Saints Row 4 producer 'didn't appreciate' THQ's focus on porn stars

Saints Row 4 associate producer Kate Nelson says that THQ's promotion of porn stars in Saints Row 2 and 3 missed the point of the humor, and that some at Volition "didn't appreciate" calling porn star Tera Patrick a "special producer."

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Saints Row is known for its over-the-top and sometimes sexual humor. But it went a bit over the line, according to Saints Row 4 associate producer Kate Nelson. THQ's focus on porn stars like Tera Patrick in Saints Row 2 and Penthouse Pets in Saints Row 3 missed the point of the humorous tone.

"I did not always love how much THQ put an emphasis on porn stars," Nelson told Edge. "I think it's important in marketing games to make sure that the essence of the game is what's being marketed, and I think the porn star angle didn't really fit in with what Saints Row is at heart, which is a parody. We like to poke fun."

More pointedly, she said that some at Volition "didn't appreciate" THQ calling Tera Patrick a "special producer" on Saints Row 2.

Nelson does point out that Saints Row is progressive, in a sense, because the character creator is so versatile. "I think our game actually does represent women in a positive way, but the press will focus on, oh hey, there are strippers, or there’s a dildo bat--it's unfortunate from my perspective that that doesn't come through. Because I hear women talk on panels and they're like 'there are no people that look like me in games.' Well, actually in my game [the main character] can look like you as our customization system is so extensive. We don't get that across in our marketing or in the press because it’s difficult--we only have 30 seconds to explain."

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From The Chatty
  • reply
    August 5, 2013 2:45 PM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Saints Row 4 producer 'didn't appreciate' THQ's focus on porn stars.

    Saints Row 4 associate producer Kate Nelson says that THQ's promotion of porn stars in Saints Row 2 and 3 missed the point of the humor, and that some at Volition "didn't appreciate" calling porn star Tera Patrick a "special producer."

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      August 5, 2013 3:25 PM

      "I think our game actually does represent women in a positive way, but the press will focus on, oh hey, there are strippers, or there’s a dildo bat.."

      That's a really great quote.

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        August 5, 2013 3:28 PM

        Wasn't the dildo bat the main reason a lot of people played it in the first place?

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          August 5, 2013 4:58 PM

          No clue but it's the reason I avoided the game. Too crude, too low-brow.

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            August 5, 2013 5:29 PM

            No, it's just an illustration of how the game doesn't care about propriety. If you haven't played it you're missing out on a hilarious and really fun game.

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        August 5, 2013 4:27 PM

        Ashley drops the mic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egNGa41tRac

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        August 5, 2013 9:28 PM

        As I played the game with a sassy latina in a suit that wasnt ever grossly sexualized or marginalized in anyway, along with the super nerd hacker girl who didnt need to be saved or rescued, id say her point is valid.

        I mean you still had to save shaundi at the end but fuck it, that ending was perfect, sexist tropes or not.

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        August 5, 2013 11:34 PM

        Positive way? By murdering people?

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          August 6, 2013 12:26 AM

          Only guys can murder people in videogames now? WHAT.

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          August 6, 2013 3:19 AM

          By being one of the few games that gives you a choice of player character gender, appearance and even voice.

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      August 5, 2013 4:14 PM

      No, I think they had it right and you personally don't like it.

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      August 5, 2013 4:15 PM

      For those who haven't played Saints Row they do a good job representing women in terms of the main character and the other ladies. Even changing up the dialogue a bit depending on the voice.

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      August 5, 2013 4:18 PM

      Women don't appreciate porn the way men do, so that's no surprise.

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        August 5, 2013 4:21 PM

        And in other news, I didn't even know Terra Patrick was even in the game. I... don't know that I've ever heard her speak, casue I follow the Wadsworth constant with all my porn.

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        August 6, 2013 2:04 AM

        Way to paint all women with the same brush.

        gg dude.

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          August 6, 2013 8:27 AM

          Are you suggesting that on average, women consume more porn than men? Or that (when nudie magazines were a thing) that 90 out of 100 publications were primarily focused on the female demographic? Or that the person at the LAN party sharing 4TB of porn is usually a woman?

          I didn't say that no woman has ever enjoyed porn, but I thought it was obvious who the primary consumer of it is.

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      August 5, 2013 4:19 PM

      it seems a little too meta for her to appreciate. then going back to "hey our character creator is great" is just coating the whole thing over. she wants it desexualized, just come out and say that.

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      August 5, 2013 4:44 PM

      "I think it's important in marketing games to make sure that the essence of the game is what's being marketed, and I think the porn star angle didn't really fit in with what Saints Row is at heart"

      This is a really hard statement to buy. The game has sex toy weapons and strippers but porn stars, that's the wildly out of place thing that isn't staying true to the heart of the series?

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      August 5, 2013 4:48 PM

      THQ did a terrible job of promoting the porn stars then cause i barely remember any of that promotion

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        August 6, 2013 7:21 AM

        seriously, i might have bought the game just to support it.

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      August 5, 2013 4:56 PM

      I could say something about it being no surprise that she feels that way due to her gender. And then people would rip into me for feeling that way about her feeling that way because of my gender. So ghard to follow it all! *Head explodes*

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        August 5, 2013 8:52 PM

        I don't care what gender you are, saying that her valid reason isn't the real reason because she's a woman is fucking stupid.

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      August 5, 2013 5:13 PM

      I wholly agree with her remark about Tera Patrick being titled a "special producer" - that's a wholly misleading title for what appears to be a 'lending physical likeness and some voice recordings.'

      Also, I think she's on the mark about an interesting subject - the perception of 'Outrageousness.' There are far more inventive things in the 'Row series than 'strippers or Dildo Bat' but easily shocked 'Merica isn't shocked by anything but sex. We're a ridiculously prudish society and it speaks volumes to that end when the press fails to notice actual innovation but sticks to 'holy shit - this game has strippers!'

      'Merica needs to grow up and get laid.

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      August 5, 2013 8:53 PM

      I've got some stuff I "specially produced" for Tera Patrick, mark my words, I have some stuff

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      August 5, 2013 10:26 PM

      I don't know who any of these people are. But I didn't notice any particular FOCUS on them either.

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      August 6, 2013 12:50 AM

      There were porn stars in Saints Row 3?

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