LittleBigPlanet [PS3] - Out Now!

[Lyris]

. We have the BNP's hate to deal with on a daily basis and their pamphlets blaming ALL Muslims for the drug trade in the UK and attacking all of us for it being deemed legal and not hateful by the investigating police.

Muslims aren't the only people the BNP hate, though. They are just generally twats, from what I gather.

Would those of you who are making far more of a fuss about this than Muslims are want to see us completely shut up over issues like these?

I certainly wouldn't phrase it like that, but there are people who would rather that religious people stopped demanding respect for beliefs that they themselves would have a hard time explaining. I don't think it would be right for these people to be expected to shut their mouths, but there do seem to be vocal religious people who take advantage of the free, unearned respect that their beliefs are given.

As for "Muslim Massacre" - did anyone really expect Muslims to grin and bear that? If so, that's crazy.

[Morph]

On a vaguely related note, what's the deal with pigs and Muslims? I know they are forbidden to eat them but why can't they even look at them?

eer.. what ever gave you that idea? of course Muslims can look at pigs what they can't do is eat the flesh of swine this is because the pig is a very unhygienic animal and will happily eat its own **** or any filth it finds. It also has biological similarities to the human (which is why they use certain pigs organs for transplants etc.) I suppose in a way eating pigs flesh is like eating that of a human. It is forbidden for Muslims to eat pig for well being, in fact many people who aren't Muslims don't eat pig for these very reasons.

see here for more info on pigs.

Don't see how you're question is even vaguely related but that's cool.

[Synthesthesia]

But some may have wanted to bring this up with Sony - and good for them for not bowing to the hatred and vilification that would without doubt pour out from all corners including even this forum.

Good for them for complaining about something tiny? The song isn't remotely offensive, it's not saying "kill muslims" or something similar.

Do you think that if I contacted Sony and said to them, "I'm an environmentalist, me and my peers really dislike you using rockets in this game. Could they please be removed?" That they would? I highly doubt it.

That was very much their right, and in the manner they asked, there was certainly nothing as hateful or offensive as the reactions from 'gamers' worldwide', including here.

You've basically repeated yourself with this second part. People don't want to stand for stuff like this, the game's all about being creative and using varied sources to create your levels. When they can't even use some licensed music in it, there's something wrong there.

I have no issue what-so-ever with muslims, I just have issue with them abusing power and influencing something which in all honesty has little bearing on them. If it was something valid then fair enough. But it really isn't.

[Lyris]

the pig is a very unhygienic animal and will happily eat its own **** or any filth it finds.

Don't a lot of animals do things like that? My dog isn't exactly hygenic!

Of course, as a veggy, I would never eat a dog, or a pig for that matter. Let's not get started on the things that offend me.

[Morph]

Don't a lot of animals do things like that? My dog isn't exactly hygenic!

Of course, as a veggy, I would never eat a dog, or a pig for that matter. Let's not get started on the things that offend me.

which animals that are normally consumed by humans do things like that?

[teddymeow]

It's a real pity that the game has been put back for the reason that it has. I can't say that if I was "Sony" that I wouldn't have done the same thing though. I know that the song has been out for a couple of years but what with this being a more mass market product the audience is going to be that much larger and that means the number of complaints / offended also has the potential to increase. I'm sure the chap who told Sony about the song didn't want the situation to explode like it has but then the Internet wouldn't be doing it's job if everything hadn't been blown out of proportion.

I'm just slightly concerned of the precedent this could set for future releases with regards to content that a paeticular group might find offensive. Games are supposed to be about fun and getting away from the pressures of everyday life. The minute we let politics / religon etc dictate what we can and can't play they stop being tools for relaxation and become part of an agenda.

New release date 5th November!? Nice job Sony, give me 2 days to enjoy your product before the behemoth that is Gears 2 hits!! Still it gives me a bit longer to enjoy Fable 2.

[Brad]

Would those of you who are making far more of a fuss about this than Muslims are want to see us completely shut up over issues like these? Can we not even bring it up with the companies concerned without all this hate?

Not at all. Everyone ought to have freedom to speak their mind. I think those that were offended should have voiced their concerns wherever they felt their voice best heard. I think Sony should have listened to their concerns and then shipped the game, as it is, including the lyrics that a minuscule percentage of the target audience found offensive. I am upset with Sony, not Muslims in general and not the person who originally complained. Just Sony.

[smithers0105]

Leaving the religious question to one side; is this not just a case of effective risk management by Sony? From a business point of view, is it better to temporarily hack off a bunch of gaming geeks on the internet (obviously, we are, because LBP does not involve your Gran waving a Wiimote about or falling off a balance board) - who will still buy the game anyway - in order to save the reputation and (more importantly) future sales of a genuine AAA family-friendly system-seller?

Maybe they reckon ?100K (a total guess, might be dearer/cheaper) to recall and issue new discs is more than worth it?

I think I saw someone applauding Sony for taking the Corporate Responsibility stance by recalling the original version, but I think the above is more likely TBH.

By this logic, Resistance would have been pulled too, except for the fact it had not as much hype, was not getting 10/10 reviews and was also a 16+ rated title, so presumably the sales figures never going to be enormous anyway.

[Brad]

Oh yeah, I'm sure it was a business decision by Sony so it's not unexpected. I'm just saying that I think from every perspective other than business it was the wrong decision.

[Number45]

It's actually summed up pretty well in a recent MM post (Emphasis mine):

Some of you have asked about pre-orders and early copies. Everything should remain as before - you will get your exclusive pre-order content, we’ll go on patching the game, and everything will work as if none of this had ever happened! I think in the end, everyone will be happy.

There's also an interesting article up on the Edge website:

Last week, Sony delayed one of the biggest games of the year when it recalled Media Molecule-developed LittleBigPlanet on fear that in-game music that contained words from the Koran would incite anger among Muslim gamers.

But M. Zuhdi Jasser, M.D., president of the non-profit American Islamic Forum for Democracy told Edge on Monday, “Muslims cannot benefit from freedom of expression and religion and then turn around and ask that anytime their sensibilities are offended that the freedom of others be restricted.

[Brad]

That last comment sums the whole thing up really. It isn't 'Muslims' who complained about this. It was one person, who happens to be Muslim. The point is that if he or she had complained about any aspect of the game, and claimed that it had offended them for any reason other than a religious one then Sony would have effectively ignored them. Like someone else posted, religion is awarded special status in these matters and it shouldn't be.

[Dogg Thang]

eer.. what ever gave you that idea?

A Turkish broadcaster refusing any episode of a particular show that featured a pig character because it would offend their mostly-Muslim viewers (though Turkey is technically secular).

of course Muslims can look at pigs

Seemingly not all of them.

Don't see how you're question is even vaguely related but that's cool.

It's only related because it's about removing an element to appease groups who may be offended and it just happened to become an issue at the same time of this LBP thread.

[Number45]

I'm secretly hoping that Play ignore the recall. It's Tuesday and they've as yet not adjusted their release date, so you never know.

EDIT: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...DDF713L0RH.DTL - I'm quite enjoying reading the mainstream media coverage of this.

[fishbowlhead]

I'm secretly hoping that Play ignore the recall. It's Tuesday and they've as yet not adjusted their release date, so you never know.

Keep that dream alive 45

[Number45]

I'm a glass half full kinda guy.

Just reading over on GAF, the guy responsible for this (NSider over on GAF) has contacted the artist and it sounds like he's actually amending the track itself now. Which has been in the wild for two years.