Steam Gaming Service Removes A Number Of Adult Games Following Pressure By Credit Card Companies, Paypal Blocks Steam In Much Of The World

 

If you're a fan of game with mature themes, there's been a development on Steam that will likely leave you worried and/or upset. It seems following pressure from credit card companies, Steam has taken a number of adult-rated games off it's list for sale. 

 

In a PC Gamer article, Value, which owns Steam, was reported as saying, "We were recently notified that certain games on Steam may violate the rules and standards set forth by our payment processors and their related card networks and banks. As a result, we are retiring those games from being sold on the Steam Store."

 

Earlier, Steam had enacted a new, and vague, rule about banning "Content that may violate the rules and standards set forth by Steam’s payment processors and related card networks and banks, or internet network providers."

 

An article in The Guardian stated the pressure by the credit card companies was due to pressure on them by "Collective Shout," a group seeking to ban adult content from Australian Internet access, saying the corporations were "facilitating and profiting from rape, incest and child sexual abuse game sales."

 

The result has been a backlash. On change.org, a petition was started protesting the censorship of the games, "not because they're illegal, but because they offend the personal values of executives or activist groups," going on to say, "These same payment processors allowed platforms like OnlyFans to operate with minimal oversight, despite multiple credible reports and lawsuits alleging the presence of real sexual abuse content involving real-life minors. That is a criminal failure of responsibility. Yet, when it comes to entirely fictional depictions, these same companies act swiftly — shutting down creators, restricting access, and acting as global censors." 

 

So far, the petition has gotten over a quarter million signatures. One who left a comment identified himself as a member of the LGBTQ community, "Banning sexual content never stops there, it always include non-sexual things. As such the fight to protect people’s right to sexual expression is vital for protecting my right to exist." 

 

Mastercard eventually responded, but denied making any pressure on Steam, "Mastercard has not evaluated any game or required restrictions of any activity on game creator sites and platforms, contrary to media reports and allegations."

 

To add to Steam's troubles, Paypal became unusable in most of the world as an option to pay for Steam purchases. It was reported in The Gamer only users in the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, and countries which use the Euro can still do so. At first, Valve offered no reason as to why, but later would explain, "In this case, one of PayPal’s acquiring banks decided to stop processing any Steam transactions, which cut off PayPal on Steam for a number of currencies"

 

As of now, it is unclear when the delisted games will be restored, or when Paypal will be fully useable again. 

 

Sources: PC Gamer, The Guardian, The Gamer, Rock Paper Shotgun 

 

Bixyl Shutan 

 

RECoyote Mindes' Mother Ill With Cancer, Donations Needed

As a trucker in real life, RECoyote Mindes, or "Rec" as he's known to friends, has been a man of few words, letting his actions speak for him. Long known for being the coowner of Perri Prinz's Xanadu classic rock club in HV Community, more recently he's been known for helping out his fellow Sunweavers. He helped out two residents by buying them new tablets and computers (one of whom passed down her old equipment to a third resident when her machine went down). He helped the Sunweaver and Angel sims by paying the fees to Linden Lab to acquire them the "grandfathered" rates, which meant lower rents for the tenants.

Behind the trucker is a real life family, and his mother has fallen ill with cancer. Nydia Tugsten posted the news last night as a group announcement.

Reco's Mom went into ICU Saturday.  They're now there with her. Small cell cancer in her lungs, brains and a couple other places.
She is on her second day of kemo today, one more day of it they will need to wait at least a week to see if the mass in her lung breaks up.

Reco, we are all here for you, if you need anything, let us know and we will help in any way we can.

Earlier today, RECoyote had this response.

Ok, I do need help. This has used up all of my money and I can use any money any of you can spare me. Please help.
paypal recoyote@pld.com Thank you y'al.
Please help if you can

Now the one who has helped many finds himself in need of help. Those who have some cash to spare are asked to help out a little.

Once again, the requested donations can be sent via Paypal to recoyote@pld.com .

Bixyl Shuftan