Little Big Planet Recalled Worldwide [Archive]

alexkidd2000

10-17-2008, 02:37 PM

From Kotaku

LittleBigPlanet Faces Worldwide Recall For Qur'an References

The European delay of LittleBigPlanet we mentioned earlier has blossomed into a worldwide recall of the game due to passages from the Islamic holy text Qur'an being included in the background music in one of the levels.

"During the review process prior to the release of LittleBigPlanet, it has been brought to our attention that one of the background music tracks licensed from a record label for use in the game contains two expressions that can be found in the Qur'an," admitted the company in a statement.

"We have taken immediate action to rectify this and we sincerely apologise for any offence that this may have caused."

Yesterday a reader sent us a link to a music file containing the two offending phrases, which can be found here. Hit the jump for the translation of the offending phrases.

The words are:

1- In the 18th second: "كل نفس ذائقة الموت" ("kollo nafsin tha'iqatol mawt", literally: 'Every soul shall have the taste of death').

2- Almost immediately after, in the 27th second: "كل من عليها فان" ("kollo man alaiha fan", literally: 'All that is on earth will perish').

Thanks to NSider for providing the link and translation.

We'll keep you updated as we hear more on how this recall effects release dates.

marcus12024

10-17-2008, 02:54 PM

JunkTheMagicDragon

10-17-2008, 02:59 PM

bullshit.

sony has to recall a game and change all future copies becuase one group got a little butthurt over a single song? i'm tired of all this PC bullshit in the world. you know what, you get exposed to enough things, something's bound to offend you. brush it off, and go on about your business.

and sony could have shown a little backbone by politely saying "we appreciate your concern. go fuck yourselves." or something like that.

Frankie_Says_Relax

10-17-2008, 03:01 PM

Well.

I sure am glad that I got my copy last week!

:D

Xander

10-17-2008, 03:03 PM

FaithInHumanity = FaithInHumanity - 1

Porksta

10-17-2008, 03:04 PM

I mean, it is in the Koran, if they didn't want to get offended by it then why not remove it from the book?

You also have to wonder why they would put that in the game to begin with...

heybtbm

10-17-2008, 03:06 PM

I sincerely believe that people are far too sensitive these days. And seriously, if it wasn't for the internet, how many people would ever have known about this? 10 people maybe?

Granted these phrases are rather rough and not-kid-friendly, but there's worse things being said/broadcasted on the news all the time anyway.

This is nothing new. Legend of Zelda:OOT had to be altered for the exact same reason. It had passages from the Qur'an in the Fire Temple music IIRC. If you still have the gold cart, you can hear the chants clearly (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfYG7JZdQj0)(in another language of course). It was later removed in future versions (grey cart, Gamecube version, VC version).

Aussie2B

10-17-2008, 03:06 PM

FaithInHumanity = FaithInHumanity - 1

That should be in a loop. :P

Cobra Commander

10-17-2008, 03:08 PM

Honestly now. This was the ONE game that interested me for the PS3, and now look at this. Unbelievable....

MrSparkle

10-17-2008, 03:51 PM

I trained in Tae Kwon Do for about 3 years when i was in middleschool. Went to one paticular "death camp" as i liked to call them where they had us running up a mountain practicing strikes to the underside of the nose yelling in korean "one strike swift and complete". How about people grow some balls! lol on a side note they also instructed how to rip balls off THROUGH pants, the grand master explained it as "being as easy as picking an apple from a tree".

MrSparkle

10-17-2008, 03:52 PM

That should be in a loop. :P

pshhhhh incremental counters would make this much easier

faithinhumanity--

Frankie_Says_Relax

10-17-2008, 03:58 PM

Honestly now. This was the ONE game that interested me for the PS3, and now look at this. Unbelievable....

Well, it's only delayed for one week according to Sony.

heybtbm

10-17-2008, 04:16 PM

Well, it's only delayed for one week according to Sony.

Only one week? I guess that means they're not "recalling" the game and simply buying some time to make a patch that removes the "blasphemous" song. The discs already waiting in the retail channel will still have the music.

When I first read the article, I had visions of bulldozers pushing piles of unopened LBP games into some landfill ala E.T.

tomwaits

10-17-2008, 04:56 PM

Only one week? I guess that means they're not "recalling" the game and simply buying some time to make a patch that removes the "blasphemous" song. The discs already waiting in the retail channel will still have the music.

When I first read the article, I had visions of bulldozers pushing piles of unopened LBP games into some landfill ala E.T.

