'Playing' with Gay Sex: Exploring Sexual Play in Queer Pornographic Video Games Through Sexual Scripting
Lead Research Organisation:
Birmingham City University
Department Name: ADM Birmingham School of Media
Abstract
This research explores sexual play within queer pornographic video games through sexual scripting - a concept prescribing sexual conducts or 'rules' of sex (Marshall et al., 2018: 16) - focusing on mechanics and in-game elements using pornography for player pleasure. Play progresses through 'rules' limiting the player (Salen and Zimmerman, 2004); Queerness challenge these structures through critiquing powers shaping LGBTQ+ subjects within play contexts (Ruberg, 2018: 544-545). Investigating sexual play in queer porn games explores complexities of play and navigation of sexual identities (representation and physical) within power structures.
Sexual play is action motivated towards satisfying individual desires (Paasonen, 2018). This can explore player sexual agency as contested as in-game parameters may define their behaviours and pleasure. Now, gaming adopts elements of sex and pornography as play features (Lauteria and Wysocki, 2015: 1-2). Considering these as structures building pleasure, exploring queer sexual play in these games may indicate transformative experiences (Salen and Zimmerman, 2004; Tanenbaum and Tanenbaum, 2015) or transgressive, rejecting "implied players" (Aarseth, 2007; Jorgensen and Karlsen, 2018).
While locating other PC games to explore through websites Steam and Itch.io, the project currently analyses:
- Hurt Me Plenty (Robert Yang, n.d.)
- The Sims 4 (Maxis, 2014)
- Coming Out on Top (Obscurasoft, 2014)
- Full Service (Mazjojo Productions, 2020)
Project Research Questions:
- How can sexual conduct/practice be enforced through game boundaries?
- How can virtual/physical spaces restrict player sexual behaviour?
- How are homoerotic gazes fixed to sexualise gay men in gaming?
- How does this sexualisation arise from gay porn iconographies?
Using secondary literature, the project will critically analyse in-game elements through semiotic and contextual approaches, focusing on explicit character constructions and play mechanics. This aims to explore sexual play as socially determined from a researcher's perspective. The qualitative discussion will then be analysed alongside autoethnography and online discussion threads (generated on Reddit) describing players' emotional responses regarding these games and features.
Sexual play is action motivated towards satisfying individual desires (Paasonen, 2018). This can explore player sexual agency as contested as in-game parameters may define their behaviours and pleasure. Now, gaming adopts elements of sex and pornography as play features (Lauteria and Wysocki, 2015: 1-2). Considering these as structures building pleasure, exploring queer sexual play in these games may indicate transformative experiences (Salen and Zimmerman, 2004; Tanenbaum and Tanenbaum, 2015) or transgressive, rejecting "implied players" (Aarseth, 2007; Jorgensen and Karlsen, 2018).
While locating other PC games to explore through websites Steam and Itch.io, the project currently analyses:
- Hurt Me Plenty (Robert Yang, n.d.)
- The Sims 4 (Maxis, 2014)
- Coming Out on Top (Obscurasoft, 2014)
- Full Service (Mazjojo Productions, 2020)
Project Research Questions:
- How can sexual conduct/practice be enforced through game boundaries?
- How can virtual/physical spaces restrict player sexual behaviour?
- How are homoerotic gazes fixed to sexualise gay men in gaming?
- How does this sexualisation arise from gay porn iconographies?
Using secondary literature, the project will critically analyse in-game elements through semiotic and contextual approaches, focusing on explicit character constructions and play mechanics. This aims to explore sexual play as socially determined from a researcher's perspective. The qualitative discussion will then be analysed alongside autoethnography and online discussion threads (generated on Reddit) describing players' emotional responses regarding these games and features.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| John Mercer (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Harrison Charles (Student) |