Nintendo Responds to Petition to put Christina Grimmie in new Zelda Game

Fans of Christina Grimmie, the young singer who was shot and killed after a performance on June 10, have created two online petitions on Change.org to urge Nintendo to name a character after the 22-year-old singer in the fantasy video game Zelda.

The former contestant on The Voice was a Zelda superfan who posted YouTube videos about the game and often tweeted about it.

A spokesperson for Nintendo responded to the petition today.

[jessionpc]

I don't get it... Lots of people loved Zelda and died waiting for this game?...

So being a singer means you deserve to be in a game if you pass away?

FFS. Respect her by giving her family a little piece of mind...

Edit: @Eonjay... Man, it's not a sweet gesture. Right now that family is waking up, "right around now likely", and loathing being alive. Can you IMAGINE what it would feel like months later to pick up the ONE game they found nostalgic and happy about their childhood, trying to play it, slowly moving on with their life, then BOOM. Their sweet dead little girl who's never coming back is selling bombs as a wackie Zelda NPC.

Yea. REAL sweet.

[naruga]

stupid people with stupid petitions ... correct answer for stupid people

[Eonjay]

Its was a sweet gesture. Calm down guys. And Nintendo handled it perfectly without insulting anyone.

[darthv72]

Where was the outpouring of support to put Robin Williams in a game when he died? And he named his daughter Zelda after all.

Nintendo does not need to immortalize them in passing. Their fans will continue their memory in their own way.

[ZeroX9876]

Very nice of Nintendo to actually take the time and answer to her fans. Make sense from them to not go through with this, but still nice gesture to politely refuse.

On the side, kind of tragic what happened to her. getting shot while signing autograph. Makes you think that it could happen to any bigger pop star out there. Glad I live in Canada where gun laws are quite strict.

[TXIDarkAvenger]

@darthv72

There was...

[JimmyDM90]

@darthv72

Yeah they absolutely did petition. http://www.ign.com/articles...

It would have made more sense to do a tribute for Williams as he actually did TV commercials for Zelda featuring him and his daughter.

[StanleyRoper]

I am very surprised by the amount of blowback that supporters of this idea are getting. Eonjay said it best.

[-Foxtrot]

Yeah Nintendo better not do anything for this it's not really fair at the end of the day.

So what? Just because she was a singer and loved Zelda she deserves an NPC in the game. What about all the other Zelda fans in the world who have died and not even got a chance to play the new one does that mean they get one...OH YEAH that's right no because they wern't famous

Hell I'm talking about being famous and no offence but she wasn't that famous, she was a no name singer who had a good little fanbase. I mean I would totally understand if it was someone like Madonna, Kate Bush, Dolly Parton, Debbie Harry, Cher or Cyndi Lauper you know singers who are well known and have been established for bloody years but she wasn't. She was an up and coming 22 year old singer who hardly had any world wide recognition. Sorry to be blunt but it's true

Nintendo wouldn't even give Robin Williams a NPC and he was a more well known celeb tied to the franchise then this girl was.

I know it's horrible to say but at the end of the day it's the truth. She doesn't deserve it just because she was a little popular and well known.

If it was a request from a young kids Make a Wish foundation then I'd totally understand but not like this.

[CrazyJ]

She wasn't just any fan or singer that liked Zelda.

She got her start on YouTube and had a big following with 3.6million + subscribers.
Her YouTube channel is named "zeldaxlove64 Christina Grimmie".
She would sometimes wear Zelda inspired shirts while singing, like in this video https://www.youtube.com/wat...
She had quite a few Zelda inspired tweets like
https://twitter.com/TheReal...
Reggie Fils-Aime even opened his 2016 E3 speech recognizing her and saying she was scheduled to visit their booth.
She didn't just die. She died a tragic death by some mentally deranged fan who she was greeting with open arms when he shot her.

I think the fact her fans knew how much she loved Zelda and Nintendo proves how much she promoted them.

Should Nintendo include her in an upcoming game? I don't know. That's up to them. I don't see why any fan of Zelda should be opposed to the idea as long as it make sense in the game.

[Sunny_D]

Yeah, as blunt as it may seem. Could you imagine the amount of changes we could have seen if people demanded a petition for every person that passed away? There would be one for Michael Jackson, Prince, David Bowie. Muhammad Ali. It wouldn't end. People die every day and it's best to let their name rest in peace.

[DiscoKid]

This. People are actually whining about Nintendo's decision.

[Hoffmann]

Stupid.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

"A spokesperson for Nintendo tells TIME in a statement, “we are aware of the outpouring of support for her, as well as the petition, but we won’t be making any creative or content decisions in this time of mourning.” "

I feel that's the correct response.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Buddy stfu if they stated they were putting her in the game you would have stayed at the exact same thing.

Lol sure bud.

[Null1980]

Edmix, on recent comments I've seen of yours I noticed you were being a little nicer to people, but looks like you're back to your old ways. No need to be so angry and hostile, dude.

