Nintendo Addresses Racial Slur Shipped with Animal Crossing Review Kits
Nintendo Addresses Racial Slur Shipped with Animal Crossing Review Kits
December 4, 2008
Nintendo is in damage control mode after a DS cart shipped to game reviewers was found to contain a commonly used racial slur.
Kotaku reported yesterday that editor Brian Crecente received a pre-played copy of Animal Crossing: Wild World for the DS. The 2005 title, shipped with secrets unlocked, was intended to show reviewers how content could easily be migrated from the DS game to the recently-released Wii title, Animal Crossing: City Folk.
However, as Kotaku explains, things soon went awry:
When you come upon Baabara, the town's resident sheep, you're greeted with a racial epithet. The word is used repeatedly in your conversation with the sheep.
"I almost forgot about you, N—-a" "So got any juicy gossip for me, N—-a?" "Just thinking about it gets me all excited, N—-a."
Nintendo quickly issued a statement, blaming WiFi for the screwup:
Previously played copies of the were sent to 14 members of the media to demonstrate the ability of players to transfer items to the new Animal Crossing: City Folk for Wii. We regret that an offensive phrase was included without our knowledge via a wireless function that allows user-generated catchphrases to spread virally from one game to the next.
This version is limited to 14 copies created for media review purposes only and is not available at retailers. We sincerely apologize for the incident and are working with media who received the game cards to return them to Nintendo immediately.
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Posted 11/07/09 at 04:27pm
ZippyDSMlee: man I got alot of junk and dup files too >< god I need orginization...and no not the knee capping media mafia kind :P
ZippyDSMlee: man I got alot of junk and dup files too >< god I need orginization...and no not the knee capping media mafia kind :P
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:26pm
ZippyDSMlee: replaced :P
ZippyDSMlee: replaced :P
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:23pm
ZippyDSMlee: beemoh:hey its like 60GB porn,400GB anime 100GB games and crap I have took from all my DVDs, I hate waiting on dvds to install stuff..... oh and 40GB of my porn was in the found.000 folder...mostly corrupted.... least I got names of wut needs to be repa
ZippyDSMlee: beemoh:hey its like 60GB porn,400GB anime 100GB games and crap I have took from all my DVDs, I hate waiting on dvds to install stuff..... oh and 40GB of my porn was in the found.000 folder...mostly corrupted.... least I got names of wut needs to be repa
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:18pm
beemoh: @Zip: ...and you'd have to spend all that time re-downloading that porn?
beemoh: @Zip: ...and you'd have to spend all that time re-downloading that porn?
Posted 11/07/09 at 03:34pm
ZippyDSMlee: ggrrrrr......vista lost one of my hard drives and I had a heart attack thinking I lost 1TB of data....
ZippyDSMlee: ggrrrrr......vista lost one of my hard drives and I had a heart attack thinking I lost 1TB of data....
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:58am
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:56am
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:51am
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:48am
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:11am
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:07am
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:05am
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:03am
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:56am
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:45am
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:37am
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:36am
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:32am
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:30am
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:44am
JDKJ: And it isn't yet clear what type of ammunition Hasan used. It's strange that he purchased a gun but didn't purchase ammunition for it at the same place and time. Especially because the calibre required is peculiar to the actual gun.
JDKJ: And it isn't yet clear what type of ammunition Hasan used. It's strange that he purchased a gun but didn't purchase ammunition for it at the same place and time. Especially because the calibre required is peculiar to the actual gun.
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Comments
Agian, Nintendo demenstrates the fact they just do not get the internet.
Eeeeyouch! Hello, PR nightmare...
Sucks for Nintendo. Of course, those PSP commercials were pretty bad too, when you think about it...
How about we combine them? Teach one of the residents in game to say 'squirrel, please!' :p
Ohnoez, Nintendo be racist.
===========================================================================Jack Thompson is vanquished!!!
It's not like you can stop this. People will just keep gaming the system and even making up new slurs and swears to send to everyone playing Animal Crossing. If you keep restricting the system, your eventually going to hit that Xbox mentallity of discriminating words that are peoples names.
Exactly, it's nothing new. Just like naming your favourite food "poop" in EarthBound.
Heh heh... "PSI Poop."
---
The Mammon Industry
Hey me nigga... no that doesn't even work... That word, and all of it's variations, needs to just be deleted from all vocabulary. Negro is fine only when talking about the historics of it all. No one should be using it though, even though what is really important is the way you say it. It just isn't needed, and I dont care who made what their own word, if you yell at anyone about it not being right for them to use it, then no one should be allowed to us it, and using it in any ways when you say it is wrong for other people to use it just proves ignorance and how racist they are as well.
