are we still able to have a cracked version that we can download?
For the last time, it is a big unknown at this point, until we sure what model Project Helius publishing we don't know. If what i and some other said is true which is they using server hosting online model with most of core component of the game in server then you can kiss your wallet goodbye if you want to play the game. If they use the offline game model but force to internet connecting to play then probably someone can crack, but with how the harem mode is suppose to work which require you to play with other to unlock sex scene then you can also kiss sex animation goodbye and can only play story mode cracked, you still need to pay for sex mode.
And..............they can also change their business model in the near future, given how they have done in the past, they could well do this again...................
How is Steam "the whole business plan"? They were self-publishing before, they talked about publishing on other services like GoG and some mystery platform, they have their own servers for online and for streaming all the game assets from as part of their always online scheme. There's no reason they can't publish somewhere else while they wait on Steam to get their shit together.
was the OG fallen doll even published anywhere? or did they just publish it themselves? because in that case they could totally do that with OL as well since the logins are based on patreon anyway...
Steam is a marketing purpose and an excuse. They marketing their game to people who not yet know about them through steam, thus draw more curious people to play and possibly pay more to get the sex part through patreon, a type of advertisement, let people play non-h content and advertising h-content. An excuse is if something goes wrong they can just blame steam instead, and they already done it in the past, this time they probably actually doesn't read steam guideline thus leading to accident; or worse conspiracy, they know but did it anyway, thus leading to Steam responses and they can use that responses as a legitimate proof for another delay, or we can called it intended accident or planned accident, but hey it is too assumptous so you guys doesn't need to believe this, just me thinking
Also iirc, Patreon is a donation platform, so all form of money giving is just donation, you violate patreon guideline only if other people need to pay for the final production. But steam is a paying platform, you need to pay for the production; so it is a good strategy, using steam to cover the weakness of patreon. But hey it is just my thinking, and i'm a noob, feel free to correct me
