OK, you can call off the pitchforks and angry mob. Nintendo’s apologized for leaving gay couples out of their upcoming game, Tomodachi Life.
In case you haven’t been following along, the game allows characters to create characters (including representations of themselves) and then turn them loose in a world where they can potentially fall in love. But only with partners of the opposite sex. Queer gamers freaked out, and Nintendo provided a tepid non-pology that suggested they considered gay couples to be a “social commentary.”
That’s not great. But their followup apology today should help smooth things over:
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.
OK, so we won’t get gay love in this version of the game. That’s a shame, but it’s kind of what we expected. The game is done and comes out next month, so it’s not like they were going to recall it and make an adjustment at this point. It’s just nice to hear the word “apologize,” and “failing.” It’s an acknowledgement that the relationships really should be in the game.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Also, there’s this:
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.
And that’s the real victory here: we got their attention, we showed them that we felt left out, and they made a commitment to do better in the future.
We’re looking forward to their next installment in the Zelda series, in which Link and Tingle finally elope.
Mezaien
Sorry Nintendo, you saved your foot in your mouth go suck eggs.
Harley
OMG! Now I’m going to have to get out and (gulp) get a real life. Oh, the horror!
Cam
Actually that is false, they have a protocol for the characters in there, they could change and relabel one fairly easy. They never intended to do it, then when caught they brushed off the complaint, then when the complaints got louder they make up a story.
And lastly, why is Queerty lately continually behaving as if gays are attackers and the bullies in all this. The first sentance “OK, you can call off the pitchforks and angry mob. Nintendo’s apologized for leaving gay couples out of their upcoming game, Tomodachi Life.”
And in another post referring to anybody who disagreed with the bigotry as “Outraged Homosexuals” and dismissing them.
Queerty was providing cover for Mormons, then continually tried to shield the CEO of Mozilla and now is using very simissive language whenever referring to gays questioning companies refusing to include gays etc…
What’s the deal Queerty?
IzzyLuna
I was planning on trying this game and i’m not a gamer. BUT BECAUSE of this…I’m gonna pass. Maybe when the sequel comes out. Nintendo, next time, get your shit together.
BlackDragon727
I’m glad Nintendo apologized.
I’m just not sure if its true. Is it really impossible for Nintendo to fix this with a patch?
Is this really a “significant development change”?
Is Nintendo refusing to patch because the coding would be difficult? Or is it because they’re afraid of political consequences or a drop in demand in including same-sex relationships?
Why should Nintendo get the benefit of the doubt here? Unlike EA, Nintendo does not have a long history of being supportive of LGBT rights or LGBT gamers.
So maybe its still a little early to put away the pitchforks.
tdx3fan
Except that they are lying out their arse and hoping people will buy it. Designing a game that recognizes gender means that the system has to be designed to recognize gender. In order for them to release a post-ship patch all they really have to do is send a patch out that overrides the file that is currently being used to determine gender. Its that simple.
Not to mention, I’m not sure if it was here that I read it or on another site, but they already did this exact same thing once before when they sent a patch out that “fixed” the gender issues that were allowing men to get it on with each other and even get pregnant.
tdx3fan
@Cam: They are trying to piss people like you off so that you will read their posts and raise their comment counts. That is my guess. Its also my guess that that is honestly as far as it goes.
tdx3fan
@IzzyLuna: Go buy Sims 3 (or 4) and have a much better game from a much better company with a much better track record towards the gays (Sims 3 is Maxis which is EA which also owns Bioware which has a proven track record of being inclusive in their games). Not to mention, the last 3 Sims had gay characters.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
I swore off Nintendo forever with their comment “we are not going to make a social commentary”……..Yet with their banning same sex relationships in the game they made a fairly huge “social commentary”