No Bleepin Way.

[Genesis x360a]

Taken from 360Gamer:

Its been reported that microsoft is patenting a real-time filter for offensive langauge over Xbox Live. If true, the technology would either bleep or muffle swearing, as well as the racist or homophobic remarks.

Hmmm could this be a good or bad idea?

I say bad as the bleeping would be more annoying than the people swearing.

[EOU Findub]

Well, if they implemented this for everyone, it is a blatant disregard (at least in America) of our 1st amendment rights. If I want to hear someone say the F-word, or say it myself, I have that right to.

The only way I see this happening is just an optional feature for parents for kids under 13 or 18. Which would be a great idea I think.

[FourChan]

I hope you can turn it off cause I would get tired of people not being able to cuss at each other.

[jorGe62990]

I call bullshit. Would be nearly impossible to implement and even harder to enforce.

[kikkoman]

wow that sucks now all i will hear from the 10 year olds is beeps -_-. There already annoying as it is swearing ever other word.

[drno]

Originally Posted by EOU Findub

Well, if they implemented this for everyone, it is a blatant disregard (at least in America) of our 1st amendment rights. If I want to hear someone say the F-word, or say it myself, I have that right to.

The only way I see this happening is just an optional feature for parents for kids under 13 or 18. Which would be a great idea I think.

The first amendment prevents the America government from passing laws or legislation that restrict or prevent the use of some language. This doesn't mean that web sites, private businesses, or online games have to adhere to the freedom of speech portion of the first amendment.

I highly doubt such a device could be implemented into xbox live though. There's tons of reasons for it but the main one would simply be that many people who play xbox live (and subsequently swear) have different voices, accents, and crappy muffled voices through their headsets already. Trying to create a broad enough voice recognition for every swear word and racial slur without also accidentally including other words that aren't swears and such wouldn't be very easy at this point in time.

[Pootcrum]

Originally Posted by drno

The first amendment prevents the America government from passing laws or legislation that restrict or prevent the use of some language. This doesn't mean that web sites, private businesses, or online games have to adhere to the freedom of speech portion of the first amendment.

I highly doubt such a device could be implemented into xbox live though. There's tons of reasons for it but the main one would simply be that many people who play xbox live (and subsequently swear) have different voices, accents, and crappy muffled voices through their headsets already. Trying to create a broad enough voice recognition for every swear word and racial slur without also accidentally including other words that aren't swears and such wouldn't be very easy at this point in time.

Not to mention the extra processing time this would cause, and hence increase lag between people in conversations. I also cannot see it being implemented.

Just because a company patents something it does not mean they will implement it. Patenting is a way of them staking their claim, that way if someone does find a use for this technology, not necessarily on live, microsoft own it. Its all about making money.

[Elite Hero]

Plus the fact that there would have to be some kind of delay on all voice communication unless they can predict you are going to swear before you do it.

[Poncho Dude]

10 year olds will abuse the beeping sound. D;

[J eVeRy DaY 514]

there's no way that this would ever happen. i would actually be very impressed though if they somehow got this to work.

[Clipse 2]

I also call BS on this. If voice recognition software could be used to bleep out curse words why wouldn't Microsoft just implement a system that would support the ESRB ratings of games? For example, if someone is playing an "M" rated game online, talking trash with a high pitched voice chances are they shouldn't be playing that game. MS could come up with some catchy phrase to bring it to their attention such as "Attention: You sound too young to be playing this game, come back when your balls drop"

I'm kidding of course.

[Exane22]

Im thinking that somewhere along the lines words and shit got twisted. Its rumored that in the update there will be a parental control to filter the language in the actual game, not in the online play.

[EOU Findub]

I can just imagine people just whispering "Fu**" under their breath just to get it out. Thank you for clarifying the first amendment for me. I still think it is restricting free speech, but whatev. No way this will ever happen.

