[WHY] Pokemon Black and Blue

[Shyria Dracnoir]

The amount of time that Pokémon spend stuffed in pokéballs is akin to how elephants are chained up in train carts, waiting to be let out to "perform" in circuses. But the difference between real life and this fictional world full of organized animal fighting is that Pokémon games paint rosy pictures of things that are actually horrible.

Originally Posted by Team PETA

If PETA existed in Unova, our motto would be: Pokemon are not ours to use or abuse. They exist for their own reasons. We believe that this is the message that should be sent to children.

Oh god what

This just makes me wonder; how do they manage to find game teams they can contract to make these, or do they somehow manage their own in-house group?

Though apparently someone on the design team played enough Black/White to include the twist about Gehtis's real motivations

[POS Industries]

Actually, this game is pretty hilarious. Like, in a completely intentional way. The designers really did their homework here and it's a clever parody that communicates their message.

I ain't even mad. Good for them.

[Whomper]

How is this not a lawsuit waiting to happen?

[POS Industries]

Originally Posted by Whomper

How is this not a lawsuit waiting to happen?

Parody is protected under fair use.

[Whomper]

Originally Posted by POS Industries

Parody is protected under fair use.

Yeah, but parody is an imitation. This game doesn't imitate: it says "hey, this is Pikachu and Ash and all the other characters created by Game Freak". Hell, it even steals from the game's plot lines to make a point (Ghetsis).

I dunno, man. In my opinion, this game pushes past imitation and presents a clear defamation of Game Freak. I guess we'll have to disagree.

[Kim]

Originally Posted by Whomper

Yeah, but parody is an imitation. This game doesn't imitate: it says "hey, this is Pikachu and Ash and all the other characters created by Game Freak". Hell, it even steals from the game's plot lines to make a point (Ghetsis).

I dunno, man. In my opinion, this game pushes past imitation and presents a clear defamation of Game Freak. I guess we'll have to disagree.

Definition for defamation: a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions.

It's not defamation.

[POS Industries]

Originally Posted by Kim

Definition for defamation: a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions.

It's not defamation.

Nor is it actually an attack on Gamefreak or even a call against the franchise. This game was pretty clearly written from the perspective of fans of the series with a great deal of familiarity with the source material and the referential pop culture surrounding it.

It's using the pokemon premise as an analogy to communicate the ideas behind their own cause, which is especially fitting in this case because it's based off the very game that itself tried to tackle the animal rights issue as it would have applied in the pokemon world.

It even supports the overarching moral of the pokemon series, people and pokemon living and working together in harmony, as evidenced by the game's ending of Ash and the pokemon joining together to work toward raising awareness of the issue of pokemon mistreatment.

Originally Posted by Whomper

I can see we're not going to agree on this. Again, in my opinion, the blood, needles, shackles and knives quite definitely pose a malicious misrepresentation of the Pokemon franchise.

The art direction is a tad over-the-top in its garishness. But I don't think it's intended to be commentary on the games themselves as it is an illustration of the abuses faced by animals in the real world. The message isn't "Pokemon is bad." It's just using Pokemon to get their point across.

[Odjn]

If PETA wasn't an animal rights organization I might actually pay attention to this. But since it is PETA, and they are an animal rights organization, it's a waste of time.

[Kim]

Honestly, I'm gonna say PETA has a fair point with this. Pokemon Black and White were all about selling the message that Pokemon like being held in captivity, being forced to fight, and basically being the servants of people to do whatever they want. In a world with as much animal cruelty as there is, including a lot we just let happen because it's been TRADITION'd into modern society, I think calling out a game that sends that message is very fair. There are a LOT of reasons to not support PETA in general. Their methods can be really shitty and even result in the deaths of animals at times, and their attempts to spread their message can be incredibly sexist and body shaming. I don't support PETA. I actually enjoy Pokemon games now and again, but they're basically "GLORIFIED DOG FIGHTS: THE GAME", and that's kinda fucked up.

[A Zarkin' Frood]

I kind of stopped playing my Black edition even though the game was fun because the story rubbed me kinda the wrong way. Like, why do I have to fight against the good guys?