, despite a recent move by the Bush Administration and Christian groups to block the game from store shelves.

The Sims 2, which is scheduled to hit stores this summer, is drawing harsh criticism for its realistic depiction of sex and adulthood themes like abortion, gambling, sexual disease, and drug use.

The sequel to the best-selling PC game of all time lets you create and control your own virtual people and influence the outcome of their lives. It contains all of the features and challenges of the original Sims, but with better artificial intelligence and more mature subject matter.

The latter is drawing the ire of US Attorney General John Ashcroft, who labeled the upcoming game “obscene by anyone’s standards,” in a speech to the Christian Coalition of America on Thursday.

From infancy to childhood, and from teenage life to adulthood, you can guide your virtual character through any of the following situations:

Two virtual characters can have sex (in any number of positions). You can even have sex with multiple partners.
If you choose not to wear a condom, you can produce a baby that looks like you and your virtual partner. If you decide that you don’t want the baby, you can give it up for adoption. The Sims virtual world also has any number of abortion clinics to choose from if you decide that an abortion is best for you and your partner.

If your character has sex with multiple partners, you can run the risk of getting STDs like herpes, gonorrhea, and HIV. The Sims virtual world will contain support groups for full-blown AIDs patients.
If a drug dealer approaches your character you can purchase drugs. You can even choose to smoke (or shoot) the drugs alone or with the dealer in a back alley or crack house.

If your character quits smoking, it may develop physical side effects like shaking and sweating. You can counter these effects and make your character “happy” by picking up another habit like gambling, drinking and, ironically, video gaming.

In his speech Thursday, Ashcroft blamed an “immoral and money hungry” video game industry for trying corrupt teenagers with graphic depictions of sex and violence. He also went on to blame parents for not keeping a proper eye on their children.

“This administration will do everything it can to make sure this garbage does not get into the hands of our children,” said Ashcroft. “And we won’t stop until the last drop of immorality is drained from our movies, our music, our television, our radios, and yes, even our video games.”

Source: http://www.liquidgeneration.com/rumo...ms_xrated.html

Comments?

Oblivion437 · 05-16-2004, 04:53 PM

If there is a Mrs. Ashcroft, they're likely sleeping in seperate beds...

Illumina Drathiran'ar · 05-16-2004, 05:19 PM

If this is an official speech, I'm sitting here wondering why there isn't an entire transcript of it... I've Googled some phrasings and haven't been able to find much. Could this be a hoax? I have a lovely rant prepared if it's true...

johnny · 05-16-2004, 07:29 PM

Heheh... gotta have that one. I'll create a raging, cokesnorting alcoholic, who robs old ladies' purses to get his buzz. This is gonna be cool.

Dreamer128 · 05-16-2004, 07:30 PM

Liquidgeneration people.. liquidgeneration..

DBear · 05-16-2004, 11:32 PM

I can't think of a more boring premise for a game.

[img]graemlins/yawn.gif[/img] :sleepy: :zzz:

Azred · 05-17-2004, 12:53 AM

[img]graemlins/erm.gif[/img] A video game designed to let you role-play, of all things, real life. [img]graemlins/saywhat.gif[/img] I suppose art does imitate life some of the time....

Rumor or not, this could actually be a useful tool for more effective parenting. Buy the game for your children so they may safely and quickly see the potentially dreadful consequences to poor choices. [img]graemlins/beigesmilewinkgrin.gif[/img]

Memnoch · 05-17-2004, 04:13 AM

Hmmm...maybe Ashcroft has a point. Here's a screenshot.

Not that it bothers me...I think I'm well and truly over the age of consent...

Dundee Slaytern · 05-17-2004, 05:50 AM

I'll take this report with a grain of salt.

johnny · 05-17-2004, 05:59 AM

Nice pic Memnoch, personally i would have put a sandwich in the balloon over the guys' head. [img]graemlins/showoff.gif[/img]

