"Umamusume: Pretty Derby Team Urges Fans to Respect Guidelines While Visiting Real-Life Racehorses Featured in the Anime"

Sure thing, here’s a rewritten version of the article:

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Okay, so here’s the deal. There’s this game called “Umamusume: Pretty Derby.” Never heard of it? Well, strap in. It’s not your typical gaming fare. Picture this: horses reborn as anime girls. Yup, ears and tails included. Anyway, Cygames, the brains behind this delightfully bizarre creation, finally unleashed it globally this June. Took ’em long enough, right?

This whole universe kicked off in 2018 as an anime. Fast forward to 2021, the game dropped, but only in Japan… until now. In it, you get to chat, train, and basically live the life with characters like Special Week and Mejiro McQueen, who, believe it or not, have their real-life horsey counterparts prancing around Japan. It’s kinda wild how a whole fandom now wants to meet these real horses. I mean, I totally get it, but still.

Here’s where things get a bit sticky. Fans, in their enthusiasm—bless them—ended up startling these majestic creatures. Loud noises, flashes, you name it. So Cygames had to step in like, “Hey, cool it!” They rolled out these guidelines—nine of them, actually—through the Racehorse’s Hometown Information Center. Basically, check your visit schedule, don’t freak out the horses, and for crying out loud, please don’t touch them or anything.

Also, smoking on site? Yeah, that’s a no-go. Follow the ranch peeps’ instructions, and don’t wander into stables like you’re in a buddy comedy. Horses aren’t fans of paparazzi moments either, so ixnay on the light flashes.

Speaking of which, Cygames isn’t just about the game. They’ve got ties to the whole horse racing shindig in Japan. They pop up at racehorse events, support exhibitions, and even threw some cash at the Retired Racehorse Association. Oh, and they once partnered with the Kentucky Derby—they set up this booth where folks could get a sneak peek at the game. Imagine playing that while horses raced by. Oddly magical.

Curious? Of course, you are. Umamusume: Pretty Derby is up for grabs on Steam, Google Play, and the Apple App Store. And if you’re more of a couch potato, you can binge all three anime seasons on Crunchyroll.

So, there it is. Dive in, see what all this horse-girl fuss is about. Or don’t. I’m just here, sharing thoughts. Who knows what else will capture attention next?

Verity Townsend here, by the way. Reporting from Japan, writing about all things quirky and cool. Catch you later.