No, it’s not all about sex in games. But, sometimes games use sexuality in a realistic way – to show an intimate connection or possible alliances. This isn’t Game of Thrones style sex for sex’s sake gratuity; The Witcher shows sex for a reason. And lots of it.
According to the Guardian, the game starts off with a sex scene, but this one done on purpose. Senior game designer Damien Monhier explains:
People might think we’re putting sex into the opening scene for no good reason. No, no, no. We are establishing that your character was intimate with this woman recently in order to plant in your mind that, at very least, he must enjoy her company. […] Through sex we have shown that this is a person who Geralt would be compelled to chase after if she went missing
A scene of sex followed by flirtation and intimacy between Geralt and Yennefer? It makes sense if you know about the story and the lore, plus it’s great that the team add context to why you’d chase after her if you don’t already know about their relationship. Considering how vast the open world is in The Witcher 3, the sex scenes give more urgency to the various activities.
For example, we tell the player that Geralt’s lover Yennefer was recently seen in the area and that you should look for clues. This framing gives the player permission to take on other quests while still feeling a vague pressure to continue the search. It’s a writing challenge that is almost unique to video games.
[…] It’s been a massive challenge. Before, players would follow the story as in a novel or television series, moving from A to B to C. Now players can go A-D-B and we must ensue that the story makes sense regardless of the order in which it’s approached. It’s incredibly complicated.
Added to the complication is the fact that player choices can alter the world around them. No wonder the game keeps getting delayed – that’s a lot of stuff to test and ensure everything works regardless of how players approach it.
The team at CD Projekt Red did 16 hours of sex scene motion capture for The Witcher 3. Yes, that’s a lot of bumping and grinding, but it also means that we should see a Geralt who is true to his character from the books, one who loves the women he gets close to and becomes intimate with them. It isn’t a cheap excuse for sexuality like in some other games – while there may be ulterior motives to the sexuality (on either side of the coin), it feels distinctly human.
Last Updated: January 29, 2015
Mandom (Umar)
January 29, 2015 at 09:05
16 hours?? DAMN….Who’s the motion actor? Sting??
Dutch Matrix
January 29, 2015 at 09:23
No. His Brakpan brother ‘Steek’
RinceThis
January 29, 2015 at 09:52
HAHAHA!
HvR
January 29, 2015 at 10:32
Wonder if they will add Kinect support?
http://i.imgur.com/XRg5GYw.jpg
Ghost In The Rift
January 29, 2015 at 10:32
16hours??with a ginger??No sweat:-P
HvR
January 29, 2015 at 10:33
Run Rince RUn
vicky john
January 29, 2015 at 14:28
Lucky bugger
Rock789
January 29, 2015 at 09:10
“16 hours of sex scene motion capture”. There’s a joke in there, I’m sure of it! 😉 🙂
On a serious note, I am so hyped for this game!! Why can’t it be May already?! Really looking forward to getting stuck into the game and just losing myself to its world…
Hammersteyn
January 29, 2015 at 09:12
Apparently you fight monsters in this game as well
Her Highness the Hipster
January 29, 2015 at 09:16
that’s what this article is about *wags eyebrows*
Raptor Rants A Lot:Original #7
January 29, 2015 at 09:17
really? There are tentacles involved then?
Hammersteyn
January 29, 2015 at 09:22
One
RinceThis
January 29, 2015 at 09:53
Casts @umarbastra:disqus level 18
Hammersteyn
January 29, 2015 at 09:22
hahaha
Lord Chaos
January 29, 2015 at 09:18
The monster of sex addiction?
Rock789
January 29, 2015 at 09:19
A mere side quest… The main plot point is fornication! 😉 🙂
Mandom (Umar)
January 29, 2015 at 09:19
16 hours of monster fighting
Quo Vadis?
January 29, 2015 at 09:27
Shouldn’t this be renamed to “Lazy Larry: The Middle Ages”?