Good luck Nintendo, I hope this doesn't bit your ass.
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It's not the word it's the intent behind it that's bad.
People will still find ways to express hate or just shock people even if you limit your vocabulary.
What if you did get rid of the dreaded n-word and people started using the word 'Moore' as a substitute (which was a name for a black guy since at least Shakespeare time).
Oh he's a stupid Moore, he's acting like a dumb Moore. Just shove all the Moores off a cliff etc.
What will you do then?
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"What for you bury me in the cold cold ground?" - Tasmanian devil
Well, if someone doesn't take it and turn it into "Hey my moore homie, lets get down tonight" or some crap like that, then it could benefit.
You are right, people will always talk bad to each other no matter what, and there is no solution. Even raising kids the most perfect way possible, some of them will still turn out ignorant and do it.
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How to set Xbox 360 Parental Controls
Moor is already taken. It is sometimes used as a slur against Arabs and North Africans.
How about we use Moor to describe blacks and bring back Saracen (a common term for Muslims during the Crusades) to describe anyone from the Arab world? That way, everyone's happy! Besides, as slurs go, Moor and Saracen pretty fucking awesome.
That is weird, because I just finished Othello.
Heh, same here (and saw the movie, YAWN!!!)
Negro is fine only when talking about the historics of it all.
or when you're speaking Spanish
岩「…Where do masochists go when they die?」
It's okay, the cartridge is black. So was the DS it was played on.
lol, ahh, that made me laugh.
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I am a signature virus, please copy and paste me into your signature to help me propagate.
Nobody can blame Nintendo for anything other than giving players the ability to add to a games content and sending out copies of a used cart with some random players content already in it without screening that thing. Simply giving people the ability to input anything other than actions into a game will produce exactly this kind of situation. Hell simply being able to chat in online games suddenly puts you in a position where you could be exposed to all kinds of objectionable language or ASCII art penises, that 'controversial' song in LittleBigPlanet is nothing in comparison to the stuff other players have created :P haha
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Keep in mind, in order for this copy to have become infected with this phrase which would eliminate blame to a Nintendo employee is if all 14 copies somehow magically exchanged friend codes with the exact same copy all across the nation and allowed that one resident to influence the game. This is something that, frankly, seems about as improbable as every copy of Burnout Paradise sent to the press connection to the one guy mooning players with his Playstation Eye.
What REALLY happened is the playtester who created this file for distribution to the press AT NINTENDO added this slur and they sent out the copies anyway. This isn't a viral thing, it's a Nintendo employee prank thing and frankly watching Nintendo try to blame the big bad internets is shameful.
Wall of Text Simulation- Insert coin to continue.
They aren't blaming the internet or the wireless technologies for this. They were explaining how the new feature works. If they had a handfull of playtesters playing and were connected to each other in order to share content, this could have easily spread between them. Then Nintendo copied the save files to a total of 14 carts for distribution.
They aren't blaming anything but the people who created the save files in the first place.
E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
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I think this is the most unexpected thing I've ever seen on gamepolitics.
...Wait it was user generated. Ok never mind.
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"What for you bury me in the cold cold ground?" - Tasmanian devil
The 'Big N' is takin' the 'N word' back yo!
" man they be trippin'! "
-Quote from scrubs.
Blaming Nintendo for this is kind of like blaming Nintendo for the fact that there are a million Mii Hitlers out there.
It's unfortunate, but that is what makes it funny.
--
http://mallvillestory.blogspot.com
Except all fourteen copies sent to press somehow managed to stumbled across the exact same user generated content. What are the odds? Frankly, impossible. This was already on the carts sent from Nintendo.
Wall of Text Simulation- Insert coin to continue.
Wrong, you are. Understanding, you have not.
Since they were trying to show how you can migrate data from a played copy of the DS game to the Wii game, they had to send out 14 copies of the game where things had been played enough to have things unlocked to migrate to the Wii.
Let's see, they could hire someone to play the game 14 time through and unlock things... or they could take one game someone played and copy the save file over. Which do YOU think they did?
The person who put it in even had to use other letters to get through a text filter (see the little tilde over the N?).
In other words, this isn't something that ships with the game, it is user content where someone thought it was funny on their own game, and that save file got out to reviewers, and now that person is likely looking for a new job while trying to make a downpayment for a refrigerator box under a bridge.
