Principles are like children. They are never easy or cheep. Like it or not the principles of individual freedom and free speech are involved here. For all of us. Your AVN is legal and covered by the rights of many nations. And not in some. It has always been that way, and you knew that when you started.
By removing your game from any platform it is doing the work of those who would take our freedoms away from all of us. It is like resigning yourself to burn the books for them.
Principles always have a cost. The trials and tribulations you now face are part of the real price of freedom. Will you meet that responsibility?
I am well aware of the risks you now face, legally, financially, and physically. And you are facing those risks NOW. Pulling access to the game will not get rid of that risk.
I believe you overestimate the power of your detractors. They scream and threaten because they are impotent. In short, because they have already lost this fight. And you underestimate the strength of your support. Whether it is the community your game was made for and their fight for their rights and access to this game and others like it, or the people who purchased your game with no intent to play it. They support with their money, and their votes at the ballot box. People who sent you money, that is real support. And many are doing it on Principle!
I imagine that you are feeling mighty unappreciated right now with all the criticism. You have worked hard on your creation only find yourself in this situation. I don't think you expected this, nor should you have. It is stupid. Know that your game and the effort you have put into it are appreciated by the vast majority who have played it. There are always a few detractors in any large group for their own pet peeves, that is just how it works. No Mercy will probably become a classic of it's genre. Don't let it become a dead one. Finish it.
My suggestions for actions are to begin with putting up your game for sale on any platform who will sell, support, service, and defend your right to do so. Let the Trolls scream and wail, and then ignore them. Your explanations are more than sufficient and there is no reason to repeat it. Allow the platforms to defend it and make you money. If you have to, hire lawyers to defend all of you who worked on the project. Take precautions for all of you not to be doxed as best you can. Keep your followers informed about the game and any events in the controversy. Call for support if you need more of it. You will get through this. Have the courage of your convictions.
I have over 2 dozen hours in the game, and 2/3rds of the achievements. I have played through it twice. I intend to play at least until I get all the achievements. I am expecting 40 hrs.
I would call it a superior game. One of the few.
The story is good. Far better when you consider the between the lines interplay.
I am glad I bought it. If you like AVNs you will be too.
To see everything it will require multiple play throughs due to story forks and multiple endings. Time to complete depends on your definition of complete and play style. However, it was not meant to be a short game.
It is not buggy but needs polishing. Dialogue in English is a translation and needs work in places. The story is complete, The developers have promised an update which would flesh out some branches and add scenes. I hope they do.
I think that if you take a close look at the game you have purchased you will be pleasantly surprised. The high quality visuals are often used to convey thought and inner struggle through facial expressions interwoven with dialogue and actions. All while trying to keep this playable on a 12 year old laptop is not easy. While the game never steps away from being an AVN, I believe you will find it a superior one.
I would love to hear your opinion on the psychology present in the AVN. The interweaving presentation between what is said, thought, facial expressions, and actually done. Especially the inner struggle of the women between morality and masochistic desire.
I have two dozen hours in the game and have finished the love ending. I am continuing to follow the other storylines. I believe the subtleties in the story and psychology are lost on most, but not on all. It is a rarity to find those things.
I ask that you finish patch 1.1 Looking forward to it. Maybe more?
Haters gonna hate. Ignore them. Put it back up for sale and it will sell.
