This Game Makes Cybersex Harder Than Real Sex

Zynga, creator of FarmVille, CityVille, CastleVille, and a host of other pervasive Facebook games that people are constantly inviting me to play, released a new game in the ‘Ville series today, called simply The Ville. In the game, which looks a lot like The Sims, players can build the house of their dreams, fill it with virtual stuff, and then invite other users to “play.” And playing can mean many things, one of which is having virtual sex with another avatar.

I decided to try The Ville in an attempt to have sex with another avatar, but I’ve never actually played any of the other ‘Ville games so I found the whole thing a bit perplexing. In the game you build a house and fill it with nice things so other virtual beings will want to hang out with you and be your friend. I bought a couch and flat screen television, thinking these objects might (as in the real world) facilitate intimacy. I did hang out with Ethan, the only avatar that interacted with me in the game, on said couch. I chose between predetermined options for interaction. We told jokes, watched television together, and hung out.

Read the rest over at Motherboard.