LittleBigPlanet has global recall for Qur'an quote
Sony has confirmed that it has issued a global recall and European delay on LittleBigPlanet after it was revealed that the game quotes the Qur'an.
The European delay for the game was originally reported earlier today by GI.biz, who noted that some retailers had pushed the release date for the game in Europe back from October 24th to November 14th. Sony however has now confessed that it will be issuing a global recall for the game, as well as delaying the European release.
The reason for the recall according to the official statement is that a background music track used in the game quotes sections of the Qur'an.
"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," reads the statement.
"We have taken immediate action to rectify this and we sincerely apologise for any offence that this may have caused."
For those interested, the two passages which were quoted, according to Kotaku, were "Every soul shall have the taste of death" and "All that is on earth will perish." The two segments are apparently heard in the first 30 seconds of the Swinging Safari level.
It's unclear if Sony received any complaints about the use of these phrases within the game.
Is this political correctness gone too far, or is Sony doing the responsible thing? Let us know your thoughts in the forums.
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80 Comments
Discuss in the forums ReplyI suppose they better check for Allah Ackbar! and Durka Durka Muhammed Jihad in the soundtrack as well :)
I'm sure people would have bought it up and complained at some point.
i smell shenanigans
Sorry, but I feel this is a silly reason to recall a game.
They could have just released a patch and still not lost face.
So not only does religion cause wars (or mans pathetic attempt to justify the use of religion), it also causes delays to console games.
What a joke.
Big friggen deal.
Please remove my post... because of the following word: Jesus.
There, I said it. I've violated the Bible, God, and ticked off a large majority of the world.
Yours Truly,
Jasio
(not a muslim)
Mean what if some one use Bible in a game with music? or what if he read bible in bathroom? same thing with Quran..
Whatever Religion things should not be mixed with fun and games :p But after all I say look at the good side of the game not the bad side.
Edit : I think I heard some Bible in Assiassins Creed and some Quran in Prince of Persia, I don't mind any :D I'm cool person and open to any thing. but the problem not every one like me. Most Muslims here are sensitive about this things.
I think they have to patch it only not recall it :D
No one got mad at Shakespeare for Biblical allusions, so why would a Muslim person be offended by allusions to their holy text.
Also, why doesn't Sony just patch the game?
An update from the blog: http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/10/17/littlebigplanet-release-update/ One more week isn't so bad :)
As posted by Fod, its not that it's a religious quote, its because the Muslim's believe its wrong to mix it in music. Many games have religious quotes of some sort of whatever in them. But the way this was put in, it is considered blasphemy for that religion.
Open your minds to how they feel. I am not a Muslim but I can understand why (after Fod explained it) there would be many people upset.
All they are gonna do is take that out of the game and send it to the factories to get the discs made again and send them to the stores and the stores will have to send the originals back to Sony.
Nope.
I made a camberwell carrot (poss NSFW drug ref) out of Revelations whilst at the Methodist Boarding school I attended.
Any who, that's sort of the point, CK may get offend if someone took the Qu'ran into to khazhi, some Christians may be offend if you took the bible. I thought Holly texts would make good skins.
Games are games, i don't think LBP needs to make a stand for secularism/atheism/whatever. I'm annoyed, but if it was something I was that I held dear then I'd hope they'd do the same.
Bioshock and Far Cry 2 will have to keep me entertained for now!
I would be outraged if someone read the bible whilst in the bathroom!
uh. i should hide my toilet reading next time you're around, then.
AFAIK, from personal experience at least, christians place a lot less importance upon the bible as a printed medium than muslims do with the koran. in my view, it's the words inside that are important, not the printed volume.
however! this is a seperate issue to combining passages from either with music. (again, pretty sure 100% of christians are cool with that)
This guy got it already. http://vgchartz.com/forum/thread.php?id=45385
;) ^^^^ Truth! Alteast for most all Christians I know including me. I guess except a few of those crazies.
Sorry if I seem extremist. Just trying to fit in is all ;)
You may say I'm a dreamer... but I'm not the only one.
I have committed blasphemy in many other religions, why should Islam be treated differently?
It's a game. If you're offended by its contents, then don't buy it.
I think it's just political correctness gone too far. In my opinion, if something is so holy to you, and so important, it shouldn't matter if some one 'insults' your beliefs, as it's your belief, what another person thinks shouldn't affect your belief unless you don't truly believe in it your self.
I think that's the main problem with things like this. People aren't happy with their beliefs, and feel that they need to cause a big stink when something is said/done in relation to their religion that they don't like. As if it's taking away from their belief. If you're happy with your belief, be quiet and stop complaining.
Then again, I think the people who are happy with their beliefs do be quiet, it's the ones who feel like they've got something to prove because of their own feelings of inadequacy.
Unless the goings on are affecting people and causing harm and trouble, I personally don't care what insults are thrown at what religions, if you're happy with your beliefs, then they shouldn't bother you.
One thing I have always said about things that "test" beliefs. I am 100% sure that God is real I am 100% sure Jesus was too. This is exactly why I want science to look into the big bang and the beginning of the universe, ect ect. Because I know that I am right about this and so all they can eventually do it prove me right.
The way these "extremists/fundamentalist nutbags" get over it is usually explosive.
