Rez and Playing Around

Some time ago I got into an argument with another Internet writer about how games can distinguish themselves from other forms of art (or media, if you prefer.) I concluded that where stories are told, photos are seen, and movies are watched; following that, games are played, and that play is required for the full experience. When it comes to sex, most video games are still stumbling over how to show and tell the act. Few games are able to approach sex as a part of play; one unique game that has is Rez.

Rez is a shooting game that takes place in a fantastical cyberscape filled with flying ships made of colorful geometric shapes. The player controls a wire-frame humanoid who soars through this neon-lit battlefield. The player floats their targeting reticule over the geometric ships and presses a button until the ships explode, and everything is set to a thumping techno soundtrack. Nothing about Rez is outwardly erotic, but within its layers is the concept of synesthesia, a blending of sensory inputs, and this cocktail of stimulation is enhanced by Rez's approach towards games and touch. Enter: Trance Vibration.

The notorious Trance Vibrator peripheral shipped with the Playstation 2 version of Rez. It is the key that unlocks the sexual potential of Rez. As the levels and the music in Rez grow in intensity, the Trance Vibrator quietly trembles along with the action. The game's designers may have claimed that the Trance Vibrator provides a great foot massage, but as cell phones, electric toothbrushes, and dodgy washing machines have proven, anything in this world that trembles will eventually wind up caressing one's moist n' tenders.

Thusly, Rez is able to introduce sex as a game mechanic. Instead of trying to awkwardly play out a pre-fab sex scene with video game mannequins, Rez can offer a gentle touch as a reward for playing well. When games try to show explicit sex they run the risk that the player might get distracted enough to stop playing and...do something else...that requires their hands...and they can't continue with the game for a while. Rez's sexuality is subtle, yet intense, like a thigh massage in the dark. The only way it succeeds is with full participation from the player (or players, in the case of couples.)

Games still have a way to go in showing sexuality, but I'm interested to see how they can include sex as a part of play and not just show and tell. Rez, almost 10 years old, is still ahead of its time in how it lets you play with sex. It's comfortable in being a fun action game, but the invitation for a little more is always open, if you're willing to join in.

What I'm Playing:

• Main Campaign: Final Fantasy 13, Heavy Rain
• Side Quest: The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom