Developer Blames "American Culture" for Greenlight Ban

[Rainboq]

I was talking about spheres of culture, while the boarders of culture are hard to define, I was speaking generally.

OK, so what is the "sphere" of US culture?

And before I can even begin to answer that, would you kindly define culture?

Certainly. Put simply, it's a lie. A myth designed to homogenize people and rob them of their individuality.

I can't answer that first question until you give me an actual definition of culture. Also, you might also want to go look up group psychology. Rather than your useless rant about robbing of individuality, lets have an actual debate about this.

 

[grigjd3]

I bet the developer knew what was going to happen when they submitted this game and was hoping for the free media attention.

 

[ThatDarnCoyote]

snip
There, there. We just need to find you a boring woman that never menstruates.

My bad, used a french word "mensuration" which means physical measurements (ex:66-40-65), wasn't referring to menstruation in any way xD Though I guess that could be a bonus question in that pop quizz... Anyways, cheers for the hug, hugs are nice.

Yeah, it's usually not a good idea to discuss a woman's menstruation on a date.

The swelling will go down in 2-3 days.

 

[dfphetteplace]

I think more or less, this game just looks terrible anyways.

 

[Muspelheim]

While I suppose they do have a point, it's still a massive generalization, to say the least... Yes, American culture in general tends to have a more difficult relationship towards good ol' bewbs than some of us are used to. However, notice the term "in general".

The better way to avoid making it sound like a cop-out move on the developer's part would be to say "certain elements of American culture", or "certain parts". Because firstly, it's changing. Secondly, not everyone is the same, and there's loads of Americans who simply don't care anymore. Yes, the traditional no nudity-value is still in force, but it's a massive generalization to say it's an entirely American phenomenom, or that everyone is part of it.

And honestly, ol' 'Murrica isn't as prudish as we'd like to imagine it all times. Even more so when you compare it to other delightful countries. And again, it's changing. These things tends to take time, but they're certainly getting there.

I do understand the point they're trying to make. It's just that this isn't the 70's anymore, you aren't exactly "I am Curious (Yellow)" and the implied generalization of all Americans as the same prudes just makes it all look like a big fat cop-out.

 

[Aardvaarkman]

I can't answer that first question until you give me an actual definition of culture.

Why do I need to define it for you? You were the one who brought it up. What did you mean by culture?

Also, you might also want to go look up group psychology. Rather than your useless rant about robbing of individuality, lets have an actual debate about this.

Go ahead, then. I've already stated that I don't believe in culture. Why does that make my opinion invalid? And what about "group psychology" is relevant here? Psychology is the study of behavior. Doesn't seem like something that would be particularly useful to do as group, other than the usual benefits of peer-review, etc.

As conventionally defined, "culture" is so vague as to be meaningless. It can mean traditions, religious beliefs, dietary preferences, artistic endeavors, TV shows, comic books, sexual relations, just about anything. Which is why it is such a worthless concept.

 

[Azuaron]

Wow... five pages of comments and nobody's mentioned this?

So, lots of people are bringing up The Witcher and Mass Effect (both of which are rated M), but does Steam sell any AO rated games? Any at all? Because judging by their website [http://www.seducemegame.com/images.html], this game is explicit hardcore pornography, which definitely would get an AO rating if the ESRB bothered to rate it at all.

So, how about we stop saying, "Oh, but Steam sells [M rated game]"? Because Seduce Me is not even comparable.

Also, hating on America for being prudes when California alone produces more pornography than everywhere else in the world put together? Or how about 50 Shades of Grey selling 20 million copies in under four months?

Seems legit.

 

[Aurora Firestorm]

Very unsurprised. Given how much of every *other* medium is porn, Steam doesn't want this to be the foot in the door that then floods its servers with crappy porn games.

 

[snekadid]

So Steam can have games like The Witcher were there's boobs and sex all over the place but not something like this? That's a bit strange. I guess it's because sex is the main focus here whereas it's a side feature in The Witcher but still seems a little strange.

Sex in the witcher was one of its main drawing points, like the mass effect "controversy", the controversy is what drew people in to the witcher and while its a decent rpg it doesn't have a whole lot going for it without that attribute making it stand out.

