Ep.136 – Never Put Rat in Ratatouille: The Story of PETA’s Controversial Video Game Parodies
A Trip Down Memory Card Lane · David Kassin and Robert Kassin
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Show Notes
For over twenty years, PETA has used video games as part of its animal rights campaigns. This week, we explore their long and strange gaming history, from Make Fred Spew and Save the Chicks to the infamous Cooking Mama: Mama Kills Animals. Our discussion covers how parody became PETA’s favorite protest tool, targeting everything from Super Mario to Pokémon, and even drawing direct responses from game developers. Along the way, we talk about the organization’s roots in activism, the controversies surrounding its tactics, and how its games sparked both outrage and curiosity across the industry. Join us as we question what happens when activism meets interactivity on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.