Quote from: jhkim on May 02, 2023, 12:58:29 PM
OK, now I'm curious. Do you mind saying what the past product was?

Best not to IMO, since you want to stay anonymous.

Quote from: S'mon on May 02, 2023, 01:42:00 PM

Quote from: jhkim on May 02, 2023, 12:58:29 PM
OK, now I'm curious. Do you mind saying what the past product was?

Best not to IMO, since you want to stay anonymous.

If aztecman wants to stay anonymous, then agreed. But lots of posters here promote their products openly - often linking their company and/or products in their signature.

Quote from: S'mon on May 02, 2023, 01:41:13 PM

Quote from: PulpHerb on May 02, 2023, 10:17:32 AM
3. Tell the cultural puritans to go fuck themselves.

They like that - it makes them feel important. What they REALLY hate is being ignored. Best advice is to ignore any criticism not based on the genuine (de)merits of the work.

Point...maybe just say it sota voce

OP, I wouldn't engage a cultural section of the real world to look at my imaginary world. In a way that gives the retarded argument validity. I certainly wouldn't pay somebody to go looking for it in my work.

When the time comes, I'll lift back the curtain on the name of the game. I do need some extra eyeballs on it to give some feedback at some point though. Hopefully some folks on the boards here will be able to provide some. I am too close to the project so I a bit biased as you could say. Also, one of my contacts in the Philippines has a friend that is a Chinese gamer. He's offered to look at it for no cost (well, would like a copy when it's released) - so I think I'll have him check it out and see if he has any comments. I was planning on launching it the end of this month, but sadly my Father past away on Sunday, so things are on hold for now... 

I wouldn't bother with sensitivity readers or any of that. Publish the game and do not apologize.
If still unsure use Aztecman as a pseudonym on the cover so they are unclear how to attack you based on skin tone.

Quote from: Ruprecht on May 04, 2023, 03:34:23 PM

If still unsure use Aztecman as a pseudonym on the cover so they are unclear how to attack you based on skin tone.

Bonus points if it's a game about the Aztecs. Unassailable, as "It's right there in my name, bigot"

Quote from: aztecman on May 01, 2023, 07:35:42 PM
Howdy  -

Not sure if this is the place for something like this, but I wanted to get some thoughts from the forums here.

So I made a game. The art's done, writing is done, and layout is almost complete. The theme/content is different than my native culture. I approached a translator about giving it the once over to make sure there's no misspellings, etc. I was told that since it's outside of my native culture, and the only way I can avoid the backlash of today's environment is perhaps just not to sell it. Problem is, I've spent a lot of time and hard work on this.

Do I, A) pay the translator hundreds of dollars to point out any faux pas and put it out anyways? B) Scrap all the hard work, time, and money that I've put into it? or C) Some other option yet to be determined?

How do existing publishers handle something like this when publishing material outside of their native culture? (or don't they...)

Thanks in advance

I have some experience with this sort of thing, although Helvéczia, the game I released, was an RPG based on a culture I am personally connected to. I did get attacked over it, usually with outright lies. This probably caused some damage. But ultimately, the people who were attacking me over it would not have bought it anyway, and were just looking for something to weaponise against me. In the meantime, the game found its audience (it is fairly niche), and the people who bought it found it interesting enough. It now has a Spanish edition.

As I see it, the essential thing is that you should not base your self-worth on the opinion on haters. They are not your audience. Do not seek their approval, and if possible, just enjoy the fireworks. These are nasty, miserable people who enjoy dragging people down to their level, but they are not the whole world. For the most part, you can shrug it off if they attack you, and laugh at their impotent rage. They will seethe a little, then move on as they find something new to gnaw on, since they have the attention span of a goldfish. If you don't feed the fire, it goes out rather quickly. If your game is good, it will find its place outside their circles. RPGNet will probably not like you, but RPGNet has long been a containment zone.

The one thing you should be concerned about is a personal takedown. Can they get to you through your job? Do you work at a western college, or other SJW-infiltrated place where an attack can get you into trouble? I am fairly good here, since I am well insulated until Hungary goes full woke (currently unlikely, and I will do my personal best to keep it that way) and my superiors lose their confidence in me (also unlikely). I do not know your personal situation, and since you prefer to remain anonymous, this is something for you to think about. If you are heavily exposed, you might consider a pseudonym. It sucks we have to live in this sort of world, but them's the breaks.

Quote from: aztecman on May 01, 2023, 07:35:42 PM
Howdy  -

Not sure if this is the place for something like this, but I wanted to get some thoughts from the forums here.

So I made a game. The art's done, writing is done, and layout is almost complete. The theme/content is different than my native culture. I approached a translator about giving it the once over to make sure there's no misspellings, etc. I was told that since it's outside of my native culture, and the only way I can avoid the backlash of today's environment is perhaps just not to sell it. Problem is, I've spent a lot of time and hard work on this.

Do I, A) pay the translator hundreds of dollars to point out any faux pas and put it out anyways? B) Scrap all the hard work, time, and money that I've put into it? or C) Some other option yet to be determined?

How do existing publishers handle something like this when publishing material outside of their native culture? (or don't they...)

Thanks in advance

Release it!  I've had enough of people being intimidated into censorship.  Feelings will be hurt, but these are people who get offended for a living.  Don't be ashamed over something you put so much time into making, and that I bet has rich cultural content.

Quote from: aztecman on May 01, 2023, 07:35:42 PM
Howdy  -

Not sure if this is the place for something like this, but I wanted to get some thoughts from the forums here.

So I made a game. The art's done, writing is done, and layout is almost complete. The theme/content is different than my native culture. I approached a translator about giving it the once over to make sure there's no misspellings, etc. I was told that since it's outside of my native culture, and the only way I can avoid the backlash of today's environment is perhaps just not to sell it. Problem is, I've spent a lot of time and hard work on this.

Do I, A) pay the translator hundreds of dollars to point out any faux pas and put it out anyways? B) Scrap all the hard work, time, and money that I've put into it? or C) Some other option yet to be determined?

How do existing publishers handle something like this when publishing material outside of their native culture? (or don't they...)

Thanks in advance

Find a better translator to proofread it.

Preferably one who isn't a cheese-eating surrender monkey who wets themselves when faced with the woke mob.