DOA Xtreme Volleyball, What's mature about this?

[mezrabad]

Rented this game a few nights ago. After playing for a little while I realized this game isn't about Volleyball, it's about "relationships" and "collecting".

This game is "Animal Crossing" with polygons arranged to look like women instead of animals!

So, "Mature" means "over 17" right? Is there anything in this game that will harm someone under 12? There's no sexual innuendo, there's no cursing, there's no violence. There are scantily clad women, but what's harmful about that if you haven't hit puberty?

Oh, wait, there's gambling, maybe that's "mature" and harmful.

I just seems to me that this game got an M rating because it has women in swimsuits playing volleyball, while the game itself seems pretty harmless. Am I missing something here? I'm playing it with my 7 year old, it's fun and he's not learning how to sniper me in the head when I'm not looking (as he does in Halo, but that's still pretty fun.). How am I hurting my kid by playing this with him?

[Promophile]

just seems to me that this game got an M rating because it has women in swimsuits playing volleyball, while the game itself seems pretty harmless.

You just hit the nail on the head.

[SoulBlazer]

Actually, the game IS about volleyball. ;)

I play it for that reason.

Sure, watching the players play it in their skimpy outfits adds some eye candy and some chuckles, but it's still a volleyball game. The collection items and the gambling are just side things you can do when you get tired of the main game.

And the M rating was due to the women, I'm sure.

Anyone else crack up at the commercial? LOL

[E Nice]

...there's no cursing, there's no violence. There are scantily clad women, but what's harmful about that if you haven't hit puberty?

There is one curse word. It's in the lyrics of one of the songs in it. The only other thing to come to mind is the opening scene when they show Christie take it off on the cliff, though it's at night and you don't see much anyways.

[mezrabad]

...there's no cursing, there's no violence. There are scantily clad women, but what's harmful about that if you haven't hit puberty?

There is one curse word. It's in the lyrics of one of the songs in it.

Thank you, that's worth being aware of, I'll keep an ear out for it and I'll give all the tunes a closer listen.

I'm just unable to define the nudity/scant cladity without any sexual context as by default "inappropriate" to someone pre-pubescent. It's not like they're going to be impulsively driven to their rooms to masturbate like a wild monkey for days at a time, right? A seven year old doesn't have those impulses as far as I know. There certainly isn't anything in here that my 3-year old daughter would be scarred for life by, hell, clowns have damaged her far more than this will.

I guess I was worried about "mature" themes as being language and/or sexual banter between the players. Instead, they're all women, and they're not trying to hook up with each other. This is G rated! Well, I do see the danger of it driving 13-18 year old males to masturbate for weeks at a time, but children, straight females of any age and anyone over 18 should be able to handle it.

There should be a new rating: "FABHT (m and/or f)" (For anyone but horny teens, male and/or female)

To me, an M rating is "Grand Theft Auto" or "BMX XXX" and this (thankfully) just doesn't warrant it.

[mezrabad]

Actually, the game IS about volleyball. ;)

I play it for that reason.

Sure, watching the players play it in their skimpy outfits adds some eye candy and some chuckles, but it's still a volleyball game. The collection items and the gambling are just side things you can do when you get tired of the main game.

Okay, I see your point, one wins the best money playing Volleyball and without the money one can't gamble, collect or give gifts. Also, one does spend the most time in game playing Volleyball. Okay, I retreat from my statement, it IS more parts Volleyball than it is Animal Crossing. I just have that "collecting" impulse and it's what I tend to focus on in games. I guess I'd need to play other sports games to see what "side quests" they had in them for comparison. I think I can honestly say this is my first "sports" title, ever, so I immediately begain to compare it to genres with which I am more familiar.

[evildead2099]

I agree that the ESRB went too far giving DOA:XBV an M Rating, but I'm not surprised with that outcome considering how puritanical America is with respect to the 'filth' that is the human body (a creation made in the image of God, supposedly, but filth as far as Christian fanatics are concerned).

[Daria]

I think it probably has a lot to do with the venus bathing suit and the fact you can rotate the camera to look at the girl's (ableit barbie-esque) crotches.

Maybe it's just me but this isn't the first game I'd pick up for a 12 year old.

That said I certainly enjoyed the volleyball aspect of the game, but at the time it came out it was heavily marketed as being "sexual".

[goatdan]

I just got this game from the buy-two, get-one sale at GameStop (with Metal Slug 3, finally!) and I have to agree for the most part. I wouldn't be surprised if Tecmo / Microsoft pushed for that rating, or received it because they had talked for so long about the possibility of nudity in the game.

