ChaosRaven

Yeah, not so much for their more recent Steam titles, aside from Yurirei.  Check out which of their VNs got hardcopies (NSFW).  AFAIK, MangaGamer includes Steam with their own site's sales as an indication of whether or not they should make hardcopies.  Look which ones haven't gotten them yet.  Their all-ages VNs are selling worse than some of their nukige, with the added benefit of being on two platforms at once.  Admittedly, it's too soon to say that they won't get hardcopies, but they aren't exactly selling like hotcakes, like you're implying.
S;G has a successful, popular anime, was already known by a lot of VN fans thanks to JAST's release of it, and the Steam release was marketed as being superior to JAST's version.  That's a horrible example to use to disprove any claim about the Steam VN bubble having popped.  It didn't have to do anything to stand out, as it already had years ago.  Also, SteamSpy isn't that accurate.

Compared to Tokyo Babel where they placed a high school pretty much straight in limbo full with angels and demons, this is nothing! 

Sorry, but you aren't really up to date anymore, the VN boom on Steam is over. A Steam release simply isn't a guaranteed avalanche of dollares anymore.
You might check out Front Wing's whining thread about Corona Blossom's horrible sales. Or Conjueror's comments about Tokyo Babel's not exactly breath-taking sales, that might make future engagement's in further chuuni titles difficult. Similar thing for Fata Morgana and judging by Supipara's fund-raiser, even getting to chapter 2 might get an almost impossible challenge. And I'm not sure if the usually long tails of VN titles on Steam are still as long as they were used to be.
Steam users interested in VN's aren't blind, they already moved on directly to the sales sites of MangaGamer, Jast & Co. And competition is also higher.

I tweeted them, asking if an 18+ patch would be possible, but their reply was that the all-ages version has no H-scenes to begin with. I don't think they understood the question. (About bringing the original content back.) 
I'm on my phone atm, so idk if this link works. 
https://mobile.twitter.com/MrDergonu/status/789370202031058944
I replied again, explaining in more detail, but they are yet to respond to that. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

I somehow fail to see the point of this Steam release. They make an entire retranslation for a title which most people who were interested in it already played long ago, and I find it hard to believe that many people who already bought MangaGamer's adult version are willing to buy the title again, just to get two additional but butchered routes. Essence+ could have been interesting, but it's not even that. I hope Navel keep their sales expectations low, since it'll most likely hard to even finance the retranslation.
The only positive thing is that Navel seem to have an interest in the Western market again. Although they seem to prefer to go independent now, which is fine by me, but helloooooo we have 2016 and not 2004 anymore, could we maybe raise our mindset beyond Shuffle for a change?! Is it too much to ask for an Oretsuba or Tsuriotsu?! I mean, even Oretsuba is already about 10 years old, so maybe just maybe it would be about time for that instead of Shuffle release 1245, which isn't even the final and definite edition? 

Good news: We're getting an updated version of Shuffle!
Bad news: It's the console update and not the recent Essence+ version , also no ero

Yeah, Chiyoda was quite the quirky one. It's a petty that she didn't get more screen time.
I was actually thinking about the fan disc since Chiharu has a route there, but my VN schedule for the rest of this year is pretty much already fixed. Might be something for next year though, since technically Koiken Otome is a knight girl VN, and I have a bit of a weakness for those. And Koiken was certainly a lot better than Seikishi Melty ☆ Lovers.

I finally finished Koiken Otome. Overall, it was a pretty solid school-life moege. Not exactly groundbreaking, but still a nice heart-warming cuddle VN.
The VN had a bit of a Harry Potter feeling. All the characters are in a special school for 'douryoku' (aka magic) users, and fight each other and other schools in small teams in a Japanese highschool version of a gladiator-arena . Sounds actually more exiting as it actually was, since the story could get rather tedious from time to time. IMHO, the VN didn’t do itself a favor by limiting the protagonist to a semi-passive supporter with his ‘special talents’.
On the other hand, most of the characters were rather likable, not just the main heroines but also some of the side characters. It also had several (drawn) male characters who didn’t even all belong to the idiot friend trope. And that’s actually a lot more remarkable than it should . Four of the main heroines had their own route with some light drama and several rather decent H-scenes. It was a bit surprising that Chiharu didn’t have a route though, considering that she was one of the most funny characters. Comedy wasn’t the best I’ve read, but it did certainly have its moments.
The VN had also pretty polished visuals although the soundtrack could have been certainly better. And although the story was nothing to write home about, it also didn’t do anything particularly wrong, considering what it wanted to be. And that’s actually not something I can say about many of the VN’s I did play this year.
Heroine ratings: Nao > Touko > Chiharu > Austin > Akane > Rei > Suzu > rest
Overall rating: 7 / 10
Overall, a pretty save read for someone who wants just a simple feel-good moege with decent art and ero and without any serious drama. Not something I’d advice for someone who wants an interesting story though.

