Manhunt 2 banned in UK, Ireland, given an AO rating

[Mooney]

UK ban article via MCV

British Classification body rules Rockstar cannot release upcoming PS2 and Wii sequel in the UK

 

With Take 2 already in turmoil following the recent company-wide restructuring, the group has been dealt another blow with the news that Rockstar’s upcoming sequel Manhunt 2 has been rejected by the BBFC, meaning it cannot legally be supplied anywhere in the UK.

 

The only other game to ever be rejected by the body was Carmageddon in 1997, though that decision was overturned by the Video Appealhttp://www.1emulation.com/forums/style_images/default/folder_rte_images/hyperlink.gif

Insert Links Committee.

 

“Rejecting a work is a very serious action and one which we do not take lightly,” BBFC director David Cooke stated. “Where possible we try to consider cuts or, in the case of games, modifications which remove the material which contravenes the Board’s published Guidelines.

 

“In the case of Manhunt 2 this has not been possible. 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.

 

“There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed, and encouraged, in the game.

Full article: http://www.mcvuk.com/news/27545/BBFC-rejects-Manhunt-2

 

AO rating article via Gamespot:

Earlier today, the British Board of Film Classification gave Manhunt 2 a thumbs down, banning it from sale in the UK due to its "unremitting bleakness" and "casual sadism." Now it appears the Entertainment Software Rating Board is ready to hand down its own most restrictive rating to the latest controversial offering from Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games.

 

A Take-Two representative told GameSpot today that the ESRB has issued an initial rating of AO for Adults Only to Manhunt 2. While not an outright ban, the rating would severely limit a game's sales potential, as most major American retailers have chosen not to carry games rated AO.

 

As for the reason this is only an "initial" rating, when the ESRB rates a game, it notifies the publisher 30 days prior to publicly releasing its decision. This gives publishers unhappy with ratings the chance to either modify their games and resubmit them for a second assessment, or go before the ESRB's appeals board to challenge it directly.

Full article: http://www.gamespot.com/news/6172743.html?...estnews;title;0

[Ahmad89]

This ruling makes me want to go quake on innocent people

[Mooney]

Update: ESRB has hit Manhunt 2 with the ultimate AO rating. Also, Ireland has banned the game.

[L.S.D]

What's the deal with this game?

 

Too violent? too graphical?

[Mooney]

What's the deal with this game?

 

Too violent? too graphical?

Pretty much both. Read the articles for more info.

[L.S.D]

I'm lazy. Gimme a summary pls

[Mooney]

I'm lazy. Gimme a summary pls

I'm lazier. Go read it yo' damn self.

[BlackKnight]

I'm lazy. Gimme a summary pls

 

I'll summarise it for you. If you live in the UK and want to play Manhunt 2, you're screwed.

 

For everywhere else, it is gonna be rated AO, which means you can't walk into K-mart and buy a copy- you will have to go some sleazy merchant and ask to see what they have 'in the back'.

 

Bad news for Rockstar aye? Anyway screw em. They likely made it so gruesome just to ride the controversy-now it has come to bite them in the ass. Manhunt 1 wasn't even that good. I tracked down a copy amid all the bannings for nothing.

[L.S.D]

I'm lazy. Gimme a summary pls

 

I'll summarise it for you. If you live in the UK and want to play Manhunt 2, you're screwed.

 

For everywhere else, it is gonna be rated AO, which means you can't walk into K-mart and buy a copy- you will have to go some sleazy merchant and ask to see what they have 'in the back'.

 

Bad news for Rockstar aye? Anyway screw em. They likely made it so gruesome just to ride the controversy-now it has come to bite them in the ass. Manhunt 1 wasn't even that good. I tracked down a copy amid all the bannings for nothing.

I think I can still get it easily here anyway for USD 1++

[Hawq]

Not completely screwed as its still gonna be legal to own a copy, import time for this one then it seems and time to make a new slide card to boot it, may work out cheaper to import as well, if it does thats a nice two fingers to the BBFC decision aint it?

[Superman]

I will still "aquire" it.

[Mooney]

Well now, it may be even harder to get. Sony and Nintendo both refuse to license the game. And, since the game is not available for 360... well, you can do the math.

Things just keep getting worse for Manhunt 2 fans. If the upcoming title maintains its Adults Only rating, the Nintendo Wii and Sony PlayStation won't allow licensing or playback of the game. The "Nintendo Buyers Guide" says in black and white, "Please note that Nintendo does not sell or license games that carry the ESRB rating 'AO' (Adults Only)." Sony spokesman Dave Karraker told Joystiq, "Currently it's SCE's policy not to allow the playback of AO rated content on our systems."

 

Since the game isn't even available on the XBox 360, Rockstar's options are pretty limited. It comes down to either editing the game to garner a lower rating, or have a console game with no console to play it on. Sure, they could port it to the PC, but all the development of the console title would be wasted, and I doubt that's in the cards. Besides, even as a PC port, there's that little issue of retailers not carrying 'AO' rated games. The only other option would be a straight online distribution, and that isn't likely to result in the sales needed. We'll have to see what Rockstar decides to do.

Source

[Lucandrake]

So then don't license it, leak a version that works on it on the internet for free, flock the money this thing to keep everything censored is pissing me off.

[Chaotica]

This sucks. I thought the first Manhunt was fantastic for the grimy setting it created, the story, the voice acting and the stealthy gameplay.

 

I predict that it will also be banned in Australia, because the Australian government cannot think for itself.

[Shibathedog]

I think this is a good thing. Not because i support the decision they made (backstabbing flocks, even an organization that does nothing that support free speech backed this) But because its going to boost sales!

 

Look how much free advertising and attention they are getting. And an AO Rating just makes it cooler to have. Look how many people where getting Thrill Kill imported and freaking out about it trying to get a copy because it was "the banned game" and to tell you the truth the game was flocking horrible, It was just cool to get or whatever.

 

and wait a minute, they are worried about distribution for the PC!? They SHOULD release the game completely uncensored on the PC, Even if they edit the other ones and call it a directors cut. And it would be easy to distribute because the PC is so far ahead in digital distribution, They could probably even get it on Steam!