A whole slew of user-created levels in LittleBigPlanet have been disappearing from the game in what appears to be an over-zealous attempt to protect against copyright infringement. Levels referencing Metal Gear Solid, Sonic, Pacman and Scrubs have evaporated into the ether. The stages have been removed without warning, and apparently you're blocked from publishing anything at all as a result. And yes, your stage is actually deleted completely, meaning that you can't just remove the offending items, but have to redo everything from scratch (if you have any motivation to do so).

Destructoid is even reporting that a level referencing that Playstation 3 itself has been removed, which in every respect is stupid. The creation mode in LittleBigPlanet has been heavily publicised as a revolutionary feature in the platforming genre, but they're going to quickly kill the community buzz around the game if users' hard work is removed without warning for things as minor as its name.

While the game has been well-received by critics, the real world experience has not lived up to its potential. Regular issues with lag and a slightly obtuse online matchup system have soured public opinion, and if this dictatorial manner of policing user-created content continues, the negative buzz is sure to grow.

Not really surprising, they were never going to be allowed to have levels based on other games.

They removed a level called 'Failure to Launch' because it referenced a film IN THE TITLE ONLY?

They removed a level called 'Failure to Launch' because it referenced a film IN THE TITLE ONLY?

I didn't say they are going about it the right way I said it wasn't surprising.

You said it was not surprising that they wouldn't let you make stages based on other media, but don't you think it's just a little surprising how draconian they've been by removing stages based on title only?

Hopefully they'll realise the impact they're making in doing this and stop it. I was looking forward to tribute levels.

You said it was not surprising that they wouldn't let you make stages based on other media, but don't you think it's just a little surprising how draconian they've been by removing stages based on title only?
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No, I think youtube has a policy where they take things down after the first complaint on copyright or something close to that. Spore had pretty heavy censorship on names too. It is pretty common for online content to be very heavily monitored. This is just the next step taking them down before complaint which is a bit dumb.

[quote author=Julz link=topic=16262.msg175634#msg175634 date=1226734304]
Hopefully they'll realise the impact they're making in doing this and stop it. I was looking forward to tribute levels.

They can't because then they will be profiting from other peoples work. This is what copyright law was made for and I agree with it. The name thing is stupid and they probably shouldn't be taking them down without complaint but if people don't want their games to be used then they should take them down.

It is pretty common for online content to be very heavily monitored.

What? Maybe on the PS3 and X-Box where you can't do anything without approval, but on the PC you can make what you damn well please and distribute it freely. You only have to have a quick look in a custom Garry's Mod server to see what people are doing for fun. This openness is one thing consoles will never have.

It is pretty common for online content to be very heavily monitored.

What? Maybe on the PS3 and X-Box where you can't do anything without approval, but on the PC you can make what you damn well please and distribute it freely. You only have to have a quick look in a custom Garry's Mod server to see what people are doing for fun. This openness is one thing consoles will never have.

I didn't say all online content was monitored was I said it was pretty common for it to be. Plus in garry's mod the people who made the game aren't the ones hosting the content.

yay for copyright czars!

[quote author=moodycj link=topic=16262.msg175635#msg175635 date=1226736735]
It is pretty common for online content to be very heavily monitored.[/quote]

What? Maybe on the PS3 and X-Box where you can't do anything without approval, but on the PC you can make what you damn well please and distribute it freely. You only have to have a quick look in a custom Garry's Mod server to see what people are doing for fun. This openness is one thing consoles will never have.

I didn't say all online content was monitored was I said it was pretty common for it to be. Plus in garry's mod the people who made the game aren't the ones hosting the content.

Exactly. When you own a console you aren't allowed to play with it or host your own servers for your own content. You rely on the hardware maker to provide you with everything, and if they decide you can't do something then that's the law. Consoles these days are little more than stripped down PCs (surrounded by cushions and bubblewrap to stop the little people from hurting themselves on original user-created content) and running on propriety software and if you try to fool around with either then "OMFG PIRATE KILLING THE INDUSTRY".