Now normally I'm not one to support PETA. As I'm sure you've seen, I've poked quite a bit of fun at them recently for their idiocy concerning the use of attack dogs in Call of Duty: World at War. One thing I will agree with them on is how terrible animals are treated at the circus. Which brings me to today's announcement of a video game based on the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus arriving on the Wii and DS sometime down the road. The circus sucks to start with, and now you want to base a game off of it?

Listen, anybody who tells you the circus is fun is either an idiot or from the early 1900s. While seeing a bunch of clowns and animals run around inside a tent was fun a hundred years ago, our entertainment palettes have developed new tastes. One thing that hasn't changed over the course of the last century is the animal abuse. I'm not going to preach here, just wanted to get that out of my system. Now we can talk about how absolutely retarded a game recreating the circus in your living room is going to be.

Honestly, the Wii would afford 2K some interesting gameplay mechanics. Swinging on a trapeze, walking the high wire, whipping the lion, and getting in and out of the really tiny car filled with other clowns could all conceivably be interesting. Until you realize that you're playing a game where you swing on a trapeze, walk the high wire, whip the lion, and get in and out of the really tiny car filled with other clowns. Sure sounds exciting. Just think of all the fun you'll be having during the "Guess the weight, earn a kewpie doll" game. Oh yeah, this is definitely going to be how I spend my Saturdays for the next few months.

You can check out the full press release below. Or not.

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From a dizzying height high above thousands of cheering circus fans in New York City’s famous Madison Square Garden, 2K Play, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO) and Feld Entertainment, Inc. revealed that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will be taking the excitement of “The Greatest Show on Earth®” to the next level by partnering to develop circus-themed video games.

For the first time in the near 140-year history of Ringling Bros.®, the breathtaking thrills and timeless magic of this storied brand will be coming to the Wii™ home video game system from Nintendo and Nintendo DS™. The new Ringling Bros. themed games are scheduled to ship this holiday season as 2K Play further extends its portfolio of family friendly video game offerings.

“We are very excited to partner with 2K Play. These upcoming games add an entirely new interactive dimension to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey experience,” said Nicole Feld, Ringling Bros. producer and Feld Entertainment Executive Vice President. “Now circus fans of all ages can continue to experience the thrills and excitement of Ringling Bros. when they play these new games at home.”

During a recent Ringling Bros. performance at Madison Square Garden, and in celebration of this partnership with 2K Play, a Ringling Bros. high-wire artist took to the air and made a thrilling 25-foot walk across a tightrope while maintaining his balance with only a Wii Remote™ and Nunchuk™ in his hands, to the delight of upward-gazing onlookers. It no doubt was a precursor of what to expect in the upcoming video games.

More information on 2K Play’s upcoming games for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will be available at the 2009 E3 Expo in Los Angeles this June.

[Source]

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