Sometimes PETA runs up to us with a snotty nose and starts pulling at our skirts with a grubby hand while whining unintelligibly and gesturing at something. And we have to stop what we're doing and patiently ask, "Yes, PETA, what is it?" because PETA is impossible to ignore when it gets in this kind of mood.
PETA's latest handiwork made gamers recoil and grip shakily at the kitchen counter to steady themselves--or it was supposed to, anyway. Most of us just laughed because you can't turn Cooking Mama into a knife-loving turkey murderer without making a complete ass of yourself. If you apply blood and mayhem to all things cuddly and cute, it's instant comedy. South Park knew it. Monty Python knew it. Your twisted little cousin who will soon be getting notes sent home by Teacher knows it.
I'm a bit confused about what exactly PETA is trying to say with their Flash murder simulator, but at the same time, their chutzpah is admirable. There's no attempt to disguise Mama. She's bloodthirsty, she's apparently furious about having to cook Thanksgiving dinner and she will fuck your shit up if you turn your back on her. What's Majesco supposed to do? They can go to court, but one company of the two is backed up by hojillions of dollars from batshit celebrities, and they're not the one. PETA can make it a long and painful fight. It's not unlike the Wisdom Tree fiasco Nintendo endured, when unlicensed games about the thrilling life of Baby Moses (now with drowning action) showed up on the NES. Nintendo understandably didn't want to sink into religious controversy. Even a small puddle of quicksand can do in an elephant.
So the alternative is to shrug it off and enjoy the insanity.
PETA's mission is seemingly twofold: Let's Hate Thanksgiving and Hey Kids, Bug Majesco To Make a Vegetarian Cooking Mama. The latter mission is hilarious, since I've heard from a number of sources that declaring yourself vegan in Japan will draw the same confused look that your dog gives you when you speak his name in a really high pitch.
"Shrimp is vegan, right?"
I'm not worried for PETA. It's sad to see them fight for such a hopeless cause, but soon a plastic bag will blow by and they'll chase it happily.
Related Links:
Overpowering the Flavor: Cooking Mama and Cutscene Clutter
Wii Motion Plus: Say What, Nintendo?