the collector's edition sold out in hours... it's not even flipped on ebay yet... desperately waiting for some semblance of a sign that this is a real product i can buy in one way or another
Fun fact: if you select "Any Other Form" (because you have a 1099-R form or any others) she'll say "your finances are a little intimidating..." and it'll end. Developers, PLEASE code the 1099-R in your game I'm begging you. I just spent 10 hours today trying to fill out my tax return and THIS form even confuses me with little to no help on how it affects my Return, so I came to this hoping it would actually explain and help out with what this form does.... please
As someone who works for turbotax and hates every second of it, i didnt think anything could ever make me smile about taxes. Today, I learned I was wrong.
Hey, the concept of this game blew my mind and now I want to have it on my phone, so that I can play it whenever I have some minutes to waste. No, I don't live in the US, so the most this piece of software can be to me is a meme game. Still, a pretty powerful one!
It would be nice for you to make an Android build too... however, since the game is made in Ren'Py, I managed to create one myself! And now I have this gem on my smartphone.
If anyone else likes to destroy their eyes reading small text, here I've put both my built APK, and some instructions, in case you want to build and sign an APK of the game yourself instead of using mine: <https://hlb0.octt.eu.org/Misc/TaxHeaven3000-Android-Port/index.html>
How do I play the game, I download it and then its just files and doesn't actually boot the game, where to go/what to do to boot the game. I'm new to itch.io so not entirely sure hoe it works. I have the windows download.
Download the zip file unzip the zip file then open the unziped folder for the game, open TaxHeaven3000.exe file to start the game make sure you downloaded the Windows version and not the Mac version.
I'm not american but I played it. Really cool, innovative pedagogical project. You guys could make a version to release on Steam. Also it needs fullscreen.
MSCHF tried making a Steam page. It got banned on the same day the game went live.
As for the motive of Steam's ban, anime-themed visual novels can be quite hotsy-totsy with this one not being too lewd. Steam tends to disproportionately target small and independent developers with banishments while major videogame studios get away with quite a lot (mulling over that, this is similar to how Spotify treats musicians, actually).
I'm pretty sure Valve pulled the game because they were nervous about customer fears about putting their SSN into the game text entry field. Not because of perceived sexual content.
But I don't think the game dose anything with your SSN except add it to the pdf of your full tax return you get at the end of the game but most people prob just used a fake SSN anways
nah. Steam lifted their ban on outright pornographic content years ago (mostly 'cause Valve couldn't be assed to do any moderating), and this game comes *nowhere* near that.
Steam still bans r18 content arbitrarily, usually localizations of Japanese visual novels. For example, Steam banned CHAOS;HEAD NOAH less than 60 days before its release date without explanation and only relented because of community protest. The remastered version of the game released doesn’t even contain r18 content though the original does. Even more puzzling, Nintendo allows the same version of the game to be sold on their site for the Switch. WTF? The C;H Noah is too adult for Steam, but OK for Nintendo?
If Steam didn't delist the game I would've never looked into things to find out how horrifically monopolistic TurboTax is in the US and how terrible our government treats its citizens when it comes to filing tax returns compared to other countries.
While I doubt Steam wants to be legally liable for anything, I do hope it gets relisted. Or if not, the Streisand effect takes place.
where is Canada version? we are neighbours and represent (north america) like seriously ur missing out on a whole country that is only a boarder away ,and i'm size 11 by the way some big red boots would be awesome.
I am so happy that this game commits to the bit and doesn't have some kind of crazy twist in a "gotcha" moment. The only plot twist of sorts is totally missable, and has no bearing on whether or not you get those taxes done.
While some of its humor is in-your-face, most of the funniest things about this game and the way it was released are a little bit subtle. For the most part, this game is exactly what it says it is. That itself is the joke, and it didn't need much more.
This release gives me hope for the future of ironic visual novels. It's hope that I desperately needed.
