"This is a sandbox, story driven game with choices that actually matter. So the effort behind it is a lot more than your usual porn game."
It's also 2d VN type.
Anyway, sandbox games aren't exactly rare out in the adult gaming world, so this dev's effort in coding the mechanics for this game isn't any different than the effort of other devs that also make the same type of games. That just leaves the graphic quality and storytelling, the former relying on AI and the latter being carried by an anime IP. And because of AI art and anime IP, the effort on these two aspects of the game compared to most porn games out there, regardless of being sandbox or not, have been effectively minimized.
That means the overall effort put into this game is definitely less than most other non-anime IP sandbox porn games out there, if not less than your average kinetic AVN. And even if those other sandbox porn games do run on anime IPs, they just don't use AI for the graphic quality. Still less overall effort for this game.
So really, ppl are supporting a dev that isn't even shedding their own blood, sweat, and tears for their graphic quality, nor even seriously racking their brain for their storytelling. Yes, there's effort but again it's minimal. This dev was able to win over your money with mediocre effort on overall game development, but best of all they were able to win your loyalty with cheap (but effective) effort specifically on graphic quality. Yes, you have been captivated and ensnared by the effortlessly beautifully refined AI art. That's the real reason you're supporting the dev. Not because of the absolutely awesome and unique game mechanics. Congrats to the dev for working smart instead of working hard.
Now, I know more of you supporters will start asking something like, "If it's so easy with AI, why isn't everyone doing it?" Well, not everyone is both a programmer and image editor at the same time. But I guarantee you, the moment they are, they still gotta overcome some ethics before being able to make a porn game with the same level of graphic quality as HoS and profiting off of it.
It's only a matter of time before more and more "skilled" ppl realize how profitable AI is in the adult gaming world that they will start taking advantage of it for themselves. Hell, AI art is already surfacing in the doujinshi world, and the best AI art (along with being anime IP based) I've seen from the doujinshi world comes from someone called FEFanatica but good thing they have the ethics to not try and profit off of it.
Yeah, go check out FEFanatica. Not only do they have great AI assisted art but they can also tell a story with some feels in it. The best part is it's all free for the public like it's supposed to because it's not original human work.
Talking about "ethics" on a forum like this is funny. It's even funnier how your entire argument boils down to copyright infringement when this entire sector is filled to the brim with some sort of IP infringement. Let's take a few examples (I'm sure you know them already):
a) DAZ3d games, all of them using pirated assets
b) Koikatsu/Honey select games, all of them infringing on illusion company's copyright
c) Parodies ranging form anime, disney, games, series, movies, common as hell
d) HTML games using real porn IP
The list goes on and on. And the VAST majority of them have some sort of monetization. Whether it's built into the game, or in the form of dev having donations set up. It's only natural.
Bottom line: People will find a reason to hate on someone if they really want to hate on someone. But it's quite hypocritical to single out one out of the 20000 on the forum, and use this argument, which as I demonstrated, for better or worse is common practice, to devalue the effort that goes into providing the overall experience. No, I'm not supporting the dev cause I was brainwashed with "cheap effort on graphic quality" or some other complicated 5d emotional manipulation. It's really simple. They have a good product, I wanna support it. And when you put effort into something, it's only natural to look for some kind of compensation. Not sure why that's such a controversial take. As for the IP argument, if I (or you, for that matter) gave a fuck about all the IP arguments, we wouldn't be on a forum like this in the first place. We would be crusading on 90% of threads on 90% of the games on here crying about IP infringement and how dare the devs have pages for donations/subscriptions (P.S. repeating what i said in earlier comments - game IS free, and subs are up to those who decide its worth the support).
As for the low effort argument, let's use your own words:
"Well, not everyone is both a programmer and image editor at the same time." - That's right. But why? It's free money, right? Simple answer. It requires effort, time, skill, dedication to be all of those things on 1 person (and it's not just those 2 skills that you need). You just countered your own argument.
So in my opinion let's drop the hypocritical high horse act, and focus on giving feedback on the game. Don't like it? Mention what you don't like about it, I saw the dev replying to this forum sometimes so they probably read feedback, and who knows, it may make the game even better. But I see a lot of people on here who's only purpose is to complain with 0 valid arguments.
That being said thanks for the recommendation, I'll check it out.