A Petal Among Thorns - Final v5.1.0 with Bonus Scene
Added 2022-02-24 00:02:54 +0000 UTCHey fans,
It's come to my attention that there was a misunderstanding with some of the content in A Petal Among Thorns. Petal was always meant to be portrayed as a mature young woman. This is obvious by the way she speaks and her physical features such has her large bust and full hips.
With the age-play variable, I never meant for her to be below the age of sixteen in fantasy but canonically she's always been eighteen. I tried to alter the code to make sure she couldn't be portrayed as younger than sixteen, but unfortunately I couldn't figure it out. Since I figured we were all adults and could enjoy the game however we damn well please, I decided to leave it alone and let the player decide to make it whatever they wanted.
This is a fantasy game which means there are no real people involved in any capacity except for me writing the scripts and rendering the images. People have the capacity to differentiate fantasy from reality. We've been doing it for thousands of years as storytelling has been an important part of society since cavemen started drawing art on walls.
What baffles me is that we're fine with games that have you killing police officers by the hundreds, such as in Grand Theft Auto, but depicting consensual sex with a seventeen year old in a fantasy where no real people are involved makes people lose their minds.
I don't condone sexual interactions with young persons. Sex is innately an extreme act. There's a vulnerability aspect, tons of chemicals flood the brain, there is a power dynamic, it can be confusing and scary. It's a profoundly intense experience at any age. While a young person is still developing, this can be shaping, defining, and even traumatizing. I don't condone it.
Natural selection bred men that favor young, healthy, and fertile females. The men that bed a healthy young female tended to be the ones whose lineage continued because they would more likely have healthy offspring. Our desire for a sexually mature yet still young woman is not something that just went away when we, as a society, decided it was best to experience sex at a more mature age. Even if I'm wrong on this point, my point holds. It's better to have a healthy outlet in fantasy to reduce the build up of sexual frustration that can lead to unhealthy real world behaviors.
Fantasy is the best possible solution. We men can still enjoy young women without having to involve any real persons. It seems obvious to me that if we can enjoy slaughtering thousands of people in video games without taking to the streets armed to the teeth, we should also be able to indulge in sexual fetishes and kinks that may also be inappropriate in real life.
This is not a commonly held opinion, and I have been aggressively shamed for it. I'm a small fish in a pond full of sharks and whales. My opinion doesn't matter when it comes to business. While I don't agree with censorship, I'm not willing to die on this hill.
I've added in a bonus scene to A Petal Among Thorns that takes place after the last sex scene. It's not terribly long, but it is a nice addition. I've removed the age play mechanic and any references to school that I found. Petal is eighteen, she's decided to forgo college for a few months after High School, and starting in A Moment of Bliss she'll be taking two classes in college.
I know this isn't going to be a popular decision. I don't have the capabilities to fight the system, and I certainly could be wrong in my opinion. For now, I'm rolling over and letting the big dogs win the fight so they don't utterly rip me to shreds. I'm trying to build something here, but I can't if I'm fighting a war that isn't winnable.
I adore all of my fans. I'm going to do everything I can to make my stories as incredible as I can.
Thank you for all your support and kindness.
MEGA
Comments
No problem about the rant... I was right there with you, feeling it as I read it! Some people just can't let you have any freedom!
Old Salt
2022-02-24 21:34:31 +0000 UTCI appreciate your kindness, Old Salt. I probably shouldn't have launched into a full on rant there but I had a lot to vent out. The world is changing and I'm afraid I might have trouble keeping up. I'm going to try my hardest to keep making awesome stories for you guys. That's a promise! Thank you again.
Lockheart
2022-02-24 14:46:48 +0000 UTCI also agree totally with what was said above. I think you're doing a great job with interesting stories, amazing graphics. I'm also going to increase my pledge level.
Old Salt
2022-02-24 14:44:04 +0000 UTCThank you, CoasterJunkie. I'm going to do my best to bring quality work to this industry. I'm just going to have to do it under some restrictions to keep myself and my business safe. I sincerely appreciate your support.
Lockheart
2022-02-24 02:38:42 +0000 UTCAfter reading your latest post, you left me no choice but to increase my pledge level. Keep up the amazing work!
2022-02-24 02:34:36 +0000 UTCThat's the important thing; that I keep writing my stories. Flavor aside, my main goal is to write though-provoking, warm, and fun stories. As long as I can keep doing that, I'm happy. I appreciate the extra support. Now more than ever! I was counting on the revenue from Steam. It was as assured as the sun rising tomorrow morning in my mind. I can't even describe the level of shock I felt when I received their letter.
Lockheart
2022-02-24 02:27:12 +0000 UTCA news story in the last week told of a science camp for girls (the ones mentioned specifically were 5th graders). Men (Yes - they were born male, and they are over the age of 18) who identified as non-male were allowed to sleep in the cabins with 5th grade girls... and the parents were never told prior to the camp. The school board did not have a problem with this... but they also did not disclose this to the parents ahead of the camp. The camp itself said that they were following California State law so, effectively, what is the problem? Now...imagine if a creator added this as part of their AVN, even though there was no sexual activity of any kind involving the minors... Threats, censure and worse ... The double standard between the Woke crowd and what creators who aren't backed by the Academy of Arts with major grants is staggering. You did the right thing protecting your ability to continue to tell stories, even if they have to be amended to survive the double standard. It is a fight that the little people like us will never win because 'they' can just change the rules whenever they want or apply them in an uneven fashion (like Steam did with APAT) and say, 'deal with it.' Thanks for choosing to make changes that will allow us to continue to enjoy your stories! I'm also increasing my pledge of support to you as my small way of saying 'Thanks'!
Pax
2022-02-24 02:21:17 +0000 UTCAgreed.
Majah Flavah
2022-02-24 01:31:53 +0000 UTCI agree. Censorship is a blight. I wish more people understood the detrimental effects it has.
Lockheart
2022-02-24 01:13:59 +0000 UTCF the censors. I despise Pat. for their unfathomable inconsistency towards adult material. SS doesn’t yet censor, so I subscribe through them, whenever I can. You are an artist and writer and should not be censored.
Paul Newmon
2022-02-24 01:01:57 +0000 UTCI think your game is rated PG compared to "Blackmailing the Family" and that game was released not only on Patreon but many other platforms too. Just saying you should create your games how you dreamed them to be. Even if you have to have hidden content; let the players decide what they want to download ;)
Alan J. Sharp
2022-02-24 00:50:48 +0000 UTCI, for one, agree completely with every word stated. I can use a jet-powered sledgehammer to smash innocent settler's heads into mushy bits playing as the "Sole Wanderer" with no problem. But any hint of under-age "whoopie" and the same jet-powered ban-hammer is applied liberally. Many of these same folks lobby for teenage girls to get birth control and abortions without parental consent. I'm not knocking that, I'm just pointing out the double-standard. Business is business and you gotta keep "the company" afloat. Lots of small businesses are forced into making decisions like this one to remain solvent and sustainable. You did the right thing.
zoxell
2022-02-24 00:40:34 +0000 UTC
