This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Anita Sarkeesian, the feminist critic of sexism in video game culture, penned an op-ed in the New York Times Tuesday titled "It's Game Over for Gamers."
Sarkeesian, who canceled a scheduled speech at Utah State University earlier this month, described her gradual alienation from gamers and how she arrived at a feminist perspective on video game culture generally.
Noting she "felt forced to cancel" her speech in Logan, Sarkeesian said her video blog has sparked harassment and threats on her life for more than two years.
"This wasn't the first time my life had been threated over video games," she wrote. "To parts of the gaming community, I have become something of a folk demon."
She predicts the troll elements of video game culture will eventually be outnumbered and out-influenced by more diverse players, including women.
"Those who police the borders of our hobby, the ones who try to shame and threaten women like me into silence, have already lost," Sarkeesian wrote. "The new reality is that video games are maturing, evolving and becoming more diverse."