N-Word Slur Appears In Nintendo Game
On Wednesday afternoon both MTV Multiplayer and Kotaku posted stories detailing how they had received copies of Animal Crossing: Wild World for the DS from Nintendo. Because these carts were meant to show off the character importing feature of Animal Crossing: City Folk for the Wii, the DS carts were already opened and had saved games featuring a ton of money and bonuses. Both Multiplayer and Kotaku discovered one unexpected twist, though: a strong racial slur repeated during conversations with in-game character Baabara.
We contacted Nintendo regarding these reports and received the following official response:
“Previously played copies of the 2005 DS game Animal Crossing: Wild World 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.”
This is a surprising slip-up from the family-friendly company with what is perhaps their most family-friendly game, but at least they admitted to their mistake immediately. 1UP also received a copy of the DS cartridge and has been requested to return it, as stated in their response.
SOURCE: 1Up.com
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Comments (12)
My only question is how does that word “accidentally” show up in a video game? Has nintendo tried to research that?
THANK GOD!!!
I am so pleased that most people see this for what it is. Media hype. In this day and age of game interactivity it is very easy for some moron to think he is funny and make Nintendo have to explain itself.
We have REAL problems that need REAL solutions and this is problem number 387,445,211 on the list.
I agree we most, we as a people should stop using the “N” word ourselves but at the same time I’m sure the company responsible will make sure this issue is resolved. Lets move on.
I’m tired of people complaining about the use of the word. It’s like blacks can call other races what we want,but don’t wanna be called that. Then we try and justify our using the word by saying that we say it differently. It’s still the same thing. We need to get past that word. The word is not holding us back, we are holding our own selves back. The word has never killed any black man, but there are countless black men killing other black men everyday. And I bet most of them if not all of them have used the word frequently. So we need to grow up and find out where our true faults are, because it’s not in a simple word that we ourselves use everyday!!!
GROW UP…why do we use the word in the 1st place? Its stupid to me when people say it then get all hurt and offended when other people use it…The said it was an accident. It was from another wireless user…its not like they programmed the game to say it…But seriously…I’m only 20 yall need to grow up!
Why is Nintendo getting bashed for this? This is clearly additions to the game post packaging. Furthermore I havent seen or read anything about boycotting the record industry or comedy clubs for artist using the word. Maybe if you dont want ‘others’ using the N word then lets take it out of our everyday vernacular as a term of endearment.
HOLY crap you people i am 33 black male and i no longer play games as often as i do but i do still play but you have to realize that they dont program the games to be racist i’m sure if you “REREAD” the comment “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.” According to their claims it’s something that came from OUSIDE sources sometimes i think we as a people are too quick to cry foul the word only hurts cuz people cringe in fear at the mere mention of the word as a kid we would be yelled at if we cussed so we used to hide in secret and cussed our collective @$$e$ off as we got older we realized that it was juvenile and something that is quite unappealing so we stopped or at least curbed the foul lanugage. I’m not saying take pleasure in being called the N-word im just saying if you keep it in the dark and hide from it …….it’ll only gain strength from your unwillingness to confront it and lets be real you are confronted with it EVERY day there’s no need to say it to be faced by it ….besides no real racist is gonna come to you and admit he’s a racist or try to get at you by sneaking a cuss word into a video game especially one so widely used
There’s really nothing more to say regarding the matter. It seems that if Nintendo as a company, which I have been loyal to from the ages of about 6-17, has the audacity to let such a malcontent display of racism into their ranks, even virally, would have to be held accountable for their actions. It is in these times that we will see how the country actually feels about the steps being taken here in the near-future, with President Obama at the helm.
Look the word is in almost every rap song. It is a word that will affect you if you let it. You have been called worst by people that love you so do not let a word with this much hate effect you. People look to the future and be strong.
DAMN…ARE U SERIOUS? S**T LIKE THIS JUSTIFIES THAT NOTHING HAS CHANGED…GAMES, WOW…MA LIL BROTHER LOVES NINTENDO AND NOW HE HAS TO READ THIS WITH ME…I NEVER WOULD HAVE LOOKED AT THIS IF IT WASN’T FOR HIM…NINTENDO YOU REALLY NEED TO STEP YO GAME UP…BECAUSE WHAT I SEE IN MY NEIGHBOR HOOD IS ALL THE KIDS WITH THESE DAMN NINTENDO DS’S AND WII’S…THEY LOVE THAT S**T…AND THE MAJOR QUESTION TO THIS WHOLE BLOW UP IS…WHY WAS THERE EVEN 14 COPIES MADE WITH THE RACIAL SLUR??? JUST DISRESPECTFUL
Wow. Right after we vote a Black man into office Nintendo tries to send us back to the days were we would have accepted this. Shame on you. I purchased a Wii for my daughter this year. Bet it’s going back tommorrow. Thanks BP for putting the truth out there…
AND EVEN IF ITS ONLY FOR 14 MEDIA MEMBERS WHY IS THE N***
WORD IS THERE ????????
WHAT THE MEDIA CANT TELL THAT A PERSON IS OF COLOR THAT YOU GOT TO CALL HIM BY HIS SLAVE NAME FOR THEM TO MAKE SURE ???