The Steam Release and The Future
Added 2022-02-10 12:58:47 +0000 UTCDear Adult Game Enthusiasts,
I recently received a message from Steam letting me know that they will not allow A Petal Among Thorns on their platform even with alterations. After begging for them to reconsider, they stood behind their decision and refused to give me any opportunity to modify my game to fit their policies.
Steam could neither give me regulations or policies that I was in violation of, and they have several games on their site that have far younger women than Petal in sexual situations and others that directly feature incest content. It is apparent to me that I was simply unfortunate with the reviewer that got their hands on my game.
I'm confident the reason they were able to blanket block my work is because there was an age variable for Petal that was changeable. I won't be messing around with age-play anymore as it seems to lead to more problems than it's worth. I noticed other games taking advantage of the age-play variable and finding success with it, so I decided to try it myself so that perhaps I could get my own slice of success from it. It will no longer be featured in any of my works moving forward.
Before I continue, I'd like to say that I am extremely displeased with how Steam is handling this situation. Not allowing me to make modifications is an outright affront to the developers they work with. It's obvious that they need to internally work out their policies on adult content. If they don't accept certain themes, that's up to them, but these undefined policies are impossible to follow because they don't actually exist. Decisions to host an adult game depend entirely on the whims of individual team members over at Steam who review them.
I'm continuing work on A Moment of Bliss. However, the expected income from the release of Petal is not coming in so I'm having to adjust some of my real life priorities. I've had to reacquire my old job that I quit so I could work full time on these novels. It'll only take me about ten hours a week, but it is ten hours not spent on AMoB which is unfortunate.
This is a massive loss, but it's not going to put me in the poor house. Hopefully A Moment of Bliss will bring in more supporters and eventually Patreon might be my main source of income.
We recently hit 200 subscribers on Patreon which is a great milestone and an achievement. I appreciate every supporter. You're helping me to live my dream of writing stories. And I appreciate Patreon for allowing me on their platform.
My final words on this will be a request to all those enjoying adult games. Please remember to support the works you indulge in however you can. If you love an Adult Game, remember to share your excitement of its contents with others in forums or Discord. Spread the word, spread the support. Together we can not only keep this industry alive, but drive it forward.
I appreciate all of your support and your kindness in these hard times. Thank you!
Lockheart
Comments
They don't appear to actually want to work with Adult Game Developers. It's like they're torn between that increased income and their moral outrage against lewd content. I'm not sure, they're not clear at all. I do sincerely appreciate your support though. I'll find a way to keep bringing these games to my fans. With the help of the community, I'm sure I can do it.
Lockheart
2022-02-15 19:59:00 +0000 UTCYeah, I can understand rejecting the game for the age selector, but to outright ban you is a little bit extreme! Especially when you offered to change the game to meet their requirements. Your characters don't look that young so I don't understand how correcting a few lines of code wouldn't be acceptable. But either way I'm really sorry this happened. You've got my support, for as long as I'm still working lol
Jabbonk Games
2022-02-15 19:09:52 +0000 UTCThank you, Jabbonk. It's a major setback but I'll persevere. I believe if I offend Patreon, they'll at least give me the opportunity to fix the issue. I certainly appreciate that approach more than being outright banned.
Lockheart
2022-02-15 02:07:21 +0000 UTCThat sucks! You have a great game and I'm really looking forward to the sequels. I really hope Patreon will be a good home for your games!
Jabbonk Games
2022-02-15 01:36:40 +0000 UTCSeems to me like Mary might be on her own personal crusade against Adult Content. Steam needs to get their act together.
Lockheart
2022-02-13 17:38:16 +0000 UTCI think what i was banned for was a scene that was a flashback to when my character was a teen. Even though the most sexual thing that happened during the flashback was a kiss.
2022-02-13 16:40:56 +0000 UTChttps://gaerax.itch.io/say-it-again
2022-02-13 16:37:34 +0000 UTCI have a feeling she is probably a big part of the reason. What game were you working on that was banned?
Lockheart
2022-02-13 10:27:52 +0000 UTCThe original message from steam that i got when my game was banned is pretty much identical to yours, even the name "mary" I wonder if it is the same message for everyone who gets banned, or of we just happened to get the same reviewer, someone who is unreasonably strict, or biased.
