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[kswiston]

Seems totally reasonable even if that's all for 1 person. If its for more than 1 person than there certainly shouldn't be any hard feelings. Whats an average income for someone with her education level and all that?

That was over the past 3 years as well.

Also, I don't get why people are even targeting that part out. Those mentioning salary, where do you think the majority of money raised by most of these Kickstarters goes? Unless it's a dude in his basement trying to complete a passion project, people tend not to work for free.

 

[stupei]

Its almost like this whole topic is specifically answering those questions

But where's the birth certificate?

 

[Pennywise83]

The fact Anita hasn't even come close to deliver the product she promised is seriously worrying. If this was any other Kickstarter, questions would be getting asked. And they should be getting asked.

She hasn't disappeared. She keeps releasing videos, and working on the project. It's difficult to know exactly how much time you need to complete a project of this size; not even big companies are able to do so sometimes, so given the circumstances, I would say that this is not worrying at all.

 

[Fargo_Dog]

Its almost like this whole topic is specifically answering those questions

Except it's not? She's basically admitting she paid salaries for a video series she's barely produced.

 

[Wolves Evolve]

I wouldn't deal with petulant anti-feminists for 70k. Double that and I'd do one video a year.

 

[JaggedSac]

Ok the math isn't hard but here you go.

$158,922 X .44 = $69,925.68 for wages and salaries.

This is for how many people over how many years? Good lord, that's destitution if they have no other jobs.

 

[SkyTurnsRed]

Except it's not? She's basically admitting she paid salaries for a video series she's barely produced.

That's weird, because I read through the thread and had exactly what you asked answered.

 

[Pennywise83]

Except it's not? She's basically admitting she paid salaries for a video series she's producing.

Fixed.

 

[1.21Gigawatts]

the harassers had made it their mission to pick apart and distort every minuscule detail of my work and even my personal life in order to try to discredit, defame, and ultimately silence me. My arguments and examples had to be airtight

Don't know whats the problem with the bolded.
I also don't think its harrassment to pick apart opinions you don't agree with.

I agree with her overall message, but I often disagree on the details.

 

[Mononoke]

This is for how many people over how many years? Good lord, that's destitution if they have no other jobs.

They got 441k in donations.

I agree the KS money being broken down for wages isn't that unreasonable. But I imagine they pick up living expenses in those side donations.

Edit: that isn't a criticism btw. Just saying that's probably how they get by. They aren't living off KS wages only.

 

[That Stone Dude]

I imagine she could make videos faster if she wasn't constantly having to fight off an internet hate mob on a daily basis. Getting death threats tends to have an adverse effect on a persons level of production.

 

[Patryn]

I'm honestly curious to know the satisfaction level of those who actually backed her, and the percentage of critics who accuse her of wasting money who actually gave money.

If someone gave money and wants to criticize, that's one thing. I just fail to understand how someone who didn't give money has grounds to criticize as it's not their money.

 

[samn]

Who cares? All that matters is the quality of the product

No we need to know exactly what she's spending her wage on, what brands of olive oil she buys etc

Saying that the videos are unfinished seems to ignore that the vids are more ambitious and lengthy than were originally envisioned.

She's put out around 3 hours of content, originally we were promised 11 videos of 10 minutes each (about 2 hours).

 

[foltzie1]

This is for how many people over how many years? Good lord, that's destitution if they have no other jobs.

I left that part out since the original poster I was replying to wasn't serious, but yeah, divide by 3 and then divide by the number working on the project to get an idea, but it isn't a lot.

I don't know what kind of salary Anita gives herself, but I highly doubt it is one worthy of actual criticism.

 

[Garjon]

I think the only argument that holds water, is if backers want to say she failed to deliver the product she promised. But outside of that I agree with you.

But it doesn't; the project is still ongoing, she's still updating everyone on what she's doing. She hasn't cut and run. It's not she's making a game or single piece of media, she's doing a long running series taking apart sexism in gaming; it kinda takes time to do as a 2-person team. I'll admit that I've been a little frustrated with how long it takes to get each video done but considering what she's gone through the past few years, I don't blame her so much.

 

[Fargo_Dog]

Fixed.

Wow, six whole videos since the end of the Kickstarter.

That's a terrible production rate, especially for videos which are almost entirely talking head.

 

[Rats Off To Ya]

How many people complaining about her use of funds actually contributed to the Kickstarter?

The people whose money she's "misusing" don't seem to mind. I don't see how it's any of your business.

