I'm with @losterkun and @PatrickClSim3Low on this. The game has had LGBT stories for quite a while now; Island Living's Oliana and Leila, Eco Lifestyle's Yasemin and Tina, Cats & Dogs' Brent and Brant, Cottage Living's Derek and Ian. What's different with the wedding pack? Perhaps the Sims team could further explain how Cam and Dom's story would have to change exactly. The reason, conveyed in the team's released statement, is extremely vague. I really hope it's not a marketing issue. I really hope it's not some kind of stance that EA is taking against one particular government's policies, because that's only punishing the people for their government's views. I sincerely doubt that withholding video game content is going to encourage some change among those in power. Instead of bowing to an oppressive policy, find a way to make it work so that the people continue to have more outlets for self expression.
I have deeply, deeply mixed feelings about this issue.
I'm a queer/LGBTQIA/QUILTBAG Simmer myself, and I really don't want EA to censor their marketing materials to comply with homophobic laws. I also don't want Russian LGBTQIA Simmers to miss out on the pack because of this law. Unfortunately, I don't have any great suggestions!
When I say that it's the Marketing, I'm not trying to imply that it's some kind of stunt. I sincerely believe that the Sims team care deeply about their game, and about this story. It would be incredibly disheartening to come up with the wonderful trailer they created and then have to completely gut the story in order to play it in some markets. ☹️ I also don't want them to market the pack as "Our pack is SO SHOCKING!!!!! that we can't show footage in Russia!!!!! BUY IT BUY IT BUY IT IT'S SHOCKING!!!!!!!" ☹️ It's not shocking! It's a cute love story!
All that said: I think the difference is that... the Cats and Dogs trailer in the US showed Brent and Brant getting married and their pets wearing bow ties. I don't know if they cut that footage for markets that wouldn't allow it, but they can't cut Cam and Dom out of the trailer and still have a trailer.
All THAT said, I think that the LGBTQIA market in Russia is a vulnerable population, and, you know, we should probably listen to the vulnerable population that's being hurt. (Not that I know how to do that and still market the pack. A solid black or solid white cover in Russia? AAAAAAA!)
