Summary of El Bizarro Caso de No Mercy
The video "El Bizarro Caso de No Mercy" dives into a wild and controversial censorship saga surrounding a niche adult visual novel game called No Mercy. The game, available on Steam, featured a protagonist who manipulates women—including family members—into sexual relationships, sparking outrage due to its incestuous and abusive themes combined with somewhat realistic graphics. Despite the game not forcing players into abusive actions but rather relying on dialogue choices, it was widely condemned as a "sexual abuse simulator."
The controversy was fueled by an Australian women’s rights lobby group, Collective Shout, which launched a global campaign against No Mercy. They accused the game of promoting violence against women and enabling real-world abuse, arguments often criticized as exaggerated or lacking evidence. The campaign gained political traction, leading to bans in multiple countries and pressuring the developer, Serat Games, to remove the game from Steam (though it remained available on a smaller platform called Ich).
Not stopping there, Collective Shout then targeted payment processors like Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal, accusing them of profiting from gender-based violence by allowing transactions for such games. This pressure forced Steam to tighten its content policies, removing many adult-themed games, and led Ich to purge tens of thousands of adult titles to comply with new regulations. This broad crackdown angered many, including some initial supporters, as it affected unrelated games and developers, raising concerns about overreach and censorship creep.
The video also touches on the wider implications, including how payment processors now wield significant power over what consumers can purchase, often acting on mass complaints without thorough investigation. Additionally, the UK’s Online Safety Act is mentioned as part of a growing trend toward invasive age verification measures, supported by groups like Collective Shout, which critics see as further government surveillance and control of the internet.
Throughout, the narrator balances the serious nature of the issues with a sarcastic and humorous tone, mocking the absurdity of some claims and the dystopian consequences of censorship gone too far. The video closes by noting that Serat Games is already working on a new visual novel, presumably less provocative, and hints at ongoing debates about freedom of expression and parental responsibility in gaming.
Notable highlights:
- The absurdity of calling No Mercy a "sexual abuse simulator" despite its dialogue-based mechanics.
- The global media and political backlash led by Collective Shout.
- The unexpected power of payment processors in enforcing content standards.
- The mass removal of thousands of adult games from platforms like Ich.
- The broader censorship implications, including privacy concerns with the UK Online Safety Act.
- The narrator’s witty commentary and comparisons to past censorship controversies (e.g., Mass Effect).
Personalities/Groups mentioned:
- Serat Games (developer of No Mercy)
- Collective Shout (Australian women’s rights lobby group)
- Valve/Steam (digital game platform)
- Payment processors: Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Skrill
- The narrator/YouTuber hosting the video
Category
Entertainment