The creative developer of the Saints Row franchise, Steve Jaros, has opened up about recent criticism regarding the misrepresentation of women in modern video games. Jaros responded a day after media critic, Anita Sarkeesian, released the latest video in her Tropes Vs. Women in Video Games series.
Yeah…the man behind this.
Steve Jaros said the following in a related tweet:
“This is something we all should be better at. Yes the original saints Row is listed here. Yes it should be.”
You can see the tweet below:
Saints Row Creative Director Responds
This something we all should be better at. Yes the orignial saints row is listed here. Yes it should be
http://t.co/iyENDNUVLK— Steve Jaros (@SteveJaros) August 26, 2014
In a recent conversation with The Escapist, Jaros agreed with the criticism that women are being misrepresented in video games. He also said that Saints Row developer, Volition, has gradually improved the way the company represents women in their video games. Jaros even went so far as to state that the creative team behind Saints Row often gets into debates on how to properly address women without objectifying them as sexual objects.
You can see his direct quotes below:
“I think that we shouldn’t be portraying senseless abused women and I think that if I could go back and hop in a time machine I would have done things differently.”
“I think it’s fair to be called out on your shit. I think that it’s a sad man that can never be self-reflective. I think that we tried to go and carry ourselves with respect, and try to respect sexuality and respect gender as much as we can, and sometimes we fail but hopefully we’ll do better and continue to get better.”
Author’s Opinion: It is interesting that the creative director of a game developer that makes games known for their sheer ridiculousness and lack of restraint can be so open about the current state of the game industry. With the recent events related to harassment and feminism, it is somewhat refreshing to see some humanity within the video game industry (from the creative director of the Saints Row franchise, no less).
Keep in mind that this article is not about supporting one side or the other, I’m merely reporting an interesting response to recent, relevant events occurring within video game culture. I know there is a firestorm waiting to happen if I don’t make that fact clear.
Forget about Anita Sarkeesian for a moment, I just think it’s good that a person so involved in the game industry can step back and reflect on the state of the business he is in.
Now, it’s your turn. What is your opinion on Steve Jaros’ response to Anita Sarkeesian’s criticism? Do you agree with him, or are you not convinced? Let me know in the comments section below! As always, stay tuned to GamerHeadlines.com for the latest in video game and technology news.
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