Explicit DLC now costs money?

[Neko-Chan]

Can't find any thread on this so here goes.

I bought this game back on release or something and was thinking of revisiting it now. However, it seems like the game has been censored and requires dlc to uncensor it. However, this DLC isn't free anymore?

[markiezz]

Hey Neko,

We have made an announcement on this last year as creating extra cutscenes does require a lot of work and resources hence the decision of having a paid DLC, although we are also working on getting our ratings approved on most applicable situations aiming to get rid of censorship for as much as we could.

Here's a longer version from our last years's post though:
Part of this process involved making changes to the game, the most significant of which, is that we now have a base game with a Steam “Mature” rating, and we have a Steam “Adult Only” rated DLC patch. Initially, the DLC patch’s purpose was simply to uncensor any nudity or sexual content in the game, but since then a lot of the mature content has been moved from the base game to the Explicit DLC patch. We are also now developing bigger, longer, and explicit cutscenes specifically for that content patch.

Because of this, and because we plan to add more content specifically to the Explicit DLC patch, we will soon be adding a small charge for the DLC patch. We wanted to let you know ahead of time, since if you already own the game, you can still (at the time of this writing) download the patch for free, and if you downloaded it at any point while it is free, it will remain free permanently. This price increase will only affect new players, and the base game price will remain unchanged even after we exit Early Access.

We will continue to maintain this optional AO rated patch as a counter to the changes the “powers that be” require us to make to allow the base game to maintain an “M” rating. It’s a necessary thing so that this game and our future games can continue to thrive both in and out of the mainstream, ensuring the stability of our company, which in turn means much more cool stuff to come down the line! House Party is all about choice, and we are committed to delivering the choice of adult content to our 18+ players, and to combat the regulations surrounding this type of content in video games as opposed to gratuitous violence, and exposing the hypocrisy and discrimination of creators of this type of content by the people who make these silly rules.

[markiezz]

Originally posted by markiezz:

Hey Neko,

Not so short answer:
We have made an announcement on this last year as creating extra cutscenes does require a lot of work and resources hence the decision of having a paid DLC, although we are also working on getting our ratings approved on most applicable situations aiming to get rid of censorship for as much as we could.

Here's a longer version from last years's post:
Part of this process involved making changes to the game, the most significant of which, is that we now have a base game with a Steam “Mature” rating, and we have a Steam “Adult Only” rated DLC patch. Initially, the DLC patch’s purpose was simply to uncensor any nudity or sexual content in the game, but since then a lot of the mature content has been moved from the base game to the Explicit DLC patch. We are also now developing bigger, longer, and explicit cutscenes specifically for that content patch.

Because of this, and because we plan to add more content specifically to the Explicit DLC patch, we will soon be adding a small charge for the DLC patch. We wanted to let you know ahead of time, since if you already own the game, you can still (at the time of this writing) download the patch for free, and if you downloaded it at any point while it is free, it will remain free permanently. This price increase will only affect new players, and the base game price will remain unchanged even after we exit Early Access.

We will continue to maintain this optional AO rated patch as a counter to the changes the “powers that be” require us to make to allow the base game to maintain an “M” rating. It’s a necessary thing so that this game and our future games can continue to thrive both in and out of the mainstream, ensuring the stability of our company, which in turn means much more cool stuff to come down the line! House Party is all about choice, and we are committed to delivering the choice of adult content to our 18+ players, and to combat the regulations surrounding this type of content in video games as opposed to gratuitous violence, and exposing the hypocrisy and discrimination of creators of this type of content by the people who make these silly rules.

[HisShadowX]

I have to agree with the topic creator this is not right. It says its in my library but does not sure that I already purchased this? So this here is the wrong move and all its going to do is piss off current customers who paid for the game and if they did not download the patch they are out of luck.

This is not what they paid for. If you did this for new customers you should of increased the price of a new game instead of doing this. This was the wrong move and as someone who has said how consumer friendly this game this goes in the wrong direction. In fact I cannot use this is an example of a company that does things the right way and I doubt I will get your new DLC with Doja Cat even though I am grandfathered in with the patch.

Increase the price of the game for new players do not make people pay for something they bought this game expecting.

If anything this is just going to upset current customers who might now not be more inclined to purchase actual new content DLC or a new game property from your company.

[76561198079211834]

I missed the timewindow to get the free update :(
Bought it years ago.
Even was a patreon once.

my main account isn't even able to see this forum because I'm from germany.

[Millennial_KiwiGamer]

It was free for ages. If you missed out just buy it.

[Ashyne]

I'm glad I downloaded the explicit add-on when it was free, immediately after buying the game months ago, although I haven't started playing House Party at all yet, I'm waiting for full launch out of Early Access before I start.

