Scrabble on Nintendo DS teaches swearing

16:21 08 December 2008

A Nintendo DS version of the board game Scrabble has caused outrage after parents discovered swear words in its dictionary.

The game, which comes with a guidance rating of 3+ on its packaging, even included definitions of the swear words in its system.

Tonya Carrington gave her son Ethan the game 'Nintendo Scrabble 2007' so he could play against the virtual opponents and improve his vocabulary in the process.

However, she was surprised when informed of its explicit content. Mrs Carrington tried out the game herself and her opponent entered the word "t*ts".

The game gives a dictionary definition of the words it uses and on this occasion it meant "garden bird", but also "an informal word for female breasts".

More shockingly, the computer later offered the word "f*****s", which it defined as "a slang word for chavs".

The move earned a triple word score and won the game for the character.

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Mrs Carrington said: "Ethan is doing really well with English at school, so I decided to get this to help boost his vocabulary - but obviously not like that.

"I would have been horrified if Ethan had seen that word. 'Sh*t' had come up as well. I was absolutely mortified."

Later on the word "toke" - defined as "a draw on a cannabis cigarette" - was used by computer players.

Mrs Carrington said: "The worst thing is that there's an age rating of 3+ on the box and no advisory warning about adult language on the packaging at all.

"It's disgraceful. Scrabble is a game for families, but I've had to ban Ethan from playing this version because of the horrible words it uses.

"It's such a shame for him, because he loves Scrabble. Nintendo is on the Christmas wish-list of every kid, and parents need to be warned."

The family complained to ASDA, who originally sold them the game. They were told to contact Nintendo who then referred them to the game's publisher, Ubisoft, and video-games rating system Pan European Game Information.

Despite emailing them three months ago she has yet to hear whether any action will be taken.

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A spokesman for Ubisoft said: "We are sorry the game has caused concern, but it includes a "junior" option that stops it using unusual or offensive words."

However Mrs Carrington said she had read the accompanying booklet and found no mention whatsoever of a junior version.

Ethan said: "I love Scrabble, so I was really disappointed when Mum told me I couldn't play it on the DS because of the rude words."