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For the past two months, I have reached out to quite a few female developers, Gamers and retailers (and even publishers) to talk about the current status of the games industry. And what exactly did I want to talk to them about? Well, I wanted to ask them about their thoughts on the SJW movement (their impact on the games industry), censorship, freedom of speech, artistic freedom and the recent controversies with Team Ninja and Tecmo Koei´s DOAX3. However, most of the people that I contact got cold feet as soon as I either mailed them or tried to call them up via Skype.

In fact, one developer let me know that they were afraid of backlashes and boycotts if they were to speak about any of these matters which I mentioned earlier. That´s really sad of course, but I understand where they´re coming from as well. And I don´t want to cause them any problems either. However, I did manage to get a hold of a female indie developer called Sarah Roberts (she´s the founder of Green castle Games and the creator of “On our way home”). So I got a chance to ask a female Gamer and developer (Sarah in this case) for her opinions and thoughts on such topics such as “sexist game design“, “freedom of speech”, “the SJW movement” and the current situation in the games industry. And this is what Sarah had to say to us.

Robin TGG
Could you tell us a bit about yourself? (what games did you play while growing up? What games do you play now? And when did you get interested in the games industry?).

Green castle Games
I’m 26, and currently I’ve started playing Roms of games I missed out on as a kid. I use modified RetroLink controllers to get the more natural feel (RetroLink is vendor of USB controllers). However, RetroLink’s controllers’ shells/buttons are made of this really cheap plastic. So, I took them apart and inserted their motherboards inside the real, original controllers.

I started playing video games when I was 5. We got a Super Nintendo from EB Toys (you know them now as GameStop). This SNES came with Super Mario World and Super All-Stars. My sisters would play it, and usually give me a turn at some point. Our parents were fairly well-off but not rich. So, I didn’t have many video games, but I played a lot of the ones I did have.

“On our way home” is an action/strategy/RPG/Shooter/Puzzle/horror game for PC.

Robin TGG
If I´m not wrong now, you´re a part of Green Castle Games right? And you´re working on an indie action/strategy/RPG/shooter called “On Our Way Home…” (you can vote for the game on Steam Greenlight). Could you perhaps tell us what your game is all about? And when did you decide that you wanted to create your own game? And is it correct that you will release the full game online on January 1st, 2016?

Green castle Games
I’m not so much a part of Green Castle Games, I am Green Castle Games. I’m the only member. I started making RPG Maker games in 2010 with the purchase of RPG Maker XP. Development for “On Our Way Home…” started in the summer of 2012. The name “On Our Way Home” I didn’t come up with until 2013 when that Player-Panned game “Gone Home” was released.

“On Our Way Home” is about a girl abducted by a vampire to be fed on continuously. The vampire’s castle is filled with traps to keep out intruders. Yes, I intend to release the full version online for free on January 1st, 2016.

Robin TGG
Not so long ago I noticed that you tweeted out a response to an article about “DOAX3” (“#SJWLogic #FeminismIsAwful Finally, the writer complains about “everyone” in DOA, LOL Sorry, Ladies, you aren’t real” – https://twitter.com/TheGamingGround/status/672352771090305024). And if I´m not wrong now, the article stated that no “real” females could ever look like the girls in DOAX3? So what do you as a woman think about the DOA series and that article?

Green castle Games
I’ve always liked Dead or Alive. For the time period, Dead or Alive 2 had stunningly beautiful graphics on the Dreamcast. It’s a fighting game, so you can’t really expect much substance, like a coherent story. Although, the Dreamcast controller was not that great.

Oh, that article was hilarious! It was called “The 8 Most Ridiculous Female Bodies in Gaming”, and I knew going into it, I was going to get a good laugh. My favorite was when the writer complained about Selvaria Bles from Valkyria Chronicles. He/She said “REAL WOMEN DON’T LOOK LIKE PORN STARS!” in all caps! Immediately, I thought, “Wait, Is he/she saying Porn Stars aren’t real women!? Oh, Mercedes Carrera will LOVE this!!

