SAN FRANCISCO, CA—Fruit Ninja, the classic mobile game which recently celebrated its 12th anniversary, came under fire this week for inaccuracies which some say are offensive to actual ninjas. The organization behind the complaint is the Ninjas Living In Non-Japan Areas Society, or NLINJAS for short, which is headquartered in San Francisco. Kirk Durkin, president of the NLINJAS, was unsparing in his criticism:
“To common folk like yourself, Fruit Ninja may seem like harmless fun. But the stereotypes about the ninja community spread by this game aren’t harmless and aren’t fun. The first—and most harmful—stereotype present in Fruit Ninja is that ninjas are all about violence. Ninjas contribute many things to many communities. For example, I am very passionate about my local animal shelter. And many of my fellow ninjas insist that assassinating rival warlords actually reduces violence, in the long run.”
A ninja who asked to remain anonymous also felt that the gameplay of Fruit Ninja did not reflect typical ninja activities:
“This is typical American bullshit! When I cut down three foes in one swoop to defend the interests of Oda Nobunaga, drenching my shinobi shozoku in blood, did I get an extra three points for a ‘combo?’ No! The only reward I got was an extra ration of soap to clean the stench from my uniform. You know nothing of the Way of the Ninja! And tell me this: where are the throwing stars, also known as shurikens? A game with no throwing stars (shurikens) can never be called a ninja game!”
Ned Jones, representing Halfbrick, the developer of Fruit Ninja, responded in a press release Sunday, “If Fruit Ninja does not reflect typical ninja activity, then how do ninjas cut their fruit? Are we to believe that ninjas eat their pineapples whole? Checkmate, ninjas. Leave that last part off-record.”
Unsurprisingly, the NLINJAS objected to the Halfbrick response. Durkin again stressed his opinion that “we must not reduce the ninja community to one stereotype. Do I enjoy throwing my fruit up into the air before splitting it in half with a katana? Of course. But there is so much more to the ninja lifestyle as well that does not make it into the game.”
At press time, Fruit Ninja was also in hot water with the Advocacy Center for Fruits, which pointed out that “watermelons and strawberries aren’t the same size, Halfbrick! How is it even possible to make that mistake?”
—B. Hollander-Bodie