 

[Rembrandt]

She made true on what she said she would so she could have profited 75-80% and I wouldn't have cared. Good on her.

 

[Raist]

divided by 3 for an annual wage.

Yeah but for a handful of videos. That's not exactly insane productivity.

 

[hotnheavyload]

Edit: nvm.

 

[Foffy]

All that money, an unfinished production and zero solutions.

We got solutions from Jonathan McIntosh, who is a producer and co-write for Anita's Tropes series: make games that aren't fun - fun is a word used for "power and violence over things" to paraphrase his own words - and we need to get rid of the childish "saturday morning cartoon" themes about games. I guess he wants games to always be this super stern serious critical analysis of the cosmos. Games are not philosophy, folks: they're mostly consumeristic jazz.

If those are the solutions, then the series really is nothing more than fluff. I think McIntosh is caught in his own egoic bubble, and I worry any sincere attempt at raising awareness to whatever issue some may find sincere about all this to be clouded by this man's pseudo crusade. I do hope Anita has a different view.

 

[Mononoke]

But it doesn't; the project is still ongoing, she's still updating everyone on what she's doing. She hasn't cut and run. It's not she's making a game or single piece of media, she's doing a long running series taking apart sexism in gaming; it kinda takes time to do as a 2-person team. I'll admit that I've been a little frustrated with how long it takes to get each video done but considering what she's gone through the past few years, I don't blame her so much.

Backers have every right to complain that they don't feel satisfied with the time it's taken to put out the product they funded. No?

Anyways, all I was arguing is that I don't think how much she made over the goal isn't releavnt outside of her delivering the product. I think that's a fair statement. So if you are going to be critical, be critical of the product she's released or not entirely released, not that people far paid past the KS goal. Her only obligation is delivering the product that backers funded her for.

To be clear im not arguing she hasn't delivered her product. Just saying that is the only criticism I think is valid (from backers).

 

[hotnheavyload]

We got solutions from Jonathan McIntosh, who is a producer and co-write for Anita's Tropes series: make games that aren't fun - fun is a word used for "power and violence over things" to paraphrase his own words - and we need to get rid of the childish "saturday morning cartoon" themes about games. I guess he wants games to always be this super stern serious critical analysis of the cosmos. Games are not philosophy, folks: they're mostly consumeristic jazz.

If those are the solutions, then the series really is nothing more than fluff. I think McIntosh is caught in his own egoic bubble, and I worry any sincere attempt at raising awareness to whatever issue some may find sincere about all this to be clouded by this man's pseudo crusade.

I agree entirely.

I edited the post above yours because I didn't want to start arguing with people about this, but after discovering that Jonathan McIntosh is behind FemFreq, I have decided not to support it any longer.

Atrocious.

 

[Stet]

The problem people will always have with her videos is that they don't understand how playing games could possible be a form of research because it's all they do in the first place.

"Why has it taken so long to produce each video" is like asking "why has it taken so long to write a research paper".


Also don't really care about how much she pockets. She'd have made more by suing for pain and suffering.

 

[Stallion Dan]

That was over the past 3 years as well.

Also, I don't get why people are even targeting that part out. Those mentioning salary, where do you think the majority of money raised by most of these Kickstarters goes? Unless it's a dude in his basement trying to complete a passion project, people tend not to work for free.

I set the Kickstarter goal to $6,000 and was anticipating an additional $4,000 in grants. This would cover the costs of production, equipment, games etc. and I would continue to volunteer time to produce the episodes.

Apparently volunteering time. So raises a bigger question of the wages.

 

[Bleepey]

If people wanna keep throwing money at a kickstarter and she decided to pocket the excess then more power to her. That said if I contributed to her kickstarter and she's raised all this money, and all this time and she has not delivered on her goals I'd be annoyed. Meh. I guess good things come to those who wait.

 

[samn]

If those are the solutions, then the series really is nothing more than fluff. I think McIntosh is caught in his own egoic bubble, and I worry any sincere attempt at raising awareness to whatever issue some may find sincere about all this to be clouded by this man's pseudo crusade.

Why does everyone have to put out the full widget?

Pointing out problems in itself is extremely valuable. Game developers have been inspired to use their heads and think of more creative ways to present their characters and story. Journalists are asking questions in interviews and reviews that they may have never considered before. The series has already had a real effect.

 

[foltzie1]

The fact Anita hasn't even come close to deliver the product she promised is seriously worrying. If this was any other Kickstarter, questions would be getting asked. And they should be getting asked.

