User-made Zelda, Mario tracks removed from GH: World Tour's servers

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 8th 2008 at 8:30PM }

We imagine that the same knee-jerk reaction that causes first-time players of LittleBigPlanet to craft startlingly realistic (and often mobile) genitalia is the same force that prompts players of Guitar Hero: World Tour to re-create popular songs using the game's expansive music creator. However, World Tour director Brian Bright warned against such unauthorized covers before the game came out, promising to delete any copyright-unfriendly material -- a promise Neversoft and Activision Blizzard recently fulfilled.

Among the user-created tracks with the most downloads are, unsurprisingly, numerous songs from other video games -- themes from Zelda and Mario titles being the most popular. However, in the first mighty swoop of their eraser, the game's moderators removed the recreated Nintendo tunes from their servers (but not from the hard drives of those who have already downloaded the tracks). We can't help but agree with Activision's stance on copyrighted content -- that said, you give us some Gitaroo Man covers, internet. You give them to us now.

Tags: activision, guitar-hero-world-tour, mario, neversoft, zelda

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Cesaria (GT: Cesaria360; PSN: Cesaria) @ Nov 8th 2008 8:35PM

Damn, wish I would have downloaded these. Although, taking them down will only do so much. People will just illustrate how to create them in forums.

Hafk @ Nov 8th 2008 8:39PM

Well, the themes are property of Nintendo. I am guessing Nintendo asked them to take them down.

Or there could be Wii-exclusive Mario/Zelda DLC (Which would be the counterpart to the Halo and God Of War DLC)

Who knows? Nothing to really get angry about. They said they would delete copyrighted content.

Hafk @ Nov 8th 2008 8:39PM

Gah, wasn't intended to be a reply.

Foetoid @ Nov 8th 2008 8:43PM

GAH!

T @ Nov 8th 2008 8:47PM

This isn't any particular group requesting Act/Nsoft take down the songs. This is Activision/Neversoft being proactive and removing these now before those companies jump on them like Marvel/DC did to City of Heroes.

BigD145 @ Nov 9th 2008 12:02AM

GH owns all user created content. Copyrighted content must be taken down because it's instantly an infringement on the owners work.

Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Nov 9th 2008 8:34AM

The moment you create ANYTHING in this editor, it's a copyrighted work. You also have the right to make derivitive works.

Bakkster @ Nov 9th 2008 8:23PM

@Sheppy:
Derivative works are allowed under the compulsory license. This has two conditions, neither of which are being fulfilled:
1) Notify the copyright holder of the original work that you intend to create a derivative work AT LEAST 30 DAYS BEFORE YOU MAKE THE WORK AVAILABLE.
2) Pay the owner a license fee PER COPY MADE, unless another rate is agreed upon.

So, no dice. Any cover in GH:Tunes is, in fact, breaking copyright law.

KeenCommander @ Nov 8th 2008 8:45PM

LAME!

They're not going to be able to keep it down as fast as they pop up again. Besides, people will just make tutorials for how to create songs - more work, but it'd do the trick.

Nothing about the game has thrilled me enough to want to buy it anyways.

Dr. Stabbingworth @ Nov 9th 2008 10:10AM

I don't know how their system works, not having the game, but they should just do what people do on youtube: give the song a name that is a string of non-sensical characters and then post the string of characters on the internet. People moderating the servers probably wouldn't bother to check (unless a ton of people were downloading it).

RIAA @ Nov 9th 2008 4:24PM

Instead of removing the songs constantly why not just sue the creators?

SKI @ Nov 8th 2008 8:45PM

Can Wii gamers download the tracks off the internet and transfer using an SD card?

Mr Khan @ Nov 8th 2008 8:51PM

All Wii DLC is apparently tied to its console of origin anyway, so if you even try, it will reject it

Foetoid @ Nov 8th 2008 8:51PM

Nah it would be locked to the Wii it was downloaded to, like VC content.

The Fatass of Kickassness @ Nov 8th 2008 9:40PM

For games with extensive Wifi play or DLC you can't even transfer the save data to begin with.

Foetoid @ Nov 8th 2008 8:46PM

Is there some sort of forum or something where people can suggest future DLC. This would allow people to request they songs they'd probably otherwise make themselves on GH:WT then use the music creator to make thier own music. I'd be requesting Megadeths Duke Nukem Theme song instantly.

Haggard @ Nov 9th 2008 7:11AM

The rock band forums have a DLC/song request section, so I'd assume GH has one too.

NukeAssault @ Nov 8th 2008 8:56PM

Good call Griffin. I may have to make that for myself. =P

The Fatass of Kickassness @ Nov 8th 2008 8:58PM

As long as the Megaman themes are still up, I don't care. Hell hath no fury like a Megaman fan scorned. Remember that, Activision...

OTAM @ Nov 8th 2008 8:59PM

So basically we are allowed to only download original tracks people don't give a shit about?

Great.

Maybe Sony will close down some of those PS3 theme sites because I have a user created Smash Brothers Brawl theme on my Playstation.

copa @ Nov 8th 2008 9:44PM

"So basically we are allowed to only download original tracks people don't give a shit about?"

No, you're oversimplifying it.

Activision intends to charge you a subscription fee to download only original tracks people don't give a shit about.

Chase @ Nov 9th 2008 4:26AM

So true, copa. So unfortunately true.

Tiptup300 @ Nov 8th 2008 9:08PM

GHTunes isn't very fullfilling. I mean the first few times you try it, it's neat. After that you just wonder why it's there.

