Watchdog Groups Takes Aim At... LEGO Batman?
Somebody at the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, which hasn't made a peep about video games since 2007's battle against Manhunt 2, has taken themselves waaay too seriously. With all the games out there that are legitimately inappropriate for children, what game does the CCFC award their horribly-named TOADY award (Toys Oppressive And Destructive to Young children)?
Lego Batman. Yeah.
How do you turn the ultimate creative toy into a symbol of commercialized childhood? Begin by partnering with media companies to sell that toy in branded kits designed for recreating movies like Star Wars, rather than creative construction.Then, dispense with hands-on building altogether by turning your toy into a video game so that instead of deciding what to build next, children choose which cyber weapons to use to beat up their opponent.
Finally, ignore the fact it was rated suitable for ages 10 & up and partner with McDonald's for a Happy Meal toy giveaway to simultaneously promote the video game, junk food, and the violent Dark Knight movie series to preschoolers.
I'm not sure what flavor Kool-Aid you have to drink to believe that Legos are free from commercially-induced demand (Bionicle, anyone?), let alone to make the jump to vilifying as cute and harmless a game as Lego Batman. Sure, pop culture snobs and Luddites are always sad to see something that they loved as children turned into something that a new generation of children will adore, but that hardly qualifies as "oppressive" or "destructive."
"Oppressive?" Really? I mean, really?
Oh: the TOADY list also rails against a doll, named Baby Alive, because it comes with diapers that aren't reusable. So maybe the concept of "taking oneself too seriously" is a lost cause.
LEGO Batman Makes Watchdog Group's List of Terrible Toys [GamePolitics]
tiny dancer
Posted to Hot Stuff, Miscellany on 23 January 2009
· Comments (3)
Other stuff like this: campaign for a commercial-free childhood, ccfc, lego batman, toady award
I'd say you take yourself way too seriously. What a odd thing for you to get upset about.
And why write about the same exact thing that every other gamer blog is writing about unless you have something new to say or are funny or interesting or something.
Oh wait - you had that fabulous Kool-Aid line. You did bring something to the discussion. Good job.
Kool aid - hahahahahahhahahaha.
So, they're completely naive to the fact that Lego is a COMPANY, whose aim is to SELL things and make a profit?
Does this dozy bint in this quote think Lego pay their employees with sunshine and puppies?
I generally ignore anything watchdog groups say on principle, especially if they say what they do "for the children" because 99.999999999% of the time that's code for "we hate teh gays".