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[InterMusketeer]

This is my first thread on GAF, so if I made any mistakes, please let me know!

On august 18th a new Hunie Direct about indie puzzle/porn game HuniePop 2 was published on the game's official YouTube channel.
These videos function very much like other, better-known Directs, where new announcements and information is given about the game. It was announced HuniePop 2 will be a direct sequel to the first HuniePop, and some characters and art were showcased as well. It was also announced that the game would release next year, in 2019.

However, the most interesting announcement was for a new character: Polly Bendleson.

The video ends with the reveal that "Also, she has a dick!"

This information led to quite a bit of backlash, as the developer details in this blog post:

The video states that Polly “has a dick”, meaning she's trans. This ended up causing a very split reaction that I, honest to god, did not expect. This is a character we’ve been asked for hundreds of times. I was very much under the impression that “girl with dick” (whatever you want to call it) was a pretty universal interest/preference/fetish among Anime/Hentai/Visual Novel fans.

This blog post was later edited to remove any reference to Polly being trans due to criticism of its use in this context. There's some tweets criticizing the terminology somewhere on the internet, but I don't know how Twitter works, and I'm not about to find out. Also, I'm not sure what the issue was.

So why the backlash? Well, obviously there's a group of people who just don't want a transgender character in their porn game, period. The first game was very much aimed at straight men, though there was an option to play as a female character. However, another group was mostly concerned with whether they'd be able to finish the game without having to romance Polly. In the first game, secret characters would become available after the entire cast was "seduced." The developer made a Strawpoll to gauge interest in an option to complete the game without having to romance Polly:

The response seems to be split more or less right down the middle. For every person that’s into her, there’s a person that isn’t. I even put up a straw poll to which 43% of the respondents (at the time of this writing) indicated that they would appreciate some way to skip Polly entirely (but still be able to fully complete the game).

To address the response to Polly, the developer decided to (somewhat) backtrack on her being trans:

Being that our only job is to make a fun game that everyone can enjoy, I’ve decided to put the power in the hands of each player to choose the experience that best suits them. In the same way you can choose your own gender, you’ll be able to choose Polly’s genitalia. I’m not sure exactly how it’ll play out yet, but at some point before or during your first meeting with Polly, you’ll be asked to specify your preference and the game will take it from there. That’s it!

In a Tweet, HuniePot said the following about Polly's gender:

In the game, we wont use any terminology. Not trans, not trap, not futa. It'll be completely ambiguous. Polly will either have a dick or she wont.

So what do you think? Is this another case of censorship? Do you like the way HuniePot decided to change Polly or not?

I really enjoyed the first HuniePop (strange as that may sound) but I'm really not interested in a transgender, crossdressing, trap or futa character whatsoever. As such, Polly isn't really for me, and I would have been disappointed if that content (IE the sex scenes) couldn't be skipped. That's just not the type of content I'm interested in. However, the ability to just change her genitals doesn't quite sit right with me either. To me, Polly will always be transgender, as that was the intent of the developer (though he does seem somewhat confused about the subject). This change also means that any reference to her being transgender has to be removed, and so her having a penis will end up being nothing more than fetish bait, which is disappointing. It also clashes with the decision to have a sort of canon HuniePop lore that was announced in this very Direct. On the other hand, players will have the option to play the game as they choose, and no-one will be forced to sit through scenes they're not comfortable with. I'd say it's a decent compromise.

 

[WaterAstro]

Maybe they can just make two versions? lol that'll probably be more controversial.

A "transgender patch".

Japan does this all the time in their hentai games really.

 

[Blam]

Welp I'm disappointed. I was looking forward to having a trans character.

edit: nm in true gaffer fashion I didn't read the part where it's a choice which is nice.

 

[TheShadowLord]

I am not familiar with this game other then it's a Japanese-like game with adult themes. TC, does it have lesbian sex scenes and if so, can those be skip/not skip?

 

[Caayn]

I think that giving players the option is the best way to go. I do wonder if they'll alter her appearance (even slightly, buldge, etc) depending on the gender you pick.

 

[NickFire]

So what do you think?

I think the world has gone mad.

 

[kunonabi]

I think the problem is they didnt realize the distinction between futa and trans as it pertains to the desires of most of the straight fanbase. If the "choose your sed option" is still in they should have had her be female if your picked a guy and gave her the heatseeker if you picked a girl. Making it an option isnt a terrible compromise though.

Of course, they could have just left it in as is if they felt strongly about it.

 

[InterMusketeer]

TC, does it have lesbian sex scenes and if so, can those be skip/not skip?

