...
I’m a Indie Game Developer from China. I made a game about "cute boys". After getting all the age ratings and preparing for launch, I got rejected by major platforms one after another and was told to rewrite the script to comply with various countries' regulations.
It was scheduled for release in November 2025. It is now January 2026, and I am still rewriting the script... Lately, I've been frantically cramming all this messy knowledge about "domestic violence," "ethics," "politics," "homicide," and "pornography"—stuff I have zero desire to understand or learn about—just to figure out ways to dodge the reviewers' "minefields." It makes me want to puke. Let me start with the conclusion: Japan’s freedom of expression is actually real. Japanese platforms are genuinely friendly to creators. They are amazing! People online only talk about how severe censorship is in China. True, I feel that too. But why are a bunch of American game platforms full of minefields as well? And Germany and the UK, too? I want to ask your regulatory boards: What on earth does "possible or indirectly possible to induce hateful ideology" even mean?? I used realistic, empathetic writing to show just how despicable a domestic abuser is, aiming to spark a sense of justice in the player. Your reply: You told me I am "supporting domestic violence"? ??? I depicted a standoff between a strictly law-abiding police officer and a corrupt one, specifically highlighting the integrity of the good cop. You tell me: This is "inducing hateful ideology"??? Huh? I simply wrote that a younger sister likes her older brother. Did I say it was sexual? Did I mention any sexual acts?! How is this "child pornography"? The definition: In a "16+" game with absolutely no pornographic images or text, a sister says "I like you the most" to her brother. That counts as child porn? Are you kidding me? During this time, I’ve been interacting more closely with my "MtF" friends and "otokonoko" friends. Many of them gave me suggestions for revising the script. Thanks to them, I’ve deepened my understanding of "otokonoko." I realized I don’t just sympathize with them ❎ or empathize with them ❎. No! I absolutely LOVE "otokonoko" ✅ They are cute, considerate, gentle, and understanding. Many of them even have incredible technical computer skills. I feel like if this goes on, I’m either going to end up with a otokonoko, or I’m going to become one myself... This world is just too absurd. Sweet, cute, good kids like them are always misunderstood and discriminated against, while a bunch of trashy people with endless baggage stand at the top, claiming the moral high ground... Why can't this world be gentle to such gentle souls?!!!