Paul Jackson, director general of UK games trade body ELSPA, has released a statement backing the BBFC ban of Manhunt 2 in the UK.
Jackson believes the BBFC's decision is proof that the UK has an effective games rating system. "A decision from the BBFC such as this demonstrates that we have a games ratings system in the UK that is effective. It shows it works and works well. Any decision the BBFC takes, it takes on the basis of its remit to rate on screen entertainment.
"The games industry is a creative phenomenon that produces all kinds of games across all kinds of genres that appeal to all kinds of people across the country, young and old, male and female. The important thing to know is that all games are rated according to age suitability, with over 70 per cent of games being available to all ages over three years."
For a better idea of why the BBFC made the move, you can read exclusive excerpts from NGamer's Wii review right here.
If by "effective" they mean "oppressive" then yes, it has worked very well.
People over the age of 18 should be allowed to decide for themselves whether something is suitable or not. Ratings are supposed to be there to protect children, not to tell adults what they're allowed to see.
I suppose this decision was made by a proper cross-section of the British public, right? Not just a bunch of old suits in an office? Oh, wait...
How much worse can it be than sawing someone in half with a chainsaw on gears of war. I mean the wii is hardly going to be generating lifelike hi-definition images and neither is the PS2.
Everything is always upsetting somebody in this country and its really beginning to get beyond the joke. Smoking is banned, games are banned say anything that might offend about 1% of the population and you're vilified! were turning into a nation of politically correct idiots. I read that eastenders recieved 80 complaints for the storyline about dawn about to recieve a caesarian section but how many people watch the show? 80 people out of millions!Its pathetic catering to the pc idiots all the time Jedi is an official religion now better stock up on Star Wars games before they are all banned!
I agree with everything Dajmin said. How can a ratings body be doing its job when it doesn't give a rating? A ludicrous situation where no-one can buy the game seems to have over-stepped their boundaries into projecting what the body believes gamers should be playing, an opinion based judgement rather than an objective decision.
It is retailers who are at fault if they sell these games to minors, though there is no doubt the content warrants the highest rating to ban a game from distribution at the END of the production cycle seems doubly unacceptable. It seems like the BBFC needed to make an example in order to justify their continued existence. Politics in entertainment never benefits entertainment.
Everything is always upsetting somebody in this country and its really beginning to get beyond the joke. Smoking is banned, games are banned say anything that might offend about 1% of the population and you're vilified! were turning into a nation of politically correct idiots. I read that eastenders recieved 80 complaints for the storyline about dawn about to recieve a caesarian section but how many people watch the show? 80 people out of millions!Its pathetic catering to the pc idiots all the time Jedi is an official religion now better stock up on Star Wars games before they are all banned!
Stealing this bit from PC gamer mag (sorry) even better though they had a screen shot of Manhunt with this caption Manhunt - a tabloid favourite.
BBFC " think violence on television and in films is more upsetting than violence in games. Film images are more real than computer graphics, and film creates a more compelling illusion; they feel these two factors transcend the fact that games, uniquely, inspire ownership of the violence because they are interactive."
Then went on to say this, "We did take the view that, particulary younger players, the interactivity element of a game meant that we should be more careful about the rateing a game is given. However, what came out very clearly from the research was that even very young players have their feet very firmly on the gound when playing games and know very well that it is 'just a game'"
My opinion on it is this.
Now they have gone and done this it kinda makes me think what was the whole point of them sayeing this in the first place.
You have games like Defcon where you nuke people. Now yes it's all pretty little lines and you don't see violence but when you get 10million people killed surely thats just the same. Some crazed lunatic couldthink what if ic ould do that for real.
Burnout crasheing cars for points. Some youngsters may get the idea to go out steal a car and crash and thik yeah look how much damage we did.
It looks like they pick on Manhunt because it si brutal but hey its ok because according to Blair Resistance is very violent so this must be bloodthirsty and shockingly evil in comparison.
Like gothchild said next they will abn gory films I saw silent hill last night and ripping some lady's skin off and throwing it at people is not violent or tearing people in half. I see that as more violent then playing a computer game.
Like I said elsewhere another excuse to pirate computer games, well done ELSPA. Manhunts no more gory then Hostel or the Saw films etc but because its a video game it suffers, grow up and worry about idiots who really harm people in real life rather then video games! ELSPA and the BBFC are cretins if they really think these actions are justified.
