I guess we have our answer for how censoring will be handled...

[Magnet]

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/814/814621p2.html


Speaking of "Creep," it's Radiohead's master track rendition that raised a bit of ire with one IGN editor. While trying to croon to the '90s classic, one important line was oddly edited. In the CD version, there's a tiny little expletive in the lyrics: "You're so ****ing special." Now, Rock Band is likely to be an E-rated game, so it can't have naughty words. But, Harmonix could have used the radio version of "Creep" which substitutes "very" for all the effin'. Instead, Harmonix chose to just chop the word out, leaving a gaping whole in the song. Not so ****ing special anymore.

One minor point, I don't think they're very informed about the rating since this is most likely to be rated T, not E.

IGN seems to think the radio edits should be used, but I'm not so sure about whether those would all be mastered in a Rock Band usable form like the original would be. And not all of the songs even have radio edits available, I'm sure.

Anyway, I love the way they're handling the censoring. I was very concerned with this way back when. They're just choosing to omit the (really bad) curse words from the vocal track. Now, if the vocal portion of the game is how I think it's going to be, this means that you can still choose to sing the curse words and you won't be penalized (since it won't be judging you during the blank spot). If you choose not to swear, you still won't be penalized. It works out both ways - and doesn't ruin it for people who know the song well enough to sing the original cut. Obviously the master won't sing along with you during that one word or two (if you have the original singer's voice turned up), but it's an acceptable loss to be able to have the songs with swearing in the game in the first place.

Well, I'm satisfied with how it's turning out. What do you all think about how they're handling the censorship?

[TheTogfather]

Agreed. It's better than a *beep*, better than scratching it up, and much better than over-dubbing a clean word, forcing you to sing that one. I do kinda wish for DLC at least that they could just mark explicit songs as such and be able to restrict their use w/ parental controls, but this works fine to and avoids many headaches I'm sure.

[idiotec]

Yeah, I think this is a good way to handle it. This way you can still sing the original lyrics. I know when I sing it there will be a big dose of "****ing Special!!!!!!" ;)

[AVC808]

i think it's great that we're given the option to sing the song in it's original form. but it may be awkward at first to have "dead air" where there should be a lyric. especially if for some reason youre unfamiliar with the song.

say for instance youre a 12 year old kid that's never heard of radiohead and only heard of linkin park or whatever the hell is on mtv these days. youre trying to sing along to creep...and you get to "you're so" and then it abruptly cuts out. there's a good 1 second before you utter "special" it would sound like your disc skipped.

[Electric_Zen]

The problem is going to be when you don't have a human on the mic. It's going to be distracting and awkward for the vocal track to just cut out. I agree that the radio edit would have been a better choice here.

[freakonate]

That's fine and dandy and all. And that does work out fine..but...what about the DLC which WE will be paying seperately for? Will the *naughty* words be chopped out too? :mad:

[MartyMcFly]

That is stupid on their part. When radio edits are made, they have to take the masters, and edit it themselves.

People don't make albums and create an edited master album. The masters will be unedited always, and that's what the developers need to make the songs into the game. Thus, they take the master, and have to edit it themselves.

But it is definitely better than a beep, or some lame word going in. We all remember the Killing in the Name edit :eek:
I would have rather seen ____ you I won't do what you tell me.

[sushi111]

Thats actually the best thing Ive read all day. Im glad we get to sing ****ing, because otherwise the song loses its power.

[WingsOfSteel]

CURSE YOU, REED RICHAAAAAAAAARDS!

That's what I'm going to sing in the blank spot.

[sushi111]

Who else is going to let out a big ****ING! at that part? :)

The radio edit of Creep is what I thought was going in, and the ****ing makes the song.

Thank God for the ****ing...

****

[TheTogfather]

Thats actually the best thing Ive read all day. Im glad we get to sing ****ing, because otherwise the song loses its power.

I remember having lengthy discussions with a friend in Jr. High about how the radio edit to Creep changes the entire nature/point of the song. It goes from dripping with vindictiveness and spite w/ the 'you're so ****ing special' to almost sounding nice and pleasant with the 'you're so very special'.

Anyway, completely agree, not only loses power, but really becomes a whole different song.

[Terranova]

I'm not bothered all that much about the vocal side of things so how they go about censoring the tracks isn't that much of a concern.. as long as it's not some kind of audio beep that would ruin the Music.