On topic- That's great that she was a superfan, but if she wasn't involved in the making of any of the games, I don't see why she should be included in a game. I do love how Blizzard has honored their fallen developers. That is more fitting and classy.

[InTheZoneAC]

u mad bruh...your comment is meh

[NarooN]

Nice shit-post "bud".

[_-EDMIX-_]

@otter- I just don't care for Wonderful's BS comments especially considering he defends this company to a bizarre degree if this company literally said they would put her character in the game I'm pretty positive you would literally like we say the exact same thing you see posted above I'm extremely doubtful he would say otherwise.

If anything people could just look up what he might have stated regarding Robin Williams death when Nintendo decided to have a character in omage to him.

[Null1980]

@Edmix Ok, I haven't followed this guy. Apparently he annoys you. Still, you can react in a more mature manner. I remember the first time you went off on me, you told me to be mature. It's the internet, people will say things you don't like. Don't let it get to you so much.

I don't dislike you. I've seen you have level headed conversations before. Just gotta control that angst.

[_-EDMIX-_]

@Otter- I don't even disagree with you Otter, I would mark me down! lol

In fact, I don't disagree with anyone that does.

I merely don't care for Wonderful's bs response of "I feel that's the correct response." considering he would say this either way.

If they added her "I feel that's the correct response."

If they didn't add her "I feel that's the correct response."

@Wonder- "You don't know how I think or feel" Regarding Nintendo, pretty sure we all know enough.

I'm very doubtful you would have stated anything negative about them. You pretty much spin anything they say into something else entirely to fit some narrative.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

@ Ed
You don't know how I think or feel, let alone do you have any sort of right to determine what I'd say in any given circumstance like this one.
I've marked your comment down as inappropriate.
Grow the hell up and stop stalking my posts, troll.

@ Ed "I'm very doubtful you would have stated anything negative about them"
Implying I never do?
Where were you whenever I've criticized Nintendo for their poor marketing efforts?

Oh yeah, you were off somewhere else, waffling like a paid fantard about how third parties are the saving grace of the industry and how Nintendo should be sucking them off for support.

Shut the hell up and sit the hell down. There are plenty of times where I've criticized Nintendo, and I would not have said the same thing either way in this case.

You.
Don't.
Know.
Me.

Now GTHO of my face.

[Metallox]

Absolutely.

[Hold_It]

So, I guess the new trend is if a popular person dies, let's petition to get them in a Zelda game?

[Hoffmann]

Time to start a petition to get Prince in Zelda as a Girahim replacement or something. Also Bowie and Ali. Because ...Zelda.

[Hold_It]

Pretty much. Don't forget Vin Diesel and Paul Walker as well, lol.

Turned out that Vin Diesel was another victim of those internet hoaxes.

[Eidolon]

Vin Diesel died? When?!

[Null1980]

I'd go for a hyperactive Robin Williams inspired character though! He named his daughter Zelda after the game, after all. Only bc it could be a realy fun character.

[fallacious]

gonna kill myself so i can be in the zelda game as a tribute.

[senorfartcushion]

Who?

[dRanzer]

https://m.youtube.com/watch...

[jessionpc]

Hooo man... that's just... A POOR word to use in this situation.

[senorfartcushion]

I'm just joking; i don't really care who it is.

[donwel]

A poor word to use? Not really, there are those of us who don't keep up with what's considered "popular culture", are from different countries and only take passing glances at the news.
I actually have no idea who this girl is. Is it sad that she's been killed? Absolutely and my thoughts go out to her family, but you can't be expecting everyone internationally to have heard of her. Hell I don't even know most of the current pop stars in my own country, purely because of the fact that I have no interest in that kind of music.

[fallacious]

how is it poor? most people couldnt care less who she is. lots of people die every day. it may be sad to some but people arent obligated to feel or know anything about it.

[Realplaya]

i want michaael jackson, Prince and Mohammed ali also

[ZombieGamerMan]

How about no? It made sense for Robin Williams cause he was in those commercials and named his daughter after Zelda

[CrazyJ]

Except for the fact that Robin Williams took his own life.

[ZombieGamerMan]

and that matters why?

[CrazyJ]

At first I was thinking they should put both in the game but the more I thought about it the more I think that's the wrong call. It's about image and what some people might take away from it. Nintendo wouldn't want to send the wrong message by saying it's ok to commit suicide. If you do we'll make you a NPC.

[Mikeyy]

The people that write these petitions have no clue of the precedent they set should they succeed.

If this passes then why not put Hitler in zelda?

[BiggerBoss]

I can think of many reasons not to put Hitler in lmao

[deafdani]

You're right. It's common knowledge that Hitler LOVED to play quick Zelda sessions on his bunker, in between bombings.

[Kallisti]

Haha, I was actually just thinking that before I read your comment but thought it would be in poor taste to actually post it here.

