GHWT, LBP user-content being moderated

By Robert Purchese Published 10 November, 2008

Fans are not very happy.

Fans are becoming angry about the removal or "moderation" of content created by Guitar Hero World Tour and LittleBigPlanet online communities.

Music based on popular videogames or bands has been wiped from the Activision servers, according to MTV Multiplayer, but continues to dominate the popularity charts. Honest and real compositions are beginning to take hold, however.

Unfortunately LittleBigPlanet, for which user-created content was a large part of the charm, appears to be in more of a pickle.

Here, levels paying homage to series such as Mario, Zelda, Metal Gear Solid etc. are being permanently scrapped without so much as an explanation from developer Media Molecule. This is often the only copy of a level, too.

Media Molecule explains on the official forum that the community flags various creators for moderator attention. Only then, after the developer has a look, will the level potentially be removed from the shared area of LBP. And if the level is particularly offensive, then "further action may be taken".

"That's how it stands right now," reads the post. "We are working on a system whereby any level that is moderated will inform the creator of the level why the action was taken, as there could be unintentionally unsuitable content in the level, or a cultural offence, which is harmless in one country and offensive in another.

"Either way, we want to ensure that creators' levels are only permanently removed if they warrant it. In most innocent cases a simple tweak to the level may be required and that's what we're working on communicating."

One clever use has, however, found a way to duplicate levels before submission - retaining a backup in case one falls foul of the law.

Thanks, Kotaku.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (43) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • bad09 #1 3 years ago

    "Here, levels paying homage to series such as Mario, Zelda, Metal Gear Solid etc. are being permanently scrapped without so much as an explanation from developer Media Molecule."

    No explanation needed, in today's sad greedy world copyright, TM and IP "theft" means more than a fans tribute level in a game.......
    Edited by 1 at 10/11/08 @ 09:38

  • kangarootoo #2 3 years ago

    I think this is a case of don't hate the player, hate the game.

    Harmonix and Media Molecule can't really be held responsible if existing law tells them to do this to submitted content. Sounds like their hands are tied.

  • FreakyZoid #3 3 years ago

    Yes, I thought the explanation was in the first half of the sentence.

  • Wander #4 3 years ago

    Web 2.0 lol

  • Widge #5 3 years ago

    I would like to see the trophy whoring levels deleted from LBP

  • bioreit #6 3 years ago

    "We are working on a system whereby any level that is moderated will inform the creator of the level why the action was taken, as there could be unintentionally unsuitable content in the level, or a cultural offence, which is harmless in one country and offensive in another.

    "Either way, we want to ensure that creators' levels are only permanently removed if they warrant it. In most innocent cases a simple tweak to the level may be required and that's what we're working on communicating."

    Peas and Rice!

    Did they not think of implementing a communication strategy first!? Did they never once consider that people might get upset about their hard work being deleted without any warning, explanation or justification? What idiot was in charge of that policy? It's a physics platform game with integral level design and editing - at what point did they think that people wouldn't pay homage to Mario, or Sonic or other platformers (let alone any and everything else people love)?

    Yeah, good that they're "working on it", but to me it seems like it will be "We're still going to delete stuff, but we'll send you a nice email afterwards."

    And I was looking forward to this precisely because of all the fantastic tribute levels people would make for me to play and enjoy, seeing as my fingers are far too fat and clumsy for me to make my own.

  • kangarootoo #7 3 years ago

    "Web 2.0 lol"

    What does that even mean?

  • Dizzy #8 3 years ago

    >This is often the only copy of a level, too.

    No local copy?

  • kangarootoo #9 3 years ago

    "And I was looking forward to this precisely because of all the fantastic tribute levels people would make for me to play and enjoy, seeing as my fingers are far too fat and clumsy for me to make my own."

    Why would non "tribute" levels be any less entertaining to play?

  • Res #10 3 years ago

    "No explanation needed, in today's sad greedy world copyright, TM and IP "theft" means more than a fans tribute level in a game......"

    Plenty do seem to stay up though, I guess they just get deleted if people import images from the games.

  • Altrezia #11 3 years ago

    To be fair to MM.. What did people expect? You make something crass, or copyright'ed, and it'll be taken down.. common sense?

  • Indy #12 3 years ago

    "Music based on popular videogames or bands has been wiped from the Harmonix servers"

    I could be mistaken, but don't you mean the Neversoft servers, since they're the devs of GHWT? Just slight confusion here.