Monkeys Suck @ Nov 8th 2008 9:35PM

Wonder how long it'll be before we hear a band says "Hey, this song sounds similar to ours!"

ill trooper @ Nov 8th 2008 9:54PM

Do I smell a new burgeoning market for Guitar Hero "fake" books?

Anthony @ Nov 8th 2008 10:40PM

Glad to hear Joystiq doesn't support breaking the law.

Blank-Mage @ Nov 9th 2008 12:52AM

...often.

KeenCommander @ Nov 9th 2008 2:24AM

Given that it's a fully outdated and obsolescent law, I wish they would support breaking it...though I fully understand their legal reasons for not encouraging people to commit crimes and such.

Faar @ Nov 9th 2008 9:06AM

It's NOT illegal to play another band's/composer's material you know. Or else cops would be arresting thousands of street musicians every day across our respective nations.

This is just another example of companies covering their own asses for their own convenience, not because of some requirement of the law.

Anthony @ Nov 9th 2008 7:26PM

Or rather their protecting their assets. You know. The ones that end up costing 160 MS points?

Ghede @ Nov 8th 2008 11:08PM

I know tons of songs that sample video game music, and it's not illegal. What would happen if I did that? Would it still be taken down?

j.howlett @ Nov 8th 2008 11:10PM

i wonder if user created music is cross platform? since it's notes played on the same instruments. maybe someone should recreate the theme from the daily show or south park songs.

Gewurz Man got equipped with... Guitar Hero! @ Nov 9th 2008 2:39PM

it's not

Moptimus Slime @ Nov 8th 2008 11:10PM

What the fuck? You dont here MM taking down Mario themed LBP levels, so this is just pointless. Oh wait, Activision would have to do this because if they do go to subscription, or they would get their asses sued off for profiting off another company's copyright. Heres an idea: DONT FUCKING CHARGE FOR THESE SONGS EVER!!!!

Remember how your Tony Hawk series slowly faded away? You wanna know why? YOU RELEASED ONE EVERY YEAR AND CHARGED FULL PRICE!And yet you continue to follow that dark, winding corridor into oblivion. I don't want GH: Metalica or GH: Hendrix. I may be interested in Metalica DLC or definitely Hendrix DLC, but not a full $60 game for crying out loud! And now your taking CoD down that same path? FUCK YOU!I enjoy playing Call of Duty, but I dont enjoy having to pay money every year to get a slightly improved one.

DCBlack @ Nov 8th 2008 11:26PM

I agree, but most successful franchises follow a similar formula. Rock Band is doing the same thing. EA does it with its sports franchises, and 2K follows suit. It's not just Activision...

But yes, if they do charge subscription for the GHTunes crap, that's a disgrace.

[playwhutyalike {C.E.P}] @ Nov 8th 2008 11:46PM

I want GH:GG Allin. You know, I can throw feces at my screen, cut myself, punch my friends in the face.

It would be Tuesday everyday if they made that game.

#28 @ Nov 9th 2008 12:46AM

I know Activision is heading somewhere bad.
But it certainly isn't The Elder Scrolls 4.

Jake11- Born and raised in W. Philly @ Nov 9th 2008 12:54AM

The truth. You speak it.

KeenCommander @ Nov 9th 2008 2:26AM

I'd have been willing to buy a Tony Hawk game a year...if they hadn't all started to suck horribly after 4.

Foetoid @ Nov 9th 2008 7:04AM

Perhaps you should try out Tony Hawk Downhill Jam for the Wii then. It's the most underrated Wii game IMO and the one game i've sunk more hours in than any other Wii game (besides *maybe* GH3). I hated the controls when i first played it, now i love them. The game has a great soundtrack, decent graphics and it's the most fun Tony Hawk game since the original quadrilogy.

The Fatass of Kickassness @ Nov 9th 2008 11:21AM

"I hated the controls when i first played it, now i love them."

I hated them at first too.

I still hate them.

Excite Truck > Downhill Jam

Hafk @ Nov 9th 2008 3:37PM

You know what's sad?

Just a half a day after you posted that, those copyright levels were taken down.

T @ Nov 10th 2008 9:21AM

Actually, MM has started doing just that: http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/09/littlebigplanet-levels-being-deleted-with-no-warning-or-explanat/

DCBlack @ Nov 8th 2008 11:29PM

I wonder how often Activision checks the content. Doesn't sound like it's that often. If it's like once a week, people should just upload their tracks right back up there, unless they're somehow banned or something...I downloaded a copy of Zelda's Overworld theme the first (and only) time I logged on there. It was good for a chuckle, but I played it once and haven't touched it since.

Blank-Mage @ Nov 9th 2008 12:58AM

I was thinking I was going to betray Harmonix and support THE MAN by buying GH, but knowing that he sabotaged himself with censorship brings a smile to my face. That's right, corporate overlord! You're lack of originality just cost you dearly! And by dearly I mean $60!

(So, uh.... will Rock Band 2 let you download Nintendo themes? Frets on Fire hurts after a while...)

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Nov 9th 2008 1:01AM

I thought you could plug your guitar controller into your PC via USB to play Frets on Fire.

Blank-Mage @ Nov 9th 2008 1:23AM

.....I have to go now.

Kawaiipikachu @ Nov 9th 2008 5:31PM

Actavision said they delete any copyrighted covers before the games released so you should know by now that they are doing the right thing .

Im happy to accept these terms as i know & i should expect the very terms to be in the instructions as well .