PETA targets Take-Two, Ringling Bros game

[wraggster]

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has launched a campaign urging publisher Take-Two to sever ties with the Ringling Bros. organisation and cancel its upcoming game based on the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

The controversy comes from PETA's complaints against Ringling Bros. for its alleged mistreatment of performance animals.

"We've told Take-Two about Ringling Bros.' real-life, lengthy history of animal abuse and neglect and shown it undercover video footage of a standard industry training session, in which animal handlers used electric prods and bullhooks to gouge elephants in the most sensitive parts of their bodies," said PETA in its official statement.

"Even though it knows that circuses are no fun for animals, Take-Two is still moving forward with its plan to create a Ringling Bros. Wii game," the statement continued.

PETA's campaign urges its members to send direct emails to Take-Two CEO Ben Feder asking that the publisher sever ties with the Ringling Bros. organisation.

"Let him know that you'd rather play a game featuring a circus that does not beat animals for 'entertainment,'" it said.

This is not the first time that PETA has protested a videogame: in November of 2008 it created a parody Cooking Mama title, which criticised the franchise for using meat ingredients in its in-game meals.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ling-bros-game

[VampDude]

PETA are appearing everywhere lately, they were protesting something on World of Warcraft the other month.

Take Two wont take crap from them, the game will get released anyway... Because Take Two are awesome like that, even if there is a long legal battle (think Manhunt 2).

[grossaffe]

I can actually empathize with PETA here. Most of what they grandstand on is bull$#@!, but the circus really does mistreat animals. They are not calling for the heads of Take-Two, but rather asking that they step away from Ringling Bros. Its not the game that upsets them as much as it is the company (Ringling Bros.) associated with it.

[geise69]

I'm going to design a game where you are Peta. You drive around looking for places to free dogs, or you put up a facility to allow people to bring in rescued dogs. You then either use that facility or build one to uthenize most of the dogs that are given to you. Then you have to find places to give "some" dogs that are rescued a place to live. That way it makes it look like you are "doing the right thing". Bitch please....