  • bioreit #13 3 years ago

    @ kanga

    Because they wouldn't invoke all the warm fuzzy feelings you get when you think back to your favourite childhood cartoon or whatever. And you can't play "spot the in-joke" or anything like that with a new creation. Don't get me wrong, I'll still like to play the original levels, but I was really looking forward to how creative people were going to get. It's like they're cutting out half the damn game - to me, anyways.

  • Wander #14 3 years ago

    @kangerootoo

    Web 2.0 - the trend towards user generated content
    lol - I think you know this one

    Combine the two and it portrays my cynical view point on the value of user generated online content...

    Although I do rate LBP.

  • Beano #15 3 years ago

    "Web 2.0 lol "

    Well... shouldn't that be "Game 3.0 lol" instead ?
    Edited by 1 at 10/11/08 @ 09:54

  • Beano #16 3 years ago

    Anyway, a bit of a letdown that MM/Sony are being so restrictive and just deleting people's hard work - a warning or notification would be in place!

    I'm glad my first published level ("Trouble In Bollywood";) is original and not a homage ;)

  • Inspirius #17 3 years ago

    Activision Blizzard, Neversoft and Red Octane developed GHWT, nothing to do with Harmonix.

  • bioreit #18 3 years ago

    Ok, I know it's an official Sony/MM/LBP site and the video is 'Presented by Sony Computer Entertainment', however!

    Here:

    [link url=http://ww w.littlebigworkshop.com/en-us/Game
    ]http://ww w.littlebigworkshop.com/en-us/G...[/link]

    (you have to go to 'Game' then 'Videos')

    is a LBP created video showing LBP-created characters from Killzone 2. Now, yes Sony owns both LBP and KZ2 IP and all rights so are allowed to make this kind of thing. BUT any IP lawyer worth his salt would have a field day with this, as it is clearly demonstrating an ability to replicate copyrighted and trademarked material using LBP and could actually be seen as a form of encouragement for its players to do the same.

    At no point in the video does it state 'We have copied characters from one game and recreated them in LBP but you are expressly forbidden to do the same." The use of additional, non-copyrighted creations within the same video is clearly attaching equal importance to both the copyrighted and the non-copyrighted material, as at no point are any disclaimers or explanations offered as to why one type is allowed and another not.

  • the_dudefather #19 3 years ago

    rename your level to 'sonik the bushpig: emerald mountain zone act 1' and everything will be fine

  • Erinan #20 3 years ago

    Music based on popular videogames or bands has been wiped from the Harmonix servers

    That would be Neversoft/Activision. And this was to be expected, enjoy your GH:WT studio gimmick!

  • Les #21 3 years ago

    Just a sad consequence of the fact we live in a litigation-happy and intolerant world.

  • Mr_Dodger #22 3 years ago

    It does seem a bit of an arcane decision making process though. I've seen more than one 'moderated' LBP level that the user has posted on youtube and there is nothing copyrighted or offensive to be seen.

    I think if they can suspend a level and give users the option to modify first it'll ease a lot of the annoyance.

  • DFawkes #23 3 years ago

    I think it's awful they can delete your own copy from My Moon on your own hard drive, destroying all the work you put into it. Setting it as "unpublishable" would make more sense, though it'd stil have similar loopholes.

    Though to be honest, the homages I've seen were bloody awful and needed deleted for being rubbish. Don't try and remake Super Mario Bros unless you're willing to do it properly.

  • Skeletor #24 3 years ago

    Haha, welcome to console land where the platform holder is watching every one of your steps!
    True creative freedom when it comes to user created content is only possible on the PC.

  • bad09 #25 3 years ago

    I can just imagine Stephen Fry in the new intro for LBP in the next update

    "You can let your imagination run wild....er...as long as your imagination doesn't infringe on any copyrights, OK?"

  • Zomoniac #26 3 years ago

    Someone deleted my message?!

  • InsoFox #27 3 years ago

    This IS disappointing because it seems overly sensitive. I can't see how any IP holder is going to feel threatened by a tribute level in a game. If anything it's free advertising - anyone seen the Mirror's Edge level?

    I know they're trying to protect their game from legal action, but it'd be a shame to do that at the expense of exactly the kind of thing that makes the game fun.

  • jonsaan #28 3 years ago

    you can still make levels based on other games. Just don't publish them. I'm not sure why you'd want to really as the potential for new ideas is huge.

  • the_dudefather #29 3 years ago

    @Skeletor

    true creative freedom on Pc...until you get a cease and desist letter

    /mourns loss of duke 3d source

  • Lebowski #30 3 years ago

    When does a LBT level homage become overnight copyright theft? FFS

  • thebaron #31 3 years ago

    haha it's a rubbish game - put it on for 20 mins and was very bored of it - went back to Gears 2 and Rock Band 2 instead...