Rock789
January 29, 2015 at 09:35
Larry Laffer is “Geralt of Rivia!”
Now THAT would be a plot twist of note at the end of the game!
Quo Vadis?
January 29, 2015 at 09:48
Ok, so the origins then? His great ancestor was Geralt, who bewitched panties off of ladies. Then, somehow, the gene pool got diluted. Badly…
Rock789
January 29, 2015 at 09:50
Yeah… That’s where it’ll get messy (literally!). 😉
Quo Vadis?
January 29, 2015 at 09:53
We need to copyright this sh!t RIGHT NOW!
Spy Master Tokashi
January 29, 2015 at 10:26
Nothing beats fighting monsters with your “sword”
vicky john
January 29, 2015 at 14:32
So 16 hrs matters with monsters too.. lol.. world’s first bizarre game..rofl!!
Hammersteyn
January 29, 2015 at 14:35
hahahaha
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 29, 2015 at 09:12
I still don’t understand what’s with the DA:I-I’m-covered-in-baby-oil look.
Mandom (Umar)
January 29, 2015 at 09:12
It’s sex sweat
Rock789
January 29, 2015 at 09:15
Or there’s that… You have a filthy mind! 😉 :p
Mandom (Umar)
January 29, 2015 at 09:18
Wah! We were all thinking it 😀
Brady miaau
January 29, 2015 at 09:31
No. no we were not all thinking it
Mandom (Umar)
January 29, 2015 at 09:32
I see through ALL your lies !
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 29, 2015 at 09:27
What’s that? #foreverSP
Captain JJ the crafter
January 29, 2015 at 09:28
I think it’s when you’re so nervous around a girl that you break out in sweat just before running away.
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 29, 2015 at 09:29
Oh right, I didn’t know there was an actual term for it. Thought it was just me.
Mandom (Umar)
January 29, 2015 at 09:34
It’s like normal sweat, only it reeks of disappointment and dissatisfaction
Captain JJ the crafter
January 29, 2015 at 09:35
So it’s her sweat then.
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 29, 2015 at 09:37
Where would she get the time?
RinceThis
January 29, 2015 at 09:54
BOOM!
Rock789
January 29, 2015 at 09:15
Maybe he was oiling himself up when this screenshot was taken? You know – to keep his skin soft and supple. 😉
Her Highness the Hipster
January 29, 2015 at 09:16
judging by the towel, i think he was in the bath with her. he seems to do that a lot in the books…
Hammersteyn
January 29, 2015 at 09:21
I barely fit in the bath in my house. Let alone two people. Games with their unrealistic depictions!
Raptor Rants A Lot:Original #7
January 29, 2015 at 09:27
Baths should be depicted correctly!!! You are so right!
Let’s start a Tropes Vs Baths kickstarter! People need to know!
Quo Vadis?
January 29, 2015 at 09:28
I’ll give you 50c right now for that! (horrible month, will give more next month) 😀
Captain JJ the crafter
January 29, 2015 at 09:23
He does!
Brady miaau
January 29, 2015 at 09:30
How about the bath, elven or something ruins, in the Witcher 2 with his “True” Love? Tris rocks
Captain JJ the crafter
January 29, 2015 at 09:33
Geralt’s only true love is sex. ;P
Quo Vadis?
January 29, 2015 at 09:34
Shouldn’t most of us then be named Geralt? hahahahahaha
Brady miaau
January 29, 2015 at 09:41
Yes, yes, I meant the scene itself. It was pretty well done.
RinceThis
January 29, 2015 at 09:54
It’s the only way to win over Sea Point in Cape Town?
Dutch Matrix
January 29, 2015 at 09:13
As a man, I hate how this game objectifies men! Geralt should have a beer belly! And go bald! And burp! And Fart! And have trouble talking to women!
Rock789
January 29, 2015 at 09:19
You and me both, bro… Such objectification! Bah!!
