Will there be censoring of lyrics in this game?

[Magnet]

I remember lyrics were censored in Amplitude from the masters. And of course Killing In The Name in GHII was completely redone in the cover to get rid of the swearing. Presumably, this was done to keep the ratings E or T. I've never been that fond of censoring if it doesn't need to be censored. I always wondered if the censoring was really necessary or if it was just done in a precautious manner.

The censoring of masters worked in Amplitude because you weren't singing and they made it fit in with the song so it sounded like a radio edit. It worked (if you can say that) with GHII because they were covers. How would it work in Rock Band though? Here the lyrics are being sung and master tracks are being either mostly or completely used for the game. I've been waiting to see when HMX would take a chance with the ratings board and just leave the lyrics uncensored. (Maybe they've already done this and were asked to censor it if they didn't want an M rating, but I never heard about anything like that.)

But even if it were rated M for some ridiculous reason just because of the inclusion of a few curse words in lyrics, wouldn't that even be okay? Since this game is going to cost quite a bit more than the average game, the people with the money to buy it are mostly going to be either parents or late-teens/twenties, each of which is able to buy M rated games.

I'm just putting this out there early on so maybe someone who knows what's going to (or might) happen can give some feedback.

I guess it's possible all the songs could have no swearing in them originally (making this pointless), but what are the chances of that?

[Brock_Landers]

If they do use songs where the original track had swearing in them, I BEG of Harmonix to at least have an alternate comparison running hidden in the background, so that singers who do choose to go that route won't get penalized for singing the original lyrics.

'Cause I sure as hell wouldn't be caught singing the censored version of Killing In The Name.

[Bloodlust]

Think of it like this: Both 360 and PS3 have parental controls, do they not? Given that, they could simply have it to where (depending on the control settings) the cursing is censored or uncensored. Including an extra manual for parents would be nice too. I'm sure they've already thought of this, and I just wonder if they would spend the time to do it... I mean... When I sing, I don't want to sing "...you I won't do what ya tell me", I want to sing "**** YOU I WON'T DO WHAT YA TELL ME". I'm sure that goes for the other fans of the originals. Hell, playing Anthrax's Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.) won't feel complete to me until I get to sing the chorus, which is "Nice ****in' life"...

Give it an M rating, but make it apparent that depending on console settings, you can pick whether it's more of an M or T (or even E) styled game. This would sure make me happy.

[sushi111]

If this game gets an M rating, any chance of it selling extremly well are caput. Not that M rated games dont sell well, but if Guitar Hero was rated M, you think it would have sold half the copies it did?

Mommy dosent want little Billy Whatshisname telling everyone to **** off.

Just get songs that have little or no swearing, or just dont show the swearing on the screen, but let people who are familiar with the song swear.

[Maposaurus]

That's a good call. Since freestyling apparently gives you bonus points if done correctly, you could swear and it'd just boost your score for being closer to the real song.

[Seattle_Sound]

IT BETTER NOT BE M, It would be a little awkward if during In Bloom my grandma walks upstairs and hears "nature is a whore". Not that I personally have anything against, I would love to do Killing In The Name uncensored but if mom is watching or something I would like alternate lyrics.

[Magnet]

If this game gets an M rating, any chance of it selling extremly well are caput. Not that M rated games dont sell well, but if Guitar Hero was rated M, you think it would have sold half the copies it did?

Yes, I honestly think GH still would have sold well over half the copies it did. I think you're vastly overestimating the impact of an M rating to games that people want. Look at the sales of Halo 2 and all of the GTA games. If people genuinely want the game, a rating will not stop them from getting it. Do R rated movies sell less tickets in general than PG-13 movies? Of course. They get a lot more artistic freedom with the R rating though and are still widely distributed. The only real adverse impact to sales would be an NC-17 rating (A/O rating with games), where theaters wouldn't show it (and stores wouldn't carry it with games). An M rating is hardly the sales death sentence you seem to think it is.


Just get songs that have little or no swearing, or just dont show the swearing on the screen, but let people who are familiar with the song swear.

I think this is a good idea though.


IT BETTER NOT BE M, It would be a little awkward if during In Bloom my grandma walks upstairs and hears "nature is a whore". Not that I personally have anything against, I would love to do Killing In The Name uncensored but if mom is watching or something I would like alternate lyrics.

I think a little awkwardness for people living with their grandmothers can be sacrificed for the sake of preserving the songs in their original form for everyone else. And with such a large number of songs that are planned, I'm sure there will be plenty of mom-friendly (and grandma-friendly) songs to choose from when she is watching.

