The censorship seems insane in the third game. I hope someone is able to remove it at some point, because as is it feels awful.
- Thread starter luchettodj94
- Start date
If you're enjoying the game I'd encourage those who can to support the creators by purchasing the game for yourselves. There are ways around the whole credit card thing that happened last year, such as by purchasing Bitcash that you can exchange for DLsite points on sites such as play-asia.
As part of the team working on the game (I'm working with the English translator], I wish to state, right now, the developer has noticed distributions like this and is actively taking action against them. We'll happily share the free version with anyone who wants it, and encourage sharing of that version.
There was a lot of effort put into this game, and to hear from the developer that it's failing to meet sales targets due to people using links like that...
I was watching over Christmas them releasing several bugfix releases, and not even a week afterwards, the retail version is being distributed for free. Even those artists who'll happily let a image set be released for free require a couple of weeks for them to drum up support, but this isn't a image set, this is a retail product, and I was horrified to see half a dozen links for the game that aren't authorized, when there's a perfectly good version that costs nothing and hurts no-one. Except Arle.
- Dec 25, 2019
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Btw i don't disdain helping devs when i can, however the "ghost customer" idea must be stopped, if a product was not bought, it was not bought, stop, the marketing mentality about these supposedly lost customers it doens't help no one if not fuel a witch hunt, i don't mean you don't have protect your product however ppl that that suggest that a pirate product is a lost profit live literally in the moon.. Ppl with a moral will always buy the original product, who can't pay or doesn't want to will pirate it and in no case they had the need for that specific product, viceversa pirate products help spreading the word where marketing fail (or it was nonexistent) and they might actually be your future customers..
Also ( I won't say this is specifically the case):
a free limited version, differntly from a demo was made with already in mind to force manipulation for buying the full product, especially when gatekeeping content, but I'm fair to say that this actually ruin the reputation of the developer and most ppl will active search for a full free version, the initial "free" model had even a bigger inpact for a general public and the dev will not know if actually a product is appreaciated or not as nobody would reject a free meal however it doesn't mean they will get the full menu.
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loli senpai
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- Jan 21, 2019
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was about to mention it since it seems like a file you can edit it or remove it and it would be uncensored
derakino999
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- Sep 30, 2017
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A main point of a demo is to allow users to partially experience the full game to help them decide if they want to purchase the full game. A lot of devs and mainstream games do it. Plus, for this game, the purpose of making CH1 fully available over the last year was to ask for the public's help to debug prior to the official release. You see it as "manipulation" and "gatekeeping", I see it as "allowing people to enjoy the game while also helping its development". If the official release was the first time the game was publicly accessible, would this have changed the decision to create and distribute a pirated copy?
I don't deny that some people who can't afford the game might pirate it, but for people who are able (and possibly willing) to pay, how many of them would still choose to do so if a pirated copy exists (e.g. would you rather pay for a lunch or have the same lunch for free)? Relating to that point, sure, it might help "spread the word", but how many of those people would be willing to buy the game if a pirated copy exists? Maybe some of them, but I doubt all of them would, and that's lost profit.
And the whole "future customer" thing is a pretty flimsy argument considering the game is single-purchase and is possibly the last game the devs will be making. Plus, where are all the "future customers" from the previous game?
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The thing is this. If someone was to offer someone a ticket or a way to get a game that's cheaper, there's no guarantee the developer or publisher will get paid for this. And if people offer a link for free, people, even those who might have paid, will be interested in the link.
The actual free version only removes the fully animated mature content. You can complete the entire of Chapter 1 with the free version. Itsuki can see the download metrics for both the free and paid versions. If someone makes an unauthorized upload, Itsuki can't see those metrics, and they count as a genuine lost customer.
As JT has said, Itsuki is not planning on making a fourth game. What happened with the initial sales, where it underperformed, isn't helping. And people like you help much much less.
- Dec 25, 2019
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You can't give for granted that that ppl magically appear that are interested in your game and are willing to buy it, this is especially valid for indie devs who must earn the "trust" of the customer, some are willing to give simple a try even if it will be lost money, many not, that's why demos exist, demos could be trials or stages ad hoc that are made to increase the interest in the game and are accepted as they are, in the same way you really think that a regular person that the first thing will do is searching a pirated version is willing to be your customer? Sites like this actually take a middle ground and are especially beneficial for content creators who do monthly release or continuing developing, in this way the dev will earn some appretiation and the chance of getting a follower/customer is much higher, it's a different plan of action, there is a reason why some devs release willingly their games on pirate sites, other will do simply a limited giveaway but is basically the same thing when the reason is to attract potential new customers. Now.. You can't really talk about a missing sale were a guy is neither interested in the game but is willing to give it a shot if is free and is available on places he know, you are saying that the previous games here hosted didn't brought attention to the serie? I willing to disagree with that and quite certain that at least couple of guys like me actually started suppporting the creator, we are also talking about a niche product here so even couple more is actually considerable.. I'm ending with the free limited version, like i said before this are working only if you know already the creator but at the same time you are expading it general public wich can cause big discrepancy on the expactions, not only from the dev that might get a spike of downloads but barely interactions but also for the user, a limited content actually will piss more the user (of a general public) than a demo cause he was expecting the full experience, in fact increasing the chance that he will actively look for a pirated version making this a downside move for the dev, that's why is important to create a bond between a customer and the developer, even before the selling start. This is not a easy path and I'm not saying you should simple give up or releasing everything for free but is important understaing the economics and the psychology of ppl, don't point the finger to the users who actually might seek something different in this way and at the same time don't take the blame (the dev) for what he might have do differently.