Message from Developers Regarding Art Changes

[76561198308025999]

Check out the following statement from Eundo Chae, CEO of CWAVESOFT, the developer of Hyper Universe. Yes, it's regarding art changes. Feel free to respond in this thread. We will start to close some of the huge threads and direct comments here so we can keep things organized.

{LENKE FJERNET}hyperuniverse.nexon.net/en/news/article/25193

We will be responding to your questions and comments here as well. I have some additional info from the NA team, but I'd like everyone to read Eundo's statement first.

As always, please keep the discussion civil.

Thanks.

[kirokito]

So from what it seems like the people themselves who made the game agreed upon the changes even for the korean version? so I don't see the issue no more if both parties are in on the change unless someone can correct me on that because thats what it seems like right now is even in the korean versions the changes will be happening upon the agreement of the team who worked on the game?

[HowPlayGAEM]

Ok fine, you want to make the game "less uncomfortable". Cool beans.

What, EXACTLY, does that mean?

So far you have done art changes only. Are you planning on changing the models as well? What else are you planning to change?

Tell me what I'm even buying here, because this statement basically says that any and all "uncomfortable" elements will be bulldozed in the name of accessibility.

I want to know what product I'm getting. I really don't feel like playing "subject to change without notice"

[knightnightmare]

Long and short of this is: NA branch got triggered, said we would make more money if toned our game now, we're sorry your getting the ♥♥♥♥ end of the deal, we'll censor it everywhere now, have a nice day.

[DestructionAdv]

Opprinnelig skrevet av kirokito:

So from what it seems like the people themselves who made the game agreed upon the changes even for the korean version? so I don't see the issue no more if both parties are in on the change unless someone can correct me on that because thats what it seems like right now is even in the korean versions the changes will be happening upon the agreement of the team who worked on the game?

Self-censorship is still censorship, and also it seems that their attempts to make the game more accessible backfired. They will not have my support at least. They chose people that may or may not exist over their current customers, people that they have no evidence are the majority or will even play this game. People they have decided are more important than any other part of thier audience. They decided that they don't matter, and so I suppose our money doesn't matter to them either.

[Spideroth]

Well i guess this is a game i'll never play, even when it goes free to play.

[76561198308025999]

Opprinnelig skrevet av HowPlayGaem:

Ok fine, you want to make the game "less uncomfortable". Cool beans.

What, EXACTLY, does that mean?

So far you have done art changes only. Are you planning on changing the models as well? What else are you planning to change?

Tell me what I'm even buying here, because this statement basically says that any and all "uncomfortable" elements will be bulldozed in the name of accessibility.

I want to know what product I'm getting. I really don't feel like playing "subject to change without notice"

The current profile images and in-game models are locked. We have no plans to make further changes. Hypers that are not yet in the Early Access version may differ from the older KR version of the game, but I think the biggest changes have already happened and are live.

[kirokito]

Opprinnelig skrevet av DestructionAdv:

Opprinnelig skrevet av kirokito:

So from what it seems like the people themselves who made the game agreed upon the changes even for the korean version? so I don't see the issue no more if both parties are in on the change unless someone can correct me on that because thats what it seems like right now is even in the korean versions the changes will be happening upon the agreement of the team who worked on the game?

Self-censorship is still censorship, and also it seems that their attempts to make the game more accessible backfired. They will not have my support at least. They chose people that may or may not exist over their current customers, people that they have no evidence are the majority or will even play this game. People they have decided are more important than any other part of thier audience. They decided that they don't matter, and so I suppose our money doesn't matter to them either.

man I just want the best for the game I am really giving the benifit of the doubt right now because I really don't want this game to go down I really do enjoy it. Thats why I would just like the artist themselves to speak upon this freely without any PR stuff behind it. I feel like in that regards if they said the truth themselves that it would make the situation a bit better at least.

[DestructionAdv]

Opprinnelig skrevet av kirokito:

Opprinnelig skrevet av DestructionAdv:

Self-censorship is still censorship, and also it seems that their attempts to make the game more accessible backfired. They will not have my support at least. They chose people that may or may not exist over their current customers, people that they have no evidence are the majority or will even play this game. People they have decided are more important than any other part of thier audience. They decided that they don't matter, and so I suppose our money doesn't matter to them either.

man I just want the best for the game I am really giving the benifit of the doubt right now because I really don't want this game to go down I really do enjoy it. Thats why I would just like the artist themselves to speak upon this freely without any PR stuff behind it. I feel like in that regards if they said the truth themselves that it would make the situation a bit better at least.

What's best for the game is having a player base, and now they won't because they chose to ignore real feedback of players quitting and refunding over the changes as evidence by the player base dropping. They don't care about any portion of the audience that dislikes censorship, and that's a huge portion of the niche that this game belongs to.

[76561198308025999]

Opprinnelig skrevet av DestructionAdv:

Opprinnelig skrevet av kirokito:

So from what it seems like the people themselves who made the game agreed upon the changes even for the korean version? so I don't see the issue no more if both parties are in on the change unless someone can correct me on that because thats what it seems like right now is even in the korean versions the changes will be happening upon the agreement of the team who worked on the game?

Self-censorship is still censorship, and also it seems that their attempts to make the game more accessible backfired. They will not have my support at least. They chose people that may or may not exist over their current customers, people that they have no evidence are the majority or will even play this game. People they have decided are more important than any other part of thier audience. They decided that they don't matter, and so I suppose our money doesn't matter to them either.

