PETA pounces on Cooking Mama

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and perhaps not so coincidentally, Majesco is getting gamers in the mood for good eats with the latest installment in its best-selling Cooking Mama franchise, Cooking Mama World Kitchen. In it, Wii gamers are dropped into a pressure-cooker kitchen...

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and perhaps not so coincidentally, Majesco is getting gamers in the mood for good eats with the latest installment in its best-selling Cooking Mama franchise, Cooking Mama World Kitchen. In it, Wii gamers are dropped into a pressure-cooker kitchen environment in which they race against the clock to perfect 51 different recipes, ranging from pancakes to octopus dumplings.

Seemingly innocuous enough, but Majesco's World Kitchen has drawn the ire of activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. In response to the Wii game, PETA published a Flash version of Cooking Mama on its Web site in which Majesco's iconic character prepares a turkey dinner in advance of the US's revered feasting day. Titled Cooking Mama: Mama Kills Animals, the Flash game features gameplay that's akin to what is found in the official version of the game.

Of course, it also exhibits a decidedly macabre bent, replete with Happy Tree Friends-style viscera as well as copious amounts of blood. Between levels, gamers are treated to such fun facts as, "In the US, almost all birds have their throats slit while they're still conscious, and according to the US Department of Agriculture, millions are scalded to death in tanks of hot water."

Following the Flash game, the culmination of which involves gamers concocting a tofu turkey dinner, PETA urges gamers to "politely ask" Majesco to add more vegan recipes to the Cooking Mama line of games, or create a vegetarian edition. "I love the Cooking Mama series and PETA's new parody of it, but I would love to see Mama make more vegetarian recipes or even a game with just vegetarian recipes," reads the prepared note that players can sign. "There is no doubt that I would play it!"

Majesco is apparently not of the opinion that PETA's Flash game is better than Mama's. In a press release issued today, the publisher assumed the tone of a willful grandmother, chiding PETA for failing to mention that "World Kitchen includes more than 25 vegetarian-friendly recipes including delicious breakfast, dinner, dessert, and snack options."

"I would never put rat in my Ratatouille," reads Majesco's release, channeling their inner Mama. "Like any accomplished cook, I create my recipes to appeal to a broad range of tastes and preferences. My only goal is to ensure you leave the table well fed." Majesco also notes that while Mama is not herself a vegan, "She fully supports the humane treatment of animals."

299 Comments

  • EnriqueMJK

    Posted Dec 10, 2008 8:18 pm PT

    PETA: Annoying the **** out of people who mostly agree with them for years.

  • CharlieFubar

    Posted Nov 27, 2008 1:57 pm PT

    Im starting PETV (People for not Eating The Veggies) Now maybe I can do all sorts of retarded things that are against the law and say "im protesting" - Like burning cornfields and pooping in the veggie chilli.

  • CharlieFubar

    Posted Nov 27, 2008 1:52 pm PT

    majesco please sue peta... with your help we can end tree hugging, bark eating, liberal hippies once and for all.

  • Dman0017

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 11:15 am PT

    LOL, PETA has way too much free time if they are complaining about something like this!

  • Boomarley

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 8:24 am PT

    I just had to play the game. It actually gave me a sadistic pleasure, and the concept was just way too hilarious. Too bad it was actually serious.

  • imagamer89

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 8:10 am PT

    Wow, PETA is so stupid.... Its a freaking video game! Why, would they make a game so messed up? Vegies.....

  • ArethNaar

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 7:56 am PT

    What is their problem? "THIS GAME HAS COOKING ANIMALS!!! ITS EVILLLLLLLLLLL! WE MUST MAKE A BLOODY FLASH GAME AND MAKE A PETITION NO ONE WILL SIGN!!!!!" My god, who cares if it has animals in it or not...

  • SmashingX

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 3:59 am PT

    Could PETA be anymore foolish? "Yeah ok that game for all ages shows the preparation of meat, let's diminish it's reputation with a flash game featuring blood and gore!" Tards. -_-

  • KHS_Kid

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 8:20 pm PT

    who gives a crap about whether a game has vegies in it

  • Ahkarisazael

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 5:10 pm PT

    People Eating Tasty Animals...PETA!!!

