Twitter account asks most important question in video games: Can you pet the dog?
If there is a dog in a video game, it should be considered a crime if you're not able to pet it.
Video games can be filled with violent battles, bloodshed, and intense competition. Your game could have the most realistic depiction of war on the planet, but if there is a puppy sitting right there and I can't pet it? Don't even talk to me.
Twitter account @CanYouPetTheDog is asking the tough questions of our favorite game developers — have they included a mechanic that allows you to give a virtual good boy all the love they deserve?
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Can You Pet The Dog's bio includes their standards for inclusion, stating that they are "a catalog of pettable and non-pettable dogs in video games. A manual button press resulting in visual representation of petting is required for affirmation."
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Bonus points if there's a dialogue option to tell the dog just how good it is.
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Sadly, there are also some games that will just not let you pet the dog, such as Super Mario Odyssey. Come on, devs get with the program! Just let us pet the dog already!
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“It is my belief that if a video game contains a dog, the player should be able to pet the dog," the account creator, who wished to remain anonymous told Mashable. "Finding an unpettable dog in a video game can be a frustrating experience, and this account will ideally help players adjust expectations accordingly.”
As for their favorite pet? That goes to Red Dead Redemption 2."
“I appreciate Red Dead Redemption 2's robust dog-petting feature, though I do worry about the labor practices that were required to create such a high-fidelity interaction," @CanYouPetTheDog said via DM.
While we don't expect every game to allow us to adopt our favorite pups along the way, small, seemingly inconsequential actions like petting a dog can't possibly hurt gameplay. Little moments like these actually serve to enrich the entire world of the game.
In the midst of high stakes and total in-game immersion, this account can help us remember that video games are ultimately supposed to be fun. And there is nothing more fun than petting a dog. Or watching a dog thoroughly enjoy being pet by you. Either way, still pretty good.
The account is just a few days old and only has a number of tweets, but we look forward to the important documentation going on here.
Sage is the newest Culture writer on the block at Mashable NYC. They recently graduated from Sarah Lawrence College, and have previously worked for The Dr. Oz Show, NorthSouth Productions, and on Netflix's 'The OA Part II'. Off the clock, they can be found testing out cupcake recipes, collecting dolls, and watching Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure for the millionth time.
