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Xbox trolls, get ready to have your fun ruined: Microsoft will be censoring you photo

Rule one of Internet anonymity: you can be a dick. Anytime, anywhere, and there are no consequences. This rule has somehow managed to drip over to Xbox LIVE, where you can be called any colorful racial or sexual slur with hardly a thought. It seems fans of the F-bomb will soon have their cereal peed in, however, I couldn't be happier to hear the news.

The U.S. Patent office has granted Microsoft a brand-spanking-new patent to censor audio streams real-time. Know what that means, kids? The days of talking to strangers like the scum of the earth are soon to be over. Of course, this also may make the Agent Mulders of the world a bit nervous, as it also means that anything else could technically be censored as well.

Do you think this is a good thing .. or an advancement with scary potential?

[Via GamePolitics -- Thanks, Joe]


Continue: More Xbox Live stories





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99 comments | showing # 51 to 99

rel123's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 12:37
rel123
CelicaCrazed: Very little cancels out the right to free speech, especially on xbox live where the mute button is right there in front of anyone who doesn't want to hear what someone's saying.
Cataract's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 12:44
Cataract
@Tino

I believe I knew your mother once.
Budboy311's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 12:48
Budboy311
The right to free speech is not unlimited. If you infringe on other people's rights it's not allowed. Also, it only applies to a public space--e.g. not XBL, which is a private enterprise. They can do whatever they want and your rights are not being violated, they are waived by signing the usage agreement when you first sign up for service. It's like saying the principal at school violated your right to privacy by going through your locker. It doesn't work like that.
Phist's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 12:56
Phist
This idea should have been implemented a long time ago. The execution fails, but good intentions indeed. If I can't cuss along side with my Dtoiders in COD and Castle Crashers, then this new rule is trading off the core 360 base for younger and casual gamers.
Pantagruel's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 13:00
Pantagruel
Stupid and a waste of time.

I play an MMO which has text filtering of "obscenities" (maybe they all do as far as I know). Not only does it filter out normal words on occasion, it just causes players to create an alternate vocablulary of insults.

Will they filter every language? Maybe another good reason to learn a second language - to insult strangers on Live.
Simmy's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 13:01
Simmy
I think this is taking things a little too far for my liking.
I love to shout obscenities at people when in an online game. Though whenever somebody is being a right dick on either the PSN or XBL, I just mute them; it only takes a second.
bbrigg1's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 13:06
bbrigg1
The only way I would want it to happen, if it does, is if it makes the beep noise when it edits words. That could be funny....for about 10 minutes.
akathatoneguy's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 13:09
akathatoneguy
I think they are missing the point, here. It would be every bit as annoying to be chastised by dipshits who have spent 300 hours playing CoD4 for not doing something they way they wanted you to, even if they weren't using cuss words. They already have the best feature, which is the mute option. It's not as if most of us are really offended by cuss words, and usually it's the principle of the matter more than anything- I don't want some 14 year old douchebag calling me a "stupid idiot" OR a "fucking homo". Either way, it's an unpleasant gaming experience, the cuss words matter very little. And you can't censor people's attitudes.

Also, I love when people misinterpret freedom of speech as "you can say whatever you want whenever you want wherever you want without fear of repurcussions".
Cyberxion's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 13:23
Cyberxion
@ Budboy311

I agree completely.

I think that as long as they offer you the option to turn this off during games played with people on your friend's list it'll be a nice feature.
Dexter345's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 13:25
Dexter345
I don't get it. Most games have mute options already, and if they don't, then XBox Live itself is equipped to mute people who are bothering you. What does this extra thing do then?
Corak's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 13:29
Corak
Great now the trolls and 14 year old aholes will beg their mommies for a PS3 because they can cuss all they want.
TrailerParkJesus's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 13:29
TrailerParkJesus
What kind of witchcraft is this?
xe-cute's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 13:32
xe-cute
I'd rather have this as an option.


Basicaly everyone under the age of 18 should be forced and is censored in both directions (when they swear and also blocking other people swearing to them).


I think adults should have a choice of wether they block other people (and themself) from swearing or not.
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 13:40
Sharpless
This is a stupid idea. This sort of software isn't likely to be accurate enough. People are going to find themselves being censored for the wrong words, due to software error. And I also want the freedom to say whatever I want to my friends. This is dumb, dumb, dumb.
xe-cute's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 13:51
xe-cute
Also looking at this from another angle.....


I try my best not to swear when I play online with others and so I bit my tounge alot and conciously don't swear.


With this in place than I may simply just start swearing whenever I feel like it, seeing as I no longer need to think about others.

bleeeep, bleep bleep bleeping bleeep

oOh I can feel a headache coming on already.


Sooner or later people will start making up there own words to mean other words and use different pronounceations etc. You can't just endlessly keep adding words for it to recognaise and block as swearing (it is an endless war that will never be won).
xe-cute's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 13:55
xe-cute
Lastly, I do not understand what is wrong with swearing anyway?

It's only words and if they where accepted in to everyday language than the words would no longer offend and be harmless.

Teach 1st school kids how to swear I say, by the time that generation grows up, the words will have no effect and be harmless and will stop getting used completely as they would be made completely redundant.

