ABSTRACT

This chapter compares a “fade-to-black” approach to sex – i.e., fading or cutting away before things get too explicit – versus showing the sex on camera. Fading to black is very common in video games, and in many cases, it is the right approach; however, that does not mean it’s always the right approach. This chapter proposes that the choice either to be explicit or to fade to black is a stylistic or thematic one, not one of “quality” or morality. Fade to black’s advantages include keeping the pacing quick, avoiding technical or censorship issues, and allowing players to imagine events for themselves. Showing the scene explicitly, in contrast, allows the team to tell their story, build and sustain emotion, reveal character development, and ground the interaction in physical reality. Workshop questions focus on analyzing existing game sex scenes for their use of fading to black vs explicit scenes and ask developers to consider which is best for their future game projects.