How can a game hurt people? I understand that there could be very some fragile people with specific mental issues that cannot distinguish fiction from reality, but why are we supposed to protect their feelings sacrificing our experience and the artistic and innovative value of a product?
A VN is totally comparable to a book or a film. I don't expect a book or a film to follow all my espectations regarding the plot, instead, I appreciate an original finale or plot twist (but many don't, that's why many films all look the same and are very predictable). As I can immerse in the narrative plot following (or partially guiding, as in a VN) the MC, I understand that I'm not him so any consequence does not reflect to me. If I did, I think I'll better quit and consult a psychiatrist, not before having a reality check that my cock is not 30 cm as the MC's.
Well, we're a little off-topic here, but come on...
From what I understand from your comments (again, I'm not fluent in English), you're the kind of reader who doesn't mix your feelings with the characters. While a lot of people here do that. It is not to think you're a pixel 3d with 30cm stick or anything like that, but people (me) sympathize with the MC, mix my feelings with those of the character, it makes a gameplay something "special" for me. This is why I don't compare VN to books or movies, you won't be able to make that stupid character from the horror movie not go down that path of death. In VN yes, depending on the Dev and the game (if it is not a kinetic game) yes you can make it not enter the door where is the killer. So I find the VN a "charm" too much. So I play them.
And as for why you should care about the feelings of "fragile" people or mental problems. This demonstrates your level of empathy with others, I prefer to care about their feelings over apathetic people. Since I know they won't care about mine too.
This inquiry of yours about worrying about other people's feelings leads me to a simple idea. You as a store owner can never force anyone to buy your products, especially if you have a unique to sell, for example, milk. But you can provide options to your customers to attract more quantity and diverse tastes, for example, soy milk, zero lactose, skimmed...You will not and cannot force a person with lactose intolerance to drink normal milk (it would be a crime). But I also understand that I can not force a seller to sell a product that he does not want, for example, buying tires for my car in a pharmacy.
Edit: I kind of didn't answer, I'll try to make it clearer. If I were a developer, I would have to ask myself the following question, what do I want to achieve with my project? Do I want recognition in the community? I want to reach as many fans and players as possible? I want a good financial return? So for that, I have to see what people like and leave optional the things that many may not like, and that includes restricting my artistic and innovative talents.
Or not at all, I want to tell my story, my way, with my tastes (MC name, MC profile, MC face, game fetishes) to people with similar tastes to mine. I don't care about anything else but that. Then I go and do the things I want to do, releasing all my artistic and innovative potential (although in the first option I could also do that, right?).
So I think that kind of thinking the dev should do before creating something, after you find your answer, create your game according to the answer you found and label it accordingly and let people know what you intend to do.
PPCStudio half that already answered, this argument is not against him. He could only make it clearer in the OP.
But that's it, I'm already rambling here.