[Seattle_Sound]

I think a little awkwardness for people living with their grandmothers can be sacrificed for the sake of preserving the songs in their original form for everyone else. And with such a large number of songs that are planned, I'm sure there will be plenty of mom-friendly (and grandma-friendly) songs to choose from when she is watching.

I dont actually live with my grandma, I was just using that as an example of how you might not always want to have the "real" lyrics in there. Can it really be that hard to add an extra screne with the option of alternate lyrics? For example you pick the song and difficulty, then "real" lyrics or "alternate" lyrics. It would be easy, in In Bloom you could change "nature is a whore" to "nature is a force". It sounds very similiar and it took me a total of 2 seconds to think of it.

[Magnet]

I dont actually live with my grandma, I was just using that as an example of how you might not always want to have the "real" lyrics in there. Can it really be that hard to add an extra screne with the option of alternate lyrics? For example you pick the song and difficulty, then "real" lyrics or "alternate" lyrics. It would be easy, in In Bloom you could change "nature is a whore" to "nature is a force". It sounds very similiar and it took me a total of 2 seconds to think of it.

I like that idea. It's important to think of good ways to include censoring if censoring is inevitable. Choosing between the types of lyrics for songs with swearing in them would be a nice feature. Maybe it would be good for the ESRB rating if friendly lyrics were on by default, but there could be something buried in the options for a "Language Filter" that could be turned off. I remember Perfect Dark had this kind of option back for the N64 (not that it would have impacted the rating for that game since it was a bloody first-person shooter).

[Emo_Screamo]

I think it'd be a great idea to have alternate and original lyric options when you choose the sone. Either that or not penalize the singer for not singing that word. I don't curse, with the exception of hell, and won't curse for a video game, no matter how awesome its going to be. I like the idea Magnet threw out in his (her?) last reply.

[JimNasium]

Any update on this? And if there is censoring, how far does it go? Is "whore" a censorable word? "Ass"? What about full lyrics that are sketchy? Like ones that are making drug or sex references? I think you guys are in a tough spot. If you leave them as is, it could lead to an "M" rating. But if you censor too much, or only include "safe" songs, people are going to be unhappy with it. Personally I'd rather it be kept uncensored

[RacerX]

The last thing Harmonix would want is for it to get an M rating. Lyrics will censored

[ThePaska]

I assume lyrics for the most part will be censored, just like in GH II. It wont be that bad, they will basically all just be radio versions of the songs, and for the most part I don't think they will have to censor many songs.

[StartSomething]

Could they not censor the DLC and keep a T or E rating?

[admanimal]

The game already has a T rating (watch the trailer), so lyrics must be censored.

[sushi111]

I think they can get away with swearing in DLC... Can they?

[Eman311]

No DLC must adhere to the same rating the game has.

It has to pass the ESRB just like any game does

[DShizzle1029]

I highly doubt Rock Band will realistically have any foul language. The worst word you heard in GH was the A word (Less Talk More Rokk - Freezepop)

I dont think F and S will make the cut.

[noumenon]

Yeah I also think it will be censored. They should put in the cover of 'so what' by Metallica as DLC, that would be hilarious.

"Well, I've .... the queen, I've .... Bach
I've even .... .. ... ..... ....
So what, so what
And I've .... a sheep, I've ..... a goat
I ..... .. .... ..... down its throat
So what, so what
So what, so what, you boring little ...."

etc. :D

[Brock_Landers]

Just had a thought.. with the master tracks DLC albums already announced.. do they have any cuss words in them? Coz that would bring up some interesting questions...

[SpeedMetal09]

for the love of god do away with censorship!!!!!let the song be heard and played as it was intended too

[Flybird]

Yes, they'll be censored, unfortunately.

I hope that we can sing the song uncensored and not be penalized for it.

[IOIHUMMERIOI]

Think of it like this: Both 360 and PS3 have parental controls, do they not? Given that, they could simply have it to where (depending on the control settings) the cursing is censored or uncensored. Including an extra manual for parents would be nice too. I'm sure they've already thought of this, and I just wonder if they would spend the time to do it... I mean... When I sing, I don't want to sing "...you I won't do what ya tell me", I want to sing "**** YOU I WON'T DO WHAT YA TELL ME". I'm sure that goes for the other fans of the originals. Hell, playing Anthrax's Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.) won't feel complete to me until I get to sing the chorus, which is "Nice ****in' life"...