Six videos (half of the # promised in the Kickstarter) are out and I would wager a guess the others are at various stages of production.

The videos being produced are longer than promised, with more content than originally promised for the entire project, and considerably over produced given the nitpicking the videos seem to get, not unlike this report, by questions like this, coming from individuals "with interesting" motivations.

Its almost like this whole topic is specifically answering those questions

Indeed, if only someone had released a rather thorough report on the status of the project, use of the funds so far, and the status of ongoing donations.

Except it's not? She's basically admitting she paid salaries for a video series she's barely produced.

Producing

Fixed.

Thank you kind sir,

How many people complaining about her use of funds actually contributed to the Kickstarter?

The people whose money she's "misusing" don't seem to mind. I don't see how it's any of your business.

None, or they would be complaining there, not on GAF.

 

[Relaxed Muscle]

The problem people will always have with her videos is that they don't understand how playing games could possible be a form of research because it's all they do in the first place.

"Why has it taken so long to produce each video" is like asking "why has it taken so long to write a research paper".


Also don't really care about how much she pockets. She'd have made more by suing for pain and suffering.

raising just over $230,000 in December alone

I kinda doubt that.

 

[Neuromancer]

Well this should be the final nail in the Gamergate coffin.

 

[Ban Puncher]

I dont have any camera equipment to start my 5 part video series

Start a Patreon first.

 

[Corto]

All that money, an unfinished production and zero solutions.

Her project aim was not to provide solutions. That's for the creators to provide. She is not a creator, she is a critic.

 

[Luke_Wal]

Seeing all of the backlash of "Salary? So she's just pocketing the money" legitimately disgusts me here. She's working to make these videos; of course she needs to pay herself! She didn't have to disclose this; she did it because of the scrutiny automatically placed on her because she's a woman in the industry and thus held to a higher standard! To come right back around and scrutinize this shows the indisputable sexism that has not only plagued our entire industry, but unfortunately also plagued Sarkeesian. I don't even really like her videos or care much for her, but to say "I don't think you should be paying yourself for all the time you put into these videos" makes me sick.

 

[Mononoke]

Six videos (half of the # promised in the Kickstarter) are out and I would wager a guess the others are at various stages of production.

The videos being produced are longer than promised, with more content than originally promised for the entire project, and considerably over produced given the nitpicking the videos seem to get, not unlike this report, by questions like this, coming from individuals "with interesting" motivations.



Indeed, if only someone had released a rather thorough report on the status of the project, use of the funds so far, and the status of ongoing donations.



Producing



Thank you kind sir,



None, or they would be complaining there, not on GAF.

That, and her dealing with harassment and also having to do research before each video was out. Again, the KS made it clear that these videos would take time. You were buying into a video series being researched and produced. You were funding research.

 

[CassidyIzABeast]

I respect the hustle. Series won't be finished until 2020.

 

[Oni Jazar]

What are the goals that she has yet to deliver?

 

[MMaRsu]

Start a Patreon first.

Wtf is patreon looks like more ppl begging for money on personal projects

 

[ngower]

The salary number isn't that complicated to figure out. Using the given number, multiplying by .44 (provided percentage) and dividing by two (Anita and her editor), they make about $34k a year.

(158,922 * .44) / 2 = $34,962.84

I imagine she's using this in large part to pay her bills while she continues her research—be it for Feminist Frequency or not. Having earned her Master's before the FemFreq project, she's on a trajectory towards doctoral research, so she's probably just trying to get published somewhere.

You guys (meaning, the internet mostly) are obsessed with seeing this woman fail. It's insane. If you don't like it, don't watch it.

 

[John Kowalski]

Backers have every right to complain that they don't feel satisfied with the time it's taken to put out the product they funded. No?

I don't personally think they do, but even so you have to consider that her visibility, the visibility of the project, and the visibility of her vein of criticism has grown an order of magnitude since the conception of the project. This obviously brought upon her a number of responsibilities and opportunities she did not have before. To do interviews, to do talks, to travel around speaking to various audiences, perhaps even consulting. Should she simply have dropped all those opportunities in order to release the KS content in a timely fashion? Or should she have taken those opportunities and leave the KS content lagging behind?

The crux of the question is heavily focused on the notion that the money invested in her can only be considered profitable if she provides the promised content, and only if she provides the promised content. But that's ignorant of the tumultuous changes that have turned those promises significantly harder to accomplish. And what's more, isn't every other piece of content she has produced in television, in conferences, etc., also return enough for the money invested in her?

