Sicilian Culture: News: T.G.I. Friday's Changes Name in "Moofia" Game

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T.G.I. Friday's Changes Name in "Moofia" Game
By Lewis Lazare, Chicago Sun-Times
September 10, 2001 - - Ooops.
T.G.I. Friday's isn't saying so directly, but it looks as if the restaurant chain's interactive Internet game formerly known as "Moofia" wasn't a hit with some people in the Italian-American community.
"We did get some complaints from a very few number of guests," said a T.G.I. representative, who declined to discuss the matter further. Still the squawks were loud enough, apparently, to cause the online game to be completely revamped last week and renamed "Bovinator." The game now features a milk-gun-toting cow arrayed against a group of rebellious barnyard animals. Retired along with the "Moofia" title were a band of characters with names such as Tony Piglioni, Da Rat, Busta Chops and Frankie Fowlmouth. In their place are Sammy Swine, the Rat, Willy B. Wool and Freddie Fowlmouth.
Despite the changes, the object of the game remains unchanged: players use the beefy hero's "udder gun" to "moo" down villains wherever they appear.
"Bovinator" was launched in July to promote the restaurant chain's all-natural hamburger. More than 50,000 people played the game in the first two weeks after it debuted. "Bovinator" can be found on T.G.I. Friday's Web site, www.fridays.com.

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