The racy way the Saints Row franchise has been marketed has not always matched up well with its satirical content, says its associate producer.

Speaking with Edge, Volition’s Kate Nelson said that the use of porn stars in prior campaigns didn’t sit well with many on the development team.

“I did not always love how much THQ put an emphasis on porn stars,” said Nelson.

“In Saints Row 2 and Saints Row: The Third 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, 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.”

In addition, Tera Patrick getting credited as a special producer on Saints Row 2 was something many at Volition “didn’t appreciate”, said Nelson.

“Saying that someone who had no industry experience was in a role that is sexualised as a producer of our project, or saying the Penthouse girls are our QA staff – I just… I can see the humour in that angle of promotion but for me that’s the line where it gets into reality.”

However, Nelson was keen to point out that Saints Row IV was more progressive with its portrayal of women.

“You can be an important female character – you don’t have to have a D cup either,” she said.

“You can be large woman, a small woman – you can be blue.

“You can be who you want to be in the game and you have powerful female characters written into the narrative."

Despite this positive representation, the press tended to focus on things like the dildo bat, said Nelson.

“I hear women talk on panels and they’re like ‘there are no people that look like me in games’,” she said.

“Well, actually in my game [the main character] can look like you as our customisation 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.

“Saints Row, in lots of ways, has empowered minorities and empowered women, which I think is important to get across.”

Saints Row IV is due out on August 23 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Windows PC.