[fuzzy510]

Originally Posted by EOU Findub

I can just imagine people just whispering "Fu**" under their breath just to get it out. Thank you for clarifying the first amendment for me. I still think it is restricting free speech, but whatev. No way this will ever happen.

It's not. Part of the Terms of Service would involve a clause that would state that profane speech would be censored, and by agreeing to the Xbox Live Terms of Service, you'd agree to waive your right to complain about other people not being able to hear your profanity. To put it simply, it would be about as much of a free speech issue as someone claiming that Microsoft was restricting free speech by not letting you put something like "IFuckedYourMom" as your gamertag. If you're upset that you're not allowed to do that, you're free to take your money elsewhere.

If this did happen, by the way, there's no way that it could expand much beyond clear profanity. Would "gay," "ass" and "fag" get censored? Both have legitimate uses in the English language beyond their inflammatory uses. I don't think it's something Microsoft wants to deal with.

The fact, though, is that there's no way this works out. A delay would have to be introduced to effectively censor anything, and can you imagine the nightmare that would cause in more competitive multiplayer games? A mandatory speech filter might honestly cause a LOT of Xbox Live cancellations simply because of the severe gameplay disadvantages.

[IRONMAN]

It would just be easier to shoot the annoying 10 year olds on site. Vote.

[TatteredRagDoll]

Seriously, why is our country so quick to scream "first amendment right infringement!!!!"

If it really was as everyone thought it was I could walk up to pres-elect Obama, look him in the eye and say "I am going to kill you slowly, and painfully while you sleep tonight" and not get arrested for it. Well wouldn't it be my first amendment right to say anything I wanted? No, of course not, because that's just silly.

Americans worry me a bit.

As for the OP, I don't see it happening. I think it is sad enough that this is even rumored. How hard is it to not act like a douche bag for a few measly hours of your life? I don't bother playing online because I can't stand most of the people who get online. A game isn't fun to me if everyone is running around swearing like they have a stick in their ass.

[master_shake_350]

Racist comments fine that should be blocked but bleeping swear words is pointless and dumb.

[RFT 123]

Nah, ain't gonna happen. It would just f**k the service up, like others have said. Would also be a waste of money as well to develop the filter anyway.

[chefnegative]

im totally against this. most of the fun in halo comes from listenin to people talk trash. i think thats more fun than the game itself and possibly the hardest ive ever laughed playing a game.

[DJbruce]

I only tend to plug in my mic when I'm playing with people I know or like.

[Aelarin]

How will they block those people who like to whisper or mumble incoherently over voice chat? I can't understand a damn thing they say, so how will the filter?

[wigidywaxa]

I cant see this working, especially with different accents etc. Stupid idea imo

[phatRizzo]

Eh, sounds interesting, but i really don't need it... You see, every time i curse while playing my xbox, something is thrown across the room and hits me in the head or almost hits me... My Wife don't appreciate me using my colorful language....

[Nerdz0r]

How is it going to muffle every type of accent or saying of every swear word there is?
That's not possible.
And you should be able to swear on games with age limmits 16+ if this was true.

[FourChan]

The Funny thing is, it wont happen, Microsoft will have to filter the languages, the words from them and everything including accents. It wont ever happen I don't think, if it does it will be like 1-2 gig downloads for us. I hope it's a Parent Only Perk.

[b3nnyth3gr33k]

that sucks

[Pyroman31]

I agree. This blows if true.

[Ibaapzo]

Most instances I run into that are remotely funny have gratuitous amounts of swearing. Screw the filter!

Unless it's a parental setting, an OPTIONAL setting. Then I'm all-for!

[Drake O'Phile]

I think it would be hilarious if it wasn't optional and was always on. Maybe I'd play more Halo (or ACTUALLY play it for once) if I was guaranteed that I'd be yelled at by 14 year olds screaming "YOU FLIPPIN FLARGIN FART KNOCKER WHO LIKES PEOPLE OF THE SAME GENDER".

[Ortep]

I don't really think such a thing is possible.