This is the first edition of In The Meta, a Colenso planning team fanzine dedicated to exploring different subcultures in gaming. In this edition, we explore how sexual expression has been embraced, exploited and expressed by gamers across the globe. Whether it’s VR pornography or retailing bathwater … In The Meta examines how gaming has allowed people to educate, explore and/or express their individuality and sexuality. I should point out some may be confronted by what they read and the design may make it NSFW. It definitely falls out of many mainstream comfort zones. However out goal is not to provoke or offend, it’s simply to shine a light on the behaviours and beliefs millions live by every day. Because maybe the more we understand, the better we can all be. Any questions, please shout. Enjoy the adventure and H/T to Liam and Hamish who were behind this edition.

1. NSFW NSFW NSFW NSFW NSFW NSFW NSFW NSFW NSFW NSFW NSFW NSFW NSFW NSFW NSFW NSFW

2. We’re a long way from the days of video
games living in the shadows as a niche
past-time.As an industry, gaming is now
larger than the international film and
music industry combined - but more
than its financial dominance, is the
stark difference in its place in culture.
Artists are debuting songs in Fortnight,
presidential candidates are streaming on
Twitch, e-Sports finals are getting more
views than the Super Bowl…
Gaming has truly permeated our culture.
Which means that in understanding
gaming we can in-turn betterunderstand
culture.That’swhyinthisinauguraledition
of InThe Meta,we’re starting things off by
looking at how gaming is affecting sexual
expression. From kink-culture to sexual
identity, gaming’s cultural movement
is forming avenues for expression that
literally invite people to step into and
experience a different world.

3. A disclaimer: There are stories contained in this magazine that
A disclaimer: There are stories contained in this magazine that
some may find offensive. This is not our intent. The purpose is
some may find offensive. This is not our intent. The purpose is
to report issues and behaviours that are happening in gaming
to report issues and behaviours that are happening in gaming
subculture that millions engage and experience every day,
subculture that millions engage and experience every day,
despite few ever talking about it. We are not celebrating or
despite few ever talking about it. We are not celebrating or
judging anyone involved in the activities in the magazine .
judging anyone involved in the activities in the magazine .
Our only intention is to inform because the more we know, the
Our only intention is to inform because the more we know, the
better we understand.
better we understand.

4. …No?
…That sounds horrifying
and frankly, impractical?
Well that’s where you
and the internet differ.
From the moment
the trailer for the
newest iteration of the
Resident Evil franchise
dropped, the internet
has been lusting after
the newly introduced
villain of the piece, Lady
Dimitrescu. It began
with light-hearted
hornyposting centred
around her height and
figure, but has since
evolved, positioning her
as the mascot for the
dom/sub (dominance
and submission)
relationship dynamic,
championed by Lesbian
Twitter™.
After taking flight on
the leathery wings of
internet sub-cultures,
Lady Dimitrescu has
transmogrified into
an icon of incredible
character-design, giving
the internet permission
to mould her character
into their own fantasies.
Resident Evil 8:The
Village currently sits
as the third highest
grossing game of the
year.

5. IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES

6. IT’S BEEN AN OPEN SECRETTHATVR PORN IS ONE OFTHE
MAJOR DRIVING FORCES IN IMMERSIVETECHNOLOGIES
FOR SOMETIME NOW.“VR PORN” ISTHE MOST
SEARCHEDTERM RELATEDTO VR,WITH 3 OFTHETOP
5 MOSTPOPULAR VR WEBSITES BEING DEDICATED
TO PORNOGRAPHY. IN A MARKETSTRUGGLINGTO
RETAINTHEIR AUDIENCE, PORN ISTHE ONL
YTHING
CONSISTENTL
Y BRINGING PEOPLE BACK.
INTHE PURSUITOFAN IMMERSIVE,
PORNOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE,THE INDUSTRY
IS NOW SEEINGTHE ADOPTION OFVIDEO
GAMESTHATADD EVEN MORE
REALITYTOTHE VIRTUAL.AS
THIS FORMATHAS GROWN
AND LEGITIMISED,AS HAVETHE
GAMES.
BEING CHAMPIONED AS
THE FUTURE OFX-RATED VR,
HOLLODEXXX IS A GAMETHAT
SIMULATES SEXUAL EXPERIENCES
WITHTHE WORLD’S MOSTPOPULAR
PORN STARS,WHO HAVE BEEN
3D MAPPED (INTIMATEL
Y) INTO
THE GAME,TO MAKETHE
VISUALS AS REALISTIC AS
POSSIBLE.
WHILE GAMES
LIKE
HOLODEXXX
SEEMTO
ACHIEVETHE
IMMERSIVE
EXPERIENCE
THEY’RE
AIMING FOR,
MANYTHATHAVE ETHICAL CONCERNS
ABOUTHOW PERFORMERS’ DIGITAL LIKENESS
WILL BE PROTECTED ONLINE.
WHEN AN ADUL
T PERFORMER IS
MAPPED AND TURNED INTO
A VIRTUAL AVATAR, HOW IS
THEIR LIKENESS PROTECTED?
A PARTICULARL
YCOMMON CONCERN ISTHE
THREATOF HACKERS STEALING AND USING
AVATARS OUTSIDE OFTHE PARAMETERS OF
THE GAME - INDULGING IN DANGEROUS
FANTASIES LIKE RAPE OR EXPLOITATION.
LEAD DEVELOPER MORGAN YOUNG
EXPLAINSTHATWHILETHEY OFFER
PERFORMERS FULLCONTROL OVER WHAT
THEIR AVATAR WILL DO IN GAME, HACKERS
ARE AN INEVITABLE RISK OFANY ONLINE
PLATFORM.
SO,WHILETHERE IS UNDOUBTEDL
Y RISK
INVOLVED, BUTIT’S ONETHATSONYA
BARRETT,A SEX EDUCATOR, SEXWORKER
AND FEMINISTACTIVISTSAYS CAN BE A
MEASURED ONE - “PEOPLE DOTHATKIND
OFTHING ALREADYWITH VIRTUAL BEINGS:
THEY FANTASIZE ABOUTOTHERS ALL
THETIME,WHETHERTHEYWATCH A PORN
SCENE ON CONTINUED REPEAT, OR JACK
OFFTO PRINTMAGAZINES, OR PHOTOS,
OR DOLLS... [IF] A PERSON IS USING OR
ABUSING AN AVATAR IN PRIVATE,JUSTHOW
MUCH DANGER ISTHE REAL LIVE VERSION
OFTHATPERSON IN? COULDAVIRTUAL
REALM BE A SAFE SPACE FOR PEOPLETO
PLAY OUTTHEIR WORSTFANTASIES?”
THIS SENTIMENTIS SHARED BY ONE OFTHE
GAME’S BIGGESTSIGNINGS,ADUL
TFILM
POWERHOUSE,TORRI BLACK“I DON’T
CARE WHATMYAVATAR DOES... BECAUSE
MYAVATAR ISN’TWHO I AM. SO YEAH,
ALLTHETHINGSTHATYOU WANT
METO DOTHATI DECLINE, GO
AHEAD AND HAVE MYAVATAR
DOTHEM”

7. With any new field of expression, the nuances need
to be explored and addressed before being let
loose on the internet, but with such a sensitive and
controversial element such as 3D mapping of real
people,we hope to see all possibilities explored and
evaluated before going full-release.That being said,
Holodexxx currently sits at 1,357 backers on Patreon
and has a playable early access beta version that is
playable right now…
While the industry have come to terms with the
moral concerns surrounding the game, it feels as
though there are still questions to be asked of the
developers as their exponential growth continues.
Questions around the representation of genders,
body types and sexual preferences, questions
that should be asked of any sexual entertainment
endeavour, particularly one on the cusp of
legitimacy.