It's certainly a hard call for us to make when we know there is a passionate group that opposes the change. We have to look at our ability to launch the game into multiple regions where local laws and/or rating systems are in place and work to make the game as accessible as possible. ESRB/PEGI/USK ratings are things we have to consider as we expand.

In my previous statements I said that player feedback was one aspect and our ability to market the game was another. The gameplay is unchanged and the characters retain their sexiness and character. We worked to make as few changes as possible. We understand that for some, any changes are too much, but when we move a game from one region to many, changes are going to happen.

[76561198308025999]

Opprinnelig skrevet av kirokito:

Opprinnelig skrevet av DestructionAdv:

Self-censorship is still censorship, and also it seems that their attempts to make the game more accessible backfired. They will not have my support at least. They chose people that may or may not exist over their current customers, people that they have no evidence are the majority or will even play this game. People they have decided are more important than any other part of thier audience. They decided that they don't matter, and so I suppose our money doesn't matter to them either.

man I just want the best for the game I am really giving the benifit of the doubt right now because I really don't want this game to go down I really do enjoy it. Thats why I would just like the artist themselves to speak upon this freely without any PR stuff behind it. I feel like in that regards if they said the truth themselves that it would make the situation a bit better at least.

There's a statement from the CEO of the dev team that is making the game. What 'truth' are you looking for? I believe we've been pretty open and consistent about the decision making process.

[TombMonkey]

This is just damage control pr bs, and if anything it's just proof that Nexon America are the ones that pushed for the changes to be made.

Do they really think this will make any of the people who already left come back? I guess they just want those people to go away and hope this crap announcement will be enough for the new people they manage to bring in, I got this game for free and want a refund.

With so much great free games out there, I'm certainly not gonna be dropping a single cent on this one nor boost their player numbers.

[knightnightmare]

Opprinnelig skrevet av NXA Pex:

Opprinnelig skrevet av DestructionAdv:

Self-censorship is still censorship, and also it seems that their attempts to make the game more accessible backfired. They will not have my support at least. They chose people that may or may not exist over their current customers, people that they have no evidence are the majority or will even play this game. People they have decided are more important than any other part of thier audience. They decided that they don't matter, and so I suppose our money doesn't matter to them either.

It's certainly a hard call for us to make when we know there is a passionate group that opposes the change. We have to look at our ability to launch the game into multiple regions where local laws and/or rating systems are in place and work to make the game as accessible as possible. ESRB/PEGI/USK ratings are things we have to consider as we expand.

In my previous statements I said that player feedback was one aspect and our ability to market the game was another. The gameplay is unchanged and the characters retain their sexiness and character. We worked to make as few changes as possible. We understand that for some, any changes are too much, but when we move a game from one region to many, changes are going to happen.

If changing every almost every female model was as few as possible I'd hated see what you would've called major changes.

[DestructionAdv]

Opprinnelig skrevet av NXA Pex:

Opprinnelig skrevet av DestructionAdv:

Self-censorship is still censorship, and also it seems that their attempts to make the game more accessible backfired. They will not have my support at least. They chose people that may or may not exist over their current customers, people that they have no evidence are the majority or will even play this game. People they have decided are more important than any other part of thier audience. They decided that they don't matter, and so I suppose our money doesn't matter to them either.

It's certainly a hard call for us to make when we know there is a passionate group that opposes the change. We have to look at our ability to launch the game into multiple regions where local laws and/or rating systems are in place and work to make the game as accessible as possible. ESRB/PEGI/USK ratings are things we have to consider as we expand.

In my previous statements I said that player feedback was one aspect and our ability to market the game was another. The gameplay is unchanged and the characters retain their sexiness and character. We worked to make as few changes as possible. We understand that for some, any changes are too much, but when we move a game from one region to many, changes are going to happen.

There are many more games with more objectionable content that can still get a teen rating from the ESRB. You are lying directly to my face, and I do not appreciate it.

[Spideroth]

Opprinnelig skrevet av NXA Pex:

Opprinnelig skrevet av DestructionAdv:

Self-censorship is still censorship, and also it seems that their attempts to make the game more accessible backfired. They will not have my support at least. They chose people that may or may not exist over their current customers, people that they have no evidence are the majority or will even play this game. People they have decided are more important than any other part of thier audience. They decided that they don't matter, and so I suppose our money doesn't matter to them either.

It's certainly a hard call for us to make when we know there is a passionate group that opposes the change. We have to look at our ability to launch the game into multiple regions where local laws and/or rating systems are in place and work to make the game as accessible as possible. ESRB/PEGI/USK ratings are things we have to consider as we expand.

In my previous statements I said that player feedback was one aspect and our ability to market the game was another. The gameplay is unchanged and the characters retain their sexiness and character. We worked to make as few changes as possible. We understand that for some, any changes are too much, but when we move a game from one region to many, changes are going to happen.

If it's a ratings issue, why in the statement did they say they are gonna retroactively alter the korean version?

[Arthur C.]

" In other words, the art in question was harming the game’s accessibility. "
Losing costumers doesn't appear to harm a game's accessibility too, huh?

I've already said this before but now that the korean version is confirmed to be changed, i'm quite curious to know how korean players will feel about this.

But anyway, i lost all the will i had for this game. I'm out.