Give it an M rating, but make it apparent that depending on console settings, you can pick whether it's more of an M or T (or even E) styled game. This would sure make me happy.

I'm with you there up until the last part. An M rating will kill this game. They need to do what the "online blurb" says, but with a tweak. The game will be like E or T, but online play changes the rating and they're not responsible, blah, blah, blah. They need to CLEARLY put in the manual that some songs contain explicit lyrics and parental guidance is suggested. With that said, the game should come "locked" to an E or T rating, and in the options, a section to turn on swearing or not (like the blood option in Gears of War). Then all is fair. That's how it should be done...

Or...

Do the game where they change the swear word to either a pause or alternate word...BUT you can't be penalized if you say the word as the song goes. Sing it if you like.

I know when the bars are all lit up for a free for all, it will be a censorship fest!!! :D



F$%& You I won't buy if you bleep me! :D

[WingsOfSteel]

IT BETTER NOT BE M, It would be a little awkward if during In Bloom my grandma walks upstairs and hears "nature is a whore". Not that I personally have anything against, I would love to do Killing In The Name uncensored but if mom is watching or something I would like alternate lyrics.

If you're singing it like Kurt Cobain, your grandma wouldn't hear "nature is a whore," anyways.

[ianian]

its ganna be censored
they arnt going to put it out with an m rating
do you know how many 10 year old and under kids that play guitar hero
and how many teens have little brothers and sisters
there ganna replace **** with crap or somthin
**** with flip or frick
damn with dang
or just leave the word out completely

[mohkilla]

well whether it is censored or not


Im still singing the f*ckin songs the uncensored f*ckin way!

[Dodobird]

It's worth noting that PG-13 movies can have a rather large amount of swearing, and get away with it no problem. I'd imagine it would be the same for the ESRB. So long as they don't go overboard with songs that have excessive swearing / are extremely explicit (i.e. Closer), but slide a few songs in there that do it a couple of times, they should be okay.

Then again, the fact that you'd be saying these words as opposed to just listening to them could change a lot. It's kind of uncharted territory, here.

[Smidget]

It's worth noting that PG-13 movies can have a rather large amount of swearing, and get away with it no problem. I'd imagine it would be the same for the ESRB.

nope, haha. Two different markets with two completely different sets of rules.

[MaXy42]

The real quetion would be if the downloadable songs were rated speretly from the game. In that case, they could just not include any songs with swaring in them in the game, and just put those up for download with all the swaring in them.

[Bakkster_Man]

I'm with you there up until the last part. An M rating will kill this game. They need to do what the "online blurb" says, but with a tweak. The game will be like E or T, but online play changes the rating and they're not responsible, blah, blah, blah. They need to CLEARLY put in the manual that some songs contain explicit lyrics and parental guidance is suggested. With that said, the game should come "locked" to an E or T rating, and in the options, a section to turn on swearing or not (like the blood option in Gears of War). Then all is fair. That's how it should be done...

Or...

Do the game where they change the swear word to either a pause or alternate word...BUT you can't be penalized if you say the word as the song goes. Sing it if you like.
[/SIZE][/B] :D

Well, ESRB ratings are for ALL content in the game, whether they're locked or not (remember Hot Coffee?). Also, the 'online clause' wouldn't work here because they ARE responsible for the DLC, and therefor will be rated on it. Hopefully the singing will not penalize for pronunciation of the original lyrics.


The real quetion would be if the downloadable songs were rated speretly from the game. In that case, they could just not include any songs with swaring in them in the game, and just put those up for download with all the swaring in them.

I'm hoping they get rated seperately, or are able to get some form of exemption rating. otherwise that could be pretty disappointing...

[Huwonk]

I'm pretty sure there will be censoring. I'm also pretty sure they'll leave little vocal fills so people can actually say the original words. Hopefully they don't do what they did in KITN.

[ThePaska]

I'm pretty sure there will be censoring. I'm also pretty sure they'll leave little vocal fills so people can actually say the original words. Hopefully they don't do what they did in KITN.

I like that idea, censor it, take the words out, but leave those fill areas so you can say what you want!

[Apples]

Killing in the Name was censored? I never heard the original but I thought the cover was pretty good in its own right.


