Media Molecule has posted an update on the moderation problems plaguing LittleBigPlanet. So, it's all been sorted? No. 'We're working on it', is essentially all that's been said...again.
A post over on the PlayStation Blog from “efong”, a US producer on LBP, tells us, "We haven’t forgotten about those of you who have been affected by level moderation either. Changes are coming very soon, and we believe the way we check levels for inappropriate content will soon start to be received more favorably. We know it’s a big deal, and we’re very much working on it."
Responding to the suggestion that the moderation team is either understaffed or being drawn on for other work Mark Valledor, an SCEA marketing manager, wrote, "I’d say neither, our moderation team and in-game moderation process just needs some tweaking."
For those of you not familiar with the problems, levels flagged by users as having inappropriate content (that's either offensive or impinges on others' intellectual property) via the in-game Good Grief system are getting taken down without warning. They're then remaining down with no information being doled out to their creators on what's happening while a team of moderators gets around to checking them. This is resulting in creators sitting in the dark for long periods, no doubt wondering why they put all the hours into building their levels in the first place.
Word on an LBP patch is that... it's still coming. "Yup, we’re working on a fairly significant patch. Hope to have an update for everyone soon. Keep checking back", said efong.
Hopefully, this patch will be the update that enables players to create levels together online. Responding to a request for the feature - which many had expected to be on the disc - efong wrote "Yup, we’re working on it".
Sony and Media Molecule need to get these issues sorted out, frankly. LittleBigPlanet should be selling hardware, but problems with the online functionality are making it, for many users, a very expensive (albeit very fun) side-scrolling platformer.
Frankly, Sony's going to have to come up with a way to make money off LBP's online offering soon. Sales have been underwhelming and keeping a team available for moderation and maintenance ain't cheap. Fresh DLC, including levels, is on the way, but with a major selling factor of the game being supposed endless replayability thanks to user-generated content, however, it's unclear what the take-up will be like. Can it be long before the hinted-at sales of home-made levels creeps in, complete with a slice of revenue being taken by Sony, a la PayPal?
Source: PlayStation Blog
A post over on the PlayStation Blog from “efong”, a US producer on LBP, tells us, "We haven’t forgotten about those of you who have been affected by level moderation either. Changes are coming very soon, and we believe the way we check levels for inappropriate content will soon start to be received more favorably. We know it’s a big deal, and we’re very much working on it."
Responding to the suggestion that the moderation team is either understaffed or being drawn on for other work Mark Valledor, an SCEA marketing manager, wrote, "I’d say neither, our moderation team and in-game moderation process just needs some tweaking."
For those of you not familiar with the problems, levels flagged by users as having inappropriate content (that's either offensive or impinges on others' intellectual property) via the in-game Good Grief system are getting taken down without warning. They're then remaining down with no information being doled out to their creators on what's happening while a team of moderators gets around to checking them. This is resulting in creators sitting in the dark for long periods, no doubt wondering why they put all the hours into building their levels in the first place.
Word on an LBP patch is that... it's still coming. "Yup, we’re working on a fairly significant patch. Hope to have an update for everyone soon. Keep checking back", said efong.
Hopefully, this patch will be the update that enables players to create levels together online. Responding to a request for the feature - which many had expected to be on the disc - efong wrote "Yup, we’re working on it".
Sony and Media Molecule need to get these issues sorted out, frankly. LittleBigPlanet should be selling hardware, but problems with the online functionality are making it, for many users, a very expensive (albeit very fun) side-scrolling platformer.
Frankly, Sony's going to have to come up with a way to make money off LBP's online offering soon. Sales have been underwhelming and keeping a team available for moderation and maintenance ain't cheap. Fresh DLC, including levels, is on the way, but with a major selling factor of the game being supposed endless replayability thanks to user-generated content, however, it's unclear what the take-up will be like. Can it be long before the hinted-at sales of home-made levels creeps in, complete with a slice of revenue being taken by Sony, a la PayPal?