 

[Phediuk]

The continued probing of Anita's finances when she's delivered way more for less money than a whole lot of other, more successful Kickstarters is just baffling to me.

 

[FyreWulff]

The original KS promised 5 videos. She completed those, and completed the first of the stretch goal videos.

KS doesn't officially recognize stretch goals as part of project completion and outright says a KS creator can pocket the money if overfunded. She's given no reason at this time to believe she's taking the money and running.

 

[kiguel182]

That was a nice write-up.

She has done a great job with this project and it's nice to see how it's affecting the industry in a positive manner. It's sad how much she has to endure but at least it's having an effect so it's not for nothing.

I had some disagreements regarding her latest series but the Damsel in Distress one was really on point. Can't wait to see the new stuff she is preparing.

 

[The Faceless Master]

she's woefully underpaid.

 

[Robaperas]

I'd love to see all this outrage and scrutiny for every KS. Good on her for disclosing where the money is going.

 

[Pennywise83]

Wow, six whole videos since the end of the Kickstarter.

That's a terrible production rate, especially for videos which are almost entirely talking head.

Doing research of that kind is time-consuming. Also, the "talking head" says non-obvious things; it's not a mere collage of clips, and her commenting them. It's more like a thesis that you would write for your degree; you can see that what she is saying is well-documented (some mistakes are admitted, hell even incredible Ph.D. thesis have them) and that she did A LOT of research before.

Videos are longer that what initially promised and she's still working on them, updating us (backers), and whatnot. I don't see any worrying signal.

 

[Foffy]

Seeing all of the backlash of "Salary? So she's just pocketing the money" legitimately disgusts me here. She's working to make these videos; of course she needs to pay herself! She didn't have to disclose this; she did it because of the scrutiny automatically placed on her because she's a woman in the industry and thus held to a higher standard! To come right back around and scrutinize this shows the indisputable sexism that has not only plagued our entire industry, but unfortunately also plagued Sarkeesian. I don't even really like her videos or care much for her, but to say "I don't think you should be paying yourself for all the time you put into these videos" makes me sick.

I sincerely believe if you replaced Anita with a male, you would have the same question of "where is the money going?" still arise. To a lot of people, that's a crazy amount of money for a project such as this. People were wondering where the $4,000,000 went on Mighty No. 9 after a recent clip of it, as the game is near its final state and looks like it was made on a PS2-era budget, which would be at least 1/8th that budget..

The harassment is a different can of worms, so I could concede on that point.

 

[stupei]

If those are the solutions, then the series really is nothing more than fluff. I think McIntosh is caught in his own egoic bubble, and I worry any sincere attempt at raising awareness to whatever issue some may find sincere about all this to be clouded by this man's pseudo crusade. I do hope Anita has a different view.

Searching for "solutions" in media criticism suggests a bit of a misunderstanding of the purpose here, but Sarkeesian has actually taken it upon herself to point to a few positives. The final video in the series is intended to be about games that "get it right" and already do positive things. Pointing to positive examples and ways to be better is, in fact, a part of the solution. The last video she put up mentions Papo & Yo as a game that deals with violence and abuse well, for example.

Sarkeesian has also been asked to speak with some game development companies about positive representation and developers have name dropped her as a source of inspiration and creative motivation. Neil Druckmann said that her video series and her ideas improved his writing on The Last of Us. Several developers from Bioshock 2 responded to her criticism of one of their set pieces (in "Women as Background Decoration") by saying that they can and should do better. A large part of the "solution" to the problem of tropes is making people more aware of their prevalence. This inspires creators to challenge themselves to be better creatively and socially.

There are already plenty examples of ways that solutions are being presented, but I suppose it's more interesting to focus on the negatives. Or perhaps you're not overly familiar with Sarkeesian's actual output?

 

[Can Crusher]

It's simply easy to hate because people are donating a ton of money for little outcome, in a world where a lot of people can't meet ends meet. At the same time it's hard to justify hating this because people do what they want with their money.

Obviously, 44% of the money being donated going to salary and wages is funny as shit, as it means people are essentially paying her to live her life.

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

She made true on what she said she would so she could have profited 75-80% and I wouldn't have cared. Good on her.

Yeah, reminds me of people getting upset at Oculus. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY MADE MONEY?!"

 

[Stet]

Obviously, 44% of the money being donated going to salary and wages is funny as shit, as it means people are essentially paying her to live her life.

Almost like a job. Wait, no exactly like one.