Iris was a synthetic human created in a Turbotax lab, meant to spread their influence after assimilating into society. She escaped and tried to be her own woman, but a passion for taxes is what she was made for. This is why she's so eager to help you do her taxes, and why she especially hates Turbotax (on top of the other reasons). She does love you, but helping with tax forms is the only way she knows how to express that love.
i got the feeling that she was some sorta artificial creation when i started poking around after my initial playthrough. specifically the dialogue from the library lady about her
well actually, one of the wattpad stories about her actually makes this detail pretty clear too
idk why i said i missed it, now that i think about it. ig i just didn't take it too seriously lmao
If you guys want free tax filing software but don't want to give your info to a waifu, check out FreeTaxUSA. Federal filings are free and State filings are $15. They're also one of the very few companies that don't lobby to make tax filing harder
install a suitable C compiler and development packages for python3, ffmpeg (libavcodec, libavformat, libswresample, libswscale), SDL2 (libsdl2, libsdl2-image, libsdl2-gfx, libsdl2-mixer, libsdl2-ttf), libjpeg, libfribidi, libfreetype
The game getting removed is because Tax-filing companies in the USA do not like a BETTER and FREE alternative to their ovepriced packages. that you must use because they use 99% of their profits to Lobby against FREE-Filing
you got that right buddy best in your face humor company in the world the question is WHATS NEXT!!!!! And who is going to sue or do a Cease and Desist!!! Keep on rocking in the free World!!-Macho Man
Brought to you by the same guys who made the Satan shoes. Stuff like this isn't too far off their usual MO. Hypebeast brand that does weird art projects, so I wouldn't take it too seriously as actual tax software or a scam. Seems like a good time like that weird KFC dating sim thing, though. Looking forward to it.
It’s best practice not to give random games you downloaded off the internet your social security number. This game asks for it. I’m not saying they’ll do anything bad with it, but I am saying you’re better off safe than sorry. Having that number saved anywhere on your computer would be bad if you ever get malware. Enter a fake number then replace it with the real one after the game if you do actually intend to use this to file your taxes.
Just walked through it - you certainly can file the generated return, but I wouldn't suggest giving it your actual information. Kudos to MSCHF for their commitment to authenticity, though!
It's MSCHF. It's a well known art collective. It probably works *just* like any other tax return prep software and stores your data locally. Don't spread misinformation and call it a "random game". It's made by a very well known group.
If you read the original comment again, you'll see my concern isn't with the game itself or where the information is stored, but that it's being stored at all. I wouldn't be at all surprised if a malware incorporates a few lines of code that check the save file of this game for the player's SSN considering that it had a bunch of news articles just published on it. Also, as a side note, how is calling a game "a random game" slander? It's a game I stumbled across randomly, is that not a correct way to refer to it?
I never said you were being slanderous - but that issue is ran into with people who store tax documents locally, as well!
I'm sorry if I mistook your comment. There's a lot of other comments like "this is a scam! report it." I incorrectly assumed you were in the same vein. My mistake.
As much as I like the game, and I'm sure the game is harmless, I hate this idea that as long as the people making it are "well known", that also means that they are trustworthy. Microsoft and Google are also well known and they are KNOWN for selling their user's data. As "anti-capitalist" as the message of this game and other MSCHF projects are, I wouldn't put it past them to not do something scummy now or later down the line.
Just because they are well known doesn't mean they are trustworthy.
It says it doesn't connect to the internet hence why you must file it yourself and you can just make up a number and change it when you actually do your real tax return.
Everyone opposing this tax software is just a secret IRS officer sent by Jerome Powell to stop the weeb revolution. Do you think the government wants you to find true love and exciting new tax breaks that will make you rich and romantically fulfilled? Absolutely not. Jerome Powell just wants to keep hiking the rates in order to crash all the banks and start a recession so that no one will be able to afford anime or the waifu of their dreams.
this is not a scam, you're daft. it literally is made by MSCHF (you can go to Wikipedia and look them up if you're curious.) They're an art collective.
Its tax software. Ofc, it needs those things to auto-populate forms.
Don't be 100 years old.
Your SSN is never and will never be a secret.
Its a numerical value that identifies you within the United States of America. Don't rally a call for fraudulent reports on a literal piece of software that works within the United States' systems.
So this game only actually prepares taxes for people with extremely simple tax returns (no retirees, no Uber drivers, no interest/dividend income, no sales of capital assets), and only if they live in states which don't need to file tax returns. Bold dream, but I feel like you're not living up to it.
Actual tax advice: Ignore the big corporations and look for a local tax preparer. I'm biased since I am one of those, but you should be able to get better service and lower rates when you're personally working with someone who doesn't need to support lobbyists and national marketing campaigns.
