Nintendo promises to include same-sex marriage in sequels after gamer complained he could not have virtual relationship with his real boyfriend <br />...Computer games company Nintendo has apologized for leaving same-sex relationships out of a 'life simulator' game after criticism by equality activists. <br /> <br />Protestors attacked the publisher for not including the option of having gay relationships in Tomodachi Life, a Sims-style title which lets players create characters and populate and island with them. <br />However, American gamer Tye Marini, 23, found that there was an element of his life he could not recreate in the game - his relationship with his boyfriend. <br /> <br />Mr Marini uploaded a video saying: 'I wanted to be able to marry my real-life fiance's Mii. You import your personalised characters into the game. You name them. <br />...'You give them a personality. You give them a voice. They just can't fall in love if they're gay.' <br /> <br />But although the company accepted that it had failed to 'represent' its audience fully, it said it was not possible to add a gay marriage feature into the game after it has completed. <br /> <br />It instead pledged to add the option to marry within the same sex should it release a sequel to Tomodachi Life, which was released last year in Japan and will released in America and Europe next month. <br />...A spokesman said: 'We apologize for disappointing many people by failing to include same-sex relationships in Tomodachi Life. <br /> <br />'Unfortunately, it is not possible for us to change this game's design, and such a significant development change can't be accomplished with a post-ship patch. <br /> <br />'We pledge that if we create a next installment in the Tomodachi series, we will strive to design a game-play experience from the ground up that is more inclusive, and better represents all players.' <br /> <br />Campaigners welcomed the move, but said Nintendo had responded slowly compared to other games publishers. <br /> <br />Titles including fantasy series Fable and The Elder Scrolls, as well as The Sims and sci-fi game Mass Effect have long included the potential for same-sex relationships.
