How did the development meeting for that thing go? “I’m sorry, Mr Game Developer, but marketing believes your idea, let’s see here… ‘super happy fun cock-fighting; for children four and up’ may show less than robust sales, perhaps we could tweak it a bit?”
In Pokemon, the player captures wild animals, stores them in a tiny cage shaped like a ball until he meets other players, and then they release the caged animals to do violent battle for the players’ amusement. Michael Vick did that, and we arrested the bastard for it, so why does little Johnny get a pass? I say we force the makers to make the game more realistic by including Pokemon rights protesters and shelters for abused squirtles and pikachus.
-A Monkey with A Gun
ruiner of childhoods everywhere
Interestingly enough, the theme for the current crop of games, “Black,” and “White,” touches on precisely that concern. The antagonist in the storyline seeks to free Pokemon from their human trainers for the reasons you suggest.
Ultimately, however, he is moved by seeing the protagonist’s relationship with Pokemon to understand that a trainer’s motives can be positive, and not necessarily either predaceous or exploitative.
I just got a phone call from 1998. Been a long time, but we had some good times, back in the day, even if I was broke and single and having some school problems.
While I was trying to warn them about 9/11, the earthquakes, and the whole Bush thing, they repeatedly brought up the fact they were still borrowing anti-Barney-the-Dinosaur complaints from 1993. They managed to work how 1993 keeps asking for favors and showing up at dinner. More than once.
They were too polite to say it, but they clearly would like their own superior Gen-X observation about kids entertainment returned. You know, when you get a chance.
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GI Joe was pro war, Barney was facist, Bratz were pro-slut, Harry Potter was pro-witch, and I’m still broke and single. Some things change more than others.
It wasn’t intended to be an exhaustive list. Though that would be a fun project. Someone less lazy than I am should probably be encouraged to start it.
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Though I like the idea that Pokemon and their trainers are involved in a safe, sane, and consensual relationship, that’s both positive and mutually enriching. Somewhere, William Moulton Marston, his wife, and their girlfriend are smiling.
Wow. That makes me go back to the claim my mom made that Pokemon were all Japanese spiritual crap masquerading as monsters. I’m surprised the fundies aren’t having a field day with this.
I wonder if part of the idea is to help kids conquer their fears. Yeah, monsters are scary, but I can control the monsters! I don’t have to be scared of them any more!
As God is my witness I was planning on strating this thread today. My kid has “Pokemon Black Version” and it’s like Michael Vick’s been infiltrated by the Inception people.