If this is Sony's plan, I suspect future shipments will have edited music on the disc... so first shipment LBPs will be like the GTA with hot coffee, only much more rare?

Clownzilla

10-17-2008, 04:57 PM

*Sigh*.... Well, there goes my plans for using LBP to make my Super Muhammed Bros. game......

Frankie_Says_Relax

10-17-2008, 06:10 PM

I wonder if they're still going to open the servers on the previous release date.

I'm chomping at the bit to play with some other LBP users online!!!

R.Sakai

10-17-2008, 06:14 PM

Wasn't this the exact same reason Microsoft recalled Kakuto Chojin?

Jimmy Yakapucci

10-17-2008, 06:30 PM

I mean, it is in the Koran, if they didn't want to get offended by it then why not remove it from the book?

You also have to wonder why they would put that in the game to begin with...

I don't believe that it is the fact that it is in the Koran that bothers them, but rather the improper use of it. Kind of like using a bible under a table leg to keep it from wobbling. Seems Muslims are very sensitive about what you do with those things that they hold holy.

JY

Frankie_Says_Relax

10-17-2008, 06:30 PM

I popped in my copy and was listening to the "offending" track earlier.

Strangely enough the song is on the African Safari level (second set of story levels) and it sounded more to my untrained ear like something Zulu-esque (think "Ladysmith Black Mambazo" if you can) than Arabic!!!

Apparently the devs must have felt the same way considering the level that the music was placed in looks like African plains.

The 1 2 P

10-17-2008, 06:38 PM

Well.

I sure am glad that I got my copy last week!

:D

I need to check ebay to see if this made your copy more worthwhile to own for the near future.

Kind of like using a bible under a table leg to keep it from wobbling.

But what if it's a perfect fit?

XYXZYZ

10-17-2008, 06:41 PM

On one hand it seems trivial, but it may have actually saved that company a lot of trouble; I new a man from Turkey who told me of a DJ in Istanbul who had a passage from the Qar'an tattooed on his back. Apparently many Muslims think it's an insult to God to put the those words on your filthy sinning body, so he was abruptly shot to death as soon as he took his shirt off at a night club.

Frankie_Says_Relax

10-17-2008, 06:47 PM

A Jihad on the Sackboys!

RyanMurf

10-17-2008, 08:50 PM

Only one week? I guess that means they're not "recalling" the game and simply buying some time to make a patch that removes the "blasphemous" song. The discs already waiting in the retail channel will still have the music.

When I first read the article, I had visions of bulldozers pushing piles of unopened LBP games into some landfill ala E.T.

Like Frankie I too picked up my copy early. I doubt they are making a patch because not everyones PS3 is connected to the internet. SO chances are they are making a new version of the game. I wonder if the price in the early versions will sky rocket since there cant be that many of them out there.

norkusa

10-17-2008, 09:09 PM

FrakAttack

10-17-2008, 09:56 PM

Or is it okay to offend christians and not muslims?

Yes, because fanatical Christians don't go around blowing themselves up. They finance ships, airplanes and poor kids who want job training to eliminate the heathens in a more civilized way.

Ze_ro

10-18-2008, 12:30 AM

Why is Sony being so sensitive towards religion all of a sudden? They didn't have any problems putting out that crown of thorns ad in Italy a few years ago. Or is it okay to offend christians and not muslims?
Not to mention a public apology (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/15/sony-says-sorry-to-church-of-england/) to the Church of England for a certain level in Resistance: Fall of Man...

--Zero

exit

10-18-2008, 12:36 AM

A buddy and I are going to try and get a copy from work, not quite sure how we'll pull it off. If anything it'll be a nice little collectors item, if not something that's going to be ridiculously expensive, it'll be funny to see people scrambling to buy a "rare" version of a game over something they won't even be able to understand.

DigitalSpace

10-18-2008, 12:45 AM

/me says "meh," continues browsing porn

Rob2600

10-19-2008, 01:20 AM

I sincerely believe that people are far too sensitive these days.

So does this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unkIVvjZc9Y

Why is Sony being so sensitive towards religion all of a sudden? They didn't have any problems putting out that crown of thorns ad in Italy a few years ago.

Didn't Sony also chop the head off a goat for one of its marketing campaigns last year? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_of_War_II#Animal_cruelty_controversy

geneshifter

10-19-2008, 10:08 AM

Why is Sony being so sensitive towards religion all of a sudden? They didn't have any problems putting out that crown of thorns ad in Italy a few years ago. Or is it okay to offend christians and not muslims?