Source: PlayStation Blog
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Comments
Joji 10 Dec 2008 21:32
1/1
God damn, what a fine mess you've made of this, Sony.
And such a shame. LBP was flying on a kite of console user created content, and while its still a fine game, all the potential copyright infringement crap is spoiling their sales and crashing what should be a more roaring party of fun gaming.
What's really insulting beyond the edits and deleting of content without warning, is that Sony seek to make money out of users created levels, while not giving up any of that money to users. You'd think they'd want to encourage creators for their efforts, and give them a cut, and even perhaps tempt some of them into game development. But alas no, a real shame.
On a related note, I really think copyright law needs some kind of adjustment, to make room for the concept of an homage to a piece of work, created by someone else. Especially if such homage levels (or other works) are not potentially making any money, why Sony fear them is beyond me. All a LBP creator should be made to do is provide a disclaimer at the start of their level, stating that 'this level is created as a homage to other works, and is intended to celebrate those works combined with new ideas of the level creator'. Surely, that should cover them from negative infringement claims.
Perhaps the future saving grace for LBP, might be the PSP version. However, I still feel that while the age of console user created content is still in its dawn, the likes of Sony have a huge amount to learn from Valve, still masters of the mod games and the mod scene.
Why are Valve so successful? Because they understand the needs of mod gamers, meet them half way and don't chastise them for their creations. Sure a different genre of game perhaps and platform, but the principle is still the same. Give them the tools, and meet them halfway. Valve will continue to be successful for this reason.
I know that a Gradius style level is quite popular on LBP, but I'm sure that if Konami are aware of it, they will look the other way, because someone out there still remembers and loves their game. The concept of an homage or fan work is quite well tolerated in japan (look at DDR and Stepmania, or countless fan works across various media, but no lawsuits are flying around), but why we still have a big problem with it in the west is beyond me. I guess the demons of fear and money, still pull the strings of some.
Anyway, good luck Sony. Such a shame to spoil a great game. Some moderation is fine, but draconian measures doing so are not.
And such a shame. LBP was flying on a kite of console user created content, and while its still a fine game, all the potential copyright infringement crap is spoiling their sales and crashing what should be a more roaring party of fun gaming.
What's really insulting beyond the edits and deleting of content without warning, is that Sony seek to make money out of users created levels, while not giving up any of that money to users. You'd think they'd want to encourage creators for their efforts, and give them a cut, and even perhaps tempt some of them into game development. But alas no, a real shame.
On a related note, I really think copyright law needs some kind of adjustment, to make room for the concept of an homage to a piece of work, created by someone else. Especially if such homage levels (or other works) are not potentially making any money, why Sony fear them is beyond me. All a LBP creator should be made to do is provide a disclaimer at the start of their level, stating that 'this level is created as a homage to other works, and is intended to celebrate those works combined with new ideas of the level creator'. Surely, that should cover them from negative infringement claims.
Perhaps the future saving grace for LBP, might be the PSP version. However, I still feel that while the age of console user created content is still in its dawn, the likes of Sony have a huge amount to learn from Valve, still masters of the mod games and the mod scene.
Why are Valve so successful? Because they understand the needs of mod gamers, meet them half way and don't chastise them for their creations. Sure a different genre of game perhaps and platform, but the principle is still the same. Give them the tools, and meet them halfway. Valve will continue to be successful for this reason.
I know that a Gradius style level is quite popular on LBP, but I'm sure that if Konami are aware of it, they will look the other way, because someone out there still remembers and loves their game. The concept of an homage or fan work is quite well tolerated in japan (look at DDR and Stepmania, or countless fan works across various media, but no lawsuits are flying around), but why we still have a big problem with it in the west is beyond me. I guess the demons of fear and money, still pull the strings of some.
Anyway, good luck Sony. Such a shame to spoil a great game. Some moderation is fine, but draconian measures doing so are not.