Everything is always upsetting somebody in this country and its really beginning to get beyond the joke. Smoking is banned, games are banned say anything that might offend about 1% of the population and you're vilified! were turning into a nation of politically correct idiots. I read that eastenders recieved 80 complaints for the storyline about dawn about to recieve a caesarian section but how many people watch the show? 80 people out of millions!Its pathetic catering to the pc idiots all the time Jedi is an official religion now better stock up on Star Wars games before they are all banned!
Oh yeah how bad of them to ban smoking in public places.....
Political correctness that stops people(non-smokers) having cancer forced on them how bad of them?
I smoke and I STILL agree with the public places ban
Get down off your soapbox Spartacus, not all decisions made by our government are bad ones.
Rockstar have been pushing the ratings people for years - its about time they found their limit. If that means they lose sales from PAL territories then it might just make them sit up and take notice.
Some people on this forum just need to grow up - and they're possibly the people the BBFC are trying to protect with the ban. We don't know what exactly is in the game so how can we possibly comment that they made the wrong decision?? Its obviously a little shocking reading the review extracts.
Ok, the decision is oppressive and I wish it wasn't happening but I understand the reasoning for it. Kudos to the BBFC for having the balls to go through with it.
Doesn't mean I'm not going to get it though - just because some ratings system says I can't play it makes me want it more, and I suspect that is the same driving force behind most of the comments on this forum.
Rockstar have been pushing the ratings people for years - its about time they found their limit. If that means they lose sales from PAL territories then it might just make them sit up and take notice.
Some people on this forum just need to grow up - and they're possibly the people the BBFC are trying to protect with the ban. We don't know what exactly is in the game so how can we possibly comment that they made the wrong decision?? Its obviously a little shocking reading the review extracts.
Ok, the decision is oppressive and I wish it wasn't happening but I understand the reasoning for it. Kudos to the BBFC for having the balls to go through with it.
Doesn't mean I'm not going to get it though - just because some ratings system says I can't play it makes me want it more, and I suspect that is the same driving force behind most of the comments on this forum.
Ah well said, about time there was someone sensible on these boards!
Everything is always upsetting somebody in this country and its really beginning to get beyond the joke. Smoking is banned, games are banned say anything that might offend about 1% of the population and you're vilified! were turning into a nation of politically correct idiots. I read that eastenders recieved 80 complaints for the storyline about dawn about to recieve a caesarian section but how many people watch the show? 80 people out of millions!Its pathetic catering to the pc idiots all the time Jedi is an official religion now better stock up on Star Wars games before they are all banned!
Oh yeah how bad of them to ban smoking in public places.....
Political correctness that stops people(non-smokers) having cancer forced on them how bad of them?
I smoke and I STILL agree with the public places ban
Get down off your soapbox Spartacus, not all decisions made by our government are bad ones.
Spartacus? I like that one I've got a similar chin. People get cancer without smoking mate, I'm also not a smoker but you should be able enjoy a cigarette with a pint down your local if need be. There should be some way around lifting the ban on Manhunt perhaps bringing in a 21+ age certificate I don't see why adult gamers of which the game is intended for should be penalised because children are able to get hold of the game given to them by stupid parents. Adults are well aware of what films they let their children watch. adults should be educated on what games are suitable for children. There have been many occassions where I've seen parents buy the latest GTA for their kids
Everything is always upsetting somebody in this country and its really beginning to get beyond the joke. Smoking is banned, games are banned say anything that might offend about 1% of the population and you're vilified! were turning into a nation of politically correct idiots. I read that eastenders recieved 80 complaints for the storyline about dawn about to recieve a caesarian section but how many people watch the show? 80 people out of millions!Its pathetic catering to the pc idiots all the time Jedi is an official religion now better stock up on Star Wars games before they are all banned!
Oh yeah how bad of them to ban smoking in public places.....
Political correctness that stops people(non-smokers) having cancer forced on them how bad of them?
I smoke and I STILL agree with the public places ban
Get down off your soapbox Spartacus, not all decisions made by our government are bad ones.
Spartacus? I like that one I've got a similar chin. People get cancer without smoking mate, I'm also not a smoker but you should be able enjoy a cigarette with a pint down your local if need be. There should be some way around lifting the ban on Manhunt perhaps bringing in a 21+ age certificate I don't see why adult gamers of which the game is intended for should be penalised because children are able to get hold of the game given to them by stupid parents. Adults are well aware of what films they let their children watch. adults should be educated on what games are suitable for children. There have been many occassions where I've seen parents buy the latest GTA for their kids
Now I'm jealous of your chin!
I agree that the UK only has itself to blame for losing out on Manhunt with their inability to abide by rating laws.
Also Rockstart only have themselves to blame by pushign it that step too far.
Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, UK BA1 2BW England and Wales company registration number 2008885
