An exclusive gaming industry community targeted
to, and designed for Professionals, Businesses
and Students in the sectors and industries
of Gaming, New Media and the Web, all closely
related with it's Business and Industry.
A Rich content driven service including articles,
contributed discussion, news, reviews, networking, downloads,
and debate.
We strive to cater for cultural influencers,
technology decision makers, early adopters and business leaders in the gaming industry.
A medium to share your or contribute your ideas,
experiences, questions and point of view or network
with other colleagues here at iVirtua Community.
Rockstar Games' Manhunt 2 has been to all intents and purposes banned in the UK after the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) refused to certify the PS2 and Wii title. Without a BBFC certificate, the game can't legally be sold here.
The BBFC's verdict of the game is damning: "Manhunt 2 is distinguishable from recent high-end video games by its unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone in an overall game context which constantly encourages visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing," the organisation said today.
Chances are the ban will be front page news tomorrow, following soon after the Resistance cathedral "controversy". But while the Manchester thing was ridiculous the Manhunt ban makes sense. Forget all the guff about parents, in the real world Manhunt 2 would have been played by 10 year olds on their Wii. Imagine how long it would have taken for the usual media suspects to pick up on little Johnny's wiimote garroting pastime. Of course, there are obvious censorship worries and if the game was exclusive to, say, the PS3 then things would be different. But the BBFC don't act lightly and I think in this case they've got it right.
The Inquirer: http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=40429
The original game created a storm in Britain in 2004 when the parents of a 14-year-old boy who was stabbed to death blamed the game for inspiring his 17-year-old killer.
The US nongovernmental organization that evaluates games, the Entertainment Software Rating Board, has not yet given a rating for Manhunt 2, which is slated for a July 10 release.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhunt_2
Quote:
Manhunt 2 is a video game designed by Rockstar Games and the sequel to 2003's Manhunt. The game was scheduled to be released for the Wii, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable in July 2007,[1] but has been temporarily suspended by Take-Two following a wave of government bans and an AO rating in the United States
Quote:
Certification The BBFC has refused to certify the PlayStation 2 and Wii editions of Manhunt 2, meaning that it will not be legal to sell in the UK (however it will be legal to own)[7] in its current state,[8] unless Rockstar successfully wins an appeal.[9]
The Irish Film Censor's Office announced that the game would also not be available for sale in the Republic of Ireland.[10]This is the first time a video game has been banned by the IFCO.[11]
It is also under consideration for a ban in Italy where Italian Communications Minister Paolo Gentiloni described it as, "cruel and sadistic, with a squalid environment and a continuous, insistent encouragement to violence and murder."[12]
Australia banned the previous Manhunt game[13] and is expected to also ban Manhunt 2.[14] Games that are not rated in Australia are illegal; the highest rating a game can receive is MA 15+, and it is expected that Manhunt 2 will be denied the rating.[15]
Germany banned the previous Manhunt game.[16] Though the status of its USK rating has not been divulged.
Manhunt 2 would have been released uncut in Norway with an 18+ PEGI certificate if not for Take-Two's suspension.[17][18]
ESRB rating In America the game has received the Adults Only rating from the ESRB. Many retailers will not carry AO rated titles.[19] Nintendo and Sony both have policies prohibiting third-party AO rated titles from appearing on their consoles.[20][21] As per such, Take Two cannot release Manhunt 2 with an AO rating to those consoles.
Take Two Temporarily Suspends Distribution In response to the BBFC and ESRB's decisions, Take Two has indefinitely suspendeded the release of Manhunt 2 while they evaluate their options for Manhunt 2.
First game to be banned in the UK in 10 years, and ever, in the Republic of Ireland... Do you think an appeal will be sucessful? WHat are your views on this?
I think more people will end up owning the game - simply because it is actually banned. Torrent seeders will be, and many are, already rife - and it has just meant massive good press for Rockstar and Manhunt - and other games in their series.
filling sorry about UK civilians!! i wanna tell them!! GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!!!
cause she may cardiac arrest when watching this image!! http://www.rockstargames.com/manhunt2/images/screenshots/ss_19.jpg or this image!! http://www.rockstargames.com/manhunt2/images/screenshots/ss_09.jpg
it should be 20+ and 35- LOL!!! why this govt didnt banned F.E.A.R or conndamed??
If kids are really that eager to emulate the most base ways of disposing of their fellow humans, then I recommend they all enlist and get themselves to Iraq to be shut and burned. Have FUN !!!
lame
they're just scared of games and think we start killing people cuz we play it
dumbasses rly
i play constantly those kind of games and it doesn't a bit to me
and i've seen alot of shit in my life to make you easily snap
it is obvious that they have to play the games to rate them, and if so it proves that it did not turn them into killers. You can find sadistic acts and torture on other internet sites, therefore banning the game is not going to stop any problems, just start more
lame
they're just scared of games and think we start killing people cuz we play it
dumbasses rly
i play constantly those kind of games and it doesn't a bit to me
and i've seen alot of shit in my life to make you easily snap
My view is that some games deserve to be for adults only. I don't agree with the rating change on GTA SA but this is better then having to go through another lawsuit and finding out things were hiddin in a game agian.
Digg Topic
Tag topic on On del.icio.us
Technorati Search
Post to Slashdot