Future historians would then talk about thiese silly useless words that used to be used and how primitive humans used to get offended by them (just like they where stupid enough to smoke and drink).
Crunshii's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 14:04
Crunshii
whats this? Microsoft still looking for ways to stump on their members? dang, billy boy gates bringing the ban hammer back from retirement for one last club.
Faith's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 14:27
Faith
I would be happy if just all the racial slurs and gay bashing would just be censored. I could care less about the swearing. That's what the parental controls are for.
FuSoYa's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 14:37
FuSoYa
Cynical Gamer's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 14:40
Cynical Gamer
awesome, I won't have to listen to racist redneck kids screaming slurs online.
solidgoomba's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 14:40
solidgoomba
Great so now instead of Xbox live being a bunch of profanities and racial slurs, it's just going to be constant beep. Thanks Microsoft!
MissHinasaki's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 14:49
MissHinasaki
Well considering Live is crawling with shit bags and I tend not to spout random currents of anarchism while playing Halo, I think this is a good thing!
Mauer's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 15:03
Mauer
Who you calling a cootie queen you lint licker?!!?!?

If they block the curse words with a beep noise, I think it would be funny as fuck.
Linkoman's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 15:28
Linkoman
i'd rather them blot out the n-word that just fuck.
Infinite's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 15:43
Infinite
I think we should all just get together and have a piece of cake.
Cheeburga's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 15:57
Cheeburga
VIVA LA REVOLUCIONZ
Syn's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 15:59
Syn
Yeah, you xbox assholes did this to yourselves, so you can deal with it.
Druid 01's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 16:13
Druid 01
meh, i'm never a fan of censorship. i just hope this doesn't block my communication in CoD4 or TF2 just because i said the "fucking" sniper is located over X and no one ends up hearing me.
CaptainApocalypse's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 16:41
CaptainApocalypse
It starts small...
Aziel13's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 16:51
Aziel13
don't mess with my F bombs

take away the N bomb but not the F bomb
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 17:23
Holyetheline
I think this is fine... I don't play much on Xbox Live too much... I really don't care though, either way I'm not too bothered about this.
B-Radicate's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 17:56
B-Radicate
Thank fucking god. I stopped playing Gears and CoD4 and GTAIV online because of all the assholes who spout racial slurs and anti-gay rants into their mics. Xbox LIVE is like the scum of the earth laid bare.

Good for MS.
Grasshopper7's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 18:01
Grasshopper7
Damn, by the time I get to this post I think everythings already been said. But to throw in my two cents (or roughly 1 penny at current exchange rates, as I'm in the UK) this is a fine idea in principle but they'll never pull it off. The word duck will never be heard on live again. It should definately be optional from person to person, just like mute. And also everything akathatoneguy said.
GrayFox's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 18:35
GrayFox
Hmm.... I hate the Halo troglodytes as much as the next guy, but I really don't like the sound of this.
Andrew5329's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 18:41
Andrew5329
Xbox live w/o the f-bomb being dropped every 3 seconds by a 12 yr old is like eating a hotfudge sunday but instead of hot fudge its that nasty artificial shit, and instead of icecream its playdough. IT JUST LAME!!!!!!
Dr_Vonboogie's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 18:48
Dr_Vonboogie
ummm, how the hell is the real time censorship supposed to work? i just gotta know.
necrozen's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 19:02
necrozen
Creepy stuff. Next thing Microsoft is going to attempt to police the internet as well.
Big Evil's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 19:05
Big Evil
Hmmm

Looks like the end of halo 3 then :P
TheDreadHawk's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 19:32
TheDreadHawk
THE PATRIOTS?!
Kent's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 20:07
Kent
rather than cry about N-bombs and F-bombs.....try the mute button. Block those that offend you. Make friends and play with them. Switch to the family gaming zone....Anything but accross the board censorship.
MechaMonkey's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2008 23:20
MechaMonkey
I hope they change things to Lobster Milkshake instead of just blocking them.
Aertyr's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2008 00:11
Aertyr
Free speech destroyed.

How about instead of censoring everyone, actually using the channels thats in your gamer tag. (E.G. Casual, Underground, etc) for who you can talk to and what rules need apply. So the kids can have their own room and we retards can cuss each other out for fun.
N8ball540's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2008 01:17
N8ball540
Potential? Lmao, whatever you say.

Way to make gamers more of virgins than they already are.
DR EGG's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2008 09:08
DR EGG
I don't understand. There's already a great "Mute" feature already in place in games - can't we just use that?
Clbull's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2008 11:10
Clbull
I think this would be awesome to be honest. It would certainly silence a lot of the rude kids you see on Xbox Live. And yes, I have heard some very offensive things being said on Live.

However, I hope they keep this to public chat, cos I certainly wouldn't like censorship in my private chat thank you very much.
Archanai's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2008 11:31
Archanai
I'm not comfortable with that violation of free speech - I know it's mainly there to stop kids with over-bearing parents from hearing the "bad words", but hopefully there will be an option to disable the censor.

I swear alot - not offensively - especially when talking to mates online, and if I'm playing a game with a friend then every other word would be censored, which would be annoying as fuck. Oh wait, I mean: annoying as *bleep*.
MrSlippery's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/21/2008 12:19
MrSlippery
wasn't the mute button good enough?
falinter's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/23/2008 11:55
falinter
It's not a new patent, they are just hiring millions of third world employees to sit by with a Censor button for every single voice chat on Live and just throw some delay in there.
ikiryou's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/26/2008 09:07
ikiryou
*Reads article, then goes back to playing Saints Row 2, taking a moment to turn up the volume on the in-game dialogue.*
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