This sounds great. However, my largest concern would definitely be security of personal information. How can you assure people that the proper security measures will be taken?
if you're concerned about security -- scan it with your antivirus, and disconnect your computer from the internet while playing. none of the information *should* leave your computer. Alternately, you can just put in a phony social security number, and edit it before you actually mail anything in.
A good one is the most abused SSN of all time. The SSA actually has a whole page with the story behind it, and it's a pretty interesting read. Needless to say, that number isn't going to be used anytime soon, if ever again.
If you take her out and she orders the lobster, remember that you can deduct dinner as a business expense. You'll need to retain a copy of the receipt for your records.
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I like stealing from the office (I have committed 12 transgressions).
Somebody,give me your information so I can use it here.
aaaAAAAA SO CLOSE, I['M GONNA FILE!!!!
Tax heaven 🤑
Guess this is the only game I can't play
the collector's edition sold out in hours... it's not even flipped on ebay yet... desperately waiting for some semblance of a sign that this is a real product i can buy in one way or another
ddlc tax evasion
Fun fact: if you select "Any Other Form" (because you have a 1099-R form or any others) she'll say "your finances are a little intimidating..." and it'll end. Developers, PLEASE code the 1099-R in your game I'm begging you. I just spent 10 hours today trying to fill out my tax return and THIS form even confuses me with little to no help on how it affects my Return, so I came to this hoping it would actually explain and help out with what this form does.... please
she left... really cool game
I want to date Iris and I’m heart broken that Iris left me
As someone who works for turbotax and hates every second of it, i didnt think anything could ever make me smile about taxes. Today, I learned I was wrong.
I'm sorry that you have to bear the weight of the worst software ever produced
Hey, the concept of this game blew my mind and now I want to have it on my phone, so that I can play it whenever I have some minutes to waste. No, I don't live in the US, so the most this piece of software can be to me is a meme game. Still, a pretty powerful one!
It would be nice for you to make an Android build too... however, since the game is made in Ren'Py, I managed to create one myself! And now I have this gem on my smartphone.
If anyone else likes to destroy their eyes reading small text, here I've put both my built APK, and some instructions, in case you want to build and sign an APK of the game yourself instead of using mine: <https://hlb0.octt.eu.org/Misc/TaxHeaven3000-Android-Port/index.html>
Do you know any websites that explain how to make renpy games into apks? I have no experience but I want to learn how.
I love this game played it in 1 sitting. To bad it got taken off of Steam.
tfw you get rejected by your tax waifu because you contributed to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
How do I play the game, I download it and then its just files and doesn't actually boot the game, where to go/what to do to boot the game. I'm new to itch.io so not entirely sure hoe it works. I have the windows download.
Download the zip file unzip the zip file then open the unziped folder for the game, open TaxHeaven3000.exe file to start the game make sure you downloaded the Windows version and not the Mac version.
I'm not american but I played it. Really cool, innovative pedagogical project. You guys could make a version to release on Steam. Also it needs fullscreen.
MSCHF tried making a Steam page. It got banned on the same day the game went live.
As for the motive of Steam's ban, anime-themed visual novels can be quite hotsy-totsy with this one not being too lewd. Steam tends to disproportionately target small and independent developers with banishments while major videogame studios get away with quite a lot (mulling over that, this is similar to how Spotify treats musicians, actually).
I'm pretty sure Valve pulled the game because they were nervous about customer fears about putting their SSN into the game text entry field. Not because of perceived sexual content.
Hoping it stays up here on itch!
I could be wrong though, I don't think Valve gives detailed reasoning as to why each game is delisted.
But I don't think the game dose anything with your SSN except add it to the pdf of your full tax return you get at the end of the game but most people prob just used a fake SSN anways
I agree! But it's possible Valve removed it just to avoid confusion spreading.
nah. Steam lifted their ban on outright pornographic content years ago (mostly 'cause Valve couldn't be assed to do any moderating), and this game comes *nowhere* near that.
Steam still bans r18 content arbitrarily, usually localizations of Japanese visual novels. For example, Steam banned CHAOS;HEAD NOAH less than 60 days before its release date without explanation and only relented because of community protest. The remastered version of the game released doesn’t even contain r18 content though the original does. Even more puzzling, Nintendo allows the same version of the game to be sold on their site for the Switch. WTF? The C;H Noah is too adult for Steam, but OK for Nintendo?