In the first game, when creating a save file, you're asked whether you want to play as male or female, and this choice determines whether any lesbian sex takes place or not. I don't think there's many (or any) reference to the player character's gender in the game, but they would be changed. The sex scenes really aren't anything special (they're actually puzzle challenges), but at the end the player is rewarded with artwork of the girl with semen in... various places. That semen is removed from the lesbian version of the art.

 

[kunonabi]

Double post

 

[iconmaster]

Why not provide a genitalia preference for the other characters too?

Could be the start of a great new trend in gaming.

 

[Thiagosc777]

There are no women with dicks, only guys with boobs.

 

[SoulUnison]

I thought that was a joke, but I clicked the link and heard a child's voice excitedly telling me "She has a dick!" and making overtly sexual remarks.

What the fuck?

 

[RokkanStoned]

Jeez, people getting butthurt again. Lady with a dick should be kept as intended, there's no controversy here. I'm saying this as someone who bought the first one (I was in a big match-3 mood and bought a ton of match-3 games, including Huniepop) and would probably buy the other one if it has the same humor and improvements to the mechanics. Aren't they releasing it censored as well? There's literally no point getting offended here, just skip past the scenes, it's not like a dick is new to you (unless you're lesbian).

I'm very skeptical about there actual being a large backlash, outside of a small vocal minority. Trying to provide an option just seems spineless and makes it seem like the fans are somehow super sensitive about a single character in the game having a dick.

 

[alken]

.

 

[Geki-D]

Letting players choose sounds like a decent compromise to me.

 

[cr0w]

I am so confused by basically every sentence in the OP.

God I'm getting old.

 

[kunonabi]

Jeez, people getting butthurt again. Lady with a dick should be kept as intended, there's no controversy here. I'm saying this as someone who bought the first one (I was in a big match-3 mood and bought a ton of match-3 games, including Huniepop) and would probably buy the other one if it has the same humor and improvements to the mechanics. Aren't they releasing it censored as well? There's literally no point getting offended here, just skip past the scenes, it's not like a dick is new to you (unless you're lesbian).

I'm very skeptical about there actual being a large backlash, outside of a small vocal minority. Trying to provide an option just seems spineless and makes it seem like the fans are somehow super sensitive about a single character in the game having a dick.

If somebody doesnt want to roleplay sex with a dude or a girl with penis than they're entitled to that. That said, the devs aren't obligated to change it either.

I mean if you have an all girl lesbian game aimed at women and you start shoving heterosexual sex scenes into the sequel they would probably be ticked off too.

 

[brap]

So a game that's usually targeted straight dudes now adds a girl with a dick and gets backlash? What did they think would happen?

 

[MastAndo]

 

[oagboghi2]

That is stupid. Are players forced to romance her. if not, than what is the problem?

 

[Cunth]

I lold at ‘Also, she has a dick!’
Surprise!

 

[TheShadowLord]

In the first game, when creating a save file, you're asked whether you want to play as male or female, and this choice determines whether any lesbian sex takes place or not. I don't think there's many (or any) reference to the player character's gender in the game, but they would be changed. The sex scenes really aren't anything special (they're actually puzzle challenges), but at the end the player is rewarded with artwork of the girl with semen in... various places. That semen is removed from the lesbian version of the art.

So is this transwoman the main character or a side character?

 

[Helios]

That is stupid. Are players forced to romance her. if not, than what is the problem?

I think ,at least based on OP (which was very thorough by the way,props), that there was a lot of confusion whether or not the player was forced to romance this character to unlock secret ones. Which is a fair point. I think giving the player the option is pretty much the best solution
Besides, we all know traps aren't gay.

 

[RokkanStoned]

If somebody doesnt want to roleplay sex with a dude or a girl with penis than they're entitled to that. That said, the devs aren't obligated to change it either.

I mean if you have an all girl lesbian game aimed at women and you start shoving heterosexual sex scenes into the sequel they would probably be ticked off too.

There's no "roleplay" sex, at least not in the first one. And no, they're not entitled to not see a person with a dick in the game. The only one's I think could feel uncomfortable is either people that freak out if they see a dick other than their own or lesbians, but everyone else I'm pretty sure will just play through, skip the pictures quickly and then move onto the next.

 

[Lionel Richie]

I think I'm one body pillow short here.

 

[Vawn]

"Your porn game doesn't align with my ethics" - Today's Social Justice Warrior

 

[InterMusketeer]

So is this transwoman the main character or a side character?

She is one of the female characters that can be romanced by the player. In total the new game will have 12 characters to romance, and romancing all of them (through the power of match-3 puzzles) is the main goal of the game.

