Story Tools: PRINT | Text Size: S M L XL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACK

Pornographers pondering Wii

Wednesday, January 3, 2007 | 12:34 PM ET

by Saleem Khan, CBC News Online

It was probably inevitable. As long-time industry watchers know, it's a virtual truism that with every new advancement or development in consumer technology, the pornography industry is either a leader or not far behind. The latest development: porn formatted for the Wii. (Make your own joke here.)

The new video game console includes internet connectivity and Nintendo has teamed up with Opera Software SA of Oslo, Norway, to offer a simplified version of the Opera Web browser for the Wii. [Screenshots, video] Opera also offers guidelines and tools to help people design Wii-friendly websites.

Over the holiday break, as millions of new Wii owners were unwrapping their coveted consoles, we stumbled across an item on Ars Technica's Opposable Thumbs blog and were reminded of it today by Kotaku.

According to Opposable Thumbs, one of its readers has discovered that at least some some website operators are starting to offer porn sites designed to be used with the Wii's simplified Web browsing scheme.

Despite the Wii's parental controls, it might be enough to call into question Nintendo's family-friendly approach to the console's content and marketing, or at least raise a red flag.

But as with other technologies such as home video cassette recorders, commercial websites, streaming internet video and online photo sharing communities, porn was a pioneer. The same goes for video games, the Opposable Thumbs blog notes.

Soon after Sony released its PlayStation Portable (PSP) handheld gaming device — which can also display photos, play back audio and video and let users surf the Web through a internet connection — porn peddlers quickly began offering PSP-formatted adult content.

It seems that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

« Previous Post | Main | Next Post »

This discussion is now Open. Submit your Comment.

Comments

David

Markham

I'm glad this article didn't go where I thought it was going to... after all, the notable feature of the wii is that you can move around the remote control in 3 dimensions and the game system understands the movement and responds to it.

I was afraid you were going to say there were new video games which were essentially interactive pornography! (Insert your own "joystick" joke here...)

Posted January 8, 2007 12:38 PM

« Previous Post | Main | Next Post »

Post a Comment

Disclaimer:

Note: By submitting your comments you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that due to the volume of e-mails we receive, not all comments will be published, and those that are published will not be edited. But all will be carefully read, considered and appreciated.

Note: Due to volume there will be a delay before your comment is processed. Your comment will go through even if you leave this page immediately afterwards.

Privacy Policy | Submissions Policy

Story Tools: PRINT | Text Size: S M L XL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACK

World »

Indonesian ferry sinks in storm
Rescuers saved more than 240 people aboard an Indonesian passenger ferry that sank Sunday in rough waters off Sumatra island, but at least 25 people have died, officials said.
Iranian forces practise defending nuke sites
Iran on Sunday began large-scale air defence war games aimed at protecting the country's nuclear facilities against any possible attack, state television reported.
China mine blast toll rises to 87 Video
The death toll from a coal mine explosion in northern China rose to 87 on Sunday as rescue crews worked in frigid temperatures to reach 21 miners still trapped underground.
more »

Canada »

Afghan prisoner transfers halted 'more than one time' Video
Canadian officials have halted the transfer of prisoners to Afghanistan's intelligence service "more than one time," because of the possibility of torture, Canada's chief of defence staff said Sunday.
Baby survives as crash kills 4
RCMP say four Calgary women are dead after a crash south of Calgary that left only a single survivor —a baby that had been strapped into a car seat.
Renewed optimism in search for missing Halifax sailor
The search for a 68-year-old missing sailor from Halifax resumed Sunday and officials say there is reason to be optimistic after another vessel that made the same trip arrived safely in Bermuda Saturday.
more »

Politics »

Journalists enhance Canadians' freedom: PM
Prime Minister Stephen Harper urged journalists to "shine light into dark corners" of government affairs during a speech late Saturday, but wouldn't take questions from reporters covering the event.
Colvin's job safe despite Afghan torture testimony Video
The Conservatives will not try to remove Richard Colvin from his post in Washington, Defence Minister Peter MacKay says, even though they question the credibility of his testimony on Afghan prisoners.
Hillier didn't hear detainee torture allegations Video
Former chief of defence staff Rick Hillier says he's never heard suggestions that Canada may have been complicit in the torture of detainees in Afghanistan.
more »

Health »

More H1N1 vaccine, ventilators to come Video
Ontario supplied hospitals with 200 additional ventilators on Friday in anticipation of a surge in swine flu cases.
Trade show pitches surgical passages to India Video
Exhibitors at a Toronto trade fair are hoping to add surgery to the list of reasons Canadians travel, but a medical ethicist questions the lack of oversight.
Weight gain in pregnancy guides updated
Health Canada is formally replacing its guidelines on weight gain during pregnancy to match new U.S. recommendations.
more »

Arts & Entertainment»

Plaskett double winner at Canadian Folk Music Awards
Joel Plaskett's triple album Three earned the Halifax singer-songwriter a double win at the Canadian Folk Music Awards on Saturday.
Documentary explores carbon trading business
Carbon Hunters is about a new breed of entrepreneurs working to get rich and save the planet at the same time.
Motown celebrates half-century of hits
Music legends turned out at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center on Saturday evening for the swankiest birthday bash in Motor City this year — the Motown 50 Golden Gala.
more »

Technology & Science »

Bell quietly drops system access fee
The cellphone system access fee is all but extinct. Bell Canada has quietly axed the charge, joining rivals Rogers and Telus.
Beam sent around Large Hadron Collider
The operators of the Large Hadron Collider have successfully sent a beam of particles around the ring of the world's largest particle collider in Switzerland.
Astronauts complete 6-hour spacewalk
Astronauts from space shuttle Atlantis completed the second of three scheduled spacewalks Saturday, spending just over six hours installing equipment on the International Space Station.
more »

Money »

Ottawa will stay course on stimulus: Flaherty Video
Rather than turning off the stimulus taps or pouring more fuel on the economic fire, Ottawa will stand pat with the $61 billion in stimulus spending announced in January, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says.
Canada Post struggles to innovate
Canada's postal service is reinventing itself as it struggles to make up for dwindling demand in the face of a devastating global economic slowdown.
The 10-billion-barrel battle
Henry Lyatsky wants B.C.'s coast opened to oil drilling but environmentalists stand opposed.
more »

Consumer Life »

Bullying is a public health issue: researcher
Bullying should be considered a public health problem and governments should adopt national strategies against it, says a Canadian professor who led a study of bullying in 40 countries.
Early Canadian stamps auction nets $3.2M US Video
A New York stamp collector auctioned parts of his collection in New York on Thursday, including a Canadian-issued stamp that is one of the world's rarest.
Fake hairstyling irons pop up in Regina
Hundreds of knock-off hairstyling irons were seized Friday morning by RCMP acting on a hot tip.
more »

Sports »

Scores: NHL NBA

Als off to Grey Cup after overwhelming Lions
The Montreal Alouettes humbled the B.C. Lions on Sunday afternoon, earning their seventh trip to the Grey Cup game since 2000.
Beauty of Virtue, Moir clinches Skate Canada gold
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir put down a superb free program to win the ice dance competition at the 2009 HomeSense Skate Canada International.
Carter, Redick riddle Raptors
The Toronto Raptors might want to make a trade for J.J. Redick, just so they don't have to face him again.
more »

Diversions »

Hugs, not harassment: Facebook groups slam day of violence against redheads
Tourism website includes Toronto museum addition on ugly buildings list
Florence museum: lost Galileo relics, a tooth and 2 of astronomer's fingers, found again
more »