This is a pretty good discussion. In previous rhythm games, the lyrics were a sort of secondary piece of the whole thing. The new vocalist mechanic is really going to force a difficult set of choices:

Censor lyrics: would probably require covers, fans might not like it, could be disasterous to the song quality with poor editing

Don't censor lyrics: higher game rating (not important to me, but is for sales), some songs good can be VERY profanity laiden, which would give a bad connotation

Don't pick songs with swearing: highly limits your available library to choose from, excludes good works unfairly

[Rev0lver]

lol... KITN cover being pretty good....

that was the worst cover of a song in the whole game next to laid to rest

[Rev0lver]

nope, haha. Two different markets with two completely different sets of rules.

well, i've played Teen rated games with swearing in campaign cutscenes.

[R34P3R]

It would be stupid to put in censoring when you are singing the song. You can have a little pause everywhere there would be a swear, it would throw your rythem right off in songs where the swear isn't at the first or the end of the line.

for example.

Killing in the name would be fine because **** is pretty secluded from the rest of the words.

But in songs where the swear is right in the middle of a sentance and with fast vocals, the pause would through you off a lot.

[newwaytodie]

I though it rather humorous repeating "F*CK YOU I WON'T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME!" ad infinitum.

[IbanezBassist_v2]

No DLC must adhere to the same rating the game has.

It has to pass the ESRB just like any game does

Are we sure about this. If you look closely to alot (every single online game), you'll notice a little phrase. Gaming experience may change online. I would imagine they could get away with it, but is it worth a try.

[Bakkster_Man]

Are we sure about this. If you look closely to alot (every single online game), you'll notice a little phrase. Gaming experience may change online. I would imagine they could get away with it, but is it worth a try.

Could change refers to circumstances outside the studio's control. DLC is totally under HMX control, so it still needs to get rated.

[NorrenRadd]

in movies, it takes 2 instances of F*** to get an 'R' rating. The 'R' rating is very similar to the 'M' for video games. Therefore, I believe the lyrics will be censored.

[gtsmith]

I am solidly against censorship, but, when I think about my 7 year old and my 9 year old (who both LOVE guitarhero) playing the game with no censorship, it kind of sends chills up my spine. I dont want to cut them off from the game, and of course they both have heard cuss words before, but I dont want to put them in an environment that promotes the use of them. I want the game to be as true to the artists as possible. The best solution, the true no brainer solution is to use the parental controls in the console and have censored and un-censored version available. I can't believe it would really be all that much extra work.

[Apples]

I am solidly against censorship, but, when I think about my 7 year old and my 9 year old (who both LOVE guitarhero) playing the game with no censorship, it kind of sends chills up my spine. I dont want to cut them off from the game, and of course they both have heard cuss words before, but I dont want to put them in an environment that promotes the use of them. I want the game to be as true to the artists as possible. The best solution, the true no brainer solution is to use the parental controls in the console and have censored and un-censored version available. I can't believe it would really be all that much extra work.

100% agreed. It is one thing to hear those words in the context of a movie, TV, or general conversation. It's another thing entirely to promote and use those words as part of a gaming experience. Even as an adult, I could not imagine singing along certain lyrics in the presence of my family.

[devo193]

To me, there are three options:

Censor it with a short pause or freestyle fill.

Change the lyrics but don't penalize players for singing the swear words.(I'd rather this one.)

Or, like someone said, be able to choose alternate lyrics.

[hmxsean]

The best solution, the true no brainer solution is to use the parental controls in the console and have censored and un-censored version available. I can't believe it would really be all that much extra work.

I'm pretty sure the ESRB rating would have to be for the more mature of the ratings, which makes it kind of in impossibility. I think our solution works just fine, if you know where the swears go just say them, if you don't know then you don't know the difference and you haven't lost anything.

[MrtyMcfly]

Censor it with a short pause or freestyle fill.



I would almost guess that this is most likely what they would do, or at least makes the most sense.

[ababypenguin]

I wouldn't mind if the lyrics were changed on-screen, or on the music. As long as when my mom leaves the room, I can swear my lungs out! Changing lyrics doesn't bother me, but a blank spot or a bleep where the word should be, would suck. Especially since kids would easily catch on to what the words really were behind those bleeps, and soon would be dropping F-bombs while playing or even when not playing. :(

[gtsmith]

i agree with that as well, don't penalize for the lyrics, but dont display them either.

[Brock_Landers]

I think our solution works just fine, if you know where the swears go just say them, if you don't know then you don't know the difference and you haven't lost anything.

Sounds like the best solution.. although I don't actually know what the "solution" is as such.. has it been documented and talked about already?

And if what we're talking about is just using clean lyrics, with the ability to do the explicit version yourself.. this still raises the question: "Will there be no master tracks for songs with swearing in them?"