[sushi111]

I remember having lengthy discussions with a friend in Jr. High about how the radio edit to Creep changes the entire nature/point of the song. It goes from dripping with vindictiveness and spite w/ the 'you're so ****ing special' to almost sounding nice and pleasant with the 'you're so very special'.

Anyway, completely agree, not only loses power, but really becomes a whole different song.

Yeah

Its not like that song is a breakthrough in songwriting or anything, but the ****ing pretty much makes it what it is. That and the crunch of the guitar afterwards are like Peanut Butter and Jelly. One without the other just tastes odd.

[FatWilma]

ahh yes, great news...i'm gonna be cussing in every empty part of every song!

[WingsOfSteel]

Now, if the vocal portion of the game is how I think it's going to be, this means that you can still choose to sing the curse words and you won't be penalized (since it won't be judging you during the blank spot).

So singers can freeform during the breaks?

I know what I'm going to be doing during WGFA's synth break...

"I was in my room, and I was just staring at my mirror thinking about everything, but then again I was thinking about nothing, and then my mom came in but I didn't know she was there, and she was all like, 'Tommy, can you hear me? Can you feel me near you?' and then she broke the mirror and I was no longer deaf, blind, or mute. I want a Pepsi."

[lithiumkc]

Who else is going to let out a big ****ING! at that part? :)

The radio edit of Creep is what I thought was going in, and the ****ing makes the song.

Thank God for the ****ing...

****

**** yeah. I'll be sneering it out every time.

[Apples]

Speaking of "Creep," it's Radiohead's master track rendition that raised a bit of ire with one IGN editor. While trying to croon to the '90s classic, one important line was oddly edited. In the CD version, there's a tiny little expletive in the lyrics: "You're so ****ing special." Now, Rock Band is likely to be an E-rated game, so it can't have naughty words. But, Harmonix could have used the radio version of "Creep" which substitutes "very" for all the effin'. Instead, Harmonix chose to just chop the word out, leaving a gaping whole in the song. Not so ****ing special anymore.

It's "gaping hole" not "gaping whole" (unless the whole song is indeed gaping?)

Bad form for a news article :( IGN how could you?!?!

[sushi111]

Let it be known that with the announcement of Radiohead in the game, we now demand the entirety of OK Computer as a downloadable album...

I Agree with that part of the article though :D

[admanimal]

That's fine and dandy and all. And that does work out fine..but...what about the DLC which WE will be paying seperately for? Will the *naughty* words be chopped out too? :mad:

First of all, WE are still paying for the tracks on the disc...it's all part of the price of the game. Secondly, DLC will also have to be censored otherwise the game will lose it's T rating.

By the way, the game is officially rated T, it says so at the beginning of the trailer.

[whofan]

Here comes the forum's resident anti-censor!!!!

Actually, I really like the solution they have come up with here. It keeps the original meaning of the song intact, allows those who want to sing the part sing it with all their hearts, and allows those with little children to not worry about questions like "what does ***k mean Daddy?".

Congrats Harmonix, you have satisfied one of the loudest opponents to censoring.

[Brock_Landers]

It's an interesting choice, that's for sure. I'm not entirely happy about dead air for when I'm not playing on my lonesome, but it probably is the preferable choice given the options... that, and it's done all the time for radio edits so it's not really a shocking concept.

Still would have liked uncensored songs for DLC, but what can ya do eh? The ESRB is what it is.

[geo2n2]

First of all, WE are still paying for the tracks on the disc...it's all part of the price of the game. Secondly, DLC will also have to be censored otherwise the game will lose it's T rating.

By the way, the game is officially rated T, it says so at the beginning of the trailer.

Sure, the game disc can be rated T, but doesn't the downloadable content get it's own rating since it's separate content from the purchased disc?

If DLC has a older rating, why would they have to change the original game rating? It's optional and not part of the original game.

Anyone know for sure how DLC ratings work?

[sushi111]

In the new video it looks like it errors you for singing ****ing.

Oh well, its not like you lose points or anything.

I could care less about high scores when Im singing.

[Brock_Landers]

Kills your multiplier/drops your rock meter?

That's a bit of a gyp.. but I'll take it for the cause

[Xzyliac]

Boo. Just boo.

Gimme radio edits, make it count, don't swiss cheese my music.