Ah, that's more like it, innit? The LittleBigPlanet patch we knew was coming, but didn't -- well, until today -- is out in Europe. And now we can put this mess behind us ... once we get the game. Please. Now!
The 1.02 patch removes the lyrics from Toumani Diabaté's "Tapha Niang," muffling any questionable references to the Qur'an -- the song will apparently remain in the game as an instrumental track. While the topic has been debated to death this week (even by the artist himself), Sony clearly erred on the side of caution, likely burning untold millions of discs -- and dollar bills! -- in the process. But hey, at least the company still has Phil's vote. That's gotta count for something, right? Game on!
Reader Comments (42)
Posted: Oct 23rd 2008 3:04PM darkinchworm said
I wonder if they plan on stacking all those discs on top of the E.T. cartridges?
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Posted: Oct 23rd 2008 3:06PM (Unverified) said
So if there's a patch that fixes is it already, why such a long delay?
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Posted: Oct 23rd 2008 3:24PM (Unverified) said
Not so much. There might be Muslims who didn't mind the Qur'an being used as background music in a game (such as, for instance, the musician himself), but there's no group out there that would insist it be used for such a purpose.
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Posted: Oct 23rd 2008 4:49PM (Unverified) said
This issue is dead but others I fear will come.
Heres to the WTC level. Or the Columbine level.
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Heres to the WTC level. Or the Columbine level.
Posted: Oct 23rd 2008 3:36PM Courtney said
Actually, I'm pretty sure I do.
The point being, a patch can't wipe the files off the disc. Don't connect to the internet, you can play the original game. Depending on how many managed to escape Sony's recall, years from now the original could be viewed as a collector's item, and a real one, not the plastic crap they include with the "collector's editions" they sell.
If tens of thousands are floating around, it probably doesn't matter. But, had I got one early, I would have the game to play now and have a chance at having a game disc worth holding onto.
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The point being, a patch can't wipe the files off the disc. Don't connect to the internet, you can play the original game. Depending on how many managed to escape Sony's recall, years from now the original could be viewed as a collector's item, and a real one, not the plastic crap they include with the "collector's editions" they sell.
If tens of thousands are floating around, it probably doesn't matter. But, had I got one early, I would have the game to play now and have a chance at having a game disc worth holding onto.
Posted: Oct 23rd 2008 3:51PM TRTX said
No, sounds like you still don't get it. They patched the game instead of reprinting it thousands of times. EVERY LBP disc will still feature the lyrics, but they'll be patched over. That's it.
They didn't take a bunch of discs, destroy them, and redistribute replacements.
It's just like how Rock Band was patched to include the music store. That patch is STILL out there, and the disc was never reprinted to include it.
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They didn't take a bunch of discs, destroy them, and redistribute replacements.
It's just like how Rock Band was patched to include the music store. That patch is STILL out there, and the disc was never reprinted to include it.
Posted: Oct 23rd 2008 4:11PM Vidikron said
@Courtney
That's been my understanding as well. In fact, Media Molecule stated that they had a patch ready to go when the news broke, but said that Sony opted for a recall. The patch is to remove the lyrics from the pre-recall discs that were already sold or not returned.
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That's been my understanding as well. In fact, Media Molecule stated that they had a patch ready to go when the news broke, but said that Sony opted for a recall. The patch is to remove the lyrics from the pre-recall discs that were already sold or not returned.
Posted: Oct 23rd 2008 4:19PM Kodros said
@T....
"They patched the game instead of reprinting it thousands of times. EVERY LBP disc will still feature the lyrics, but they'll be patched over. That's it."
I'm not an expert, but how do you rewrite to a non-rewritable disc?
"They didn't take a bunch of discs, destroy them, and redistribute replacements."
So, you're telling me that within a weeks time, the retailers shipped back the discs, Sony then manually unwrapped hundreds of thousands (maybe millions) of LBP cases, manually placed them in some machine, manually put the patched discs back into their packaging, and then shipped them out to the retailers on time?
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"They patched the game instead of reprinting it thousands of times. EVERY LBP disc will still feature the lyrics, but they'll be patched over. That's it."
I'm not an expert, but how do you rewrite to a non-rewritable disc?
"They didn't take a bunch of discs, destroy them, and redistribute replacements."
So, you're telling me that within a weeks time, the retailers shipped back the discs, Sony then manually unwrapped hundreds of thousands (maybe millions) of LBP cases, manually placed them in some machine, manually put the patched discs back into their packaging, and then shipped them out to the retailers on time?
Posted: Oct 23rd 2008 4:02PM Hyams said
I dunno the exact size, but I believe they're auto-deleted once you've finished playing the level, as you have to re-download them each time you replay them.
Don't worry though, downloading doesn't take long. I kept on forgetting I was downloading levels, as it takes no longer than a normal level load (about 3 to 5 seconds).
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Don't worry though, downloading doesn't take long. I kept on forgetting I was downloading levels, as it takes no longer than a normal level load (about 3 to 5 seconds).
Posted: Oct 24th 2008 5:57AM (Unverified) said
I read from somewhere that the levels are actually in KB, not MB so yeah, a few seconds and your off.
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Posted: Oct 23rd 2008 3:25PM McWeen said
Whew with that removed there finally won't be any more controversy around the game.
Oh wait...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NICWRAayfE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwmPlSD2bRE
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Oh wait...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NICWRAayfE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwmPlSD2bRE
Posted: Oct 23rd 2008 4:03PM (Unverified) said
Why pander to Muslims by removing lyrics in a game? Do they do the same thing to games that offend Christians. Countless games take Jesus name in vain a zillion times. Do we need to walk on egg shells to keep from offending Muslims. I guess Sony thinks so because Muslims, unlike Christians will blow up the freaking game factories with suicide bombers. How many Muslims are playing this game in Iran or any middle east country for that matter?