    PS3 needs some proper games not this sort of trash. Maybe I'm a XBOX fanboy but that's cos it's the best !

    .....prepares for nasty comments in reply

  • menage #32 3 years ago

    How about ignore poster instead

    click

  • penhalion #33 3 years ago

    I'm not even going to resist the urge to tell you guys that I told you so! It's ironic that I tried to explain to you that this was why Micorosoft didn't allow user created content for their games, to be distributed. As usual the zealot PS3 fanboys jumped all over my attempt to inform you guys of the reality of it all.

    LBP was a great idea but, as I tried to say, the user content would largely be totally illigal to put up as it would violate most existing IP. It's not the fault of Media Molecule but, rather the un-imaginative end users who think it's clever to try to re-produce an existing game using the LBP tools.

    It should have been obvious that you can't use LBP to recreate zelda, mgs, god of war, gears of war or any other exisitng game out there without express permission from the ip holders. As usual, when someone tries to tell you guys this, they get the usual 14 year old kiddy abuse.

  • Les #34 3 years ago

    "I'm not even going to resist the urge to tell you guys that I told you so! It's ironic that I tried to explain to you that this was why Micorosoft didn't allow user created content for their games, to be distributed. As usual the zealot PS3 fanboys jumped all over my attempt to inform you guys of the reality of it all."

    Sorry, but that's just plain bullshit. I think it's stupid to be so tense about user generated content TBH. If some dick wants to create a physical representation of himself in a LBP level, go ahead. Will be ignored instantly.

    But even if MM adopts this stance, it'll only affect a limited and often not very interesting part of the user generated content. To not allow user generated content at all just because some twats will create tribute levels is idiocy and far worse than this limited censorship.

  • SilentScream #35 3 years ago

    lol @ the baron, what a frube.

    I agree with Widge though, really annoying because it takes the challenge out of it.

    @Les, I thought you were being a bit idiotic at the start but I read the rest of it :p
    I know what you mean though. Maybe at the end of the levels: "All right reserved to.." etc?

    haha

    I don't mind it being moderated. Whats the point on abusing it, sure the Zelda ones were fun, but there's clearly more to do with your imagination.

  • Stormflood #36 3 years ago

    thebaronlol

  • Kenshin001 #37 3 years ago

    I'm not even going to resist the urge to tell you guys that I told you so! It's ironic that I tried to explain to you that this was why Micorosoft didn't allow user created content for their games, to be distributed. As usual the zealot PS3 fanboys jumped all over my attempt to inform you guys of the reality of it all.

    Well I sure am glad Sony did not listen to you or take Microsoft's stance.

  • Lemming81 #38 3 years ago

    "I can just imagine Stephen Fry in the new intro for LBP in the next update

    "You can let your imagination run wild....er...as long as your imagination doesn't infringe on any copyrights, OK?""


    Although 'fan service' or blatant copying isn't using your imagination at all, is it?

  • David_W #39 3 years ago

    I fail to see how a user created, say Super Mario, stage could ever infringe on any copyright laws. Would someone care to explain this?

    It's not like any user made level will ever be close enough to the real thing to trick anyone, i.e. I played the ICO level last night and all it has in common with the real game is , kind of - the colour scheme and a cardboard copy of Yorda.

    Is that all it takes? Or are they just trying to avoid any hypothetical lawsuits flung their way?

    Hell, someone make a Giana Sisters level already.

  • Xerx3s #40 3 years ago

    Is anyone surprised? You could see this coming from a mile away. :/

  • David_W #41 3 years ago

    @ Garo

    Gee, thanks... :-/

    Care to respond to this instead of trying to get smart with me?

    "It's not like any user made level will ever be close enough to the real thing to trick anyone, i.e. I played the ICO level last night and all it has in common with the real game is , kind of - the colour scheme and a cardboard copy of Yorda.

    Is that all it takes? Or are they just trying to avoid any hypothetical lawsuits flung their way?"

  • GordonJ #42 3 years ago

    What made people think that they could just go ahead and make God of War and MGS themed levels to go with their Kratos and Snake sackboys. That's just crazy thinking.

    end sarcasm

  • cyber_nicco #43 3 years ago

    Actually, there is plenty of precedent that service providers are not responsible for user-generated content of any sort. For instance, if one of EG's forumites were to slander Microsoft, could EG be held accountable? This has been challenged in court and courts have generally upheld the protection of the service provider. Another example. Could, say, Nintendo sue Microsoft if their development tools were used to create a Super Mario clone? Certainly the tools - in this case - facilitated it.

    The truth is, Activision, Sony, and Media Molecule are just being gutless.