'What are you playing'... well, everybody at start of their post are writting what are they gonna talk about, and then they're discussing what they read. Spoilers there are obvious (and still, the 'hardest' ones are spoiler tagged). 
About Sharin - that was really minor. It was you, who confused it with something much more bigger, but okay - I've written it badly, so it could be missintepreted. My bad. 
About MLA - I don't say that everything should be spoiler tagged, but if the thread is just a few questions asked by someone who had not read ML yet, then talking about any details of setting (like suit design) is just unnecessary spoiler.

Thanks, I appriciate it. Certain threads, like this one, where the OP clearly has not played the game in question, does warrant the use of spoilers if you ask me. (And on that note, so does the post you linked from me as well, so I'll edit that once I'm home.) I was not trying to sound like I was sitting on a high horse criticizing you, thinking you were the only one in the wrong, (sorry if it seemed like I was); I quite simply did not want to get spoiled. This is like Vorathiel pointed out, a thread that was made by someone who clearly has not played the games at all, so discussing said game in the thread in itself might be a bit out of place, at least if it's outside spoiler tags.

It's your thread and therefore it's your call, so I've corrected my relevant posts and put them into spoiler tags. But if you criticize others I'd appreciate it, if you'd follow your own words and use spoiler tags in posts like this too, where you're openly talking about details in Maggot baits.
That would be quite the special case. But you aren't exactly an angel either if it comes to spoiler tags. Like here where your spoiling details about Sharin no Kuni.
The two links I've given are actually not meant as petty nitpicking. I just want to make clear that we somewhere have to set a 'reasonable' limit for the usage of spoiler tags, or otherwise we can put pretty much every post in spoiler tags or this forum will degenerate into a real mobbing circus where everyone blames each other for not putting spoiler tags on some ridiculous bogus details. The last five pages of the "What are you playing" thread would be already enough to send about two dozen warnings out at least. There are even posts where entire walkthrough details were posted. So do we behave like adults and reserve spoiler tags for important information or do we all start to troll each other for every minor detail? In the latter case the complete "What are you playing" thread should be deleted because it's a complete hotbed of sin. And I surely wouldn't envy the admins for the approximately 50 posts they'd have to censor each day.
Anyway, sorry this went completely off-topic, but I think it was necessary to say to make people aware that they might be sitting in a glass house when starting throwing stones. Sorry again, last post from me in this thread, so no more off-topic from me.

Wow, that's so very nice from them to adjust to the inferior English market by producing some kusoge just for us instead of translating one of their better titles. 

Wow, that's so very nice from them to adjust to the inferior English market by producing some kusoge just for us instead of translating one of their better titles. 

Wow, that's so very nice from them to adjust to the inferior English market by producing some kusoge just for us instead of translating one of their better titles. 

Wow, that's so very nice from them to adjust to the inferior English market by producing some kusoge just for us instead of translating one of their better titles. 

Wow, that's so very nice from them to adjust to the inferior English market by producing some kusoge just for us instead of translating one of their better titles. 

Wow, that's so very nice from them to adjust to the inferior English market by producing some kusoge just for us instead of translating one of their better titles. 

Wow, that's so very nice from them to adjust to the inferior English market by producing some kusoge just for us instead of translating one of their better titles. 

More like, won't be an "english-centric thing" only. I don't want japanese studios to treat western playerbase like a foster child of vn industry. We deserve better treatment.