  • parrot_of_adun

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 1:26 pm PT

    Right, because the REAL perpetrators aren't the one's doing bad stuff to animals, it's the one's making games about cooking...

    ...i don't get it.

  • necronaux

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 11:08 am PT

    Ridiculous. Any thing for publicity. Right up there with Peta's protests against the Dreamworks' logo (boy sitting in the moon fishing, cause fishing is cruel to the fish).

  • masterferg

    Posted Nov 23, 2008 2:49 pm PT

    lulz, i might buy the game because before i was afraid that Mama was opposed to the ethical treatment of animals.

  • Gamer4Iife

    Posted Nov 23, 2008 2:11 pm PT

    Here's a fun fact for PETA members: Plants are living beings too, so eating them is also murder. Bunch of hypocrites. >_>

  • AMAZINGJECKLBOY

    Posted Nov 23, 2008 12:05 pm PT

    this is the exact reason people can't see their wii's under the 7 inch thick blanket of dust they've collected

    this is a shovelware game and it will be at your local wal-mart for approx $7.99

    don't bother with this drivel

  • mgmeek

    Posted Nov 23, 2008 9:54 am PT

    Really, who cares.

  • balrogthane

    Posted Nov 22, 2008 7:51 pm PT

    PETA really has no idea how stupid they look, do they?

  • Cobra5

    Posted Nov 22, 2008 5:55 pm PT

    Ok, now can we make a game where we cook up PETAs?

  • rarson

    Posted Nov 22, 2008 4:42 pm PT

    "If a superior race of aliens were to come down and start eating us we would think they were pure EVIL. What make's us any different when we eat less evolved creatures?"

    Cows are no "less evolved" than humans, they are simply suited to different environments. Calling cows "less evolved" than humans is like saying humans are less evolved than birds because they can't fly.

  • themanofmanynam

    Posted Nov 22, 2008 2:03 pm PT

    Has PETA nothing else better to do...

  • noname060606

    Posted Nov 22, 2008 3:38 am PT

    This reminds me of that episode of Pen & Teller's BS that featured PETA, which was, as always, an epic pwnage...of PETA, of course. ^^

  • Insanitymanitee

    Posted Nov 22, 2008 12:02 am PT

    I really think that any vegetarian who refuses to eat meat for the animal's sake has never, ever, EVER been on a ranch and raised live stock. I have. I have raised cattle, I have put a rifle to many a cattlehead, and I have eaten many a tasty homegrown burger. If they wanted any different, they'd do something about it.

  • shani_boy101

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 10:19 pm PT

    That game was actually fun. Its funny in the end how it says "thanks to you, Mama LOVES ANIMALS!!!"
    and then it says, "now its up to you, to take the pledge and go veg!!! "
    and i was like Noooo!. shut down.

  • shani_boy101

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 10:06 pm PT

    PETA is full of mad cow-loving people. Cows are alright (especially the cow in the green meadow in Kung Pow lol) but seriously, PETA is so f**king intolerant of how the rest of the world eats. its not like they kill the animals themselves, and Cooking Mama (as with all games) is a bunch of pixels. and they're cartoon.

  • Denji

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 9:15 pm PT

    @ jaguitar

    So does that make Lions "evil" when they eat another animal?
    Does that make a Hawk or Owl "evil" when they eat a mouse?
    Does that make a snake "evil" when they eat a mouse?
    Animals eat animals all the time. What is the difference? Guess what, PLANTS ARE ALIVE TOO. Yet, nobody whines about that do they? Plants live, breathe and reproduce like the rest of use. Yet, you're eating giant bowls of salad. That's an entire field of life you just destroyed. I bet you don't even think twice that sponge you use was once a live animal aswell?
    I don't agree with torture or killing an animal for something stupid like a tooth, but you do have to kill to eat. Otherwise, we would all die, or the planet would be over populated with everything. People like you don't stop and think. So much for "being one with nature" eh?

