Umamusume Fans, Don't Be a Nag: Cygames' Gentle Reminder About Real-Life Horse Etiquette
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Cygames, developers of the popular anime racehorse-girl game *Umamusume: Pretty Derby*, has issued a friendly reminder to fans about proper etiquette when visiting the real-life racehorses that inspired the game's characters, urging respect and caution for the animals' well-being. Essentially, don't be a bloody nuisance to the poor horses.
Alright, buckle up, because this one's a bit of a wild ride (pun intended). Cygames, the mad geniuses behind *Umamusume: Pretty Derby* – you know, that anime racehorse-girl management game that's taken the world by storm – have had to issue a polite but firm reminder to fans: please, for the love of Secretariat, don't harass the actual horses.
Yeah, you heard that right. *Umamusume*, for the uninitiated, reimagines famous racehorses as, well, adorable anime girls with equine features. It’s bonkers, brilliant, and has clearly sparked a renewed interest in the real-life steeds that inspired these digital darlings. The game just launched globally this June after a Japan-only release in 2021, and it's apparently a hit. So much so, that fans are trekking out to see the real-life counterparts of their favorite horse-girls like Special Week and Mejiro McQueen.
But here's the thing: horses, shockingly, aren't always thrilled by hordes of adoring fans. Who knew, eh? (Besides, you know, everyone who's ever been near a horse).
Apparently some over-enthusiastic fans have been a bit too... enthusiastic. Hence the need for Cygames to step in with a 9-point guideline, courtesy of the Racehorse's Hometown Information Center. Think of it as a 'How to Be a Respectful Horse-Fan' 101. (Okay, 9 points, not 101, but you get the idea).
What's on the list? Basic common sense, really. Check tour availability, follow ranch staff instructions, no smoking (fair enough), and absolutely NO barging into stables or pastures. But the crucial points revolve around horse wellbeing: no loud noises, no touching, no feeding, and for goodness sake, no flash photography! Horses are easily startled, and we don't want any equine anxiety attacks on our conscience, do we?
Cygames has a good relationship with the Japanese horse racing scene – they support racehorse exhibits and donate to the Retired Racehorse Association of Japan. They even partnered with the Kentucky Derby to promote the global release. This all suggests they're playing it right. They're fostering the connection between the game and the real world, while being very mindful of welfare.
*Umamusume: Pretty Derby* is available on Steam, Google Play, and the Apple App store. And all three seasons of the anime are on Crunchyroll. Go check it out. Just remember: if you do decide to visit the real-life horses, treat them with the respect they deserve. They're magnificent creatures, not just pixels on a screen. And, let’s be honest, no horse wants a camera flash in its face.
Tags: Umamusume, Anime, Gaming, Racehorses, Cygames
Original article: IGN South Africa