I was more passive-aggressive than I should've been, my bad. Let me rephrase it more respectfully: I think the characters and writing of FiN are strong enough that even a censored experience could easily reverberate with a large audience.
If I'm being honest, I probably would've never started this game if the ludes and especially the dark route didn't lure me in. So, I get what you're saying. But I have no idea how representative I am.
As much as I agree in part I can't agree overall, but I want to make it clear that this isn't meant as a slight on Neon's writing. I find the characters in this game extremely engaging as well, and I've already gone ahead and played it while skipping most of the lewd content. The idea that the game could be worth playing without pornographic content is by no means farfetched.
Nevertheless, I still think it's a step too far to say this game could therefore be 'tweaked' into a Safe For Work version that's ready to ride out the censor-pocalypse we seem to be headed for. Despite the prevalence of SFW material in this game, IMHO the lewd material is still serving a
structural role - which means we need something else structural to replace it or we're going to be left with a shapeless pile of good ideas.
I'd go so far as to say that's indisputable for the dark paths: no there's no level of cutting to black ominous enough to replace the levels of depravity the MC can sink to. But even on the lighter paths I maintain the game is paced around getting access to the various girls' naughty bits and deciding what the MC wants to do with them. Yes, there are also plenty emotional and plot developments that make a significant contribution to the game, but on their own those aspects lack the depth and detail needed to replace, say, the numerous different ways we can explore kinks during Ashe's date. The game - as it currently stands - doesn't focus enough on the
mechanical aspects of those emotional and plot points to provide a basic gameplay loop in the absence of the various sex scenes. At best it would feel like a kinetic novel.
To my mind, saying Neon could make a SFW version of this game is like saying you could make a version of
Star Wars without special effects. I think there's plenty to love about that movie beyond the landmark effects, but I also think a version without those effects would either be a gutted mess or an entirely different experience. Likewise, while I believe Neon could write an equivalent version of this game that's well within an "R" rating, I think the work involved would be tantamount to writing a second game in parallel with the original version. I do not see that as a good investment of his time (unless he's willing to ditch the lewd version of this game entirely, which I think we'd all prefer he didn't).
The idea of a player with a censored steam version discovering there's a taboo patch, though, is pretty funny. Discovering a game you like has a porn aspect to it you weren't aware of? And a dark route? You can do
what to Nicki!?
Woah... whole new replay value lol
It may be funny, but it's a horrible idea if you're desperate to avoid the censor's noose. Witch hunts are not the time to rely on technicalities and loopholes to protect you from the mob. I'm not going to think less of Neon if he's worried about protecting his livelihood (or even his hobby), but if that's the goal don't risk everything for half measures.