Hammersteyn
January 29, 2015 at 09:25
*buys a new shirt. (refresh)
Hammersteyn
January 29, 2015 at 09:21
I don’t have trouble talking to women, I mean my mouth opens but I speak Martian or something
Jo
January 29, 2015 at 13:09
With a shirt like that, no wonder. 🙂
With woman you have to push the right buttons.
A A Y B X A RT
Hammersteyn
January 29, 2015 at 13:12
LOL!!!
Captain JJ the crafter
January 29, 2015 at 09:24
Careful, you’ll be labelled sexist for mentioning that what goes for women should apply to men too.
Quo Vadis?
January 29, 2015 at 09:24
And laugh loudly at farts, and make wildly inappropriate comments at the worst of times! Or maybe that’s just me :/
Captain JJ the crafter
January 29, 2015 at 09:25
I’m with you there on the comments.
Weanerdog
January 29, 2015 at 09:26
Damn SJW
HairyEwok
January 29, 2015 at 09:44
Get in mah belly socially awkward Geralt…… Yeeeaaah, no that’s not going to happen.
Captain JJ the crafter
January 29, 2015 at 09:22
With good dialogue and writing you can still establish that connection without the scenes.
Rock789
January 29, 2015 at 09:28
Good dialogue? In modern games?! Lies, I tell you!! :p
Brady miaau
January 29, 2015 at 09:36
No, really. Even Witcher 1, which at times had painful dialogue, was way better than most games
Rock789
January 29, 2015 at 09:49
Nah, I know. Just messing with JJ. 😉
I play my games for the story / narrative, for the escapism and, of course, for the enjoyment. I think it’s why games like Evolve, etc. don’t seem to appeal to me too much – I don’t care about MP. And if that is the game’s main selling point, it immediately loses something in my eye! #SPforever
The Witcher series has some of the best narrative I’ve ever experienced in a game! And I cannot wait for get lost in its world again with the 3rd installment…
Captain JJ the crafter
January 29, 2015 at 09:52
I feel the same about strictly MP games. Though I have enjoyed a few co-op games quite a lot.
Brady miaau
January 29, 2015 at 11:55
“for the escapism “
Her Highness the Hipster
January 29, 2015 at 09:31
agreed. but I think the point was that from the start you need to chase after her, and it will seem random if they don’t establish that connection quickly.
Besides, The Witcher has some pretty cool writing in my opinion…
Captain JJ the crafter
January 29, 2015 at 09:32
That’s the point. It has good writing. I’m not saying they should take it out, but it seems to have become a bit of a selling point to them.
Brady miaau
January 29, 2015 at 09:33
I get your point, is true. But even the hint of it is enough, he moves in, darkness falls. Imagination lit up
Captain JJ the crafter
January 29, 2015 at 09:34
Yes. Someone who agrees with me.
Barbara Talaga
January 29, 2015 at 09:31
But i dont see sex in this trailer The witcher 3 ?
Hammersteyn
January 29, 2015 at 09:33
Nor Yennefer
Morne Nell
January 29, 2015 at 09:36
Gives new meaning to the Witcher is coming
Ross Woofels Mason
January 29, 2015 at 09:39
Geezuz 16 hours!?
How long are the sex scenes and how many different damn position’s did they use that they needed 16 freaking hours of motion capture!? Did they capture the entire karma sutra!?
Captain JJ the crafter
January 29, 2015 at 09:40
It’s because Geralt doesn’t have a stamina bar, he can just go on for hours.
Ross Woofels Mason
January 29, 2015 at 09:42
Let’s all just appreciate the fact, that there were two people wearing these. Humping each other. Presumably trying to keep a straight a face and failing horribly =p
RinceThis
January 29, 2015 at 09:56
Well hopefully it wasn’t electric… Right?! Boom!
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 29, 2015 at 13:28
At least you know they were on the ball.
Ross Woofels Mason
January 29, 2015 at 13:44
They were on many balls…. glowing balls!