After having said quite loud that it plans to target hardcore gamers again, Nintendo is moving in the opposite direction. They have just announced that one of their most casual titles, Animal Crossing, is getting quite a big promotion. The company reveals that “the most original images of animals dressed in costumes or even as characters from the hit video game franchise” will entitle the sender to various prizes.

The idea is that Nintendo has set up a site, called www.WelcomeWagginContest.com (quite a long and convoluted name if you ask me) where the promotion is tracked and where you can send in your pictures. You should track up your pet, dress it up in a way which Nintendo will find pleasing, and then snap a few shots of it. After you've done this, you should visit the site, register and upload the photos for all those interested in seeing them.

Other users will vote on the pictures which are put up and the top 50 ones will be picked. The 50 lucky Animal Crossing fans will be getting a membership in the “Welcome Waggin' Committee”. This means that they get a Nintendo Wii gaming console, a copy of the new Animal Crossing: City Folk and a Wii Speak microphone which is required to get the most out of the game. You can enter the contest from October 27 to November 16, which is when Animal Crossing is getting the big public release.

Because the promotion implies taking an innocent animal, dressing it up and taking photos of it, Nintendo is probably fully aware that a backlash, probably lead by PETA, will quickly be launched claiming that this is all very cruel. Animal Crossing: City Folk does not contain any animal cruelty and the game will surely gain notoriety from the publicity stunt.