Post by anon in Fates Collide comments

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Hey Dev! I just finished my first playthrough of Fates Collide and have been enjoying it a lot. I love the balance between the main plot surrounding MC's average college life and the subplot surrounding what's going on in Ardoria. I won't mention specifics here because spoilers, but I've been enjoying the mystery and intrigue. I have theories about what's happening and who's involved. It's so juicy and I can't wait to find out more, especially from Avis' perspective!

I don't normally leave comments but I felt it was important to give you feedback about some of the language you use in the game. There were a few derogatory terms in episode one, namely "f*gsquad" and "r*tard," that took me by surprise. I decided to brush it off and continue reading, but then you used "r*tard" again, plus "l*me," in what I'm pretty sure is episode four. It makes me extremely uncomfortable to see these homophobic and ableist terms used so flippantly, and in ways that are obviously intended as insults. They're not at all necessary to the plot or context of the scenes they're used in, so why use them at all?

The repeated use of slurs is concerning and off-putting to the point where I don't want to continue supporting Fates Collide if it keeps using this type of language, which would be a shame because I can see how much hard work you've put into this game, from the writing to the renders and animations to the music and sound effects. I wanted to ask if you would consider editing the slurs out and refraining from using similar offensive words in the future?

I hope you understand I don't have any ill intentions with this comment! Like I said, I've been genuinely enjoying this game a lot and want it to be the best it can be. Thank you so much for all your effort in creating Fates Collide! Hope you're enjoying the new year and taking good care!

KatanaVN32 days ago(+9)

So I have some good news and bad news for you.
The good? news is that just by reworking the game, and some tweaks to the dialogue and script respectively, the fag comment Simon used was/is already removed prior to any comments here. I can I guess somewhat agree that one wasn't necessary, and with the beforementioned comment on slight script tweak, it was already gone months ago.
I've quickly skimmed through both old script and the reworked ones (so far that's done at least) for retard, and it's used in only two cases in whole of 4 episodes. Both used by Avis, and both, imo, absolutely fine in context. One to Falazio, in a joking manner as they know each other, and one where she raged in an online game and totally lost her shit. I'm not going to put a filter on her, as in both cases I felt it was completely in character.
The post above makes it seem like it's used constantly and in degrading manner, and while I can somewhat understand, especially in the age we are, I also try to make the characters feel alive and human, and sometimes human also means using words that someone might find inappropriate. Is "moron" also not okay now? Because nothing else would fit in the context she used.
The last one however I'm truly shocked. Lame???
I've just spent time asking people, trying to find at least someone who could tell me what that could be, as I've never ever heard that or used in any such instances. Lame is an absolutely normal word, that I'm using in (copies oxford dictionary) :

"(of something intended to be entertaining) uninspiring and dull"
I'm absolutely going to continue using the word lame in future, I'm not going to shy away from using regular words just because someone somewhere uses it for slang or something else.

If anything, going on a wild chase now and googling for so long the origins of the word lame, was quite lame.

anon32 days ago(-9)

I don't understand why you had to get defensive and disrespectful at the end when I already said I wasn't coming from a malicious place. All I did was offer feedback and ask a question. I wasn't forcing you to agree with me or do something against your will. It's your game, you can do whatever you want with it, and you don't owe me anything.

Just because you've never heard of something doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I'm not sure how you didn't find it, but Google reveals plenty of information about l*me being a derogatory slur rooted in ableism. Its original meaning, taken from Oxford as well, is:

"(especially of an animal) unable to walk without difficulty as the result of an injury or illness affecting the leg or foot."

The "uninspiring and dull" definition only came into existence after people began using it to discriminate against disabled people. Language evolves over time and, as of the present day, words like l*me and r*tard are in fact ableist slurs.

I could continue explaining the history of these words and their evolution into slurs, but based on your response, I don't think you're open to it, which is fine. I accept your decision to continue using such language in your game and will move on. Thanks for the reply and good luck.

AdstaVN31 days ago(+3)

I think Kat explained it pretty well.

- Told you what would and wouldn't continue.
- Explained why it is used and in what way

It's a couple of words, that really aren't bad. They aren't meant offensively. And even if it was, there are movies that have people say things like this or worse. It's the character.

18yrScotch26 days ago(+3)

Kat, it would appear that you are having to deal with the worst type of censor, one who feels that if something offends them then it must be changed and shouldn't be allowed for anyone. I find it amusing that simple language like "fag" or "retard" offends them while engaging a AVN site. Seeing people hump like bunnies is not a problem, but a word or two is the end of the world.

BTW, retard, moron, and idiot are medical terms. As for the term fag, it is a contraction of the word faggot. The definition of faggot is a bundle of sticks. The word was then contracted to fag and used as a reference to cigarettes. Later it became a derogatory term for a homosexual. The fact that someone wants to apply one interpretation to a word while ignoring or discounting the other meanings speaks more to the people doing the interpretation than the word itself. Maybe a different word like hypersensitive would apply.

Oofen6926 days ago

I know that at this point my 2 cents won't add much but I'll approach this from an extremely dumbed down perspective.

It's an NSFW title which most people use as visual stimulation with, I'd say, a pretty good chunk of players also vibining with the story as it's well made. Words being appropriate or inappropriate in a given context really doesn't matter as it should be just simply ignored or IF it needs to be pointed out it can be done in a better way than it was this time. The silent majority of your game's players come here to well.....cum here and those enjoy the awesome visuals on their own without even bothering to go through the dialogue options further than "this will/will not give a scene in a few dialogues."

All in all, words are just words which, ESPECIALLY in a game akin to this, should be taken with a heaping spoon of salt if not ignored altogether.

Tek3622 days ago(+1)

Mate, in today's world you just have to decide if you're going to conform completely, only as much as you personally feel is necessary, or not at all. To worry any further about is only going give you a headache. One can never please everyone and attempting to do so is an act of futility.

I hope whatever you choose you can be happy with. It's a great piece of work so far. Looking forward to its development.

studentoffilm22 days ago(+1)

Did u just censor lame

itch.io

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