PETA goes ape over circus Wii game

By Robert Purchese Published 5 November, 2009

Says you'd be a Dumbo to buy it.

Animal welfare rights organisation PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is crusading against the sale of 2K's Ringling Bros. Wii game.

The group urges campaigners to email Take-Two boss Ben Feder and force him to "sever ties with Ringling Bros.". There's a petition form already written out, awaiting only your signature.

"Let him know that you'd rather play a game featuring a circus that does not beat animals for 'entertainment'," states the PETA website (via Kotaku).

PETA alleges that Ringling Bros. "is known for its long history of abusing animals", particularly elephants, which are locked inside poorly ventilated boxes for days and are "violently beaten" with bullhooks.

PETA has an entire website dedicated to its investigation into the circus, which has been prolific across North America since the 1920s.

The animal welfare group has waded into the realm of videogames before, once with regard to World in Warcraft and once in rebuke of Cooking Mama.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (50) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • chrisjm #1 2 years ago

    dont they have anything better to do?

  • Johnson #2 2 years ago

    'Prolific'? Really?

  • penhalion #3 2 years ago

    If even half of what PETA say is true, then I'm suprised that anyone who has ever owned a pet, would side with Ringling Bros over PETA. Of course this comment thread will likely be filled with people slagging off PETA because they think it's their god given right to buy any game even if buying it provided money to kill newborn babies for sport....*sigh*

  • Clive_Dunn #4 2 years ago

    Well I've learnt my lesson, no more spanking my monkey in front of a PETA representative.

  • mingster #5 2 years ago

    i might want to buy an animal cruelty game though.
    Remember it is only a game.
    You get to do things you cant do in real life.
    Can i run over lions legs in this?

  • Sunyavadin #6 2 years ago

    This just further increases my drive to make all my clothes out of PETA members in future...


    It puts the lotion.....

  • nuanimal #7 2 years ago

    Wait... are they objecting to the game because it allows you to beat animals? Or because it's a Ringling Bros related product?

    Sorry that wasn't clear?

  • captain_monk #8 2 years ago

    They are probably objecting as it's a Ringling Bros licensed product and so they will be making money from this game.
    So basically this game is financially supporting a cruelly run circus.
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/09 @ 10:51

  • Toothball #9 2 years ago

    Are PETA just doing some kind of weird cross promotion these days? Like the thing with Cooking Mama seemed like more of a means to have the PR people talk about all its good points in an effort to respond. I expect we'll shortly see a glowing defence of this game from the publishers too.

  • The-Bodybuilder #10 2 years ago

    I was coming in here ready to moan about PETA and their animal rights-fascist ways, but after reading the antics of that circus, to be frank, I fully agree with PETA.

    I'm no "animal-lover" (I am but not to PETA degrees), but the actions of the circus sound heinous.
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/09 @ 10:55

  • kendoji #11 2 years ago

    Well there are two sides to this. First of all, animal cruelty IN games - seeing as how most of us greatly enjoy shooting people in the face in games, I can't see how shooting animals in the face, or otherwise beating them, should be any worse. I'm a peace loving leftist vegetarian, but greatly enjoy shooting innocent people's heads off in GTA.

    But that's not really the issue here - it's the fact that this game is linked to an organisation that may or may not be actually hurting animals in REAL LIFE. If that's true, then I absolutely see PETA's point.

  • GordonCaladan #12 2 years ago

    Glad to see the majority of comments so far are reasonable and don't stoop to the levels of adolescent "criticism" against PETA generally seen on other gaming sites.

  • Joco84 #13 2 years ago

    Games that allow you to spank, shoot, throw, behead, skin or step on animals in-game = OK

    Games whose profits pay real people who do the above = NOT OK

    I fully support PETA in this

  • Mkwone #14 2 years ago

    I agree with their core philosophy.

    The way they go about some of it however, directly funding terrorists and intimadating people is also wrong.

    Anyway i'm off to eat a bacon butty

  • Sir_TimAlot #15 2 years ago

    I killed a swan the other day...........did a shit on it...........