I'm sorry, where did you contridict me exactly? I said this was on carts sent by Nintendo. You said this was on carts sent by Nintendo. Who put the content on the carts (playtester very likely... see above comment from me) is irrelevant as these carts were sent from Nintendo.
Wall of Text Simulation- Insert coin to continue.
Simple, no one said it wasn't on the cart. You acted as if they said they got the user generated content from somewhere else. In fact, Kotaku said about the same thing saying it was blaming the internet. You acted as if it was a cover up or something and that the odds of their cover up story were impossible.
Actually, the user generated content IS on the cart, but not in the rom, it is in the flash memory, the save file. Being "on the cart" could mean different things. In this case, the offending word was in the save file, not the hard programming from Nintendo. One of the reviewers stumbled upon it, and alerted the rest of the reviewers.
There is no cover up, there is no impossible odds.
and now that person is likely looking for a new job while trying to make a downpayment for a refrigerator box under a bridge.
I wonder how that person is going to continue their career under another job. Don't you have to tell why you got fired to your future boss or at the job interview?
--- Official Protector of Videoland!
Nope. You only have to state that you no longer work for a company. You don't have to say whether you quit were laid off or fired. You only have to say you don't work for them. When asked why, you don't have to say, "because I put racist words in a save file that was sent to the media." You could say something as simple as "Creative differences."
There is no law stating you have to be detailed in why you no longer work for a company. Instead we have laws that state you can protect your privacy and not be forced to give out information about yourself that could be damaging.
E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091
As there is no law that says they have to give you the job for being less than entirely forthcoming.
Someone called me a bad word on MSN the other day, Microsoft is Racist Too!
So is this a similar situation to when a girl claimed Animal Crossing called her a F_cking Cow a while back?
Ago. Perceptum. Teneo.
Oh no....Oh no......
Oh no you didn't
hey wait, i've been calling my friends ñiggás for years. i don't recall anyone getting offended. what's this all about? if it shipped with the word nigger then maybe i could see where this was coming from.
Maybe it's one Japanese tester putting some Tokyo Breakfast humor into the game. You know how those Japanese are :P
Doing it amongst your friends in a private setting is one thing, but when you're trying to run a business, especially one with a family-friendly, squeaky clean image like the one Nintendo tries to foster, having it appear in one of your games is a little bit different.
Also, I'm reminded a bit of all the assholes who screamed bloody murder about Hot Coffee without truly understanding the technical details...I hope we don't have a repeat occurence from those who can't be bothered to actually read the article and try to understand what happened.
"There is no sin except stupidity." - Oscar Wilde
i thought it was only a slur if it ended in "er" not "a"
oh wait... its racist now cause its a little white character saying it and not a little black one right..... not to hit that note but i still kinda find it funny its only considered racist if a certain person says it, but otherwise is perfectly A-OK.
ahh well... i'm still trying to figure out how Cole train is racist just because he uses a mid 90's EARTH slang, but lives on SERA, where who knows what languages they have let alone slang.
Well now, there's a non sequitur if ever there was one. I would imagine there would still be an outcry if there was a little black character saying it, maybe even moreso. You may have had a point if the game was clearly meant as a commentary on racial tensions or something, but clearly that's not the case.
Anybody else think this is funny?
--- Official Protector of Videoland!
The word shown in the picture is actually pronounced "Nyig-A". The tilde over the "N" is like "mañana" or "jalapeño". The grave accent over the "A" indicates the emphasis is on the second syllable.
Does anyone else find the fact that they named a sheep 'Baabara' offensive?
E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091
Hey everyone. So there's a scenario here that nobody seems to be considering. Game companies have to make a reel of offensive material for the ESRB. Whenever there is the possibility of user-created material from graphic creations to simply naming your own character, they have to create and submit the most offensive things they can. For instance, if one game has the ability to draw on a character, the reel may have a character completely covered in swastikas. It's possible that this is a leftover from their ESRB copy of the game which probably mingled with the DS cart used and then sent to the media. A terrible mistake? Actually, yes. But a big deal? Not really.
Source? Because I can't see that happening, otherwise you'd have hundreds of games rated 'M' just because somebody called their character c**t.
No because if they had to put the most offensive thing to submit on the ESRB, there wouldn't be anything on the internet at all. Hence, why they put the phrase "Game Experience May Change During Online Play"
The problem isn't the company's fault, but more the user content. The industry can try anything to censor as much, but people find ways around it.
White people, "Nicca" is a word black people call themselves as a term of endearment
And as a not so endearing term. As in "Damn! You's a stupid nicca."