Yeah, you kind of get it. In the US anyways, it's cool to rip on Christians at every turn. Not cool to do the same to any other group.

tholly

10-19-2008, 11:28 AM

This is the most wasteful thing I have heard of in a long time.

A patch would have been fine. Instead, we will have thousands of Blu-Ray discs rotting somewhere.....yea, that was great for our environment....not to mention all the resources and energy needed to replace said discs.

People really need to just grow up. Political Correctness has gone way way way too far. I feel the need to hate anyone who is up in arms over PC. If you don't like something, turn your head the other way, don't view it, and don't buy it.

RyanMurf

10-19-2008, 12:23 PM

SystemFreak

10-19-2008, 01:32 PM

Wonder how many of these got out? My local store broke street date, which is why I have one, and hiked the price a bit post-recall.

tholly

10-19-2008, 01:38 PM

Again a patch wouldnt work. Not every PS3 is hooked up to the internet or PSN????? The only option is to not have the game at all or reprint.

I realize it wouldn't work for everyone, but it would work for the vast majority. You can't tell me that most people that a) own a PS3 and b) would buy this game don't have their PS3 hooked up online.

My main problem with this whole thing is that it is not something that affects everyone and it is something tied to religion.

My main problem with the religious aspect of this situation is when religions try to impose themselves on people who are non-religious or on people who follow a different religion.

For instance, the current situation. Muslims trying to impose their beliefs on other people who now will never be able to see the game with this song in it, as it was intended by the creators.

This is a travesty on artistic freedom. It would be like someone going to a museum and putting underpants on a nude statue because they were offended by the nudity. No one would allow art to be defaced with a pair of boxers, so I don't see how video game art should be any different.

I also dislike when one religion tries to convert others. For instance, Christian missionaries going to random countries to convert, say, pagans. I am absolutely disgusted by that idea.

(Yes, I am an atheist and I do not believe that any sort of god or higher being exists at all.)

Sniderman

10-20-2008, 08:49 AM

http://i37.tinypic.com/anndjl.jpg

SegaAges

10-20-2008, 09:37 AM

pshhhhh incremental counters would make this much easier

faithinhumanity--

I got your back:

while(pcCensorship > artisticLiberty)
{
faithInHumanity--;
}

Nebagram

10-20-2008, 10:05 AM

Fwiw no one seems to have told any employees of GAME as when I went in there today they still seemed to think it was coming out on Friday. Hell, maybe this type of ignorance will work in our favour for once... maybe... maybe not... :|

boatofcar

10-20-2008, 10:41 AM

Please link to articles when you quote them. It's just common courtesy.

Graham Mitchell

10-20-2008, 11:27 AM

RyanMurf

10-20-2008, 02:07 PM

I realize it wouldn't work for everyone, but it would work for the vast majority. You can't tell me that most people that a) own a PS3 and b) would buy this game don't have their PS3 hooked up online.

My main problem with this whole thing is that it is not something that affects everyone and it is something tied to religion.

My main problem with the religious aspect of this situation is when religions try to impose themselves on people who are non-religious or on people who follow a different religion.

For instance, the current situation. Muslims trying to impose their beliefs on other people who now will never be able to see the game with this song in it, as it was intended by the creators.

This is a travesty on artistic freedom. It would be like someone going to a museum and putting underpants on a nude statue because they were offended by the nudity. No one would allow art to be defaced with a pair of boxers, so I don't see how video game art should be any different.

I also dislike when one religion tries to convert others. For instance, Christian missionaries going to random countries to convert, say, pagans. I am absolutely disgusted by that idea.

(Yes, I am an atheist and I do not believe that any sort of god or higher being exists at all.)

OK I don't think the recall is really because of multiple religions getting offended by these phrases. I really think its just because the game is rated E (Everyone!). So it wouldn't really be appropriate material for lets say a 5 year old playing the game that might know the language to be hearing. Just MO. And its a lot easier to change one song track in the game rather than going through months to get the rating re approved.

P.S. Lets try to keep this kind ok stuff-
(Yes, I am an atheist and I do not believe that any sort of god or higher being exists at all.)[/QUOTE] to our selves so we can keep this a gaming thread and not a religious battle.:)

MrSparkle

10-20-2008, 02:22 PM

I AM VERY OFFENDED THAT YOU REFERENCED OUR HOLIEST OF RELIGIOUS WRITINGS! seriously they should be happy they are getting some exposure. Also the vast majority of christians who would be offended by this wouldn't have known about it if you didnt recall the game. I for one would not have understood the words, its like playing an rpg with japanese songs in it. They could be saying americans are fat stupid lazy bastards for all i know or care. My guess is that this is just a big publicity stunt as they say "there no such thing as bad publicity" just think about all the news stories running about this game where they would have otherwise had to have taken out advertisements, its known as earned media.

