This...does not look good.

[CloudKira]

Regarding the approval process I mean.

It usually takes 3 days (7 at most) for a game to be approved and the devs gave the game for approval almost 14 days ago...and still silence.

Wherever things take so long it usually means that it may be really hard (if not impossible) for said game to be released on Steam.

Especially when it concerns adult games.

"B...but they approved many of Madmind's previous adult games!"

That does not guarantee anything as Steam works in mysterious ways. One adult game may be quickly approved while another similar one may be given a middle finger.

I hope I'm wrong and they are just very busy lately but...

[DoomSooth]

They could still release it at GOG, and maybe Zoom Platform. :)

[CloudKira]

Originally posted by DoomSooth:

They could still release it at GOG, and maybe Zoom Platform. :)

True, but the fact they do not do so could only mean three things:

1) They are determined to release it first on Steam NO MATTER WHAT.

2) They planned to release it on GOG but changed their mind and decided to release it only on Steam.

3) They lied and are actually still finishing the game with the extended "Steam approval" only serving to give them the extra time they believe is still needed to give the game its finishing touches.

[pyri]

So this is still planned as an "early access" title right, then the reason why it's still only "coming soon" on GOG may at least be the following - GOG's different approach to "Games in development": https://support.gog.com/hc/en-us/articles/360001941273-FAQ-Games-in-development?product=gog It practically says that GOG only supports selected titles as "in development" releases - which means only curated games (even more than usually) they "truly stand behind" are considered. I fear if an "early access" release here does not work, this game may not release at all and planning does not allow a different approach: "early access" may just be necessary because of funding.

[CloudKira]

Originally posted by pyri:

So this is still planned as an "early access" title right, then the reason why it's still only "coming soon" on GOG may at least be the following - GOG's different approach to "Games in development": https://support.gog.com/hc/en-us/articles/360001941273-FAQ-Games-in-development?product=gog It practically says that GOG only supports selected titles as "in development" releases - which means only curated games (even more than usually) they "truly stand behind" are considered. I fear if an "early access" release here does not work, this game may not release at all and planning does not allow a different approach: "early access" may just be necessary because of funding.

So Steam is the only option till it exits EA.

And it might be EA first because it needs some extra funds to finish.

Meaning that if Steam rejects this game for some arbitrary reason...

[GrimLordGames]

Good God, what a mess. GOG, itch.io and Oppaiman would accept it.

[CloudKira]

Originally posted by GrimLordGames:

Good God, what a mess. GOG, itch.io and Oppaiman would accept it.

As I mentioned before either Madmind are still working on this game and the Steam approval thing is a lie or either Steam did not give approval (might have requested to remove some stuff from the game) with Madmind now working on removing said forbidden stuff or its currently leading towards not giving an approval but did not inform Madmind about it yet.

And Madmind won't release it on GOG since its still in EA and might require funds in order to be completed in the first place.

In short: It looks really bad.

Hopefully I'm wrong but I've seen it all before from other devs in the past (both the lying part and the Steam not giving approval part).

[Petite Fleur Sasha]

I am worried too and the silence is rather strange.

[Madm4n]

Hi,
Nothing has changed on Steam. The game is still pending review.
Steam technical support told us to wait patiently...

We use this time to refine game mechanics, fix bugs and make some optimization.
Unfortunately, we are unable to expedite Steam's decision.

[CloudKira]

Originally posted by Madm4n:

Hi,
Nothing has changed on Steam. The game is still pending review.
Steam technical support told us to wait patiently...

We use this time to refine game mechanics, fix bugs and make some optimization.
Unfortunately, we are unable to expedite Steam's decision.

I wish it was so simple but I noticed that wherever Steam takes more than 2 weeks with an adult game/game with controversial content and either still asks to wait more or is just silent then it usually means that it is displeased with something.

I have little doubt that if it was a life simulator sans any nudity with Vydija being a poet or a songwriter then the approval part would take 5 days top.

3 days if it was cartoonesque on top of that.

With adult games it can take them a whole month to announce that they won't approve unless this and that gets removed. And even if the risque parts are removed then can still give the red light.

I remember that it happened with Super Seducer 3 and at least 4 other adult games.

Hopefully it won't be the case this time but...

[pyri]

Originally posted by CloudKira:

I have little doubt that if it was a life simulator sans any nudity with Vydija being a poet or a songwriter then the approval part would take 5 days top.

(...)

I remember that it happened with Super Seducer 3 and at least 4 other adult games.

Hopefully it won't be the case this time but...

Yes, exactly: at this point I certainly would not suspect any technical reason anymore. Just content-wise: I know of at least one developer of adult content who claims (on Patreon at least) to have such a good relationship with Valve to get content approved during development and long before the product should get a release here on Steam. Yet I'dont know if that's true either, of course.
"Super Seducer 3" being still my prime example when it comes to even "risqué" stuff: back then they (Valve) said they won't support any adult FMV stuff any longer (supposedly because of some law in Washington state) but when "Immortality" shipped with full-blown nudity in it, it had no problem whatsoever. Just because it was from Sam Barlow, got approved by the industry, the press and fit in the now predominant ideological framework.

[TysonL]

steam said they can't release this as an early access. so now they trying to have this released as a finished game. it's on their discord news. now we need to wait for steam to have them change this from an early access to a completed game, then accept it.

[CloudKira]

Originally posted by TysonL:

steam said they can't release this as an early access. so now they trying to have this released as a finished game. it's on their discord news. now we need to wait for steam to have them change this from an early access to a completed game, then accept it.

My...what a "surprise".

Granted, they can still give them a red light even once its completed if they deem it too offensive or controversial.

But really, when a game is pending review for longer than a week and is of a controversial sort its obvious that no good news are coming.

And I've seen pervy games released on Steam in Early Access so this game must really have touched a nerve out there...

It would be hilarious if Madmind desperately managed to get some money needed to finish the game but ended on the verge of bancrupcy as a result...only for Steam to tell them that their finished product won't be allowed to be released on Steam anyway.

I wish they tried to release it on GOG at least since they might have more luck there. Alas they seem pretty adamant on releasing it on Steam first.

Too bad. :(