My opinion is closely aligned to Funyarinpa in his earlier message. I don't know if anyone else has spoken from the opinion of an OELVN dev yet, so i'll act as if i am the first. 
Naturally, i fall into the category of those who had their VN virginity brutally torn by Katawa Shoujo, but even then, after reading subsequent Japanese novels like G-senjou no maou, i never actually compared the two. Why? Because they were both great. This may sound like i'm trying to defend OELVNs but it's the undisputed truth. It doesn't matter how, why, what or who made a VN. A good story is a good story no matter what it's 'ripping off'.
Some who've read this far might still disagree with my notion. Then let me explain a little further basing my opinion on facts and ideas. 
There are two popular VN forums sites for western otakus. There's our very own Fuwanovel and there's Lemmasoft. Fuwanovel strikes me as a Vn site that is mostly focused on Pure Japanese Vns as opposed to lemmasoft which tries to promote OELVNs. this is true because this forum has a sub-forum for OELVNs that sees even less action that most virgin NEETs. Neither of the sites are better than the other and neither of them are worse. But after browsing these two for a while, I've come to learn quite a few things about the differences between OELVNs and Jappy VNs.
1. Literature. OELVNs use a different style of literature as opposed to Jap Vns. To be precise, they are more focused on prose and the utilization of text heavy lines and powerfully fluid description. So it's almost like reading a paperback novel on screen with art. I myself dislike writing with prose, as i prefer utilizing Japanese literature and plot devices. An example would be the very well known Boke and tsukkomi routine (think Comyu). Most OELVNs are focused on delivering the story with excellent wording at the cost of visuals.
2. Art. Art is the main branching point and the OELVN's greatest weakness. i'll be blunt. Sometimes i see some projects on Lemmasoft and be awe-struck by the art used to depict characters... and not in a good way. It seems like OELVN devs are satisfied with utilizing low to medium-low quality for their projects to cut costs, as they are not companies who can shelve the heavy costs that comes with great art. Most of the freebies have low quality art, while the Commercial ones have medium low art. Like Funyarinpa stated, this community gathered because of Japanese art, music and style, so OELVNs with such art would have little to no impact on those used to the excellent qualities Jap Vns deliver. I'm an OELVN dev, yet I've never bothered to read a single OELVN except KS. (the ones I've edited and proofread don't count). This is because, before i am a writer, i am an Otaku. that means i love Japanese stuff. that means i want  Japanese stuff. But attempting to produce something on the level of the Japanese is apparently being termed as a 'ripoff'. It makes you wonder what exactly the consumers want. Do they want westernized art? No. Do they want Japanese art? Yes, but not from you. A difficult situation indeed.
3. Communication. Another bane of OELVN creation. From what I've read/heard most Japanese devs are mostly located in a single room/complex/building during most of the VN's creation. Most OELVN devs do most of their communication over the internet. Something like this doesn't sound like a pressing problem from the perspective of a non-dev, but trust me, communication is what has lead to the crumbling and breakdown of most OELVNs. For example, an artist is working on a CG. Now CGs unlike sprites or Character designs, have to be done right from the get-go otherwise you're going to lose a lot of time in correcting it. So they send WIPs and Lineart sketches. You'd have to pray and hope your description and their understanding matched well, otherwise you'd have to restart. Jap devs, however, just need to look over their shoulder and check out their comrade's WIP, or the artist may even explain a better idea for positioning and perspective as opposed to the writers description. Also some associates on the EVN sphere can remain offline for days or weeks and there's absolutely nothing you can do but wait patiently for their return. The internet is difficult like that.
4. Commitment. Apart from one or two exceptions, most associates in the EVN creation are not fully committed to what they're doing, especially in the case of Artists. It seen by the style of advertising on lemmasoft. "Pay half to my paypal, i'll send a sketch and you pay the other half". After that payment is done the association has ended. Whatever the art is used for is not their problem, since it has been compensated by a few bucks. I'm not saying artists should work for free, but rather take a controlling share in what they draw for. Unfortunately for EVN devs 95% of artists aren't interest in Sales commitment or as it's called, "Rev-share". Yes, i know that economical and financial security play a part etc but that doesn't change the fact that it's still a problem. Another point under this, is that EVN artists hardly actually read the story their drawing for. I mean they just read the summary and draw based on whatever you give them alone, instead of mixing it with the emotions, perceptions and ideas you derived from reading. It still works for business purposes, but it would never match up to Jap Vns with their enthusiastic and moving work.
Aside from these points, there are many other deep rooted and subtle difference that bar EVNs from making it big. I can't touch on everything since i don't have the energy for that, but i would spent a little more on talking about my 100% personal opinion. 
What the OP refers to as 'ripoffs' are those EVNs that utilize Japanese names for characters, Japanese locations and Japanese culture, while using western style literature, art etc and the writers themselves only have a second hand grasp of the Culture. 
Like Funyarinpa said, what the EVN community needs is that one (or two) project(s) that stands out from the rest with Art, Music and story that are original and compelling while delivering it in the style that Jap VN lovers want. Hopefully, with the increase of the EVN output, that one project may come sooner rather than later.
EVNs may not be the best examples of VNs, but like all things that are shot down by humanity, it's just a mentality... which i'm also criminal of. Being someone who understands this very intimately, i hope that whatever i throw out would be to the satisfaction of both sides of the market and wouldn't fall into the demeaning category of 'ripoff'.

Lol, actually Tali was the character I liked the least and the only one that wasn't loyal to me.
I was somehow furious that she wanted to hide the actions of her father and come up with some poor lies instead. Well, I made sure that every single being in the whole galaxy got to know it and I didn't care that she hated me for it. 

Lol, actually Tali was the character I liked the least and the only one that wasn't loyal to me.
I was somehow furious that she wanted to hide the actions of her father and come up with some poor lies instead. Well, I made sure that every single being in the whole galaxy got to know it and I didn't care that she hated me for it. 

The main writer left after the first one, which is why ME1 had a plot and ME2 was a glorified recruitment drive.
It's not. ME1 is considered the strongest RPG, ME3 is the strongest gaming experience (and most polished.)
ME2 is considered the weakest RPG of the three. Some RPG mechanics were put back into the 3rd one after complaints.
The people who tell you ME2 is the strongest game are a) not hardcore RPG fans and b) still sad over the ME3 ending. 95% of the ME3 game is quite superior to ME2.

Finished Mass Effect 2 just now.
Pretty epic ending although I think the story wasn't as good as in the first part. I mean, technically 80% of the game was gathering your team together. Each member then got a loyalty quest and then hardly interacted with you anymore. It was impressivly done, very cinematic and almost like an interactive movie, but it doesn't change the fact the story structure was extremely simplistic. It makes me wonder why ME2 is considered the strongest part of the series. Were people really that annoyed by the mako?! The resource gathering in ME2 wasn't that great either.