I'm quite unsure of what I think of the game so far. I suck at the volleyball so far, and it took me nearly a week to get someone to team with me after the first loss. I feel really odd playing the game, as buying and giving gifts isn't exactly a usual gaming thing to me.

On the other hand, I think that I like it so far. The casino is neat, the volleyball seems relatively solid and I have been really addicted to that stupid hopping game. That's the best use of the analog buttons I have seen. The environment totally reminds me of the time that I went on a cruise, and I could just sit around the house listening to the sounds of the game with the TV off and be happy.

Overall, the game feels like more of an attempt at a "female simulator" than an attempt at a volleyball game. I'm curious about what women gamers would have to say about this game... is it something worth playing, or does it only seem to attract male gamers?

It's funny -- I was actually thinking earlier today when I was playing a bit that if I had a daughter, I wouldn't mind playing this game at all with her. A young son, and I would be a little worried about some of the features (the "Zoom" thing that only seems to go in on the crotch or breasts of the girls?!? WTF? I was attempting to explore the poolside with the camera, and you can't focus on anything but your girl. I'd rather watch the sunset or something...) but I don't think that would even require a second glance from a younger girl gamer.

Anyone know if Tecmo plans on doing anything else with this franchise? With some refinement, I think this could become a game a lot like Animal Crossing is...

[dj898]

it's definitely NC17(?) - or what ever you guys call it - with the infamous nude patch... :p

[Daria]

Overall, the game feels like more of an attempt at a "female simulator" than an attempt at a volleyball game. I'm curious about what women gamers would have to say about this game... is it something worth playing, or does it only seem to attract male gamers?

Well as I said I enjoyed the volleyball portion of the game, although I too was hopelessly addicted to the hopping minigame. And of course collecting the bathing suits was fun for probably the same reason (as the topic creator noted) that I enjoyed Animal Crossing.

And as a girl gamer, yeah boobs are no big thing, they're there, they bounce, they're girls in bathing suits what else would I expect them to do? The game doesn't really shed the girls in a degratory light or anything, they're just there on the beach playing volleyball. Although it's a little akward to play the game with some horny guy that keeps playing with the damn camera zoom, now that bothers me. But then that's just him being a pig.

[dj898]

there are couple of PS2 titles that I can think of but better not mention.... :p

[bargora]

You must be 17 to truly appreciate the nuance and beauty of volleyball.

[dj898]

no you have to be programmer to understand the time and effort that went in to get the physics just right for those juggling... :p

[Promophile]

there are couple of PS2 titles that I can think of but better not mention.... :p

Are you thinking about outlaw golf/volleyball, rumble roses and the like? LOL

[Neil Koch]

It just kind of shows the hang-ups Americans have about sex in media. Honestly the game is pretty PG-13 to me -- it's certainly a lot less "smutty" than stuff like dating shows or Girls Gone Wild infomericals that you can see pretty much anytime of day on TV, but God forbid a kid might play it and get his poor mind warped.

Look at GTA VC and SA. You can cut off people's heads with a katana, but the strippers in the clubs are in bikinis or have pasties and any of the sex "scenes" are dealt with in a comedic manner.

[Push Upstairs]

This game doesnt really contain anything that you couldnt find in a MAXIM magazine.

Well,the game would have less language and sexual innuendo...but i dont recall there being an age restriction on buying Maxim at the store.

[SoulBlazer]

As a volleyball game, this game is quite good -- better then any of the other modern volleyball games I've played.

Namco problay felt the need to try to spice it up and help sales, so put in a sex factor.....

And the volleyball game is HARD. I STILL get my ass kicked by the AI on a regular basis in it. ;)

[Zubiac666]

its m-rated cause of the american "OMG!Look,you see skin of a woman!"-fact
(also see Janet Jacksons "free my boob"-TV "ad")
it's only m-rated in U.S.
Here in austria even BMX XXX(GC ver) is NOT m-rated cause we can deal with naked skin and we do not think that our children become satans whores after looking at naked chicks.
x_x

[ddockery]

How can you question a Mature rating for this. We all know that the human body is much, much more horrible than killing hundreds of people at a time. Seriously, how can you even consider not making this a "M" rating? I am disgusted and appalled that this was even called into question!

*sarcasm off*

As for the horny teenage boys thing... I don't think they need scantily clad women in a video game to lock themselves up in their rooms for days. That happens anyway. Someone else mentioned those girls gone wild infomercials, I'd bet that gets the job done!

[omnedon]

Perhaps we need a separate rating for sexual objectification?