Berserker

10-20-2008, 03:30 PM

Sony should've pulled their shit together better on such a highly-anticipated release as this. It wasn't some intentional move on their part to fight for artistic freedom, otherwise they wouldn't have buckled so quickly to pressure at basically the worst point possible in terms of costs to them.

We can gruff and groan to each other about how unfair this is and artistic freedom like every other non-Arabic-speaking gaming board probably is right now, but we're just preaching to the choir as we, being from Judeo-Christian-rooted cultures accept as a given that this stuff is silly, but the fact is it's a different culture over there, a different world. We can argue for artistic merit until the sun goes down, but we're not going to win over people who've held the same unflinching beliefs for thousands of years.

This isn't some modern concept like Political Correctness being pushed forward by some overzealous minority like it is over here; It's an ancient fundamentalist concept that's held by an overzealous majority over there. There's no convincing to be had there. So by releasing a major title like this internationally with that stuff in it, Sony dropped the ball by leaving themselves in a compromising position that they shouldn't have come near in the first place.

This is how I see the situation -- Sony fucked up, they're footing the bill, and we're inconvenienced, but as Westerners we'll probably just put the blame on the Arabs, or mysterious "Political Correctness Police" figures or something. But the reality was that Sony was sloppy.

j_factor

10-20-2008, 03:32 PM

Are there any muslims out there who could explain specifically why this would be offensive? I know that in Judaism and Christianity, music and singing are often an integral part of religious ceremonies. Why not in Islam?

Many Muslims believe that all music, or all music that uses instruments, is haram (forbidden), and consequently do not listen to any music in the entire lives. There is a basis for this in the Quran but it's not clear cut and some Muslims do listen to music.

When the Quran is recited, there is a particular "correct" way to recite it, that involves tone, pitch, inflection, etc. Most people who hear the Quran recited in this way would call it singing, but for some reason most Muslims seem to take offense if you call it that. It is a little different from most singing, as it's more rhythmic and precise. Other than this recitation of the Quran, there is no tradition in Islam for singing or any kind of music as part of their worship.

My guess is that using a passage from the Quran in a song is considered an insult to the Quran because music is frivolous and it cheapens it. On the other hand, the artist in question is probably Muslim himself. And I would think most strict Muslims don't play video games to begin with.

Frankie_Says_Relax

10-20-2008, 03:46 PM

While there are a ton of interesting and/or valid points here, again, it's only a week delay.

To put it in perspective, a lot of good games often suffer from week-long delays beyond the posted release date with NO explanations as to why and (most of us) sit and wait patiently for them.

Phosphor Dot Fossils

10-20-2008, 03:48 PM

This is the most politically-charged video game news I've heard since Sothy declared jihad on Katamari Damacy. :yipes:

Zing

10-20-2008, 05:41 PM

Bojay1997

10-20-2008, 06:28 PM

How about, oh, I dunno, people who are offended just not buy the game? How about Sony releases the game as normal, but offers complete refunds (or a "fixed" disc) to anyone who returns the game within a specified time?

I suppose I thought this at first as well, but I understand where Sony is coming from. This is something that is deeply offensive to Muslims and I know that if it was something very offensive to Christians or another group, they would have probably done the same thing. It's beyond the Resistance thing where a church was used as an environment, and violates a specific belief/teaching of the religion. I'm all for free speech and I'm liberal on artistic expression, but I can't say that I blame Sony for pulling it and correcting the issue for an E rated game that is designed to be completely non-controversial and family friendly. Simply put, people shouldn't have to decide to buy it or not based on the controversial content since it is completely out of context and out of place in this particular game.

tholly

10-20-2008, 06:50 PM

OK I don't think the recall is really because of multiple religions getting offended by these phrases. I really think its just because the game is rated E (Everyone!). So it wouldn't really be appropriate material for lets say a 5 year old playing the game that might know the language to be hearing. Just MO. And its a lot easier to change one song track in the game rather than going through months to get the rating re approved.

P.S. Lets try to keep this kind ok stuff-
(Yes, I am an atheist and I do not believe that any sort of god or higher being exists at all.) to our selves so we can keep this a gaming thread and not a religious battle.:)[/QUOTE]

Your right, it wasn't because of multiple religions being offended, just one....Islamic Muslim. It is certainly not fair to the artists and people who care about artistic freedom and integrity to have a game censored to appeal to one group of users.