9. is among the most banned games developers in the world. Based
out of New York, Robert develops games to introduce young
queer people to a world of sexual experiences and sexuality they
may not yet be familiar or comfortable with. Masculinity, BDSM,
cruising, consent, among a plethora of themes related to gender
identity for gay men are explored within Robert’s games. He
creates “the games I wish I had growing up”, forging a safe space
for young men to explore their sexual identity, while learning about
the community they’re joining, or navigating the reality of the gay
experience.
Robert Yang

10. As Robert grew as a video game developer, he quickly became
disenfranchised by the representation (or lack there of) of queer
people in blockbuster titles. Drawing from his own experiences
as a teen, using video games to process the world, he recognised
there was a serious absence of games that explore queer themes.
But Robert isn’t interested in the vanilla, he creates games that
drop the player into a world designed to emulate an experience in
a thought-provoking and often confronting way.

11. In his game ‘Team Room’ you play as a man cruising for sex in
the pubic bathrooms of 1970s America. As you navigate the
nuances of signalling, you’re faced with the potential of meeting
undercover policemen looking to entrap gay men, shining a light
on the targeted harassment perpetrated by the police in this era,
simulating a fraction of the anxiety these men would have felt.
Through Robert’s career, he’s been hampered by censorship and
content restrictions, so in this game, he makes a point out of this
by replacing the mens’ genitals with “the only thing that the game
industry will never moderate nor ban - guns”.

12. Robert is a pioneer of gaming, creating games with real purpose,
developed to help his community thrive where he was failed.
Despite this, Robert’s games are still being banned on major
games marketplaces, preventing him from reaching the people
who may need it the most. If Robert’s work and the implications
of his censorship battles are of interest to you, we strongly
recommend you watch his talk from Milan in 2019:
http://gamedesign.university/robert-yang

13. HOT TUB / HOT TUB / HOT TUB / HOT TUB / HOT TUB / HOT TUB / HO

14. VIDEO GAME STREAMING JUGGERNAUT,TWITCH HAS
JUSTLAUNCHED A NEW CATEGORY OF STREAMS,
ENTITLED ‘POOLS, HOTTUBS, BEACHES’
…
YOU MIGHTBETHINKING ‘THAT’S STRANGEL
Y SPECIFIC
AND DOESN’TSEEMTO BE GAMING RELATED ATALL
’
AND YOU’D BE RIGHT, BUTTHERE’S REASON BEHIND
THIS EXOTIC NEW CATEGORY.
TWITCH IS AN
INCREDIBL
Y
COMPETITIVE
SPACE; IN
JANUARY OFTHIS
YEAR ITREACHED
ITS PEAK OF 9.89
MILLION ACTIVE
STREAMERS. SO
IT’S NO SURPRISE
THATPEOPLE ARE
DOING ANYTHING
INTHEIR POWER
TO STAND OUT
FROMTHE CROWD
AND EARN AN
AUDIENCE.
PLAYING INTO
THE MANTLE
OF‘SEX SELLS’
THIS HAS LEDTO
AN ON-GOING
BATTLE BETWEEN
TWITCH’S
CONTENTREGULATIONS AND (PREDOMINANTL
Y)
FEMALE STREAMERS DISCOVERING WAYSTO
MONETISE HORNYLADS.
IN RESPONSETOTWITCH BANNING OUTFITSTHATARE
DEEMED ‘TOO REVEALING’
,THE STREAMERS MOVED
THEIR BISHOPTO B6, FINDING A LOOPHOLE INTHE
REGULATION STATINGTHATTHE EXCEPTIONTOTHE...
...RULE WAS IFTHE STREAMER WAS
IN A POOL, BEACH OR HOTTUB.
JUMP FORWARD A FEWWEEKS.THE ‘HOTTUB META’
IS IN FULLEFFECT. DESPITETHE ENVIRONMENT
BEING RIDDLED WITH MISOGYNYANDTARGETED
HARASSMENT,THE HOTTUB STREAMERS ARE STILL
PROSPERING. BUTTHIS DOESN’TLASTLONG.
ALL OF SUDDEN, LIKEL
Y
DRIVEN BY EXTERNALS
PRESSURE FROM
THOSE OFFENDED/
THREATENED BY
THE CONTENTAND
BRANDS NOTWANTING
TO BE ASSOCIATED
WITH WOMENTAKING
CONTROL OFTHEIR
OWN BODIES,TWITCH
PULLS ADVERTISING
FROM ALL HOTTUB
STREAMS WITHOUT
WARNING, MEANING
THATNO MONEY
CAN BE MADE FROM
THE STREAMS
THEMSELVES,THE
MAJOR SOURCE OF
INCOME FOR MANY OF
THESE STREAMERS.
THIS PROMPTS
AN OUTCRY FROMTHE COMMUNITYAND FROM
FEMINISTFIGURES ALIKE, DEMANDINGTHATTWITCH
REVERSETHEIR ACTIONS. LED BYTWO OFTWITCHES
LARGESTFEMALE STREAMERS, POKIMANE AND
AMOURANTH,THE CONVERSATION GAINEDTRACTION
RAPIDL
Y, GETTING PICKED UP BYTECH BLOGS AND
MAINSTREAM MEDIA OUTLETS ALIKE.

