When Sega announced the release of Yakuza 3 to North American audiences with Hostess Bar content removed for localization the gaming media cried foul.  For good reason, Yakuza 3 is part of series where Hostess Bars were included in the previous expositions, and to remove them for the third sequel seemed out right silly.

Hostess Bars are not foreign to Americans, seedy type of bars exist today in the southern parts of Texas and one can argue the popular Hooters is a hybrid of sorts (Heck, there was even a Bitmob meetup at the SF Hooters).

With Activision creating a video game bar, The Club Bam Bam  from True Crime, at the San Francisco W Hotel made Ars Techinca writer Ben Kuchera "skin crawl."  Kuchera points the irony of the situation, when approached by an attractive female who is paid to keep him there, yet the self admitted married prude felt uncomfortable and left.  Kuchera had the right too.

And the hostess was only doing her job, but if it is in the game it is in the game, right?

The idea of using strippers and hostesses for a PR shin dig is revolting to many and considered a from of a bribe by others. 

Was Activision in the wrong to show the gaming media a taste of a seedy strip joint in Hong Kong?  Did they need to?  Is it hypocritical to be upset when Sega pulls Hostess Bars from a game and also be upset when Activision takes it a step further?

And there is 'a making of' documentary as well...

Photo of the W Hotel and Ars Technica's post; Making Games: art of the pole dance by Ben Kuchera