2022-02-13 08:33:17 +0000 UTCYou are correct! There are plenty of other adult games on steam that have incest , age play, and darker themes that are OK to them, it is sad that they are not accepting your work.
2022-02-11 12:36:26 +0000 UTCThank you, Frizz. I sincerely appreciate the support, especially right now. I never thought Steam would pull a stunt like this. It's been terribly demoralizing. But with encouragement and support like yours, I'll persevere. A Moment of Bliss is still in the works, and it's going to be amazing. :-)
Lockheart
2022-02-11 02:42:49 +0000 UTCI loved Avalon and I absolutely love APAT. When I heard what Steam did I came over here to Patreon to support your work. I'm also going to buy APAT again on itch for the price you were going to charge on Steam. Steam is getting too big for it's own good. Even their inconsistencies are inconsistent ( if that makes any sense ). Sell your novels wherever you want to...I'll buy them!
2022-02-11 02:20:24 +0000 UTCYep, I begged them to let me fix it. They were cold as ice towards me.
Lockheart
2022-02-10 20:28:43 +0000 UTCSo tired of them trying to shut us down for our content. Especially in this case. It looks like you went above and beyond to try to appease Steam on this but they won't even answer your questions. Its bullshit. This is one of the reasons I haven't tried to put my game on Steam yet.
N2TheFire
2022-02-10 20:10:10 +0000 UTCA Petal Without Thorns is a great VN. Unfortunately, some of the Steam reviewers are in love with their 'PCness' and have no interest in anything constituting honest discourse. They are hiding behind TOS that is not uniformly applied and no one holds them accountable for their lack of consistency. I'll continue to support you via Patreon or Subscribestar (if Patreon tries to be the PC police on you) and I'll look forward to AMOB. Take Care!
Pax
2022-02-10 20:09:40 +0000 UTCin Germany we can't buy a adult game on steam, only with steam key. pain in the ass ๐
oliveron
2022-02-10 19:52:11 +0000 UTCLet's start an infrastructure that manages adult vn, games and such. You know, a client that runs on all types of devices and operating systems, that let you browse and purchase games and stores them in a convenient library so users can easily access their adult games. And name it Steamy.
Bofhorg
2022-02-10 18:02:57 +0000 UTCThank you, Todd. It warms my heart to hear you enjoyed APAT. I'm currently working on the sequel. I'm confident you'll enjoy it even more than APAT. It is unfortunate that Steam decided to squash me, instead of helping me to adapt the novel to their unspecified policies. That's not going to stop me from writing amazing stories though! I appreciate your support.
Lockheart
2022-02-10 17:39:21 +0000 UTCLove your work lockheart! I just finished Petal and thought it was great! Please continue. I just made her a step daughter and raised her age to about 22, so I guess the steam reviewer just went the other way. Please continue, I have done all your VN and like them all!
Todd Spong
2022-02-10 17:29:07 +0000 UTCThank you, Alan. Hindsight is 20/20, but they won't allow me to change anything to make it acceptable. It is outright rejected and unable to reapply.
Lockheart
2022-02-10 16:23:09 +0000 UTCThe inconsistency is my major gripe. They also can't give me a clear policy I'm breaking, or a law. Multiple other platforms took no issue with A Petal Among Thorns. And they have games on their platform with both underage girls and incest. Petal is a full bodied woman with wide hips and a big bust. There's no way you could confuse her for a child. They even have a game called 'Sex with Hitler' on Steam. /facepalm
Lockheart
2022-02-10 16:21:30 +0000 UTCI agree with Matt "Leave the Age Adjustment" within your games but in a hidden aspect. Perhaps like some other games I've played by enterable "Cheat Codes" with a MC's computer/phone. Also you could still use "Steam" just as a link to your more "Adult Content" games by having your own URL (like the devs of "The Genesis Order". Love all your games so far ;)
Alan J. Sharp
2022-02-10 15:51:46 +0000 UTCConsider leaving in the code to allow for an easy patch/mod for any questionable content. That way the user can make the call without censors knowing about it.
Matt Schulte
2022-02-10 13:54:30 +0000 UTC
