Nintendo has not had the best of moments this past week, but thankfully, the company is admitting to some mistakes.
After reporting financial losses for the third straight year, the company was met with backlash from gamers, media, and the LGBT community on the exclusion of same-sex marriages in the upcoming North American and European release of the 3DS life simulator, Tomodachi Life. Now, Nintendo has offered an apology, stating that they are “committed to fun and entertainment for everyone.”
Nintendo’s statement reads as follows:
“We apologize for disappointing many people by failing to include same-sex relationships in Tomodachi Life. Unfortunately, it is not possible for us to change this game’s design, and such a significant development change can’t be accomplished with a post-ship patch. At Nintendo, dedication has always meant going beyond the games to promote a sense of community, and to share a spirit of fun and joy. We are committed to advancing our longtime company values of fun and entertainment for everyone. We pledge that if we create a next installment in the Tomodachi series, we will strive to design a game-play experience from the ground up that is more inclusive, and better represents all players.”
As a supporter of same-sex marriages (and part of a large family where I have two gay cousins who I’d take a bullet for to ensure their rights), I’ve remained neutral on this issue. The original statement from Nintendo came off as a little tone deaf and mis-worded from a PR standpoint. However, the backlash itself from media and gamers alike has been blown out of proportion. Calling for boycotts of Nintendo products or for executives resigning is the last thing any fan or skeptic of the company needs to do at this point.
The fact of the matter is that Nintendo has at least admitted to an oversight in the game’s design that could not be fixed right away weeks before release in the States. A patch to allow same-sex marriages? Sure, it’s possible. Yet all we can do is know Nintendo is aware of these mistakes and is committed to sharing its products with everyone. No matter what gender, race, or sexual preference you belong to.
What do you think of the Tomodachi Life controversy and Nintendo’s apology in general? Share with us in the comments below.
MikeIsaPoet
I’m a strong supporter as well, and I think this entire debacle was stupid on the petitioner’s part.
I’m sorry the quirky, humor-filled game with robotic voices that was advertised with Bill Trinen’s face FLYING OFF INTO OUTER SPACE didn’t allow you to marry same sex couples. Shame on Nintendo for making a life simulator that doesn’t simulate life…wait, that’s it. It’s a silly LOLWTF game.
This was NOT a battle that needed energy wasted on it. Half the US doesn’t allow marriages, some states still allow discrimination towards homosexuals, yet we’re pitchforking and rioting over a game that only had same sex marriage in the Japanese version due to a glitch.
>_>
John Draper
After hearing this I got rid of all my Nintendo products! I don’t want marriage either gay or straight in any games! I want to play games to forget how fucked up the real world is for awhile. So at this point I am no longer and Nintendo fan, and I hope they fail.
Kelly Mitnick
Nintendo has lost an actual paying customer because of this. Hope they enjoyed apologizing to those who don’t even own any of their products. Nintendo will go out of business within the year!
Lord Lemmy
One, I’m hopping John and Kelly are purposely acting like the people blowing this thing way out of proportion.
Secondly, Mike, the whole “same sex marriage due to a glitch” thing is ACTUALLY not 100% accurate to what really happened. This idea actually originated from mistranslations of two different situations with the game in Japan.
Check it out here: http://www.gamnesia.com/news/nintendo-did-not-remove-same-sex-marriage-from-tomodachi-life#.U3XIOigVCHc
Greg in pa
Oh god *face palm*
mr.trouble
I mean I just made some of the girls boys and dressed them up as girls and ta da, lesbians, it’s not that big a deal