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Posted: Oct 23rd 2008 4:37PM Levi Partridge said
What I find funny is that if a song in LBP had references to the Holy Bible, it's likely that Christians would be furious if Sony decided to remove the lyrics via a patch or a recall.
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Posted: Oct 23rd 2008 5:02PM (Unverified) said
Its true that Christians have to take more shit than Muslims. But its comes from the same taboos we have in America. A white guy in America is more reluctant to make a black joke than the other way around. Why? Because we did fucked up shit that race and now white people gotta take sometimes.
I think its sorta the same way. SORTA. Unfair stigmas are alive and well against Muslims. (oh noes the terrorists! Or any McCain rally as an example.)Because of it they're more inclined to pull the race/religion card on us.
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I think its sorta the same way. SORTA. Unfair stigmas are alive and well against Muslims. (oh noes the terrorists! Or any McCain rally as an example.)Because of it they're more inclined to pull the race/religion card on us.
Posted: Oct 23rd 2008 9:30PM zuburi said
"...Muslims, unlike Christians will blow up the freaking game factories..."
Dude, get real. Get real and grow up. Then do some research on militant Christian groups blowing up or attacking abortion clinics in America. Between 1977 and 1994 there were an average of 100 acts of violence against people that have anything to do with those places PER YEAR.
I am a Catholic, but I am not crazy enough to think that my shit doesn't stink and that the only people out there to do crazy stuff in the name of religion are the Muslims.
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Dude, get real. Get real and grow up. Then do some research on militant Christian groups blowing up or attacking abortion clinics in America. Between 1977 and 1994 there were an average of 100 acts of violence against people that have anything to do with those places PER YEAR.
I am a Catholic, but I am not crazy enough to think that my shit doesn't stink and that the only people out there to do crazy stuff in the name of religion are the Muslims.
Posted: Oct 24th 2008 3:03AM (Unverified) said
How many muslims are playing it in the USA, Europe, etc...?
Muslims don't just live in the middle east, you know.
(though given that the US pays billions of dollars to the middle east every year for oil, and many people in those countries have WAY better standards of living than people in the west, I'd bet that quite a few are playing on PS3s on 80inch screens)
Being polite isn't a bad thing... if it was we'd have more insensitive idiots in the comments. *ahem*
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Muslims don't just live in the middle east, you know.
(though given that the US pays billions of dollars to the middle east every year for oil, and many people in those countries have WAY better standards of living than people in the west, I'd bet that quite a few are playing on PS3s on 80inch screens)
Being polite isn't a bad thing... if it was we'd have more insensitive idiots in the comments. *ahem*
Posted: Oct 23rd 2008 5:08PM (Unverified) said
Think about the astronaut suit and cool space levels with MOON Physics!
Or a Sonic level with Sonic speed!
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Or a Sonic level with Sonic speed!
Posted: Oct 23rd 2008 5:10PM (Unverified) said
Finally! Now I can wait to play the game in peace!
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Posted: Oct 23rd 2008 5:52PM (Unverified) said
How many times does it have to be said?
NOT EVERYONE IS CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET.
"Would anyone have even noticed? "
Yes. In fact some people spend their time finding things to be offended about.
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NOT EVERYONE IS CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET.
"Would anyone have even noticed? "
Yes. In fact some people spend their time finding things to be offended about.
Posted: Oct 23rd 2008 6:19PM mezzaninex said
I think this is all a big conspiracy. Sony invented the offended Muslims for the recall to hide the fact that Kaz Hirai placed a secret penis level on each disc.
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Posted: Oct 24th 2008 3:09AM (Unverified) said
PS/ Anyone know if there are any plans for a LBP soundtrack album? They have some cool songs on there...
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Posted: Oct 24th 2008 11:26AM trekker said
This whole thing is retarded, the only reason this is happening is because it might offend muslims and start another jihad or whatever.
I've played plenty of games where they are bagging on Christianity or just religion in general and no one complains about that. Even if it was justified. If someone had actually said something offensive then maybe id understand.
In this case its a few lyrics in a song written by a muslim. Yeah I know the arguments, somehow its making fun the qor'an if its in song format. Well that rule only applies to muslims not the entire planet. But because islam has these extremist nut jobs(Before anyone else says it, yes, it might happen in the other religions but not nearly as much.) that murder people for drawing cartoons, I can see why Sony was falling all over themselves to fix it even before anyone had any complaints at all.
If I even buy this game im not going to let the ps3 update. I doubt I will though. And before everyone gets all up in arms, call me racist or whatever if you want, I don't really care because its got nothing to do with it.
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I've played plenty of games where they are bagging on Christianity or just religion in general and no one complains about that. Even if it was justified. If someone had actually said something offensive then maybe id understand.
In this case its a few lyrics in a song written by a muslim. Yeah I know the arguments, somehow its making fun the qor'an if its in song format. Well that rule only applies to muslims not the entire planet. But because islam has these extremist nut jobs(Before anyone else says it, yes, it might happen in the other religions but not nearly as much.) that murder people for drawing cartoons, I can see why Sony was falling all over themselves to fix it even before anyone had any complaints at all.
If I even buy this game im not going to let the ps3 update. I doubt I will though. And before everyone gets all up in arms, call me racist or whatever if you want, I don't really care because its got nothing to do with it.
Posted: Oct 25th 2008 12:31PM (Unverified) said
What I'm still curious about is if they destroyed all those blu-ray discs or not. I'm thinking about turning off my internet connection until I get to that third level just to see if the discs are actually different than the ones people managed to snag early. I can't imagine there are a large percentage of PS3 users who are Muslim, without internet, and fluent in Somali.
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