Am I too old for this place perhaps?

[NeoVenom]

I think it probably has a lot to do with the venus bathing suit...

I've gotz to see that! LOL I guess the game is rated "M" because all of the girlz boobz bounce and jiggle. LOL Lately, they be added that effect to alot of games that have female characters in them. Not that I be...umm...noticing. :D Talking about rated 'M" games, I heard they released a LSL: Magna Cum Laude uncut and uncensored. Why on Earth was THAT released?

[Push Upstairs]

As for the horny teenage boys thing... I don't think they need scantily clad women in a video game to lock themselves up in their rooms for days.

Your right...thats what internet porn is for.

[Jorpho]

You'd think people would be making more fuss over Rumble Roses.

[mezrabad]

Perhaps we need a separate rating for sexual objectification?

I see your point, but my wife doesn't think of the characters as sexual objects (AFAIK) and neither do my children (7 yr old and 3 yr old). Come to think of it, neither do I, but I do like how they look. Does the fact that some people may feel encouraged to sexual objectify other people mean that the game is ONLY appropriate to people over 17? It just seems a bit of a reach.

Maybe we need a warning sign like "May cause sexual excitability in teenage boys". Of course, the women on the front cover clearly indicate that, so nevermind. :)


Am I too old for this place perhaps?

Don't be so hard on yourself! I don't think any of us are age-bigots around here. We all support and often exercise the right to sound stupid, smart or condescending at any age. LOL. Well, you've probably been here long enough to know that.

[Psycho Mantis]

I don't think it should be rated M. More like T Because it's just women in swimsuits. it's not gonna kill a child who is less than 17 years old. and they're not totally naked either.

[goatdan]

After another day of reflection...

Out of the 15 new Xbox games I picked up, I find myself returning to DOAX a lot more than I thought I would have -- more than games I knew I wanted to play like Metal Slug 3 and so on. I don't like the volleyball much in it, but I really dig the environment (sound and landscape) still. I've had some of the songs in my head lately.

Question - someone said there was a song with a swear in it? What song? I have the entire soundtrack on and I've never caught it. Not that it is that big of a deal, but I usually don't think of swearing in reggae / beach-ish tunes.

I do really think it was Tecmo that must have pushed for the M rating to sell more copies of the game. The music industry often pushes for the Explicit Lyrics tag as albums tend to sell more copies with it. A volleyball game that features females that are known for being "sexed up" would probably (sadly) sell more copies if people think they can find nudity in it.

[Push Upstairs]

Maybe we need a warning sign like "May cause sexual excitability in teenage boys".

That sign needs to be posted at every beach and waterpark across this country.....in fact anyplace that a a teenage boy can even look at a teenage girl obviously needs this sign.



I don't know what the problem with the game is. Sure the characters are attractive *for video game characters* but some CG jiggly breasts are hardly going to make teenage boys crave sex any more than they already do.

[goatdan]

Maybe we need a warning sign like "May cause sexual excitability in teenage boys".

That sign needs to be posted at every beach and waterpark across this country.....in fact anyplace that a a teenage boy can even look at a teenage girl obviously needs this sign.

Don't say that... It gives me horrible thoughts of how someone is suing the city of Milwaukee for not fencing in the entire Milwaukee River so that people couldn't fall in.

Something tells me the river was there before the people, and therefore the people should learn how to swim or avoid the river.

...this is all eerily reminscent of that one Simpsons where Homer is going to commit suicide, and then decides to put up signs all over town to help improve "safety."

And I know you're kidding... but somewhere, someone probably thinks that HAS to be done. :(

[E Nice]

Question - someone said there was a song with a swear in it? What song? I have the entire soundtrack on and I've never caught it. Not that it is that big of a deal, but I usually don't think of swearing in reggae / beach-ish tunes.

The song Bitchism/Reja-Nee.

[goatdan]

The song Bitchism/Reja-Nee.

Oh duh. I looked right over that.

Obviously, that has nothing to do with the rating though. The FCC allows the word bitch on the radio and TV throughout the day now...

[E Nice]

What about the S word? One the lines has a lady that just says 'Girl, take that ---- away', between some singing parts a bit into it (singing ends, statement, singing resumes). As for the other somewhat explicit verse, it's hard to make out as another person starts with a new lyric over it. The last part is said at a blurry speed while another line is imposed over it. * = should be fairly obvious as to what the previous line indicated. I haven't been able to find lyrics to the song, so can't sayfor sure, but it sounds like 'Kiss me where the sun don't shine, lick my v*.