 

[Geki-D]

So a game that's usually targeted straight dudes now adds a girl with a dick and gets backlash? What did they think would happen?

They apparently put her in on popular demand. Listening to the fans can't really be faulted and in the end, the compromise they've gone with means that everyone is happy.

"Your porn game doesn't align with my ethics" - Today's Social Justice Warrior

Actually, you're wrong. The people complaining aren't SJWs. ...Though they'll no doubt start soon when the story gains more traction.

 

[MoogleMan]

Honestly, it's impossible to please everyone. Someone will always bitch about something. They made the best choice, by allowing choice.

 

[Kadayi]

Meanwhile, most players: -

 

[kunonabi]

There's no "roleplay" sex, at least not in the first one. And no, they're not entitled to not see a person with a dick in the game. The only one's I think could feel uncomfortable is either people that freak out if they see a dick other than their own or lesbians, but everyone else I'm pretty sure will just play through, skip the pictures quickly and then move onto the next.

Fine, people have the right to not be interested in romancing a dude or girl with a penis or looking at one covered in semen. If they aren't into that than that is an entire route of content, possibly more, that they have to skip it if makes them uncomfortable. That is obviously a personal matter and they can take their money elsewhere. The dev decided to accommodate them because they felt like retaining those customers. It sucks just like it sucked when Nintendo sabotaged 3 of the Wii U's final major releases and countless other examples but it is what is. Social media dictating game development is just the world we live in now.

 

[brap]

They apparently put her in on popular demand. Listening to the fans can't really be faulted and in the end, the compromise they've gone with means that everyone is happy.

I would argue against that. People who like "traps" or whatever you wanna call them are a very vocal minority.

 

[Fuz]

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Thank god I'm not a dev in this time and age.

 

[Geki-D]

I would argue against that. People who like "traps" or whatever you wanna call them are a very vocal minority.

Clearly the devs thought they were a big enough group to cater to and they thought doing so would please everyone. Going off of what's written above, the devs have a legitimate desire to want to please their fans, whoever they may be.

 

[RokkanStoned]

Fine, people have the right to not be interested in romancing a dude or girl with a penis or looking at one covered in semen. If they aren't into that than that is an entire route of content, possibly more, that they have to skip it if makes them uncomfortable. That is obviously a personal matter and they can take their money elsewhere. The dev decided to accommodate them because they felt like retaining those customers. It sucks just like it sucked when Nintendo sabotaged 3 of the Wii U's final major releases and countless other examples but it is what is. Social media dictating game development is just the world we live in now.

Sure, they don't need to buy the game. I do however doubt there's a large amount of people that this would make or break the purchase of. Huniepop has always been comedic, pornishly cringe and not really so much about romance, as it's about matching three and sexual humor. It's the kind of game where a lady with a dick doesn't feel forced in and matches the silly, unabashed humor of the game.

 

[alken]

.

 

[brap]

Clearly the devs thought they were a big enough group to cater to and they thought doing so would please everyone. Going off of what's written above, the devs have a legitimate desire to want to please their fans, whoever they may be.

I'm not against it just most people I know into that stuff never fucking shut up about it. Especially on imageboards with like 20 posters and a million posts in each thread.

anyway can we have a granny edition of Hunie??

mommy edition too pls

 

[Helios]

game X
a game based on killing Islamic terrorists

some fans (not the majority) ask for playing as islamic terrorists and kill the americans.

game X2
game based on killing Islamic terrorists but with a level where you kill the americans.

majority of the fans this time asked you to remove that level.

you understand maybe you made a wrong move, but still you love that level because you don't want to lose the other fans too.

you change the game to let people to skip that level.

end of the story.

You think that game's getting my money? Where's the pacifist route?

 

[Xaero Gravity]

I'd play a MILF edition of HunniePop

 

[InterMusketeer]

better! Can we have Hunie Red and Hunie Yellow like pokemon?
I think they are losing an opportunity not to making different versions of the game with porn categories...granny, BBC, fetish ect ect...

Unfortunately it' doesn't seem to be within the dev's capabilities right now to make multiple games for a wide variety of audiences.

 

[TheShadowLord]

I don't agree that everything should come down to choice. At most, you can skip a cutscene if you see something that you don't like if the game allows you to. I think that should be enough.

 

[Xaero Gravity]

Unfortunately it' doesn't seem to be within the dev's capabilities right now to make multiple games for a wide variety of audiences.

