Mario's PETA blues

Folks, last week Nintendo released their 5th 3D Mario game "Super Mario 3D Land." Releasing more than a year after Mario Galaxy 2. Must be a new record for time between 3D Marios. One thing that is also brought back is the Tanooki Suit. This famed suit is now embedded in Super Leaves, overriding the Raccoon Mario powerup.

However, it seems one group has targeted Nintendo over the Tanooki suit. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

A new game from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) pokes fun at Super Mario Bros. Trying to draw some attention to its cause, PETA says that its new game, Super Tanooki Skin 2D, will hopefully make Mario think twice about wearing fur in his games. In the game, which is part of its new "Mario Kills Tanooki" campaign, players "direct a bloody, skinned raccoon dog as he chases a tanuki fur–suited Mario through a surreal fur farm where raccoon dogs are routinely skinned alive for their fur."

"Tanukis are real-life raccoon dogs who are beaten and, as PETA's undercover exposés show, often skinned alive for their fur," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "This winter, everyone can give raccoon dogs and other fabulous animals a 1-UP by keeping our wardrobes fur-free." PETA says that "by wearing the skin of an animal, Mario is sending the message that it's OK to wear fur." They also claim that the game informs people that in real life, "Mario would be wearing the skin of an animal who was beaten, strangled or electrocuted, and it wouldn't give him any special powers other than the power of self-deception."

A bold claim. But according to the game, real Tanooki suits come from leaves, not from Tanuki fur. However, Nintendo had this to say about PETA's claim

"Mario often takes the appearance of certain animals and objects in his games. These have included a frog, a penguin, a balloon and even a metallic version of himself. These lighthearted and whimsical transformations give Mario different abilities and make his games fun to play.

The different forms that Mario takes make no statement beyond the games themselves."

Nice move Nintendo. Won't make up the sleeperfest that was 2011. As for PETA, they have responded to the response from Nintendo

"Mario fans: Relax! PETA's game was meant to be tongue-in-cheek, a fun way to call attention to a serious issue, that raccoon dogs are skinned alive for their fur," Shakira Croce, PETA's media coordinator said. "We wish real-life tanukis could fly or swat enemies away with their tails and escape from those who profit from their skins. You can help them by never buying real fur."

How dare you tell me not to buy real fur. I like my real fur jacket as it is made from real bearskin and...

Wait a minute. This isn't Bearskin. This is an artifical substitute.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Works Cited
GamePolitics Link 1
GamePolitics Link 2
GamePolitics Link 3