One of the most significant challenges faced by self-publishing game developers and small indie studios is getting their products noticed by a wide audience.
Certainly, there are several moderately-sized publications and content creators, like Indie Freaks, who dedicate significant coverage to small indie games. However, for many developers, this exposure isn’t always sufficient.
Consequently, some resort to offering compensation to content creators for coverage of their products or, more commonly, providing them with product keys in exchange for coverage, whether positive or negative.
Thankfully this isn’t the case for one small doujin developer, more rather it’s the opposite actually.
I’ve been keeping tabs on “Denneko Yuugi” for a while now, particularly their upcoming 3D hack-and-slash game, Machina of the Planet Tree: Mugen Ourokaku. Interestingly, the last time I remember seeing it during development, it was abbreviated as “Sakura Tower.”
Obviously in such a field, things are subject to change.
You can also discover some of Denneko Yuugi‘s earlier creations on Steam, like Machina of the Planet Tree -Planet Ruler- and Machina of the Planet Tree -Unity Unions-.
They were officially released in 2015 and 2020, respectively, receiving a generally positive to mixed reception. -Planet Ruler- earned an 83% rating from 114 reviews, while -Unity Unions has a mixed reception with a 67% rating from only 34 reviews.
While their games may seem somewhat simplistic and carry their flaws, that’s perfectly fine. It’s clear that with each release, they’re making strides and pushing boundaries.
Their upcoming title appears to be their most refined yet, garnering attention, especially with the Hack and Slash TPS showcased at Comiket events in recent years.
In contrast to their earlier releases, Machina of the Planet Tree: Mugen Ourokaku showcases remarkable 3D animation featuring jiggle physics and a fluid combat system. Denneko Yuugi‘s regular teasing of the game’s appealing and high-quality characters on social media has sparked considerable interest in their upcoming title among both Japanese and English-speaking audiences.
Yet, it appears that this popularity has also brought along an influx of unwelcome inquiries.
Housenka, the face of Denneko Yuugi recently shared an image of their latest Q&A session on Twitter, which quickly went viral, amassing thousands of likes and over 770,000 views.
In this Q&A, Housenka humorously addresses various user questions in a sarcastic yet light-hearted manner.
As an example, when queried about the presence of sex in their upcoming game, Housenka’s response was, “No, please make your way to DLsite.”
DLSite being infamous as the leading digital distribution platform for self-published or small-scale works of erotic content. Recently, the company made headlines for suspending its contract with VISA and MasterCard. (which can be circumvented)
Similarly, when queried about adjusting the character’s body proportions so that the games protagonist, Retla Stoltein has larger tits or a bigger ass, Housenka’s response is simply “Just accept her for who she is.”
However, when confronted with the common request for a Steam Key in exchange for promotion, the developer’s response is blunt: “Buy it, you piece of shit” which is the very reason as to why this Q&A post has caught so much attention and praise, but the subtle suggestion to use DLSite for sexual content is what has me laughing the most.
In a subsequent comment, Housenka adds, “I think every person who has released a game on Steam wants to say this.”
It’s a prevalent scam that has persisted for quite some time now. People often attempt to position themselves as influencers or individuals of value in exchange for social exposure, only to essentially beg developers for free keys. Sometimes, they request these keys under the guise of “review” purposes, gaining access to the product before the general public.
There’s a murky area when it comes to codes and keys related to games featured on Steam. Some game developers even advocate for pirating their own games rather than supporting shady resellers like the G2A marketplace, which facilitate the illegal resale of game keys obtained through dubious means at discounted prices.
Indeed, buying keys from legitimate sources is often the most cost-effective way to obtain a game legally. There are reputable resellers, like Indiegala, Fantatical, Greenman Gaming, and Gamesplanet, who maintain excellent reputations and ensure that the keys they sell are obtained through legitimate means, without involvement in criminal activities unlike say Kinguin or G2A.
Housenka and the small team at Denneko Yuugi have long held reservations about distributing Steam keys for “reviews” or publicity, as they can be printed out as many times as a developer wishes, the recipient can simply sell the key themselves for a profit. Instead of bending to the whims of their newfound “audience,” they remain committed to creating what they truly desire.
Their nonchalant attitude towards individuals seeking free copies for online exposure has received positive feedback, evident from the reception to their comments.
This demo build is the same one showcased by the small team at Comiket 103. Additionally, it’s advisable to follow Housenka on Twitter for further updates on the game.
They’ve announced that it’s slated to hit Steam by “this summer or so.” However, the Denneko Yuugi team advocates that even after release, the roguelike will remain in active development for up to two years to incorporate additional features.