So, what, you'll be treated to fireworks once you finish the last level?
I really don't think they'll care too much about LBP, it's pretty small in comparison to other targets.
No need to be so over dramatic about it.
People blame religion for all the ills in this world but I think that unwillingness to understand the point of view of others is also a big problem. The whole "If you don't like it then **** you" attitude is also to blame.
but, in MOST other matters, UK has gone political correctness mad. but thats another story for another time.
SIGH.
Or a damn good way to increase media coverage.
The Muslims are pretty strict about what you can do with the koran, why? it's to prevent having 564563456 different version of it like of the Bible.
So?
I believe it's wrong to give Peter Mandelson the best part of a million quid for being an imbecile, and that actually happened.
I wish society at large treated the Bible with a bit more respect. Problem is Christians don't tend to react to blasphemy in the same way as some Muslims do. They tend to just let it go, but maybe that shows how little they respect their own scriptures.
I guess it wasn't a wise thing to do in the first place (although I suspect the execs at Sony didn't know what the actual lyrics were saying). They're doing what they're doing to avoid causing upset, and possibly worse.
Everyone should tolerate each other, you wont go through life without being offended at some point well.... GET OVER IT! it happens to everyone. the thing is that christians and atheists tolerate people that follow other religieons but they dont tolerate back as soon as we do something that slightly upsets them all hell is set loose!!!!!!!!! You dont see me complaining because millions of tv shows, films, songs etc take the piss out of geeks do you.
ARGH!!!!
**** happens tbh, and if it's not intentional, then no need to get out your pram about it.
The terrorists care, and that's all that matters.
bwuh? that's not what i was talking about. i was referring to its usage in other contexts.
the fact it has so many translations is a separate issue entirely, and one that, frankly, i'd tire of debating.
THE
F**K.
Honestly. Why would anybody, be they fundamentalist Muslim, or Islamaphobic gamer be offended by this?
For those who haven't heard it yet:
oQMO9YVVfHQ
And yes, it is a f**king awesome track, the sort of which I wish more games incorporated.
As a Muslim, I must say that I can't see why anybody would be offended by this track, and anybody who is deserves a bullet in the bell-end. The line lasts about 9 seconds, and is about 2 minutes into the track... and I must say a very random little sample, but nonetheless, blends in with the tracks surreal feel. It isn't even in quranic Arabic, and is heavily accented...
I think upon purchasing LBP, I shall look for a way to put this track back into the game...
EDIT: The PSN Names of the Plaintiffs are: Solid_08 and NSider. Leave them a nice message...
We're taught to forgive others. Not hold a grudge. ;)
agreed, the fact of the matter is a lot (not all) muslims wil react violently with this, I think this is what sony is trying to avoid, if a similar aspect of the da vinci code was created pertaining to muslims or islam, I think there would already been a global war,lol, its just sad that the same respect (err sort of, or fear,lol), isnt given to other religions as well.
It was not a deliberate attempt to anger any muslims, and was not particularly insulting. There are thousands of more mainstream examples of the quran being sung, and Islamic music, which the muslim population is split up on. Some feel it is an awesome expression of faith. Some feel it is sacrilege. And others just stick with their Rage Against The Machine.
A lot more of a big deal has been made of this than should have. If the level involved mutilating a qu'ran or raping a woman in a burka, then I would understand why some people might be offended... but this... this is just in game music. With a distorted line from the qu'ran. In it... :p
If someone was doing someone that greatly offended or bothered you and you asked them not to do it and it was something they could control and stop, but they didnt, you wouldn't be happy with them would you. You would want them to respect you and stop what was bugging you.
Quit getting so raged because Sony and MM are trying to be respectful and not create conflicts.
oh so does this mean all the other games on the market that have refs to like christian bible like stuff can we get that recalled too? I mean if we are going to be fair about it all and what not? But ya seems like a pretty stupid reason to do a recall...
So it has a couple lines of an old, archaic text in it. If it had a few biblical references would this have happened? Or hindu references? No -- it's only because Islam is being treated as 'special' -- and in doing such things as this recall, you only give more validation to that idea.
A religious reference in a video game. Both are made up fantasies anyways. Pathetic...
And where does it end, talladega? Who's to say that what you say isn't offending me or being disrespectful? Do we write/say/do/create everything such that it's tolerant for everyone? Should all films, media, music be the same for fear that someone out there doesn't like it?
In fact, I find your statement above disrespectful. Please could you edit it and remove all uses of the words "raged", "upset" and "bugging" as they are very negative and offend me deeply.
Or recall it. :)
Exactly. Not pissing off one of the worlds major religions is a good thing and i wish everyone would stop comparing this to quoting the bible. Its a different religion, different beliefs so your comparisons are just plain retarded. Sony have done the right thing and after the Resistance: Fall of Man and the Manchester Cathedral complaints they are being extra carefull.
Yeh, that's great. That's respectful to the rest of us who are educated and can understand the difference between a game and reality.
Besides, if your "belief" in your religion is so weak that a reference to it in a comical sense is enough to insult you, then you really don't have a strong belief and are actually very weak.
Hmm.. anything from Oct 31st to Nov 7th!
http://www.yodasarmpit.com/pics/lbp2.jpg
Nope, I want people to have the *choice* of reading it! :)