Nintendo of America has just sent out a press release with a statement about the increasingly volatile Tomodachi Life uproad. It turns out that in their upcoming, "whimsical" Nintendo 3DS title, same-sex marriages weren't permitted.
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People got understandably upset- for a company known for inclusion it was a huge disappointment to see Nintendo ignore a big block of their audience. Gamers started online campaigns to get them to change their decision, and even GLAAD got involved.
"In purposefully limiting players' relationship options, Nintendo is not only sending a hurtful message to many of its fans and consumers by excluding them, but also setting itself way behind the times," GLAAD national spokesperson Wilson Cruz told GamesBeat. "It's been over a decade since The Sims - the original 'whimsical and quirky' life simulator - allowed its users to marry any character they wanted, and many other mainstream and massively popular video games have followed their lead since. Nintendo should do the same."
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Sadly, it simply isn't possible. Here's the full statement that Nintendo sent to us:
"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."
It's nice that Nintendo took the time to make this note and is apparently learning from their mistakes, but of course, what other option did they have? The tide of public opinion is quicking turning on this issue and game publishers are learning that they have to include every type of gamer if they want to be taken seriously.
As for Tomodachi Life, will this affect your purchase of it? Even with the controversies it does look like a fun game, but has the experience been tainted for you? Let us know below.