If Steam didn't delist the game I would've never looked into things to find out how horrifically monopolistic TurboTax is in the US and how terrible our government treats its citizens when it comes to filing tax returns compared to other countries.
While I doubt Steam wants to be legally liable for anything, I do hope it gets relisted. Or if not, the Streisand effect takes place.
where is Canada version? we are neighbours and represent (north america) like seriously ur missing out on a whole country that is only a boarder away ,and i'm size 11 by the way some big red boots would be awesome.
This game is used Japanese for the title.
Where is Japan version?
NEEDS A UK DLC
I am so happy that this game commits to the bit and doesn't have some kind of crazy twist in a "gotcha" moment.
The only plot twist of sorts is totally missable, and has no bearing on whether or not you get those taxes done.
While some of its humor is in-your-face, most of the funniest things about this game and the way it was released are a little bit subtle.
For the most part, this game is exactly what it says it is. That itself is the joke, and it didn't need much more.
This release gives me hope for the future of ironic visual novels. It's hope that I desperately needed.
>plot twist
what would the plot twist be? you refer to it as totally missable so i'm assuming i missed it
Iris was a synthetic human created in a Turbotax lab, meant to spread their influence after assimilating into society.
She escaped and tried to be her own woman, but a passion for taxes is what she was made for. This is why she's so eager to help you do her taxes, and why she especially hates Turbotax (on top of the other reasons). She does love you, but helping with tax forms is the only way she knows how to express that love.
So iris is like a robot waifu like in plastic memories or atri? The only thing I care about is that our girl loves us.
i got the feeling that she was some sorta artificial creation when i started poking around after my initial playthrough. specifically the dialogue from the library lady about her
well actually, one of the wattpad stories about her actually makes this detail pretty clear too
idk why i said i missed it, now that i think about it. ig i just didn't take it too seriously lmao
This is not "ironic". You said so yourself.
Hot take: the barista is hotter
also 10/10 nice game if you are single, have no kids, and living in the USA
when it asks you for a phone number just use jenny's (867-5309)
If you guys want free tax filing software but don't want to give your info to a waifu, check out FreeTaxUSA. Federal filings are free and State filings are $15. They're also one of the very few companies that don't lobby to make tax filing harder
Linux release when?
Imagine releasing a game in Ren’Py and not including a Linux version.
install a suitable C compiler and development packages for python3, ffmpeg (libavcodec, libavformat, libswresample, libswscale), SDL2 (libsdl2, libsdl2-image, libsdl2-gfx, libsdl2-mixer, libsdl2-ttf), libjpeg, libfribidi, libfreetype
mv renpy renpy.dist
git clone https://github.com/renpy/pygame_sdl2
git clone https://github.com/renpy/renpy renpy-git
python3 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate
pip3 install -U future ecdsa
python3 pygame_sdl2/setup.py install
python3 pygame_sdl2/setup.py install_headers
python3 renpy-git/module/setup.py install
ln -s renpy-git/renpy renpy
venv/bin/python3 TaxHeaven3000.py
(or just get a prebuilt version of renpy, probably exists somewhere)
The game getting removed is because Tax-filing companies in the USA do not like a BETTER and FREE alternative to their ovepriced packages. that you must use because they use 99% of their profits to Lobby against FREE-Filing
not surprised there
Because a dev named MSCHF can't possibly be up to no good.
MSCHF is awesome. They're an art collective and they make a ton of cool, weird stuff.
you got that right buddy best in your face humor company in the world the question is WHATS NEXT!!!!! And who is going to sue or do a Cease and Desist!!! Keep on rocking in the free World!!-Macho Man
i Really want to play this game
play it it's out right now
🤔
My intuition tells me that Intuit will be lobbying much harder next year
nice pun
Brought to you by the same guys who made the Satan shoes. Stuff like this isn't too far off their usual MO. Hypebeast brand that does weird art projects, so I wouldn't take it too seriously as actual tax software or a scam. Seems like a good time like that weird KFC dating sim thing, though. Looking forward to it.
It’s best practice not to give random games you downloaded off the internet your social security number. This game asks for it. I’m not saying they’ll do anything bad with it, but I am saying you’re better off safe than sorry. Having that number saved anywhere on your computer would be bad if you ever get malware. Enter a fake number then replace it with the real one after the game if you do actually intend to use this to file your taxes.