Porn Stars get a bad reputation. I’ve never so much as gotten naked on camera, but once anyone does, they can never get a job as a teacher or something. So, many teachers have been fired for shooting porn or even just being a swimsuit/underwear model in their past lives. It’s very sad.

Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 has been a hot topic for quite some time now.

Robin TGG
What´s your take on censorship, the rants about sexist game design (The Witcher 3, DOAX3, Huniepop, Street Fighter V with many more), the SJW movement and the current status of the games industry?

Green castle Games
I’m very anti-censorship. Sex sales. No one can deny that. I say, just let people develop games, put an ESRB rating on said games, and let the free market decide!

Robin TGG
Have you ever felt like you have been picked on in the games industry simply because you´re a female? (or that you’re being treated differently because you´re a female).

Green castle Games
I haven’t really been even noticed as a game developer yet. No one has donated to my Patreon, and only eighty people have actually downloaded my game. I’m sure if I posted a picture or video including my face, I would get a lot more sales. The main issue though is that I am on disability, which is how I have free time to make video games in the first place. My family is dependant on that money.

There are plenty of female players who enjoy and like games such as DOAX3 and the DOA series in general.

Robin TGG
Isn´t it rather strange that SJWs and feminist always assume that games such as DOAX3 (or any other game title, which contains beautiful and sexy females, sex and naked skin) is made for male fantasies only? I mean, besides the fact that there exists quite a lot of bi and lesbian women out there. Isn’t that a very judgmental and immature thing to state? What´s your take on this matter?

Green castle Games
I honestly don’t know what to do about Social Justice Warriors and Feminists. These people have learned they can gain thousands of dollars a month by complaining and playing the victim when criticized. The best you can do is called them out on their crap, and point out the lies in their narrative.

Robin TGG
Do you have any tips or advice for those who are having thoughts on becoming an indie developer?

Green castle Games
The indie game market is very saturated with games. I imagine it’s probably going to crash at some point soon, much like it did in 1982. There’s just so many games out there, and nowhere near the time to play them all. It’s also very random which games get a lot of attention, like I never imagined a joke of a game like Hatoful Boyfriend, the infamous bird visual novel, would take off like it did. The game is super generic as far as visual novels go, and it uses photos on birds! Not even paintings or sprites, that would require effort, but photos!

A lot of people has been inspired by Shigeru Miyamoto and his creations.

Robin TGG
Which games, developers and famous game designers do you like the most, and why?

Green castle Games
I like Nintendo. There’s no denying Miyamoto’s influence on the gaming industry, however, I have to say his games have gotten stale. Forget original story or gameplay. Aside from rare gems like the Paper Mario series, it’s usually the same story of Bowser abducting Peach, or some sports or party game.

The Wii, with Wii Sports, my family loved that game!! …My nieces, nephews, cousins, and even my grandparents! The Wii was pure genius! Honestly, I couldn’t even find a Wii until nearly a year after it was released!

Robin TGG
Why do you think that it´s such a big deal to present sex and digital booty in games? (especially when it comes to females) I mean, you have sex or nudity in movies, TV-series, animes and even music videos. So what´s the big deal with games and sex?

Green castle Games
I don’t know really. Sex has always sold! Magazines, video games, books… It’s just part of marketing. Guys like looking at and listening to women, and so do other women!

Both Ken Levine and American McGee has stood up for freedom of speech and artistic freedom.

Robin TGG
Not so long ago American McGee stood up for freedom of speech and artistic freedom yet again (Ken Levine did the very same thing a couple of months ago), do you think that it´s important that developers could have their artistic freedom and freedom of speech? Personally, I find this to be very important. As a creator should never ever have to limit his (or her) visions due to political correctness or ranting SJWs.

Green castle Games
Oh, yes! You have to consistently stand up for your rights! Honestly, I think everything should be decided by the free market! Even games like Rapelay have a right to exist! I’ve actually played Rapelay and Artificial Girl 3. I didn’t find them particularly “triggering”. These social justice types need to grow thicker skin. I personally, find it hilarious how some of them actually quote “1984”, George Orwell’s novel about a totalitarian, dystopian future, without even realizing it!