  • Avistann

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 8:58 pm PT

    That game wasn't half bad

  • Viron_Berserker

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 6:23 pm PT

    Yes, companies respond to gory rip-offs of their games. I f**king hate vegans, so much.

  • garey017

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 12:36 pm PT

    Anything for a little attention and publicity...

  • WardCleaver02

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 11:03 am PT

    What could the People for the Eating of Tasty Animals have against this game?

  • silversonic1

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 10:17 am PT

    PETA has hit a new low.

  • Sins-of-Mosin

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 8:27 am PT

    Ya know, if the media would stop caring what these nuts say, they would eventually go away.

  • Rect_Pola

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 7:11 am PT

    Oh PETA, you and your going too far making people ignore your point because you seem crazy.

  • 02sfraser

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 6:23 am PT

    haha that was a funny flash game. althought it did make a strong point i will never give up meat. it is just to tasty

  • botyrida

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 5:22 am PT

    MEAT IS MURDER..... tasty, tasty murder......

  • The_Iron_Ace

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 2:44 am PT

    Call me a hypocrite, but am all for not beating or humiliating the animals in anyway..I mean, I have a pet dog myself, which is like part of the family.but I probably won't think twice about eating a hamburger. I like cows, I would love to see one in a farm...but by the time its a hamburger, am a little to late eh? I mean, even if I was for PETA, you gotta think about it. Even that minute your saving ONE cow, a group of people are eating SEVERAL others. Am all for animal rights PETA, but please, look in the right places to start.

  • bentleg

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 2:39 am PT

    If people don't want to eat meat thats there business; just like its my business when I eat veal, vennison and whale meat.

    So glad we don't have PETA in this country. Attacking a game because it envoles cooking meat seriously. May they should concerate on propagting thier beleifs and stopping people from kicking thier dogs about.

  • superluigi96

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 10:10 pm PT

    Note to PETA members: For every animal you don't eat, I'm going to eat five.

  • firehawk998

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 9:59 pm PT

    Listen the way to treat PETA is to treat it like a child. Ignore these morons and then they will stop screaming for attention.

  • MegaXtreme

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 9:37 pm PT

    Screw PETA. You only go around once. Enjoy meat while you can.

  • otanikun

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 6:00 pm PT

    Actually that was a pretty fun game, albeit mindless and absolutely stupid as hell for PETA to do, but fun none the less

  • jaguitar posted Nov 20, 2008 5:49 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    jaguitar

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 5:49 pm PT (hide)

    If a superior race of aliens were to come down and start eating us we would think they were pure EVIL. What make's us any different when we eat less evolved creatures?

  • Timstuff

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 5:29 pm PT

    Apparently, PETA is urging Majesco to make a vegan version of Cooking mama. Fair enough, as long as there's a meatatarian version too. I can see it now:

    Cooking Mama: Vegan Edition
    Cooking Mama: Meatatarian Version

    It'd be just like the Pokemon games!

  • PixyMisao

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 4:25 pm PT

    PETA need to stfu and mind their own damn business... btw what is their business anyway? PETA makes Anonymous look respectable and organized by comparison.

  • quantumtheo

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 3:56 pm PT

    i'm so sick of peta..... Now i'd join PETH...

  • dreaminstereo

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 3:53 pm PT

    PETA just take things way too far. Unfortunately, I find most of their attempts to shock the public into vegetarianism humorous and they therefore lose the impact they might have had on me. Not to say that animal cruelty is funny, but PETA kinda is.

  • sieg6529

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 3:52 pm PT

    Animal Rights: Animals have the right to be tasty.

  • Gaara79

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 3:15 pm PT

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9ijLulwUTY

  • rarson

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 2:47 pm PT

    I think that if bassplayer doesn't like this, perhaps he doesn't understand the organization he's a part of (and MANY people who join PETA really don't, like all the people who own pets that join PETA).

    This "extremism" is classic PETA. PETA are extremists, they support the ALF and terrorist activities. The majority of PETA members might be mild-mannered animal lovers, but the people in charge are absolute whack-jobs, with completely insane ideas.

  • skullboy950

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 2:33 pm PT

    Animal activist group my ass! More like the retarded anti-meat legion.

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