OT:This is basically the same thing as every other flash game on the newgrounds adult game list, which means it could just be snubbed because its a boring, unoriginal concept put in a subpar wrapper. I personally like the occasional dating sim but only when they have good writing where you feel more like you're communicating rather than a kid at chucky cheese trying to get enough tickets for nookie, Leisure Suit Larry already drove this garbage into the ground, leave it buried.

did we play the same witcher game? witcher one had painted cards, w2 had what a nude shot? both great rps, people that loved the witcher series did not tune in for the omg boobiez, we tuned in for the fact it was a great rpg that did many things well or better including a good story.

How old are you? When it first came out it was met with average fanfare that exploded when the nudy cards became general knowledge rather than a gamer insider thing and most of the reason alot of people played the witcher back then to see what the fuss was about or just because it suddenly became something no one could ignore. to be fair i enjoyed the witcher but the story is not very good and horribly paced. Other then that the RPG elements worked well other then that stupid research required to do monster bits related quests and I enjoyed it, though the number of times I would talk to a random NPC and got kidnapped for sex was higher then you see in most games

 

[Eien Shushu]

So Valve opens this brand new service on Steam that lets players themselves choose what indie games appear there.
And then they ban games that they don't like.
Yep, sounds like American elections to me.

 

[Rainboq]

I can't answer that first question until you give me an actual definition of culture.

Why do I need to define it for you? You were the one who brought it up. What did you mean by culture?

Also, you might also want to go look up group psychology. Rather than your useless rant about robbing of individuality, lets have an actual debate about this.

Go ahead, then. I've already stated that I don't believe in culture. Why does that make my opinion invalid? And what about "group psychology" is relevant here? Psychology is the study of behavior. Doesn't seem like something that would be particularly useful to do as group, other than the usual benefits of peer-review, etc.

As conventionally defined, "culture" is so vague as to be meaningless. It can mean traditions, religious beliefs, dietary preferences, artistic endeavors, TV shows, comic books, sexual relations, just about anything. Which is why it is such a worthless concept.

Someone has evidently never taken an anthropology course. Culture is a set of shared symbols across a group of people. Hence the idea of sphere's of culture, every set of symbols has a group who observes it, which fall within its radius. And every person subscribes to more than one culture because every thing has its own set of symbols. So some examples of american culture would be their politics, their constitution, their news media. While these examples aren't limited to the USA, they certainly are a part of it.

 

[AzrealMaximillion]

Yet the sex scenes and full frontal nudity of BOTH Witcher games is ok?

And let's not forget Mass Effect

Hell, Steam sells GTA.

This 'Seduce Me' game may not even have nudity in it like most other erotic dating games. It may also come with the option to turn nudity off if there is any.

My point is that Valve isn't unfamiliar with nudity or sex in their games. Decapitations and Lacerations can't be the only "adult" thing video games should have full reigns of doing.

Sex in a game = Sex Game.

There's a big difference there.

This game sounds like one of those cheap flash games you play at... some websites I don't visit... really.

This, by the way it's explained in the article, sounds like nothing more than a sex game.

The Witcher wasn't just about sex, sorry there was an actual game that went with it. Same for Mass Effect and GTA. Seduce Me if you had actually taken a look at it, specifically says it will have sex in it. The entire point of the game is to have sex with characters and it will have repeated nudity in it as per their own trailer. The entire point is to unlock the explicit scenes as well and nothing else! It is porn. Last I checked the point of the Wither or Mass Effect or GTA wasn't to just to provide explicit scenes to fap to.

Last I checked, Steam does not sell porn, has never sold porn, so I don't know why someone would try to get porn up for sale on Steam and then get mad when they were told they couldn't.