15. As the debate
raged,Twitch quickly
found themselves
in hot waterwith
people scrutinising
theirT&Cs and
criticising their
handling of their
burgeoning female
streaming space.

16. While they did hold-true on their
stance on streaming that was overtly
sexualised, Twitch did state that
“Being found to be sexy by others is
not against our rules, and Twitch will
not take enforcement action against
women, or anyone on our service, for
their perceived attractiveness,” in a
blog post addressing the issue.
They then followed this with the
launch of a new category of streams,
specifically made to encompass
pools, hot tubs and beaches. A small
victory for the streaming community,
but one that sets a precedent for what
can happen when companies don’t
work with subcultures on issues that
affect them.

17. GAMERBATHWATERGIRL
WITHGREATREACH,COMES
GREATRESPONSIBILITY...

18. MARY-BELLE KIRSCHENER, OR ‘BELLE DELPHINE’AS SHE’S
KNOWN ONLINE, IS A 21 YEAR OLD FROM LONDON WHO HIT
THE HEADLINES IN 2019 FOR HER UNIQUE EXPORT‘GAMER
GIRL BATHWATER’
.
THE VENTURE STEMMED FROM COMMENTS ON HERTWITCH
AND YOUTUBE VIDEOS,AS VIEWERS PROCLAIMEDTHEIR
DESIRETO DRINK HER BATHWATER….. SOUNDS UNHYGIENIC.
SEIZINGTHIS MOMENT, BELLE QUICKL
Y REACHED VIRAL
FAME AS SHE SOLD AND SHIPPED OUTSMALL, BRANDED
POTS OF HER BATHWATER.THE STUNTWAS INSTANTL
Y
PICKED UP BYTHE YOUTUBE COMMUNITY,WITH MANYHIGH-
PROFILE CREATORS FILMING UNBOXING VIDEOS AROUND
THE CONTROVERSIAL PRODUCT.THE NOISE COMING FROM
THE ONLINE COMMUNITIES WAS SOON HEARD BYTHE
MAINSTREAM MEDIAANDTHE STORY HITTHE PUBLICATIONS
- BELLE DELPHINE, OR GAMER BATHWATER GIRLAS SHE WAS
LABELED,WAS REACHING MYTHICAL STATUS AS AN ONLINE
PERSONALITY.
INTERNETFAME IS FLEETING; WHAT’S HOTONE DAY IS A DEAD
MEMETHE NEXT, SOTO CREATE A LEGITIMATE FOLLOWING
AND CONTINUED INTERESTFROM AVIRAL MOMENTIS
EXCEEDINGL
Y DIFFICUL
T… CUE BELLE.
BELLE HAS MASTERFULL
Y MAXIMISED HER 15 MINUTES,
TURNINGTHETABLES ONTHE ONLINE SPECULATION AND
RUMOUR MILLTHATSO OFTEN PUTS PEOPLE (ESPECIALL
Y
WOMEN) ONTHE INTERNETDOWN. BELLE’S WEAPON OF
CHOICE IS CONTROVERSY,WHETHERTHAT’S POSTING VIDEOS
ON PORNHUB OF HER EATING A PHOTO OFYOUTUBE GOLIATH,
PEWDIEPIE, OR MAXIMISINGTHE REACH OFA BASELESS
CLAIMTHATSHE WAS ARRESTED, BY CREATING HER OWN
‘MUG-SHOT’AND POSTING ITTO HERTWITTER.
BELLE HASTALKED PUBLICL
YABOUTHER ONLINE PERSONA,
AND HOW SHETRIESTO VALIDATE ALL RUMOURS ABOUT
