PETA's German Arm Takes Swing at Battlefield 3 for Virtual Rat Violence
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, but could playing Battlefield 3 turn little Gustaf into a sadistic rat killer? Depends on who you ask. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in Germany is taking issue with the fact that you can kill rats in a "sadistic manner." This, along with any killing of virtual animals, can have a "brutalizing effect" on impressionable young males, according to a Google translated press release.
The animal rights organization isn't happy about the fact that players can stab a rat in the back with a combat knife, pick up the dead rodent by the tail, and toss the carcass aside. According to PETA, repeated cases of animal cruelty in Germany are often directly inspired by violence in videogames and movies.
As far as we can tell, PETA isn't pitching to have the game banned, just strongly criticizing the decision to allow rat violence and urging Electronic Arts to think twice before including similar content in future games.
The animal rights organization isn't happy about the fact that players can stab a rat in the back with a combat knife, pick up the dead rodent by the tail, and toss the carcass aside. According to PETA, repeated cases of animal cruelty in Germany are often directly inspired by violence in videogames and movies.
As far as we can tell, PETA isn't pitching to have the game banned, just strongly criticizing the decision to allow rat violence and urging Electronic Arts to think twice before including similar content in future games.