HOLY SHIT! My fucking sides

 

[Dunki]

I think the choice part is the best thing they could have done in this situation. Now everyone gets what he/she (yes Hunipop was also very popular with girls) wanted in the end. Personally I do not really feel the cast or design so far. I really liked hunipop not because of the sexscenes (If I want good sex scenes I will play japanese hentai games) but because of the writing which was funny and the addicting gameplay. But there were also a few girls that made me interested like the Asian teacher for example. This cast even they are much more does not really interest me. Maybe lola but otherwise meh^^

 

[Domisto]

Looking at the screenies I thought most HuniePop players were mostly straight or into women so adding a chick with a dick (for want of a better phrase) just screams out optional side quest. Would probably have been enough to please the niche. Seems like a strange misstep. But then again I have no idea how the game plays or how you beat it. No, not like that. I know how to do that. Nevermind.

Anyway, totally digging the retro aerobics.

 

[Vtecomega]

Fuck this world. I'm out.

 

[alken]

.

 

[Spheyr]

Quit shoving degeneracy into everything.

 

[InterMusketeer]

Personally I do not really feel the cast or design so far.

Yes, I'm not impressed thus far either. The dev's choice to leave out many of the girls introduced in the first game is disappointing too. They have a limited budget to make this game, so I understand choices have to be made, but I would have made different ones. People will always have different opinions on who to include, so it's impossible to please everyone, but a lot of the characters that have been shown for HP2 seem very samey to me, with large breasts and slutty personality.

But then again I have no idea how the game plays or how you beat it.

The original game covered some unconventional fetishes as well. Some of the secret characters that were unlocked at the end were

Spoiler

a young cat girl that calls you "master" and an alien with optional slave Leia outfit.

A dick girl fits right in, in terms of whackiness. But I think sex scenes with a biological man is a bridge too far for a lot of their fans.

Edit: I should probably explain what the gameplay is like, which is why I quoted you in the first place.

The game is quite simple: You encounter girls in various locations, and by talking to them, you will learn all kinds of facts about them (their favourite color, their birth date and favourite foods etc.) and after a while they will start asking you if you remember those facts. They will also start asking about you, and you should answer whatever you think this girl wants to hear (rebellious girls want you to use drugs, serious ones don't, for example).

Answering these questions correctly, and giving gifts increases you relationship with them, and allows you to go on dates with them, where you play match-3 puzzles (which are actually really fun and quite deep, mechanically) to make the date succeed. After 4 or 5 dates, the girl will ask to go home with you, and you'll be able to tackle the sex challenge, where you play match-3 as fast as possible to give the girl an orgasm, after which you're rewarded with sexy art.

Ultimately there's nothing to do in these games but romance everyone and increase your relationship to the max stat, after which secret characters are unlocked.

 

[CatCouch]

I was blown away by the sheer hate this character got when I was posting on Niche Gamer. I post there pretty often and I was drowned out by the sheer insanity that erupted over a trans character. I did not think people would argue that Japanese style porn games could be considered "SJW" or whatever. Really saddened by the reaction. I voted in the poll and was pretty excited by the announcement!

Player choice is generally a good thing, I think. I do appreciate the desire to please the audience, it's refreshing after all the "attitude" game journalists and some devs take with their audiences these days. I do worry that making the character work as both a trans woman and a cis woman could make for a boring character. How much of her character can tied to her being trans if she also has to be written as cis, you know?

Choice is better than removal, that's for sure but I don't necessarily want games to go too far into "everything for everyone" territory.

 

[RokkanStoned]

I was blown away by the sheer hate this character got when I was posting on Niche Gamer. I post there pretty often and I was drowned out by the sheer insanity that erupted over a trans character. I did not think people would argue that Japanese style porn games could be considered "SJW" or whatever. Really saddened by the reaction. I voted in the poll and was pretty excited by the announcement!

Player choice is generally a good thing, I think. I do appreciate the desire to please the audience, it's refreshing after all the "attitude" game journalists and some devs take with their audiences these days. I do worry that making the character work as both a trans woman and a cis woman could make for a boring character. How much of her character can tied to her being trans if she also has to be written as cis, you know?

Choice is better than removal, that's for sure but I don't necessarily want games to go too far into "everything for everyone" territory.

It's ridiculous, yeah, because a trans character would be really fitting into the game's humor (and the inclusion would hardly be considered "SJW" as some call it, because Huniepop is ridiculously politically incorrect). More so considering it's not really much of a porn game. The first one had a couple of pictures, but most of the fun in it was the humor and the match 3 game.
Regarding "how much of her character", well, let's say there's not that much character in regards to Huniepop characters, they're all fun stereotypes. That's kind of the fun, how utterly unabashed it is in being a soft-porn match 3 "dating" game. I still think she should be kept as she is, it's the natural development of the first game to have a lady with a dick in it and all the terrible puns that it'll likely include.