05-16-2004, 01:47 PM	#1
Memnoch Ironworks Moderator Join Date: February 28, 2001 Location: Boston/Sydney Posts: 11,771	Geez, games are resembling real life more and more every day, aren't they. Check this out. Electronic Arts announced the release date for its much anticipated followed up to The Sims, despite a recent move by the Bush Administration and Christian groups to block the game from store shelves. The Sims 2, which is scheduled to hit stores this summer, is drawing harsh criticism for its realistic depiction of sex and adulthood themes like abortion, gambling, sexual disease, and drug use. The sequel to the best-selling PC game of all time lets you create and control your own virtual people and influence the outcome of their lives. It contains all of the features and challenges of the original Sims, but with better artificial intelligence and more mature subject matter. The latter is drawing the ire of US Attorney General John Ashcroft, who labeled the upcoming game “obscene by anyone’s standards,” in a speech to the Christian Coalition of America on Thursday. From infancy to childhood, and from teenage life to adulthood, you can guide your virtual character through any of the following situations: Two virtual characters can have sex (in any number of positions). You can even have sex with multiple partners. If you choose not to wear a condom, you can produce a baby that looks like you and your virtual partner. If you decide that you don’t want the baby, you can give it up for adoption. The Sims virtual world also has any number of abortion clinics to choose from if you decide that an abortion is best for you and your partner. If your character has sex with multiple partners, you can run the risk of getting STDs like herpes, gonorrhea, and HIV. The Sims virtual world will contain support groups for full-blown AIDs patients. If a drug dealer approaches your character you can purchase drugs. You can even choose to smoke (or shoot) the drugs alone or with the dealer in a back alley or crack house. If your character quits smoking, it may develop physical side effects like shaking and sweating. You can counter these effects and make your character “happy” by picking up another habit like gambling, drinking and, ironically, video gaming. In his speech Thursday, Ashcroft blamed an “immoral and money hungry” video game industry for trying corrupt teenagers with graphic depictions of sex and violence. He also went on to blame parents for not keeping a proper eye on their children. “This administration will do everything it can to make sure this garbage does not get into the hands of our children,” said Ashcroft. “And we won’t stop until the last drop of immorality is drained from our movies, our music, our television, our radios, and yes, even our video games.” Source: http://www.liquidgeneration.com/rumo...ms_xrated.html Comments? __________________

05-16-2004, 04:53 PM	#2
Oblivion437 Baaz Draconian Join Date: June 17, 2002 Location: NY Age: 37 Posts: 723	If there is a Mrs. Ashcroft, they're likely sleeping in seperate beds... __________________ [img]\"http://www.jtdistributing.com/pics/tshirts/experts%20copy.jpg\" alt=\" - \" />

05-16-2004, 05:19 PM	#3
Illumina Drathiran'ar Apophis Join Date: July 10, 2002 Location: I can see the Manhattan skyline from my window. Age: 38 Posts: 4,673	If this is an official speech, I'm sitting here wondering why there isn't an entire transcript of it... I've Googled some phrasings and haven't been able to find much. Could this be a hoax? I have a lovely rant prepared if it's true... __________________ http://cavestory.org PLAY THIS GAME. Seriously. http://xkcd.com/386/ http://www.xkcd.com/406/ My heart is like my coffee. Black, bitter, icy, and with a straw.

05-16-2004, 07:29 PM	#4
johnny 40th Level Warrior Join Date: April 15, 2002 Location: Utrecht The Netherlands Age: 58 Posts: 16,981	Heheh... gotta have that one. I'll create a raging, cokesnorting alcoholic, who robs old ladies' purses to get his buzz. This is gonna be cool. __________________

05-16-2004, 11:32 PM	#6
DBear Drow Warrior Join Date: April 1, 2004 Location: trapped inside this octavarium Age: 57 Posts: 251	I can't think of a more boring premise for a game. [img]graemlins/yawn.gif[/img] :sleepy: :zzz: __________________ <i>\"You have been sat here far too long for the good that you are doing. Depart, I say, and let us be done with you. In the name of God, go!\"</i>\"--Oliver Cromwell

05-16-2004, 07:30 PM	#5
Dreamer128 Dracolisk Join Date: March 21, 2001 Location: Europe Age: 39 Posts: 6,136	Liquidgeneration people.. liquidgeneration..

05-17-2004, 12:53 AM	#7
Azred Drow Priestess Join Date: March 13, 2001 Location: a hidden sanctorum high above the metroplex Age: 54 Posts: 4,037	[img]graemlins/erm.gif[/img] A video game designed to let you role-play, of all things, real life. [img]graemlins/saywhat.gif[/img] I suppose art does imitate life some of the time.... Rumor or not, this could actually be a useful tool for more effective parenting. Buy the game for your children so they may safely and quickly see the potentially dreadful consequences to poor choices. [img]graemlins/beigesmilewinkgrin.gif[/img] __________________ Everything may be explained by a conspiracy theory. All conspiracy theories are true. No matter how thinly you slice it, it's still bologna.

05-17-2004, 04:13 AM	#8
Memnoch Ironworks Moderator Join Date: February 28, 2001 Location: Boston/Sydney Posts: 11,771	Hmmm...maybe Ashcroft has a point. Here's a screenshot. Not that it bothers me...I think I'm well and truly over the age of consent... __________________

05-17-2004, 05:50 AM	#9
Dundee Slaytern Ironworks Moderator Join Date: June 10, 2001 Location: Pasir Ris, Singapore Age: 41 Posts: 11,063	I'll take this report with a grain of salt.

05-17-2004, 05:59 AM	#10
johnny 40th Level Warrior Join Date: April 15, 2002 Location: Utrecht The Netherlands Age: 58 Posts: 16,981	Nice pic Memnoch, personally i would have put a sandwich in the balloon over the guys' head. [img]graemlins/showoff.gif[/img] __________________

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