  • SAMagic #16 2 years ago

    As people have said, the kneejerk reaction to this is "PETA ranting against the use of animals in anything as usual" but if the circus is actually guilty of animal cruelty then this is certainly valid.

    @Sir_TimAlot: If you're in the UK you broke the law, swans are only allowed to die for the queen!
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/09 @ 11:26

  • gjgjg #17 2 years ago

    PETA are a bit of a pain to the Animal Rights movement, they do as much harm as 'positive action'.
    On this point they hit a positive *signs petition*

    ps.Bring on the 12 monkeys!
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/09 @ 11:40

  • Spooke #18 2 years ago

    The problem is that PETA are such a stupid, ignorant and badly run organisation that no-one cares what they say anymore. In this case it looks like they are right but the other 95% of the time they shoot themselves in the foot.

  • Sunyavadin #19 2 years ago

    Thing is, the overwhelming majority of everything PETA say is lies. So I really can't trust any claims they make.

    They are a dangerous fanatical terrorist organisation and the sooner we crack down on their murderous ways the better.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #20 2 years ago

    If PETA didn't spend so much of their time making false advertising claims trying to scare people into vegetarianism, then people might have more time for their campaigns that actually have merit (which this one admitedly looks like being).

    As it stands, they can still go fuck themselves.

  • WallyWombat #21 2 years ago

    @BuckoA51 You may not agree with everything PETA is about, but using that site hardly does any good as it is set up by the 'Center for Consumer Freedom' (which attacks anyone who criticises smoking, fast-food, or alcohol). More info on them here: <a href="http://www.consumer deception.com
    ">http://www.consumer deception.com
    </a>

    Anyway, you don't really need to have issues with PETA to be against circuses with exotic animals in them. Those that use them belong in the past, alongside the rotten zoos that would have animals in small iron bar cages with concrete floors.

    The circuses that are good, are those such as 'Circus Oz' and as has already been mentioned 'Cirque du Soleil'.
    Edited by 2 at 05/11/09 @ 12:07

  • wizbob #22 2 years ago

    BuckoA51 05/11/09 @ 11:44 | #22

    PETA are terrorists and kill animals, never pay attention to what they say. http://www.petakillsa nmals.com/

    Lazily googling some made-up rubbish to pointlessly smear a charity. I like your cancerous style.

  • sneetch #23 2 years ago

    @Johnson
    'Prolific'? Really?

    Indeed. What does a baby circus look like? Sure it's not just a tent with a squirrel in it?

  • Sunyavadin #24 2 years ago

    I like how the PETArds have already started doing what the Darkfailers tried here.

  • tinners #25 2 years ago

    Edit : - I think you mean World of Warcraft EG???

    "in" ???

    :p

  • kangarootoo #26 2 years ago

    Wow, that video makes for quite shocking watching. There are clearly some very insecure individuals there who try and shore up their failing sense of manliness by repeatedly hitting an elephant with a stick when it is just standing there.

    Its not like they were even forcing them to perform in some of the sections (which wouldn't make it ok, but perhaps a twisted sort of logic might exist). Those guys were clearly just hitting them for the pure joy of hitting them. Abuse of animals of that kind is a window in the mind of someone who is truly fucked in the head. I hope they don't have kids.

    Give me 5 minutes with those fuckers, I wouldn't need a stick.

  • SG #27 2 years ago

    PETA are over-zealous twats. But Ringling Brothers are cunts and I'm with PETA on the association with Ringling Bros.
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/09 @ 13:34

  • kangarootoo #28 2 years ago

    "I like how the PETArds have already started doing what the Darkfailers tried here."

    What, confuse you with proper grown up issues and reduce you to childish puns?

  • TonyHarrison #29 2 years ago

    "I killed a swan the other day...........did a shit on it........... "

    This is an outrage!

  • Hyoscine #30 2 years ago

    "If even half of what PETA say is true, then I'm suprised that anyone who has ever owned a pet, would side with Ringling Bros over PETA. "

    It isn't. Why assume that it is? If a respectable (and by respectable I mean honest in their intentions) animal rights organisation has something to say on this or any other matter, of course I'll listen. But PETA? No.