Would be cool if you could actually file with this. Seems out of the scope of this joke game. But, yeah everything you said was right on.
Just walked through it - you certainly can file the generated return, but I wouldn't suggest giving it your actual information. Kudos to MSCHF for their commitment to authenticity, though!
It's MSCHF. It's a well known art collective. It probably works *just* like any other tax return prep software and stores your data locally. Don't spread misinformation and call it a "random game". It's made by a very well known group.
If you read the original comment again, you'll see my concern isn't with the game itself or where the information is stored, but that it's being stored at all. I wouldn't be at all surprised if a malware incorporates a few lines of code that check the save file of this game for the player's SSN considering that it had a bunch of news articles just published on it. Also, as a side note, how is calling a game "a random game" slander? It's a game I stumbled across randomly, is that not a correct way to refer to it?
I never said you were being slanderous - but that issue is ran into with people who store tax documents locally, as well!
I'm sorry if I mistook your comment. There's a lot of other comments like "this is a scam! report it." I incorrectly assumed you were in the same vein. My mistake.
As much as I like the game, and I'm sure the game is harmless, I hate this idea that as long as the people making it are "well known", that also means that they are trustworthy. Microsoft and Google are also well known and they are KNOWN for selling their user's data. As "anti-capitalist" as the message of this game and other MSCHF projects are, I wouldn't put it past them to not do something scummy now or later down the line.
Just because they are well known doesn't mean they are trustworthy.
It says it doesn't connect to the internet hence why you must file it yourself and you can just make up a number and change it when you actually do your real tax return.
Everyone opposing this tax software is just a secret IRS officer sent by Jerome Powell to stop the weeb revolution. Do you think the government wants you to find true love and exciting new tax breaks that will make you rich and romantically fulfilled? Absolutely not. Jerome Powell just wants to keep hiking the rates in order to crash all the banks and start a recession so that no one will be able to afford anime or the waifu of their dreams.
do not download this game it is asking for your SSN that is not a thing you should be giving out
if a hot anime waifu asks you for your SSN DO NOT GIVE IT
THIS IS A SCAM report it
this is not a scam, you're daft. it literally is made by MSCHF (you can go to Wikipedia and look them up if you're curious.) They're an art collective.
Translate: do not download this game it is trying to steal our TurboTax customers.
if a hot anime waifu tries to take our easy money business, WE PAY MONEY TO STEAM.
WE TRY INSISTING THIS IS A SCAM. and hire people to report it
Its tax software. Ofc, it needs those things to auto-populate forms.
Don't be 100 years old.
Your SSN is never and will never be a secret.
Its a numerical value that identifies you within the United States of America. Don't rally a call for fraudulent reports on a literal piece of software that works within the United States' systems.
this is not a scam dude. if you dont wanna give them your SSN then just give a fake one, then swap it out when you actually file your taxes
So this game only actually prepares taxes for people with extremely simple tax returns (no retirees, no Uber drivers, no interest/dividend income, no sales of capital assets), and only if they live in states which don't need to file tax returns. Bold dream, but I feel like you're not living up to it.
Actual tax advice: Ignore the big corporations and look for a local tax preparer. I'm biased since I am one of those, but you should be able to get better service and lower rates when you're personally working with someone who doesn't need to support lobbyists and national marketing campaigns.
I'll bet my next tax return that Intuit will be lobbying hard against visual novels before next tax season. Thanks!
Intuit acquisition is incoming I think.
Devs just hit the lobbying avoid-buyout-jackpot.
This sounds great. However, my largest concern would definitely be security of personal information. How can you assure people that the proper security measures will be taken?
if you're concerned about security -- scan it with your antivirus, and disconnect your computer from the internet while playing. none of the information *should* leave your computer. Alternately, you can just put in a phony social security number, and edit it before you actually mail anything in.
A good one is the most abused SSN of all time. The SSA actually has a whole page with the story behind it, and it's a pretty interesting read. Needless to say, that number isn't going to be used anytime soon, if ever again.
you should also delete the save file
put my social security number in and Iris showed up at my house. seeking advice
If you take her out and she orders the lobster, remember that you can deduct dinner as a business expense. You'll need to retain a copy of the receipt for your records.