[Chivas11]

First time I hear of her

[Surt]

When I croak I want to be placed in the next Dark Souls game. As a weapon. The SURT blade ignores your armor defense so you have no "safe place" The blade adds on the status effect of "constant victim", which makes player MP defense start to degrade over time when "triggered" by a enemy AI.

[DragonKnight]

It will be the OP scrub everyone complains about but uses anyway and From will respond that it's working as intended.

[Naughty_Cloud]

Can I make a petition to stop petitions.

[DragonDDark]

That won't stop it though

[deafdani]

If you do, I'll make a petition to stop your petition.

[BLAKHOODe]

I don't know why so many negative comments. I don't watch The Voice and never heard of her until she died, but I don't see a problem with Nintendo honoring her fans wishes by naming some random non-playable elf in the game after her. It's not going to hurt the game. And it's not really for her, anyway - she's dead. It would be for her fans and having happy, game and/or console buying fans is not a bad thing.

[2pacalypsenow]

Who's Christina Grimmie?

[DreadGara]

A person that Nintendo fans wanted her to be an IP in Zelda game because she got shot dead...

[Monduu]

Let her rest in peace already....

[Antnee534]

It's just people wanting her legacy to be in something that she cared for alot. The people who put up the petition are just being nice and wanting her to be apart of her favorite game.

People have had this done for them who played games like in ff14, guild wars 2, and even in war craft. It's just another touching thing for people to do for those who have passed to give them one last mention before moving on.

[The7Reaper]

And she is who exactly?

[jaycptza]

She was a girl who sang a bunch of covers, oh and she was shot after her concert. If she was shot by a Muslim person a bigger deal might have been made and you might have heard of her

[The7Reaper]

Oh ok and yeah if she was killed by a Muslim or if she was black and killed by a white cop it would have everywhere

[KillerPwned]

This is dumb she doesn't deserve to have her name in the game when she has nothing what so ever to do with the development she was just a fan that died.

[deafdani]

I feel fine either way. It would be an extremely nice gesture from Nintendo to include Grimmie as a minor NPC or something, but on the other hand, they're not obliged to do so, and probably don't want to because they don't want to use their games to make any kind of statements regarding the real world.

Both viewpoints are valid.

[toyzombie]

It would have been cool if she was added somewhere in the game but who we kidding... Its Nintendo.

[payikick]

This is the most stupid request ever, ughhhhh slowly but surely new age gamers are killing gaming

[deafdani]

Hyperbole much?

[KilKarazy]

Borderlands 2 did it without even being asked, and even voiced a eulogy for the fan's funeral in claptraps voice.

[JakeNoseIt]

Not wanting to make creative decisions while mourning is a good idea in any situation. Well-handled, Nintendo

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

Don't get why other Nintendo fans continue to use petitions. IT DOESN'T WORK!

[ZeekQuattro]

Never heard of her until she was shot dead and even now I had to click the article to figure out who she was as I had already forgotten her. Stupid petition but then most game related petitions are for reasons like this. Might as well throw in the guy from Star Trek that was killed by his car and Ali the boxing lengend for good measure. What a stupid waste of time.

[Kallisti]

Imagine if she was added to the game and you had the opportunity to shoot her with an arrow, people would be outraged.

[Broomfondle]

I don't need a half arsed celebrity in my games thank you.

[SonyWarrior]

who honestly cares that she died she was hardly a celebrity any way i never heard of her. cant believe this gossip trash made its way on n4g too ........... get a life people

[ShadowKnight]

smh

[NohansenBoy]

Sorry about her loss, but I dunno if this is something that needs to happen.

[Maybay]

Terrible tragedy. RIP, and may her family and friends find peace.

[MasterofMagnetism]

I've never even heard of her until her death. Wouldn't care if they decided to put her in the game or not.

[opinionated]

Petitions are protests for useless morons. And that's saying something since 95% of protesters these days are dumber than shit. Entitled lazy deadbeats and third string intellectuals pretending to be oppressed for monetary purposes. Petitioners are even lower on the scum ladder than them.

[DC777]

Apparently she was supposed to be at e3 with Nintendo. Still, this wasn't the family's idea and I am sure they could do without hearing about this drama over a game right now.

[KentBenMei]

Then put all the fans who die in the game as well. I'm sick of rich or famous people getting special treatment. They aren't better than us, stop putting them on pedestals and worshiping them.

[subtenko]

What about everyone else? 6+Billion people in the world, I bet there is someone out there who deserves this more than the girl in question. No offense to the girl, but how about NIntendo just make the game without putting someone over everyone else.

[mastershredder]

Nut case Nintendo Fans. F-off please.

[WelkinCole]

Look I understand what happened to her is tragic but it does not make any sense to put her in a game where she has no link to.

A tribute on the voice or something she is related to would be fitting. Not a project she has no relation to.

[Manubiggs]

There is also a lot of legal red tape regarding the use of someones likeness, further complicated by the fact that she is no longer with us.