Politics - are some subjects too controversial?

Hi everyone,

In my current project you're pretty much a super powered being that has to recreate a society from the very start.

This means that you'll be the dictator and will decide everything (Unless you're horrible and your creatures just kill you as long as they're not scared of you) leading to some touchy subjects.

My aim isn't making the game as controversial as possible, but I want to give you the choice, even if the choices can be extreme.

While some choices will be simple such as making your creatures omnivores, herbivores or carnivores there will also be some more complicated choices...

An example would be homosexuality developing in your society and you're presented with choices such as silently accept it and move on, embrace it and tell everyone that they're free to love whoever they want, silently repress those people trying to eradicate them with policies and benefits to the straight people or even declaring them monsters and killing every single one of them.

Same would apply to religion, meaning that you can declare yourself the only God, embrace the idea of a deity, leave it as it is in the background or just say that they're straight up wrong and create a purely secular society.

This also means that eventually when your people develop enough and want to have a voice in your government, you'll have the choice to create a democratic, communist, socialist or even a fascist society.

Is giving the player such extreme choices being too controversial?  

No.

It's your game or idea, you can go about it however you feel is right. Are these important parts of the game/feature and something you have to tackle regardless of opinion? If so, then you shouldn't omit it because there might be some bumps. It looks like your road is heading this way anyhow. Normally I don't try to beat around the bush. You aren't going to please everyone, there's bound to be someone offended over something. If it's that much of a concern, maybe you could post a notice stating these issues are discussed under some light. Some people are hypersensitive and this just might keep them away. But if someone is so offended over an RPG Maker project, then just imagine what they're like in real life. I'm being blunt, but that's my take on things like this.

I think you should follow your creative vision despite what others might think. Don't let someone else define who you are or what you do.

The beauty of creativity is that you can free your soul in any manner you wish. Oppressions don't exist, even though illusory ones may present themselves in the form of our paranoia. But we should recognize them as just what they are - illusions - and press on.

No.  I do not feel that to be too contraversial (and I am technically homosexual, not that it matters).

Though I will add a note about audience targeting, disclaimers, and general context.  If you are planning for example, to release your game worldwide, you will definitely find those that will be offended.  Do you have a plan on how you will handle it if/when it happens?  A disclaimer satisfies A LOT of people, including a variety of lawyers hehe.       Something like: the author of this game does not condone: yada yada...  evil things...  Remind the world, that is is purely a work of fiction, for simulative entertainment only, and that the author in no way upholds violence, discrimination, etc.  Beyond that, remember, it is just a game.  Make sure to get that across to your audience in what ever style you choose.

Incidentally, your game sounds fun :)     I want to play it!    :D

I think it's fine to have a game offer these options.  It can even be an interesting way to explore the consequences of these choices.  The choice is, after all, the player's to make.

But I agree it's essential to have a disclaimer pointing out you aren't condoning any particular belief and the likes.  If you plan on a wide commercial release, it's well worth a few hundred dollars to pay a lawyer to write a nice, tight disclaimer that minimizes legal troubles.

But, even so, some choices will be deeply offensive to some people.  There was a ton of controversy in The Sims when it turned out you could have same-sex relationships.  Some might find even having religion in the game offensive, while others might find it deeply offensive that the game doesn't push their particular brand of religion.

The game does sound interesting, in concept.  Sort of a Populous meets Spore type of thing.  Just watch for the controversy and get as much legal shelter as possible to minimize the fallout.

No, if.