Comments on: Cooking Mama, The Unauthorized PETA Edition: Mama Kills Animals | PETA.org

By: Audience Effects | Kill Ten Rats

Audience Effects | Kill Ten Rats — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 06:02:42 +0000

[...] examples would you cite as misaimed fandom in gaming? PETA’s Thanksgiving Cooking Mama parody was meant to make you sick, but children enjoyed its gooey, over-the-top violence. Other games have [...]

By: Michael Chui

Michael Chui — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 04:22:26 +0000

Yes, Sam. This game definitely succeeds at getting us to discuss PETA. I still have no idea what the actual issues they’re trying to get at are.

By: Yukon Sam

Yukon Sam — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:53:16 +0000

I’m going to throw up my hands before I get too firmly cast as the resident PETA apologist. I’m wearing a leather belt and shoes, I’m likely having beef for dinner, and I currently have enslaved four cats and two dogs for my personal amusement.

I sympathize with PETA to the extent that they strive for more humane treatment of animals. While I have an admiration for people who try to live up to their convictions, I don’t embrace their entire philosophy or condone any illegal action (except in the particular case of civil disobedience, given that the participants understand and agree to accept ALL the consequences of their actions, including compensation for anybody caught in the crossfire).

But I do believe that this game succeeds in its goal, which isn’t entertainment, education or even propoganda. It garners coverage (hence this blog entry). It sparks discussion and debate. It provokes thought.

And we’re the proof.

By: Charles

Charles — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:03:03 +0000

If you play through the ‘game,’ Yukon Sam, you will get to a part where you need to crack open eggs (presumably to create a rub to put on the turkey), and when you do, the eggs bleed red blood. PETA is against any and all ‘use’ of animals (they essentially promote a vegans+ agenda), and their message is not limited to just avoiding mistreatment and abuse of animals.

By: Michael Chui

Michael Chui — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:12:27 +0000

PETA: the MMO.

I can’t wait.

By: Yukon Sam

Yukon Sam — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:14:58 +0000

Rik, do you know anybody who would let themselves be arrested and prosecuted in exchange for quick giggle? You’ve got it exactly backwards; the stunts are just a way to put a spotlight on the issues, since the media is not exactly proactive about discussing the ethical dimension of animal abuse. Griefers are griefers because they know they can indulge their behavior without consequence. Activists are activists because they’re willing to accept those consequences (up to and including jail time, beatings, and abuse) in order to make a statement.

Of course, I don’t support ruining hundreds of dollars of clothing to make a statement. If that’s the case, you’re aiming too low. Pick a target on whom you can ruin THOUSANDS of dollars of clothing.

I think the game is a failure as a game. But as a tool to raise awareness and provoke discussion of the issues? Well, here we are talking about it. Score one for PETA.

By: Rik

Rik — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:40:05 +0000

It’s not the sanctity of the egg that’s in question, it’s the treatment of the hens ….

Eh, for PETA it’s not really about animals, it’s about the publicity stunt. In an MMO these people would all be labeled as griefers. It’s like they found a way to break the rules inside of the rules, and now they want to live in that happy spot. “Wait, I can splash red die on people, ruining hundreds of dollars of clothing, and people will think it’s a noble thing if I shout “Fur Is Murder” when I do it? Where do I sign?“

By: Devon

Devon — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:15:53 +0000

I played it all the way to the end. I actually appreciated the final bonus round, where you get to make a tofu turkey. Maybe I’ll try to make one next Thanksgiving. Do they make big stainless steel turkey molds? This holiday I made a fifteen pound bird and then found out my mother had gone full vegan. I just finished off the damn thing yesterday.

By: Yukon Sam

Yukon Sam — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:36:12 +0000

Because eating eggs murder.

It’s not the sanctity of the egg that’s in question, it’s the treatment of the hens that amounts to torture.

I didn’t find anything about the game compelling enough to do more than poke at it. The undercover footage of brutal, filthy and illegal conditions inside “factory farms” and processing plants is much more compelling. Upton Sinclair is spinning in his grave.

By: Wow

Wow — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:51:02 +0000