    Obligatory link: http://www.petakills animals.com

    @ WallyWombat - Yeah, the source on that site isn't a group I like to side with, but the facts they present are easily verified and should be enough to steer people towards genuine animal welfare groups.

    @ wizbob - Wow. That is absolutely the unpleasant rhetoric of someone with nothing to back up what they're saying. Nice going.

    @Joco84 - Spot on.
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/09 @ 13:59

  • kangarootoo #31 2 years ago

    @Hyoscine

    Christ alive. You don't have to listen top PETA if you don't want to. But does that mean you will also ignore any issue that they have associated themselves with?

    Go and look into Ringling Brothers yourself. Don't take PETA's word for it. Apply your own intellect.


    And as for your obligatory link, are you even for a second suggesting that the organisation behind that website is "honest in their intentions"?

  • Fleeby #32 2 years ago

    Why bother signing PETA's petition? I have had my name added to two PETA petitions in the last two days – without my knowledge, never mind my permission. They say when contacted that it must be an over-enthusiastic friend submitting them on my behalf. I'm not convinced but will give them the benefit of the doubt. Unless it continues. Perhaps they would be wise to validate any petition signings by asking you to confirm via an activation link in an e-mail. You know, acting like a professional organisation, etc.

    In the meantime, received an amiable e-mail from the Portuguese Prime Minister today thanking me for my thoughts on the circuses in their country. Erm...

  • Hyoscine #33 2 years ago

    @ kangarooto - I know I'm free to ignore PETA, but as someone who cares deeply about about animal welfare, I find them to be a genuinely worrying organization. Of course I find the Ringling Brothers circus to be deplorable, but bringing this issue to people's attention shouldn't excuse PETA's own acts of animal cruelty.

    As for the link, the intentions of those hosting it are irrelevant. The facts are there. Apply your own intellect.

  • OdinsEinherjer #34 2 years ago

    PETA's a fraud:http://www.petakills animals.com/

  • Daymare #35 2 years ago

    ""PETA Kills Animals" is a project of the Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the full range of choices that American consumers currently enjoy. In addition to malicious animal-rights activists, we stand up to the "food police," environmental scaremongers, neo-prohibitionists, meddling bureaucrats, and other self-anointed saints who claim to "know what's best" for you."

    Yeah, rights are all that matters; fuck responsibilities! Well, at least that's how children perceive the world.

    Babies especially.



  • kangarootoo #36 2 years ago

    @Hyoscine

    "As for the link, the intentions of those hosting it are irrelevant. The facts are there. Apply your own intellect."

    I absolutely agree, the intentions of the host are irrelevant. I was quoting from your earlier post saying that you weren't interested in what PETA had to say.

    To be honest it sounds like we agree, which is more important in this instance than any internet forum scrapping :)




    And can people stop posting that same link over and over. Trying to dismiss one bunch of fanatics by referencing another bunch of fanatics is just pollution of the senses.

  • Sunyavadin #37 2 years ago

    The thing is - how many people would seriously buy this game anyway? It'd be an almost unheard of one, with minimal advertising, which would show up in £1 bargain bins within the month.

    HOWEVER - by kicking up a shitstorm, PETA give it PUBLICITY.

    Having never heard of this circus before today, I honestly can't say how they treat their animals. A few unbiased news sources and I'm sure I'll make a decision, but as it stands, PETA endorsing anything, well...

    It's kind of like headlines saying "Al-Quaeda say 20mph limits should be imposed on roads with schools!"
    It damages a perfectly good cause by association.

  • kangarootoo #38 2 years ago

    @Sunyavadin

    I'm not sure it is good publicity though. I know the phrase "there is no such thing as bad publicity" sounds snappy, but it has always been bollox.


    "Having never heard of this circus before today, I honestly can't say how they treat their animals. A few unbiased news sources and I'm sure I'll make a decision"

    So the process has begun, and that is good is it not? You don't trust PETA to be objective, and I'm in agreement with you on that one. But surely without their initial shitstorm you wouldn't know about the issue at all.