HER, MAKING ITIMPOSSIBLE FOR ANYONETO KNOW
WHAT’S ACTUALL
YTRUE AND WHAT’S CLASSIC INTERNET
FABRICATION.
SHE’S ALSO RECOGNISEDTHE REACHTHATCAN BE ACHIEVED
BY EXPLOITING OUTRAGE,AS SHE PUSHES EDGY, INTERNET
HUMOURTOTHE EXTREMES.AS MUCH ASTHIS HAS BEEN
INCREDIBL
Y EFFECTIVE FOR SPREADING HER NAME,ATTIMES
IT’S BEEN HARDTO DISTINGUISH WHERE SELF-EMPOWERED
CONTROVERSY STOPS AND GENUINEL
Y HARMFULCONTENT
BEGINS.THIS WAS HIGHLIGHTED EARLIERTHIS YEAR WHEN
SHE SHARED PHOTOS OF HER ‘PERFECTDATE’
, SHOWING
HER ROLEPLAYING AS AYOUNG GIRLBEING ABDUCTED AND
TIED UP
.WHILETECHNICALL
Y CONSENSUAL, MANY FEL
TTHE
SEXUALISATION OFYOUNG GIRLS ALONG WITHTHE LACK OF
ATRIGGER WARNING WAS INAPPROPRIATE AND POTENTIALL
Y
HARMFUL.
SPEAKINGTO AKUA HARRIS FROM ‘BLACK GIRL GAMERS’
, SHE
ACKNOWLEGEDTHE EFFECTIVENESS OF BELLE’S METHODS
BUTEXPRESSED CONCERNTHATSHE WASN’TMODERATING
OR CONSIDERINGTHE COMMUNITY SHE WAS CREATING.
“FROM WHATI COULD SEE SHE WAS GLORIFYING RAPE. SHE
NEEDSTO BE AWARETHATWHEN SHE DOESTHAT, PEOPLE
FROM MAINSTREAM CUL
TURE ARE GOINGTO SEE IT,AND
THEY’RE NOTGOINGTO HAVETHE CONTEXTTHATYOU
ASSUME YOUR AUDIENCE DOES... SHE COULD HAVE USEDTHIS
MOMENTAS AN OPPORTUNITYTO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON BDSM
AND SAFEWORDS”
ITCERTAINL
Y SEEMS ASTHOUGHTHIS IS A MOMENT
WHERE BELLE HAS BEEN FORCEDTO RECOGNISETHE
RESPONSIBIILITYTHATCOMES WITH HER PLATFORM.THE
QUESTION REMAINS WHETHERTHIS EXPERIENCE WILL HELP
HERTO UNDERSTAND AND PROTECTHER COMMUNITY OR IF
THE REACHTHIS OUTRAGE ATTAINED WILL BLIND HER FROM
THE POTENTIALHARM SHE COULD CAUSE ...
LOVE HER OR HATE HER, EFFECTIVE OR EXPLOITATIVE, IT’S NO
DOUBTTHATBELLE IS AN INTERNETPIONEER.THE LAUNCH OF
HER ONL
YFANS ON CHRISTMAS DAY OF 2020 WAS A BONA FIDE
PHENOMENON WITH REPORTS STATING SHE IS EARNING OVER
$1.2 MILLION PER MONTH FROMTHE PLATFORM.

19. Perspective
check
This has been written
by a team of straight
writers. Much effort
has been placed in
ensuring the topics
are well researched
and contain input
from various different
perspectives, to be as
fair and representative
as possible.While
the reporting here
contains a point of
view, that doesn’t
mean there isn’t room
for conversation
around the topics
highlighted. Please
feel empowered to
reach out if there
is conversation to
continue on the back
of this publication.

20. WRITER: LIAM NORRIS
INTHE META IS A COLENSO PLANNING
DEPARTMENTQUARTERL
Y FANZINE
DESIGNER: HAMISH STEPTOE