The creators of the upcoming zombie action game Dead Island Riptide are taking considerable heat after unveiling the contents of the so-called "Zombie Bait" special edition of the game, which lands in Europe this April. In addition to the art book and downloadable add-ons normally found in these premium-priced special editions, publisher Deep Silver have added a bloodied, dismembered, bikini-clad female torso as a collector's item.
While the 33-cm hand-painted vinyl statuette fits with the tone of the gruesome, adult-oriented game, there was an immediate backlash among many fans, who called the move distasteful and misogynistic. Deep Silver has since apologized, but no word yet on whether the bust will be booted from the game.
Erotic game bursts onto scene
Speaking of controversy and boobs, Amsterdam-based No Reply Games have now released their risque game Seduce Me, made infamous last year for being kicked off the digital distribution service Steam.
A melding of a social simulation, a board game and a collection of card games, Seduce Me puts players in the role of a strapping young man visiting a sprawling Mediterranean mansion, home to several nubile young women. Through conversation and mini-games, players try to coax the women into revealing saucy anecdotes, or charm them into actual intimate encounters. The hand-drawn illustrations can get rather, erm, explicit.
"Book lovers have many erotic books to choose from. Japanese gamers have an entire genre of (sexually explicit) games to choose from," explains No Reply Games' Miriam Bellard. "But the Western gamer has next to nothing."
The adults-only game is available for download for PC and Mac at www.seducemegame.com for about $17.
