14 DAY TRIAL // One of the producers working on the Saints Row franchise says that the series needs to focus its marketing efforts more on the actual mechanics of the game and less on the way some of the game’s protagonists look in virtual form.
Kate Nelson, an associate producer working on the series, tells Edge that, “In Saints Row 2 and Saints Row 3 there was an emphasis on the penthouse girls, and earlier Tera Patrick. I think it’s important in marketing games to make sure that the essence of the game is what’s being marketed. We like to poke fun.”
The game maker was also not happy about the fact that adult performer Tera Patrick was to be listed as a producer on the game, despite the fact that she had no experience with the game industry.
Nelson adds, “I can see the humour in that angle of promotion but for me that’s the line where it gets into reality.”
Since it was first introduced, Saints Row has used irony and over-the-top humor to separate itself from the rival Grand Theft Auto, which aimed for a more serious television drama tone.
Volition has created a game where insurance fraud is a good way of getting access to extra cash and spraying houses with waste is one of the most attractive side activities.
The promotional efforts for Saints Row 4 are not focused on the protagonists but on the weird weapons, like the black hole gun and the dubstep gun, that can be used in the new experience.
The title is set to feature an alien invasion and players will quickly get access to superpowers in order to explore the city and battle a variety of enemies.
Saints Row 4 is expected to launch on August 20 in North America and three days later in Europe on the PC and on home consoles.