The Guy Game
Encyclopedia
The Guy Game is an adult video game
for the PlayStation 2
, Xbox
and PC
platforms published in 2004 by Gathering of Developers
and developed by now-defunct Top Heavy Studios (it was the team's only game). Presented in a trivia gameshow style supporting up to four players, it consists of about 1,000 questions spread out over 20 episodes. Much of the game involves watching live-action video footage of young women in bikinis, and as the player succeeds in the game the women eventually expose their breasts. The game garnered much controversy and was the subject of a lawsuit
.
festivities on South Padre Island
- of host Matt Sadler giving the same question to young females in bikinis (referred to as "hotties"). If they answer incorrectly, they are required to show their breasts. Before they give their answers, the footage is paused and the player is asked to guess whether the hotties answered correctly or not. In the "TitWitz" portions of the game, the player is told that they were wrong, and asked to guess what wrong answer they gave. The more times you are able to correctly predict the outcome, the higher the "Flash-O-Meter" raises, the more exposed the breasts become. At first, the breasts are obscured by a Guy Game logo ("Soft and Squishy" level), then just digitally blurred
("Sorta Chubby" level), and finally fully uncensored ("Super Stiff" level, maxed-out meter). Once you reach the uncensored level, the episode can be played again with no visual censorship. As the game progresses, the players are ranked by scored as President, Vice President, Treasurer, or Asshole. Also included are the "Ballz" minigames which can give players extra points during an episode. Before the game, each player chooses a female avatar
(called cheerleaders) to represent them. Based on how often the player correctly guesses the outcome of each hottie's response, the more clothes the cheerleader removes. At the end of the episode, a short video montage is shown of the cheerleader belonging to the player who reached the rank of President.
Many other rules can be enabled, most inspired by drinking games.
, and Gathering Of Developers
by one of the female contestants who revealed that she was only 17 at the time that she was filmed topless for The Guy Game, with 18 being the minimum legal age for a woman to appear nude in any form of media in the United States. A Travis County judge granted a temporary restraining order prohibiting Microsoft, Sony, and others from selling any game that contained the girl's image, voice, and name. Despite this, new and used copies of this game can still be found in many stores and online. On November 27, 2007, a backwards compatibility update enabled the Xbox
version to be played on Xbox 360
.
After the lawsuit, developer Top Heavy Studios released a DVD
of the original footage with extras entitled "The Guy Game: Game Over", but it was only available online through its website. As Top Heavy eventually closed shop, the DVD is no longer available for purchase through the company.
who scored it 7.7 (out of 10), most critics completely panned the game as being a poorly-executed attempt at a trivia game with or without the gratuitous nudity. It has a Metacritic
score of 47.
Adult video game
An adult video game is a video game which has significant sexual content , and are therefore intended for an adult audience. Adult games can fall into many genres and have diverse gameplay.-PC and console:...
for the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
and PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
platforms published in 2004 by Gathering of Developers
Gathering of Developers
Gathering of Developers was a Texas-based PC and video games publishing company, founded in January 1998 with the mission to bridge the gap between publishers and independent game developers, allowing independent developers creative control over their projects, ownership of their IP, and...
and developed by now-defunct Top Heavy Studios (it was the team's only game). Presented in a trivia gameshow style supporting up to four players, it consists of about 1,000 questions spread out over 20 episodes. Much of the game involves watching live-action video footage of young women in bikinis, and as the player succeeds in the game the women eventually expose their breasts. The game garnered much controversy and was the subject of a lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
.
Gameplay
After every question there is video footage - shot during spring breakSpring break
Spring break – also known as March break, Study week or Reading week in the United Kingdom and some parts of Canada – is a recess in early spring at universities and schools in the United States, Canada, mainland China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, the United...
festivities on South Padre Island
South Padre Island
South Padre Island is a barrier island in the U.S. state of Texas. It is located in Cameron County and is a popular vacation destination because the resort city South Padre Island is located on the island. The island itself is considered to have been settled by Padre Jose Nicolas Balli, who had a...
- of host Matt Sadler giving the same question to young females in bikinis (referred to as "hotties"). If they answer incorrectly, they are required to show their breasts. Before they give their answers, the footage is paused and the player is asked to guess whether the hotties answered correctly or not. In the "TitWitz" portions of the game, the player is told that they were wrong, and asked to guess what wrong answer they gave. The more times you are able to correctly predict the outcome, the higher the "Flash-O-Meter" raises, the more exposed the breasts become. At first, the breasts are obscured by a Guy Game logo ("Soft and Squishy" level), then just digitally blurred
Pixelization
Pixelization is a video- and image-editing technique in which an image is blurred by displaying part or all of it at a markedly lower resolution. It is primarily used for censorship...
("Sorta Chubby" level), and finally fully uncensored ("Super Stiff" level, maxed-out meter). Once you reach the uncensored level, the episode can be played again with no visual censorship. As the game progresses, the players are ranked by scored as President, Vice President, Treasurer, or Asshole. Also included are the "Ballz" minigames which can give players extra points during an episode. Before the game, each player chooses a female avatar
Avatar (computing)
In computing, an avatar is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character. It may take either a three-dimensional form, as in games or virtual worlds, or a two-dimensional form as an icon in Internet forums and other online communities. It can also refer to a text...
(called cheerleaders) to represent them. Based on how often the player correctly guesses the outcome of each hottie's response, the more clothes the cheerleader removes. At the end of the episode, a short video montage is shown of the cheerleader belonging to the player who reached the rank of President.
Many other rules can be enabled, most inspired by drinking games.
Lawsuit
The game achieved some notoriety four months after its release when a suit was brought against Top Heavy Studios, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., Microsoft Corp.Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
, and Gathering Of Developers
Gathering of Developers
Gathering of Developers was a Texas-based PC and video games publishing company, founded in January 1998 with the mission to bridge the gap between publishers and independent game developers, allowing independent developers creative control over their projects, ownership of their IP, and...
by one of the female contestants who revealed that she was only 17 at the time that she was filmed topless for The Guy Game, with 18 being the minimum legal age for a woman to appear nude in any form of media in the United States. A Travis County judge granted a temporary restraining order prohibiting Microsoft, Sony, and others from selling any game that contained the girl's image, voice, and name. Despite this, new and used copies of this game can still be found in many stores and online. On November 27, 2007, a backwards compatibility update enabled the Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
version to be played on Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
.
After the lawsuit, developer Top Heavy Studios released a DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
of the original footage with extras entitled "The Guy Game: Game Over", but it was only available online through its website. As Top Heavy eventually closed shop, the DVD is no longer available for purchase through the company.
Reception
While a select few outlets saw the game as simple, naughty fun, like IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
who scored it 7.7 (out of 10), most critics completely panned the game as being a poorly-executed attempt at a trivia game with or without the gratuitous nudity. It has a Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
score of 47.
External links
- The Guy Game at IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
- The Guy Game at GameSpotGameSpotGameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
- The original Austin American-Statesman Article, December 2004
- Topheavy files appeal - Austin Chronicle, February 2005
- Texas Court of Appeals uphold injunction and rejects all appeals - Media Law Reporter, August 2005
- November '07 Xbox 360 backwards compatibility update
- http://www.metacritic.com/search/all/the+guy+game/results