    You probably wouldn't buy the game anyway, its true. But now you definitely won't (I hope) and might also consider not eating at Pizza Hut in future.

    Its not black and white, its not love PETA and want to kiss them or burn kittens instead of firewood. Its the end result that matters, and you don't need to make any allegiances along the way if you don't want to.

  • Eraysor #39 2 years ago

    PETALOL

  • sneetch #40 2 years ago

    @kangarootoo
    Its not black and white, its not love PETA and want to kiss them or burn kittens instead of firewood.

    /shivers
    /looks at pile of kittens next to cold fireplace

    Hmmmmmm.

  • kangarootoo #41 2 years ago

    If the kittens are in a pile, its probably already too late for them ;)

  • Sunyavadin #42 2 years ago

    Incidentally...

    [link url=http://www.newscientist.c om/article/mg20427311.600-how-green-is-your-pet.html?full=tr ue
    ]http://ww w.newscientist.com/article/mg20...[/link]

    Since a pet cat has almost the same carbon footprint as a Volkswagen Golf, Yes.
    Yes, I do think it would be better used as an alternative to firewood. It's the environmentally friendly option.

  • Bennicus #43 2 years ago

    What a load of bullhooks

  • smelly #44 2 years ago

    I wasnt going to buy this game.. i will now

    Screw you peta and all you stand for!

  • persus-9 #45 2 years ago

    I decided to sign because I don't like real world violence against animals. However the form letter was very rubbish and clearly against the idea of a circus game involving animals and so failed to make the important disinction between gaming and real life. So I did some editing and came up with what I hope is something perhaps a few more of us can agree with: -

    I've heard that Take-Two is partnering with Ringling Bros. to create a circus-themed video game. I've also heard Ringling has a long history of animal abuse and neglect. I've heard that to get elephants to perform, Ringling Bros. rips babies away from their mothers and stuffs them into poorly ventilated boxcars, forcing them to travel and perform for up to 50 weeks out of every year. I've heard that Elephants are beaten and gouged in the most sensitive parts of their bodies with metal-tipped bullhooks.

    I'm not some PETA nutjob, I'm actually a big fan of many Take-Two published games. I just don't want the money I spend when buying your excellent games associated with what seems like a genuinely unethical company like Ringling Bros.

    If you want to create a circus-themed game involving animals then that is fine by me but please don't team up with any company who make money by committing real life acts of animal cruelty. Thank you.

  • SniperZoz #46 2 years ago

    Before you sign anything peta related watch this : http://tinyurl.com/ychtgav

  • Sunyavadin #47 2 years ago

    Good find.
    They may be crazy anarchists but they have a degree of credibility PETA lack.

  • kangarootoo #48 2 years ago

    @smelly

    "Screw you peta and all you stand for!"

    You petulant little child. What exactly has screwing PETA got to do with supporting a company that beats elephants?

  • kangarootoo #49 2 years ago

    @persus-9

    Well put dude(ette).


    @SniperZoz

    Its a good find, but we need some balance here. Right at the centre of all this are circus animals being abused for fun, and that risks getting lost because people don't like the slightly bonkers fanatics that are PETA.

    You don't need tu spport PETA to think Ringling Brothers are dickheads. And sometimes decisions aren't as clear cut as we would like them to be. Its a shame that PETA often act in a way that causes the sort of simpleton reaction as we saw from smelly earlier, 'cos at the heart of it all some of the points they make are valid.

    It reminds me a little of what a friend said about the sensible but exrcutiatingly annoying Richard Dawkins. "What he says makes sense, but he says it with the voice of a c*nt".

    There is something floating about in my mind about cutting off trunks to spite PETAs face. And there is a reason "cutting off your nose..." has become the common place saying that it is.

    In this case, to put it simply, it isn't an elephants fault that PETA are a bit over the top most of the time.
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/09 @ 09:43

  • qwerty1234 #50 2 years ago

    As a member of peta I have to say that me and my lama wife Karen are appalled at this game