Nintendo Apologizes For Not Allowing Same-Sex Relationships In Life Sim Game

An anonymous reader writes "Nintendo has been taking heat recently for their decision not to allow same sex relationships in Tomodachi Life, an upcoming life simulation game for the 3DS. An advocacy group for LGBT issues said, '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.' The group also pointed out that The Sims allowed such choices over a decade ago. Nintendo originally replied that the game was not intended to be social commentary, and pointed out that the U.S. release of Tomodachi Life is just a localization of the Japanese version (gay marriage is not legal in Japan). Now Nintendo has officially apologized for 'failing to include same-sex relationships' in the game, and they promised to build a more inclusive experience if they make a sequel."

Comments

Japanese version?

[ArcadeMan]

So, I can marry my purple tentacle with my demon-hunter magical schoolgirl?

Overreacting

[duke_cheetah2003]

This is just dumb. It's a game!

I'm all for LGBT rights and such, but really to criticize a game just cuz it don't include your sexual orientation..? I dunno about that. What's next? Is the LGBT community going to demand air time in Disney cartoons next?

Besides, no one complained about Harvest Moon, another game that only permits heterosexual marriages. So what! It's a game!

Re:Overreacting

[QuasiSteve]

Now read that with s/LGBT/Black/

Not that I completely disagree, but if you're going to make a 'life simulation' game localized to a given market, then it's not all that far-fetched to make it reflect the (aggregate) society of that localization, or accept that you'll get complaints if you don't.

Ultimately Nintendo's solution is to say "we'll look at it IF we make a sequel" - it's not much of a commitment, more of a PR strategy.

Re:Overreacting

[pla]

Now read that with s/LGBT/animals/.

Now read that with s/LGBT/power tools/.

I completely support the right of gays to marry (to the extent that I support any marriage, an institution I wholly reject, as does my long-term partner). But this amounts to a purely manufactured controversy. The game contains what it contains; don't like it? Don't play it. Send a message with your wallet, rather than pissing and moaning about a game you didn't create not behaving like you want it to.

Where's the apology for lack of Polyagmy?

[Anonymous Coward]

For a family friendly company they completely dropped the ball when it comes to living my virtual harem fantasies.

Jesus christ

[Anonymous Coward]

The game is offensive unless it allows relationships between ethereal giraffe genderqueer fursonas and tri-curious pansexual midget doctors. Right?

Is it so bad that people just want to make a game that reflects the relationships the majority of people on Earth have? Do they really have to support every sexual minority to be "fair"?

Re:First World Problems

[Sique]

Actually, the complaint arised when two people who owned already the game found out they couldn't have their Mii characters marry in the game. But let a fact not spoil your rant. Keep up the good work!