Chord Progressions
Itch has unlisted Chord Progressions
UPDATE 4: The best thing you can do right now to help is reach out to payment processing companies and annoy them about this problem. One of the best resources to find phone numbers, scripts, and other info you may need is https://yellat.money .
UPDATE 3: If you'd like to help without contacting any legislators, you can call the following numbers to file a complaint:
- Mastercard (US): 1-800-627-8372
- Mastercard (Int.): +1-636-722-7111
- Visa (US + Can): 1 800 847 2911
- Visa (AUS): 1 800 125 440
- PayPal: +44-0203-901-7000
UPDATE 2: I have learned that the legislation I've endorsed was drafted by a republican. Long story short, I think the legislation will accomplish what we're hoping it will accomplish as an unintended side-effect (from the the republican's perspective). That said, I completely understand if you would not like to endorse THIS specific piece of legislation. In that case, you're welcome to use my words, just omit any phrasing that prompts the lawmaker to vote for the Fair Access to Banking Act.
UPDATE 1: Itch has issued a statement (this post was created before itch's statement) https://itch.io/updates/update-on-nsfw-content
Hello. You may have already noticed, but itch.io has unlisted Chord Progressions, as well as many of your other favorite NSFW games from the site. You cannot search up any NSFW games on itch.io, even if you check the box that allows you search for 18+ content.
Needless to say, I am incredibly disappointed and heartbroken by this recent development. This gravely impacts the visibility of Chord Progressions and your other favorite furry visual novels. Who knows how long this will last. Itch has not put out any official statements.
We can reasonably assume itch.io was pressured to change the visibility of these games by payment processors like Visa and Mastercard. I think capitulating to their demands is rather cowardly, and I'd like itch to answer for why they chose to do this. We should all be demanding answers from itch.
Edit: Please read up on this bill first before asking your representatives to vote for it. I personally think this bill will have the outcome we're looking for, but I encourage you to do your own research: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/401 In the meantime, for my fellow Americans, here's how you can help. There is legislation in the works called the Fair Access to Banking Act. This would limit payment processors and banks ability to halt transactions due to "moral or reputational" concerns. We want Congress and the House of Representatives to pass this bill.
I reached out to my representative with the following message. For my fellow Americans, I urge you to also reach out to your local representatives and ask them the same.
You're welcome to use my words. Copy + paste the text below if you'd like:
I urge you to please vote for the Fair Access to Banking Act. Payment processing companies like Visa and Mastercard are denying the free speech of artists who sell their art in open marketplaces. This has recently impacted video gaming. Steam and itch.io, two very popular marketplaces for distributing and buying video games, have been impacted. Many projects on these platforms have been censored and livelihoods have been gravely impacted. Payment processors, under no circumstances, should be able to dictate what we can buy and create. I believe endorsing this legislation will be helpful to that end.
(Don't copy this next part unless you're a developer yourself): I am a video game creator affected by this censorship and it needs to stop.
Please help protect my art and my friends' art. If you're feeling generous, please support me on Patreon.
While we wait for itch to correct their extremely foolish mistake, my good buddy Akiba has created an excellent database for all furry visual novels. His site is https://fvn.li/ . Give it a try! You might discover something new.
A new devlog is coming this weekend. Hopefully, if Chord Progressions isn't outright removed by then, I'll have some cheerier news for you.
The ChoPro train ain't stopping.
Comments
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This mass censorship is a bandied patch to a ever pressing problem that will continue to worsen through out our current presidency. companies will bend over backwards to avoid being scrutinized by the government, censoring and banning content they deem "immoral". All though what they preach sounds good on a surface level, it will affect topics like LGBTQ+ and BIPOC stories. They will use the illegal content as a facade and over shadow what all they are actually doing.
These companies are getting too greedy in their demands, we need to put them back in their place
Won't happen, unless some new companies break the oligopol/monopol of Paypall and the creditscard providers.
This apparently is more specifically aimed at certain things like rape, incest and child abuse and not really about gay or furry. Its just a blanket response by itch until they can weed out the specific issues so they don't lose processing for everyone.
The group responsible also places games like Detroit Become Human on their shit list. theyre a radical anti-porn group, SWERFs with close ties to fundamentalist christian nationalists, and buddy-buddy with TERFs. the things theyre claiming to be against are a front, a convenient wedge they can use to try to hurt their actual targets.
Oh wow, that site is amazing in a time like this. I will make sure to let my friends know that it exists.
It's too bad 。games as the ninth art are subject to many restrictions, and many games with exciting plots are hidden for no known how long.
if i search chord progression itch.io on ggoogle, i find it
Well, at least itch is suddenly alive in russia.
edit: it came alive just to die more completely. Now it's not even possible to download more than 50 kb without vpn and all free ones are ineffective.
Thanks for speaking up and writing a good and concise message.
thanks for the heads up and your friends database is fire
FUCK VISA AND MASTERCARD! I'm canceling their cards and replacing them right now!
with what?
This is an admirable desire, but I am not sure that the long-term implications of such a choice have been weighed. Unless you decide to revert to an entirely cash-based lifestyle, which includes sending checks by mail and having absolutely no ability to make online shopping or other digital transactions, I do not know how far you will be able to get without a debit/credit card. However, I am interested to hear your strategies and developments if you decide to commit to this.
There are other providers besides Mastercard and Visa. Discover, Capital One, and American Express, to name a few.
In my own haste, I had not fully considered the extent of other payment processors, so thank you for your reply. Looking over my response with fresh eyes, I am not much proud of it, but I have decided to leave it posted for the sake of discourse rather than delete it.
I am aware that some businesses (large and small) only accept Visa or MasterCard (source), and that some institutions (like my local credit union) seem to only issue Visa, which is why I expressed hesitation. However, if migrating to one or more of those alternate providers is a viable option for you, then that is great, and I encourage you in doing so.