[Ashyne]

Originally posted by markiezz:

We will continue to maintain this optional AO rated patch as a counter to the changes the “powers that be” require us to make to allow the base game to maintain an “M” rating. It’s a necessary thing so that this game and our future games can continue to thrive both in and out of the mainstream, ensuring the stability of our company, which in turn means much more cool stuff to come down the line! House Party is all about choice, and we are committed to delivering the choice of adult content to our 18+ players, and to combat the regulations surrounding this type of content in video games as opposed to gratuitous violence, and exposing the hypocrisy and discrimination of creators of this type of content by the people who make these silly rules.

How come other games don't need an uncensor/explicit patch but are still allowed on Steam? Such as the recently released Karryn's Prison which has sexual violence and degradation, misogyny and other more extreme content. They are able to sell it on Steam without needing to censor.

[76561198079211834]

Why was it not announced through the patreon newsletter? Or did I simply missed it there also? Being up to date on a game, you can not see in your country isn't that easy. I was not even aware that this account is able to see otherwise geo-blocked content for my country until yesterday! Man, I was there from the beginning, when the House Party prototype was a completely other game. It ended with strip poker and was around 2015 or 2014. Since it is in EA for ages, I don't check up the game every few months anymore. I patiently wait until it's done, just to realize, that I'm losing stuff, I once had.

[DrBonifarz]

Interesting topic, did not see that info in the announcements. Well, if Bobby and his team plan to carve out some adult content into the patch, then a price tag does make sense - given that both, the M and R version will receive additional content on their own. I'm curious what they will come up with, to justify their additional effort for this move. I guess it should also be seen in light of the upcoming Doja DLC. I really hope that Steam will have their nonsense rules sorted out concerning nonfictional characters by the time the DLC will be released. With their current rules, successfully publishing that one Steam will be .... difficult.

[Amins]

Originally posted by Candydoll:

Originally posted by markiezz:

We will continue to maintain this optional AO rated patch as a counter to the changes the “powers that be” require us to make to allow the base game to maintain an “M” rating. It’s a necessary thing so that this game and our future games can continue to thrive both in and out of the mainstream, ensuring the stability of our company, which in turn means much more cool stuff to come down the line! House Party is all about choice, and we are committed to delivering the choice of adult content to our 18+ players, and to combat the regulations surrounding this type of content in video games as opposed to gratuitous violence, and exposing the hypocrisy and discrimination of creators of this type of content by the people who make these silly rules.

How come other games don't need an uncensor/explicit patch but are still allowed on Steam? Such as the recently released Karryn's Prison which has sexual violence and degradation, misogyny and other more extreme content. They are able to sell it on Steam without needing to censor.

Probably because those other games aren't trying to maintain an "M" rating through some shenanigans and are transparent with what their game is. Eek Games wants money, and having an "AO" rating on their entire game runs counter to this goal as it limits its availability. Countries like Germany straight up refuse to allow the game to be sold in its current state.

[Amins]

Also Protip for anyone who hasn't bought the game yet: Wait for a sale and use the money saved to pay for the DLC patch. Still sucks, but sucks less than paying for both at full price.

[76561198079211834]

Originally posted by Lord_Dweedle:

It was free for ages. If you missed out just buy it.

Oh... I think I can not buy the dlc since that might change my Country from "A1" to my actual location, where explicit games are not sold. The only games on this account were added through key-activation. Buying anything will probably force it to belong to a country. Or I could buy it, and lose the ability to see geo-blocked content. Nice options.

[Vechernyaya]

Originally posted by HisShadowX:

If you did this for new customers you should of increased the price of a new game instead of doing this. This was the wrong move and as someone who has said how consumer friendly this game this goes in the wrong direction.

I completely agree, and I'm not sure I'll buy their next game if they become anti consumer.

The explicit DLC is not new content for the base game like Doja Cat can be, it's basically to uncensor the game because some regulation or policy prevent to sell explicit content everywhere, this shouldn't be a paying part of the game. If you put lot of effort in explicit content and need to increase the price of the game, then do it, but leave the uncensor patch free of charge.

[Ashyne]

Does anyone know if the Doja Cat DLC will have nudity/sex scenes or just non-adult content?

[HisShadowX]

Originally posted by Candydoll:

Originally posted by markiezz:

We will continue to maintain this optional AO rated patch as a counter to the changes the “powers that be” require us to make to allow the base game to maintain an “M” rating. It’s a necessary thing so that this game and our future games can continue to thrive both in and out of the mainstream, ensuring the stability of our company, which in turn means much more cool stuff to come down the line! House Party is all about choice, and we are committed to delivering the choice of adult content to our 18+ players, and to combat the regulations surrounding this type of content in video games as opposed to gratuitous violence, and exposing the hypocrisy and discrimination of creators of this type of content by the people who make these silly rules.

How come other games don't need an uncensor/explicit patch but are still allowed on Steam? Such as the recently released Karryn's Prison which has sexual violence and degradation, misogyny and other more extreme content. They are able to sell it on Steam without needing to censor.

So some games on steam walk a fine line due to the social justice activism of the moderators here will approve games. I have seen games that have been pulled from Steam that I bought that you cannot get a refund for.