You may have heard that Little Big Planet was recalled due to references to the Qur’an in one of the music tracks accompanying it. Now, you’re free to opine in whichever direction with regards to the idea of recalling something to avoid offending the members of a religion. I live in Denmark, I’ve been through the wringer on this, so I understand why Sony would chose to do so, and I empathize with their decision.
But I haven’t seen this particular aspect discussed anywhere:
It’s quite normal to play music and be inspired by the words of the Prophet Mohammed,” Diabate explaine. “It’s my way to attract and inspire people towards Islam. #
I don’t know how it was a part of the music, what language it was in or what it said, but isn’t there something fundamentally wrong with the notion of ‘attracting’ the players of a family title — that is, in particular, children — towards religion?
Now I hardly think it was the intent of anyone involved to evangelize in Little Big Planet; instead I guesstimate that Toumani Diabate, the musician behind the track, took some liberties — perhaps without even considering it. Very unfortunate, not least because a recall costs one hell of a lot of money, but also because that sort of thing simply doesn’t belong in a child-friendly title.
Regardless, I’m very much looking forward to the game, though I at the same time feel my economy strained under the weight of games coming in the next month or so.