Seduce Me Makes It - UPDATED

[Andy Chalk]

Seduce Me Makes It - UPDATED

Despite being given the red light by Steam Greenlight, the "erotic strategy game" Seduce Me is now available for purchase.

Back in September of 2012, the sexually-explicit strategy game Seduce Me was removed [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/119475-Developer-Blames-American-Culture-for-Greenlight-Ban] from Steam Greenlight for being, well, sexually explicit. Greenlight's terms of service forbids "offensive content" and while it doesn't get into what specifically qualifies as offensive, it's a fair bet that "Pietra greets you in a steamy sauna. She's unashamedly ***** ********** and over her *********" meets the criteria.

There was a not-entirely-unreasonable assumption that the Greenlight ban would likely spell the end of the project and developer No Reply Games, but nobody ever went broke selling sex and so it is that the now-completed game is up for sale via its own website. It lists for €12.99 - about 17 bucks - for the game alone, or €14.99 for the game and the four-song soundtrack.

At that price you aren't likely to get a triple-A gaming experience, but you will apparently get "erotic cut scenes, lavishly painted event images [and] five mini-games based on real world card games," all of which you will enjoy during your exploration of an exotic Mediterranean mansion and the four "seduce-able" characters who reside therein.

The promotional trailer and screenshots are pretty silly, but the game clearly deserves its AO (Adults Only) ESRB tag for "strong sexual content, nudity, strong language [and] use of drugs." It didn't necessarily earn it, however; No Reply is based in The Netherlands, which doesn't actually use the ESRB rating system, and because the game isn't being sold in stores it doesn't need the rating anyway. And if you go poking through the ESRB database, you'll find that Seduce Me isn't even listed. Surely No Reply wouldn't be using the infamous AO rating for its own PR purposes - or would it?

In any event, if you want to check this thing out in all its non-Greenlighted glory, you may do so at seducemegame.com [www.seducemegame.com]. Fair warning: There's no sexually explicit content on the site, but your mom might not appreciate you looking at it anyway.

UPDATE: No Reply has been in touch to assure us that the ESRB rating for Seduce Me is legitimate. I still can't find it on the ESRB website but a copy of the rating certificate, issued on November 23, 2012, is available in PDF format here [http://www.seducemegame.com/subm1305.pdf].


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[Legion]

So an article about removing sexism from gaming is immediately followed by one about a game that would quite commonly be described as sexist.

Not that there is anything inherently wrong with it, but this almost feels like an advertisement for it seeing as the price, content and link are included.

 

[Weaver]

I know this doesn't have much to do with the article at hand, but I think most of the west (especially North American and the UK) should relax a little more about sex in general.

I'd, personally, kind of like seeing AO games on steam.

 

[weirdee]

I have to say, if all it takes to get advertising on Steam (and by proxy, this and other websites) is to pay 100 bucks even though you aren't expecting to get in, then make a big fuss about not getting in, then it's not a bad deal.

Escapist, you've been taken in and you're advertising for them without getting paid. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

 

[roushutsu]

So I guess the rejection from Steam was exactly the kind of publicity they needed for the game. Now we play the waiting game and see if it's remotely successful or not.

 

[Revnak_v1legacy]

So an article about removing sexism from gaming is immediately followed by one about a game that would quite commonly be described as sexist.

Not that there is anything inherently wrong with it, but this almost feels like an advertisement for it seeing as the price, content and link are included.

To be fair, articles like this get hits. It is a pretty reasonable thing to do.

OT- Can't they be sued for using the ESRB's symbols without their permission? I thought the ESRB was pretty crazy about their copyrights.

 

[Alcaste]

Hmm. The 'cinematic' in question looks to just be several croppings of the same picture splayed around with some (probably hilarious) text, judging from the preview images. I doubt it's worth any money... It looks just like those dating sim games you'd find on the newgrounds of 2005.

 

[Negatempest]

Bought and played the game. To no surpise, I liked the game. The writing is just right. The scenarios are interesting. "If" your curious, let me know and I'll fill you in.

But the puzzles are far from easy in the beginning. You can get "used" to them, but you will rarely if ever get a perfect streak.

I will say this, the game makes the men look more like a sexual object than women, so if some say that women are "objectified" in the game, they never played it. -_-
It's like those parents blaming Mass Effect 3 for the shooting.

 

[Gothproxy]

Ok #1 - So THIS can get made, but an MMO about the Warhammer 40K universe cant?

I don't wanna live on this planet anymore.

#2 - This justifies Anita Sarkeesian's entire project.

Just sayin'.

 

[Entitled]

The problem with banning sex games, is the same as with banning violent games. It sounds good on paper, but as soon as you ban a kind of content, then along with the mindless, disgusting panderings, you will inevitably end up banning art that happens to involve showing sex/violance.

 

[Entitled]

#2 - This justifies Anita Sarkeesian's entire project.

Just sayin'.

Sex games have existed since the '80s.

If this existing would have justified Sarkeesian's project, then Sarkeesian's project would have been justified all along.

 

[cwmdulais]

In any event, if you want to check this thing out in all its non-Greenlighted glory, you may do so at seducemegame.com [www.seducemegame.com]. Fair warning: There's no sexually explicit content on the site, but your mom might not appreciate you looking at it anyway.

i am not quite sure, but wasnt even blurred out lady and gentlemen parts also in the sexually explicit boat?
if so, dont check the images or you might get blind....


anyways, its just one of the random "dating" sims only this time from outside japan.
and with less to none tentacles or rape.

the colouring is impressive only their hairstyles look like glued on wigs.

A dating game without any tentacle rape?! those crazy westerners! what will they think of next?

 

[Krantos]

Ok #1 - So THIS can get made, but an MMO about the Warhammer 40K universe cant?

Dude, this game probably cost less than $100,000 to make. A 40K MMO would be close to 1000X that. Seriously, AAA MMO's cost about 100M to make.

 

[search_rip]

Hmmm... you could throw your money away on a game like this or, you know, spent it on a real date

 

[Cecilthedarkknight_234]

So an article about removing sexism from gaming is immediately followed by one about a game that would quite commonly be described as sexist.

Not that there is anything inherently wrong with it, but this almost feels like an advertisement for it seeing as the price, content and link are included.

Hmm it depends on the game at hand at case by case bases. Take into account that i'm a huge eroge fan "Japanese porno games/visual novels" some are good with great narratives, characters, music, art and so on the latter half of games in Japan not so much. Then we get lower brow games made here like this one that is mainly for sex/boobs because of well sex/boobs that I'm amazed that made it onto steam aside from my ground breaking "finally an A/O game cert and you can buy digitally".

 

[Jumwa]

So an article about removing sexism from gaming is immediately followed by one about a game that would quite commonly be described as sexist.

My partner--a woman and a feminist--bought the game and has played it some.

So far neither of us would describe it as sexist. The women are very much in charge in this game, and it's not--unlike traditional games of this sort--about 'winning' their affections. The little mini-games are rather curiously about coming to a common understanding mostly.

Flirtation is about giving as well as you get. They aren't passive, to be sure.

I'd say more, but the game is also tough as heck, and we've not actually seen any sex thus far because of it.