Playboy is an American lifestyle magazine for men founded by Hugh Hefner in Chicago, Illinois, in 1953. It has a long history of publishing articles on sex, entertainment, politics, health, sports, and popular culture. Since its creation, it has had many controversies related to its explicit content but became a cultural icon. However, there are also less well-known attempts at diversification, including video games. This article discusses one of those experiments. In this case, Playboy entered the gaming world with titles like Playboy: The Mansion — a life simulation game similar to The Sims.
In the early 20000s, Playboy was interested in expanding into multimedia and gaming markets. To do so, they developed a series of games called "The Mansion." These were life simulation games that allowed players to live the high life of a billionaire playboy. Players could decorate their mansions, throw parties, and pursue women. They could even have virtual relationships with characters modeled after real-life celebrities. While niche, these games were successful enough to warrant further development.
Playboy's first video game experiment was released in 2003 as Playboy: The Mansion. The player takes control of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner and must manage his mansion while building a business empire. This includes hosting parties, hiring staff, and networking with other VIPs. It features voice acting from famous actors such as Peter Graves and Shannon Elizabeth. The game sold over 700,0000 copies despite mixed reviews. Still, it paved the way for two sequels: Superstar Racing and Big Baller Party Edition.
Superstar Racing is a driving game where players can race sports cars on tracks inspired by Playboy locations. It has a career mode, multiplayer options, and downloadable content (DLC). The game received better reviews than The Mansion but did not sell as well due to competition from other racing games at the time. However, both titles are still available on modern systems via digital distribution platforms like Steam and GOG.com.
Big Baller Party Edition focuses more on managing social events rather than finances or vehicle racing. In this title, players host lavish parties, solve puzzles, and make choices that affect their relationships with guests. The game had positive reception but didn't achieve commercial success due to limited marketing efforts. Despite this, many consider Big Baller Party Edition an underrated gem within the gaming community.
Unfortunately, these experiments failed to establish Playboy as a major force in the video game industry. While they produced entertaining experiences, there were too few resources dedicated to development. Additionally, the adult-themed content may have alienated potential audiences beyond its core fanbase. Nonetheless, these games remain unique entries into the history of adult entertainment and are worth checking out for fans of the genre.