This is a travesty on artistic freedom. It would be like someone going to a museum and putting underpants on a nude statue because they were offended by the nudity. No one would allow art to be defaced with a pair of boxers, so I don't see how video game art should be any different.

The smart choice, both for the normal average user and for the environment would have been to either offer an optional, I stress OPTIONAL patch (could have been released via CD in the mail for those without internet access, thus cutting down drastically on the extra discs needed to be printed and could have also been released for USB upload to the PS3, cutting down for the CD printing all together), or they could have easily offered full refunds for those offended, or just offered optional music-in-question-free discs for offended users.

I hate when companies cater to one group while ignoring all other user groups.

My beliefs were included to keep this thread focused on gaming. I do not have a tie to any religious group and stating so made sure that no one thought otherwise.

My beliefs should not affect you, which they don't. This is the same as another groups beliefs shouldn't affect me, but in this case, they have been forced upon me.

misfits859

10-20-2008, 07:05 PM

Would anyone care to hear my take on organized religion?

tholly

10-20-2008, 07:12 PM

Would anyone care to hear my take on organized religion?

Should I say yes?

roushimsx

10-20-2008, 07:50 PM

But what if it's a perfect fit?

Too fucking bad! Use one of the Wheel of Time books. They're about the same size and you know damn well that you'll never be reading those again (except for when you're having trouble sleeping).

Oobgarm

10-21-2008, 08:17 AM

Scanned images tell that the BPSS number on the recalled disc is 018580.

We should get the number off the new pressing to see if it's different.

exit

10-21-2008, 08:56 AM

It seems the crazy (http://cgi.ebay.com/little-big-planet-recal-version-in-hand-ready-to-ship_W0QQitemZ150305032846QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item 150305032846&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A13 18
) has already started, sure it's really not that much compared to what's been seen before, but I'm waiting to see how much it goes up over the course of the day.

Cornelius

10-22-2008, 02:11 PM

Is it actually confirmed that they are pressing new discs and not just giving time to get a patch ready? It just doesn't seem to me that a week is long enough to get all that done. I suppose they could have been working on this for a while, but I would have expected them to announce the delay as soon as they knew.

TonyTheTiger

10-22-2008, 02:15 PM

Cornelius

10-31-2008, 08:48 AM

Heh. And now we play the waiting game to see if the new version has any identifying markings distinguishing it from the first one.

Any word on this yet?

j_factor

10-31-2008, 04:09 PM

The waiting game sucks. Let's play Hungry Hungry Hippos!

scooterb23

10-31-2008, 04:25 PM

Sorry j_factor, Hungry Hungry Hippos has been pulled from shelves because of complaints from the overweight lobbyists. There will be a new version "Portion-Controlling Picnicking Pachyderms" on shelves next week.

Oobgarm

12-11-2008, 10:32 AM

Scanned images tell that the BPSS number on the recalled disc is 018580.

We should get the number off the new pressing to see if it's different.

The new disc has a BPSS number of 036080, so it's easy to tell if it's the newer batch.

Just a bit of info for those interested.

SegaAges

12-11-2008, 11:09 AM

Wait, so this is getting recalled when so many other games stay on the shelves?

What about Barbie Horse Adventure? I am offended because there is no way I am going to be able to track down a super model hot blonde chick that also has adventures riding horses.

I am offended, so they need to recall it for:

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/9726/stevehorsede4.png

I can see riding a horse with that dude. I would never ride a horse with a super model (I wish I could, but it is not pc enough).

If you want to get pc, Barbie's Horse Adventure needs a recall too.

Also, who cares what the song says. What about the stuff said in gta?

PapaStu

12-11-2008, 02:16 PM

Wait, so this is getting recalled when so many other games stay on the shelves?

Did you pay attention when this happened? The game was shelved before it officially went on sale. They pushed street date back a week and the copies that were sold that week after its original ship date were corrected versions.

Besides pissing off a religion in todays environment tends to anger a huge base and businesses pay attention to that. Besides, Bojay1997 said it best

I suppose I thought this at first as well, but I understand where Sony is coming from. This is something that is deeply offensive to Muslims and I know that if it was something very offensive to Christians or another group, they would have probably done the same thing. It's beyond the Resistance thing where a church was used as an environment, and violates a specific belief/teaching of the religion. I'm all for free speech and I'm liberal on artistic expression, but I can't say that I blame Sony for pulling it and correcting the issue for an E rated game that is designed to be completely non-controversial and family friendly. Simply put, people shouldn't have to decide to buy it or not based on the controversial content since it is completely out of context and out of place in this particular game