RPGM Help with monetization and legal issues

Oberoth

Newbie
Jan 14, 2020
98
359
Greetings, I am Øberoth and I'm developing a game project in RPG Maker. Lately I've been soaking up everything need to know to start monetizing your projects, since I want to monetize this project, however, I've come across that the story I want to tell isn't technically "legal " in many countries and that many platforms will not want to allow my game to be published, such as Patreon, Steam (I don't want to publish on Steam, it's just an example), etc. my goal was to publish on Patreon, but I see that if the game contains incest, they could sanction my account and freeze my assets, the same with sleep sex, rape or any sensitive content, things that are essential in the story I want to tell, since Its a horror project mixed with high sexual content, in this story that I am working on, there will be sects, dysfunctional families (With incest) and other bizarre things, which although they'll be optional, its not that I can completely eliminate them. I'd asked here before about a similar topic when I said that I wanted to push to the limit everything that could be done in an adult game and you were very kind in explaining to me what I could and couldn't to do, however now I see that literally my entire mystery and horror story with high sexual content, it can be affected until it becomes just another product with the quality of regular porn without anything interesting... I've always thought that the purpose of adult games are to explore our darkest side and live the fantasy through fictional characters, isn't promoting inappropriate behavior, but rather living fantasies without hurt anyone. But I digress, my point is that I would like to know what alternatives I have to publish my game without censoring it so much, at least allowing incest, rape, sleep sex, which are vital to the story. Thanks and sorry for the Bible.
 

Count Morado

Conversation Conqueror
Respected User
Jan 21, 2022
7,009
13,093
Greetings, I am Øberoth and I'm developing a game project in RPG Maker. Lately I've been soaking up everything need to know to start monetizing your projects, since I want to monetize this project, however, I've come across that the story I want to tell isn't technically "legal " in many countries and that many platforms will not want to allow my game to be published, such as Patreon, Steam (I don't want to publish on Steam, it's just an example), etc. my goal was to publish on Patreon, but I see that if the game contains incest, they could sanction my account and freeze my assets, the same with sleep sex, rape or any sensitive content, things that are essential in the story I want to tell, since Its a horror project mixed with high sexual content, in this story that I am working on, there will be sects, dysfunctional families (With incest) and other bizarre things, which although they'll be optional, its not that I can completely eliminate them. I'd asked here before about a similar topic when I said that I wanted to push to the limit everything that could be done in an adult game and you were very kind in explaining to me what I could and couldn't to do, however now I see that literally my entire mystery and horror story with high sexual content, it can be affected until it becomes just another product with the quality of regular porn without anything interesting... I've always thought that the purpose of adult games are to explore our darkest side and live the fantasy through fictional characters, isn't promoting inappropriate behavior, but rather living fantasies without hurt anyone. But I digress, my point is that I would like to know what alternatives I have to publish my game without censoring it so much, at least allowing incest, rape, sleep sex, which are vital to the story. Thanks and sorry for the Bible.
This question has been asked and answered many times in the threads of F95 and are usually easily found using the search function. Though your game idea may be different than others, much of the genre issues you are facing are identical.

Bottom line is that due to international finance and dealing with laws, regulations, and interstate commerce with many countries, there are restrictions which are put in place for companies to reap the most profit while limiting their civil and criminal liability. As such, payment processors tell platforms what content those platforms may/may not allow if they want to do business with those processors. At the same time, the platforms wish to do the same - maximize profits while reducing exposure to social, civil, and criminal liability which would put them out of business or worse.
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Developers, in order to exist, must follow the laws, regulations, and rules (de jure and de facto) - including the rules of the platforms they wish to use - or they will go out of business.

TL;DR: All the platforms have boilerplate TOS and guidelines which limit their liability, placing the onus on the developer to follow the rules or risk being suspended and taken off the platform. They do this to save themselves from liability. While all platforms have these rules ( , , , , etc)... they all enforce them at different intensity (even within themselves at different times). When it gets too hot from the legal community, processors, social outlash, etc - they all clamp down hard on developers who have created content which violates their rules. There is no exception. Just because a developer may get off without a problem for 1 year, 2 years, 5 years .... doesn't mean they won't eventually be held accountable and lose their platform access. Some lose it sooner than others. Some get lucky and are never held accountable.

Finally, if you are thinking about "monetization" - be fully aware that more than half of developers of adult games who are on platforms listed above earn less than $100 USD per month AFTER 3 years of hard work on their creations. Only about 10% make more than $2000 USD per month after 3 years.