Even so, games with sex involved stir people up no matter what the context. To all non-gamers looking at this, the sex in this game is no different than in The Witcher. Nor would it be rated any different if this game was sitting on a shelf next to GTA. They would both be rated " 'M' for Mature" or "Pegi 18".
Also we've had games like Leisure Suit Larry before. I'm pretty sure no gamer would have a problem seeing that on Steam with Leisure Suit Larry being just as graphic as what this game is expected to be. Non gamers would complain either way but that's not the point. We as gamers have moved on about this issue and should be looking at a situation and not automatically attacking this game for trying. (It's just going to get released from their website as well.) Maybe a game of this quality should not be the game we push forward, but gamers would have a much easier time telling the North American culture that this prudishness needs to stop.

 

[disgruntledgamer]

Sex in games on Steam is not allowed, unless you're also capping people in the back of the head or Slaying ogres on the side. Than you can put full on sex scenes like in the Witcher 2 and GTA.

 

[Shjade]

Is it strange that, in glancing through the images available on the game's site, writing errors are what bother me the most?

Sex and violence and prudishness debate blah blah blah - it's "whose," not "who's" and "sees" does not need an apostrophe! For shame, No Reply, for shame. >.<

...seriously though, I know those things would bother the hell out of me if I played this, probably more than would any shallow or "offensive" gameplay. When 90% of your gameplay is text, you need make sure it's up to par.

 

[RoBi3.0]

I was talking about spheres of culture, while the boarders of culture are hard to define, I was speaking generally.

OK, so what is the "sphere" of US culture?

And before I can even begin to answer that, would you kindly define culture?

Certainly. Put simply, it's a lie. A myth designed to homogenize people and rob them of their individuality.

LOL, culture is not a myth. Google Anthropology and you will find tons of information on the science devoted to the study of culture.

And to answer Rainboq cultures basic definition is: socially transmitted information that shapes human behavior. It is a complexed concept of a group of people's shared values and beliefs

Edit: it appear Rainboq new the answer to his own question.

 

[Aardvaarkman]

Someone has evidently never taken an anthropology course. Culture is a set of shared symbols across a group of people. Hence the idea of sphere's of culture, every set of symbols has a group who observes it, which fall within its radius.

Clearly, someone has never studied English. "Sphere's" of culture? Also, how do any of the things I mention not involve shared symbols? Since you advocated the idea, please tell me what the shared symbols of US culture are.

And every person subscribes to more than one culture because every thing has its own set of symbols. So some examples of american culture would be their politics, their constitution, their news media. While these examples aren't limited to the USA, they certainly are a part of it.

But you can't offer any specific details on those shared symbols for some reason. "Politics" is not a symbol. "Constitution" is not a symbol. "News Media" is not a symbol. You need to be more specific on what forms those take. What is the "symbol" of US politics, for example?

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Bellard blames what she describes as an "American culture" problem for the takedown, saying that Valve is playing it safe by adhering to prudish American values when it comes to sex and violence. Bellard cites Steam sales as accounting for somewhere between 90 to 95% of an indie's total sales; assuming Bellard's figures are accurate this is make-or-break stuff for companies like No Reply.

Well, she's right. You can yell about her making a sex game all you like, but violent games are all over Steam, so yeah - American culture is the reason for the takedown.

The game is also kind of sexist. Where's the mode where I can play a generic female socialite and seduce one of four hot men, huh?

 

[Will Hektor]

As far as I can see America has been steadily reverting to the attitudes of the 80's. Inane foreign policy, appalling economic ideals and repressive social attitudes. If Romney manages to win out, then this will only get worse

 

[Weaver]

I would love if steam got a ton of VN's translated to it (eroge or not).

 

[Aardvaarkman]

LOL, culture is not a myth. Google Anthropology and you will find tons of information on the science devoted to the study of culture.

And yet, anthropologists themselves disagree on the basis of culture. I'm not sure why you think that something being a subject of study makes it legitimate.

And to answer Rainboq cultures basic definition is: socially transmitted information that shapes human behavior. It is a complexed concept of a group of people's shared values and beliefs

But my point is that groups of people don't share beliefs. You might think you share a belief with somebody, but dig deeper, and you'll almost certainly find that you disagree with them on some level. This is why we have disruption in society, because ultimately there are people who will refuse to go along with what your "culture" claims. Otherwise, how could we get rid of slavery, fascism, and other cultural impositions?