Majesco Responds To PETA On Cooking Mama Criticism

Earlier this month, animal rights group PETA produced a web game which parodied the popular Cooking Mama game series, under the title Cooking Mama: Mama Kills Animals. Today, North American publisher Majesco fired back with a press release which highlights the game's inclusion of diverse dishes, including vegetarian selections. Majesco notes in its press release that the Japanese-developed game includes recipes for "vegetarian fare like miso soup and rice cakes" -- though it's worth noting that traditional Japanese miso soup is not a vegetarian dish, as it's created using fish stock. On the other hand, chocolate chip cookies, French fries, pancakes, and ratatouille are -- all of which are included in the game. The company maintains that 25 of the game's 51 recipes are "vegetarian-friendly." The PETA parody was formulated to call attention to the plight of farmed animals and an overreliance on meat-based dishes, but Majesco's response frames the argument more humorously. Says "Mama", "I would never put rat in my Ratatouille. 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." The press release also notes that Mama supports humane treatment of animals -- at least when it comes to her pet dog, Max. Cooking Mama: World Kitchen, for the Nintendo Wii, was released yesterday in North America, ahead of its release in Japan and Europe.