Activision shamelessly announces 'Science Papa'
by JC Fletcher 
{ May 14th 2009 at 12:00PM }
Science Papa features "over 30 different experiments," during which players will manipulate lab equipment like Bunsen burners, mix chemicals, and perform other stylus/Wiimote-based activities in order to "prove their scientific worth against a crazy cast of rival scientists in intense competitions."
Here's where it gets really brilliant: while you're doing these experiments, or following these "recipes," if you will, you'll be guided by a cute, cartoon-style helper. A sort of parental figure. We're surprised that nobody else has come up with this winning formula yet!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ramuji @ May 14th 2009 12:05PM
Cool. Maybe I can now finally put my science degree to good use.
Jeff @ May 14th 2009 12:18PM
How'd they manage to cook up an idea like that?
Cannon @ May 14th 2009 12:50PM
What you did there: I see it.
chriscanberg @ May 14th 2009 12:23PM
This sucks.
Rip Tatermen @ May 14th 2009 12:32PM
Oh, I get it! Boys are good at math, and girls should learn to cook so they can land a rich scientist husband. Thanks, Activision and Nintendo!
Ethan @ May 14th 2009 12:45PM
Damn Activision, reinforcing that prevailing male gender role of the crackpot scientist. I was always pressganged into trying out for the science teams when I was a kid.
charlie b. @ May 14th 2009 12:50PM
it's nice to see that Nintendo understands real American family values!
thank you, Nintendo, for making me understand that i can be anything i want within the realm of gender specifics!
Matisyahu Serious @ May 14th 2009 1:06PM
"it's nice to see that Nintendo understands real American family values!"
yes, nintendo...well accused.
Haohmaru @ May 14th 2009 2:33PM
If either game were Nintendo-published titles, Rip's comment may.. MAY!! ..have been funny. But since they aren't, it's not just funny - it's frackin' hilarious.
Rip Tatermen @ May 14th 2009 2:52PM
Well, I believe I covered the publisher with the "Activision" part, but regardless, I lumped Nintendo in because the Mama games are well-known, iconic Nintendo games oft-cited in their overarching attempts to appeal to female gamers.
Matisyahu Serious @ May 14th 2009 3:09PM
"I lumped Nintendo in because the Mama games are well-known, iconic Nintendo games ..."
majesco, rather - and the hits keep coming!
Rip Tatermen @ May 14th 2009 3:29PM
By Nintendo games I mean games that one plays on a Nintendo system, in much the same way that I would casually refer to, say, Goldeneye as a Nintendo game.
S. Tiger @ May 14th 2009 4:07PM
So...would you say Final Fantasy is a Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft game? (This covers the PC and Xbox versions of FFXI)
Rip Tatermen @ May 14th 2009 4:25PM
Yes, Ralph, I'm going to marry a carrot. Are you seriously saying that you would, for example, refer to Gran Turismo as a Polyphony game instead of a Playstation game? Look, all I'm saying is that, fair or not, this is bound to reflect poorly on Nintendo in the eyes of the casual observer, even though most of the blame lies with Activision. Please try to pick up the shattered pieces of your lives and move on.
dark_inchworm (on Steam!) dark inchworm (on XBL!) @ May 14th 2009 4:41PM
"this is bound to reflect poorly on Nintendo in the eyes of the casual observer"
The "casual observer" is probably too dumb to care.
Matisyahu Serious @ May 14th 2009 6:00PM
sheesh rip, just takin' the piss...if we cant lovingly mock strangers on a website, we may as well just shutter the entire netterwebs.
charlie b. @ May 14th 2009 6:10PM
"it's nice to see that Nintendo understands real American family values!
thank you, Nintendo, for making me understand that i can be anything i want within the realm of gender specifics!"
seeing as you are unfamiliar with the concept of sarcasm, i will close the cash register at this point.
Matisyahu Serious @ May 14th 2009 6:28PM
wow, take a gander at charlie ripping himself a new one.
Rip Tatermen @ May 14th 2009 7:34PM
Umm, I replied, but I didn't hit the reply button, so it's, um, down the page a bit. 'Cause I'm dumb. Also, I laughed the first time I read 'Matisyahu Serious', and then immediately felt guilty, and a little dirty, for having done so. So if that's reaction you were aiming for, congratulations!
OK, I'm done now.
Ethan @ May 14th 2009 12:39PM
To be honest I think they just keep busy because the marriage isn't working.
Roto13 @ May 14th 2009 2:04PM
Yeah, I'm definitely more amused by the fact that Papa gets to be a scientist while Mama is stuck in the kitchen, occasionally going down on her knees... to do some gardening.
GeekNurse @ May 14th 2009 2:56PM
I see what you did there, and surprisingly, find nothing wrong with it :)
Lisa @ May 14th 2009 2:08PM
I know I should be offended by the gender stereotypes or the blatant milking of a previous winning concept, but I still want to play it. :/
GeekNurse @ May 14th 2009 2:58PM
You know why cooking mama's feet are smaller that science papa's?
So she can get closer to the oven.
/s
Rob @ May 14th 2009 2:19PM
Activision is just reinforcing the white male reality, as I have come to understand from going to college.
KaBob799 @ May 14th 2009 2:21PM
Dumb name
Stix Remix @ May 14th 2009 2:25PM
But does he have flaming eyes when you fail?!
KaBob799 @ May 14th 2009 2:30PM
Also, can people settle down about gender stereotypes. What if it was Cooking Papa and Scientist Mama, would that make any difference at all? Then they would be using women to sell science and saying that men are better chefs...
Wingldak @ May 14th 2009 2:37PM
The science and cooking mini-game-based games wouldn't be a bad idea at all, if they didn't try to give the games main characters that imply offensive sexism!!!
Do they really not see what they're doing and how bad of an example it is for the young kids they're targeting? The sexism implied in Cooking Mama was iffy, but this is blatant with Science Papa.
It's also just sad that they are doing all of this simply for brand recognition.
Rip Tatermen @ May 14th 2009 7:15PM
I'm sorry, Matisyahu Serious! I don't know what I was thinking, taking The Internets seriously. Just say you'll take me back, Internets, and I promise it'll be all poop jokes and cats with poor diction from now on!
Toasty @ May 15th 2009 1:07AM
Why didn't they just come out with Science Mama? She's already left the kitchen a few times.
I mean, it's like - blam, nothing offensive, you keep the brand name, you continue to reinforce the character, and people who see the box will say "Oh I enjoyed Cooking/Gardening/Sewing/Ironing Mama! I want to see her do REAL PERSON stuff now!"
emichan @ May 16th 2009 10:31PM
For all those a bit concerned about the gender stereotyping, there's an upcoming RPG called "Science Girls" you might want to check out. :)
zzzzzz @ May 28th 2009 5:11PM
from the provided screen shots, this just looks like a crap attempt to capitalise on the success of the mama series!
I think majesco should bring out a similarly themed game to show them how it should be done.
despite that, I believe the competition aspect they mention for science papa is a nice twist/addition.