Fat Princess

Okay everyone, time to get a little controversial!

I logged onto my computer this morning and saw this article staring me in the face. I thought it would make a good discussion topic!

So, do YOU think that Sony crossed a line with this? Here's what I think.

While I think there are better games Sony could have created, I am not personally offended by this video game just because I am a fat person. In fact, my first reaction was to chuckle to myself a bit. I mean if you stuff yourself with cake you are going to become tired, fat and hard to move! But then I am a person who is able to (or at the very least is learning to) poke a little fun at myself and life.

There are two ways someone can look at this silly game. On one hand, it could be taken as an attack against fat people and a means of "creating a new generation of fat-hating, heteronormative ---holes" (though I wonder if these feminist groups would have gotten as upset if the character were a Fat King? After all fat hating is fat hating weather it's man or woman right?) Or, one can look at it as a humorous way of raising awareness of one of our country's biggest problems (yes pun intended). Sometimes a stupid depiction of something can make us realize that while we might not like it, a change in how we live our lives is necessary.

I mean hell, if I find myself stuck in the kitchen eating a whole cake (which I've been known to do) I know I'll gain weight and won't be able to run after my little minions as well as I should be able to! And you never know, it might make the couch potato kid playing this game think twice about his or her food choices. Maybe it will motivate him or her to put down the sweets and go outside to play so they don't end up becoming a "fat princess" themselves. Coming from a parent, "No cake, go out and play," would sound like a nag. Even worse is the growing number of parents that don't even bother teaching their kids about health or nutrition because they don't want to have to change their own unhealthy habits. But what if a game like this actually helps some kids to make a connection for themselves via a medium they relate to? That could end up sending a powerful, and in that case positive message.

And from a feminist standpoint, I'd think they'd be more upset by the fact that they are using the princess as the flag or prize to be captured than they would be about her being fat. You eat a ton of cake you get fat, that's fact. But isn't it worse to imply that women are trophies to be captured?

So what do you think? Are you offended? Not offended? Think it's funny, mean or just plain stupid? I'd love to know what you guys think.