The Girl Who Sleeps: A Game Of Strategy And Suspense

'Don't Wake Her' is an adult game with erotic themes, in which the player must strip their sleeping girlfriend naked without waking her up. The game is designed from a heterosexual male perspective, with the female character objectified as the male gaze. The player must act slowly and carefully, removing the girlfriend's blanket and clothing, before stimulating her vaginal area. If the player is too abrupt, the girlfriend will wake up and the game will restart.

Undressing mechanics

The undressing mechanics in "Don't Wake Her" are straightforward. The player, taking on the role of the "boyfriend", must carefully and slowly remove the girlfriend's clothing without waking her. The player is represented by a hand on-screen, which they use to click and drag to undress the girlfriend. The game begins with the player removing the strap of the girlfriend's nightgown, exposing one of her breasts. The player then removes the blanket covering the girlfriend and moves her hand to continue undressing her. If the player is too abrupt in their actions, the girlfriend will wake up and the game will restart.

After exposing the girlfriend's breasts, the player must stimulate her by continuously clicking and dragging on her vaginal area. If the player is successful in teasing her without waking her, she will eventually agree to have sexual intercourse. The game concludes with an animation of intercourse from a first-person perspective.

The key to success in this game is patience and a slow pace. The girlfriend will wake up if the player tries to undress her too quickly. The game mechanics encourage a stealthy and careful approach, adding an element of suspense to the undressing process.

Male gaze

The game "Don't Wake Her" is an adult game with erotic themes. The player takes on the role of a boyfriend who must strip his girlfriend, who is sleeping, naked and stimulate her until she agrees to have sexual intercourse with him. The game is designed from a first-person perspective, with the player controlling the boyfriend's hand to undress the girlfriend. The girlfriend is passive throughout the game, with no autonomy over her body. She is depicted as skinny, young, unmarried, heterosexual, and wearing makeup while sleeping—fitting the stereotype of "female characters in video games."

The game can be analysed through the concept of the "male gaze," which is defined as "the act of depicting the world and women in the visual arts and literature from a masculine and heterosexual point of view, which present women as objects of male pleasure." In "Don't Wake Her," the girlfriend character is objectified as the object of the male gaze. The players control the progress of the game and are positioned as both the director and the camera, watching the girlfriend through a male-oriented lens. The girlfriend is designed as a stereotypical female figure in video games—an object to be played with and judged for her body. Her complaints, such as "Hey, I want to sleep," are treated as flirty messages rather than serious statements.

The game's mechanics and design contribute to the male gaze. The girlfriend is initially covered with a blanket, which the player must slowly remove to avoid waking her up. This slow exposure creates a sense of voyeurism, as players are encouraged to take their time and gaze at the girlfriend's body. The game's simple graphics and minimal sound effects further enhance this sense of voyeurism, creating a peaceful atmosphere that is perfect for sneaking around undetected.

While the game primarily targets heterosexual male players, it's important to note that the player gazing at the girlfriend doesn't have to be male. The game's mechanics and design, however, are created from a heterosexual male perspective, presenting women as objects of male pleasure. The game reflects the issue of sexism in video games, including the male gaze and the objectification of female characters.

Sexism in video games

"Don't Wake Her" is an adult video game that centres around a sleeping girl. The player must navigate their way through a house without waking the sleeping girl inside. The player takes on the role of the girl's boyfriend, who must slowly undress his girlfriend without waking her up. The game ends with the boyfriend and girlfriend having sexual intercourse.

The game has been criticised for its sexist and misogynistic undertones. The girlfriend is passive throughout the game, with no autonomy over her own body. The player, as the boyfriend, is able to objectify the girlfriend, treating her solely as an object of sexual desire. This dynamic reflects Laura Mulvey's concept of the "male gaze", where women are depicted from a heterosexual male perspective, presenting them as objects of male pleasure. The girlfriend in "Don't Wake Her" conforms to the stereotype of female characters in video games, being skinny, pretty, young, unmarried, heterosexual, and attractive according to modern aesthetic standards.

The game's ending also reinforces the idea of male pleasure being prioritised over female consent. The girlfriend's initial reluctance, indicated by her complaints of "Hey, I want to sleep", is ignored by the player. Her reluctance is treated as a flirty message rather than a serious statement of her lack of consent. This dynamic mirrors the issue of marital rape, where sexual intercourse occurs without the spouse's consent.

The game's publisher, Shark's Lagoon, has a history of creating adult online games that are designed from a male heterosexual perspective, contributing to the broader issue of sexism and misogyny in video games.

While some may argue that the game should not be criticised as the characters are portrayed as a couple, it is important to highlight the sexual objectification of women and the normalisation of male pleasure at the expense of female consent.

Female characters in video games

"Don't Wake Her" is not an isolated case; many other games feature similar depictions of women. The game "Don't Wake Daddy," for instance, presents a sleeping female character as an obstacle to be navigated around. While the game does not include sexual elements, it still contributes to a broader pattern of female characters being portrayed as obstacles or prizes to be won. This pattern perpetuates a narrative in which women are reduced to objects to be acted upon, rather than being portrayed as fully realized individuals with their own agency and motivations.

The sexualization and objectification of female characters in video games have been criticized for their potential to reinforce harmful societal attitudes and behaviors. When female characters are consistently portrayed as objects of desire, it contributes to a culture that views women primarily as sexual beings, rather than recognizing their full humanity. This can lead to real-world consequences, including the perpetuation of gender stereotypes, the objectification of women, and even the justification of sexual violence.

However, it is important to note that not all video games engage in these harmful portrayals. Some games feature strong, complex female characters who defy stereotypes and challenge the male gaze. Games that allow for character customization can also empower players to create diverse and multifaceted female avatars. Additionally, the video game industry is constantly evolving, and there is a growing recognition of the need for more diverse and empowering representations of women.

To promote positive change, it is essential to continue the dialogue surrounding the portrayal of female characters in video games. This includes encouraging the development of games with more nuanced and multidimensional female characters, as well as supporting female game developers and promoting diversity within the industry. By doing so, we can work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable gaming culture that reflects the diversity and complexity of women in the real world.

Adult themes

"Don't Wake Her" is an adult game with explicit content, intended for players over the legal age limit in their country. The game is centred around a sleeping girl, who is objectified and sexualised throughout.

The player assumes the role of the girl's boyfriend, who is eager to initiate sexual intercourse with his girlfriend. The girlfriend is initially asleep, covered by a blanket, and fully clothed. The player must slowly and carefully remove the blanket and undress the girlfriend, stimulating her until she agrees to have intercourse. If the player is too abrupt, the girlfriend will wake up and the game will restart.

The game has been criticised for its sexist and misogynistic undertones, with the girlfriend being portrayed as a passive object for male pleasure. The player is encouraged to act without the girlfriend's consent, and the game ultimately rewards the player for their non-consensual actions. The girlfriend's protests are treated as flirtatious messages, rather than being taken seriously.

The game's visuals have also been scrutinised, with the girlfriend conforming to stereotypical female character designs in video games. She is skinny, young, unmarried, heterosexual, and made up to appear attractive, with an emphasis on aesthetics over utility. The game's creators have attempted to make the girlfriend appear as realistic as possible, although the result has been described as unnatural and creepy.

"Don't Wake Her" is an example of the male gaze in video games, presenting women as objects of male pleasure and desire. The game's first-person perspective places the player in the role of the director, camera, main character, and spectator, giving them control over the girlfriend's body and encouraging them to objectify and judge her.

While some have argued that the game's technical limitations and the context of its release date should be considered when interpreting its content and message, "Don't Wake Her" remains a controversial example of sexism and objectification in video games.

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