So Manhunt 2 has been banned from the UK and now it looks certain that the game won't ever see light of day in the US either. Even though the game was rated by the ESRB (unsurprisingly it got 'Adults Only'), both Sony and Nintendo refuse to touch AO-rated titles.
Nintendo told Kotaku, "Games made for Nintendo systems enjoy a broad variety of styles, genres and ratings. These are some of the reasons our Wii and Nintendo DS systems appeal to such a broad range of people. But as with books, television and movies, different content is meant for different audiences. That's why the ESRB provides ratings to help consumers understand the content of a game before they purchase it. As stated on Nintendo.com, Nintendo does not allow any AO-rated content on its systems."
A quick flick to the website clearly explains: "Please note that Nintendo does not sell or license games that carry the ESRB rating 'AO' (Adults Only)."
It looks like the PS2 version of Manhunt 2 has run into the same problem in the US. Sony US spokesman Dave Karraker stated, "Currently it's SCE's policy not to allow the playback of AO rated content on our systems."
So that effectively means that you won't be able to import Manhunt 2. It's been buried forever at a huge cost to Rockstar. It still has six weeks to appeal the BBFC's decision but with the flack surrounding the game, will they really want to go down that route?
You can read exclusive excerpts from NGamer's Wii review right here.
This is a serious problem for Rockstar. Previously they got great publicity from narrowly avoiding the censors and it looks like now they've gone too far. It's very bad news for them that two of the countries with the largest Population:Game Buying ratio in the world. If they don't find a way around this it's most likely it won't be sold anywhere worldwide.
I am very disappointed... I thought for once Nintendo had shown that they were willing to accept an adult audience, looks like we're stuck with playing pie-chucking contests and tickling monkeys for the rest of the Wii's life!
I am shocked that this has been banned, and can't imagine what content it has that is so shocking!!!!
Once the media storm has died down a bit i am sure it will see the light of day.... at least I hope!
How rockstar didn't see this coming is anyones guess. They should have taken afew steps back from the game and really looked at in the light of bbfc regulations and aimed at top tier 18 rating, but by the sounds of it the completely over shot the mark. They really brought this on themselves.
Making a game that's obviously going to be rated "Adults Only" on 3 platforms where you strictly have to adhere to rules of "No Adults Only Games"... well, that's shooting yourself in the foot, isn't it? How very stupid of them.
They could at least have thought about making a version for the PC where no such restrictions apply...!
I don't get this. Nintendo and Sony don't want 'Adults Only' games on their systems? So does that mean they don't think adults play on their consoles? Are us adults only to play games like Mario and Spyro the Dragon now?
Absolutely unbelievable. The only way for Roskstar to get the game out now is to port it to PC.
I believe 'AO' is a higher rating than '18+'. It's for games that contain extremely f*cked up content. Nintendo and Sony have always said that they will not have those type of games on their system. I personally like stealth games, but I don't feel the need to stab lunatics in the eye and remove their testicles.
Hey, don't you guys think that this sensation will only raise the sales of the game? I'm sure Rockstar rub their hands in foretaste of millions of bucks. And I won't be surprised if the game will be a piece of crap.
Adults only used to be 'X' certificate(while porn was XXX),but i think it vanished late 70's early 80s...now everything at the highest rating is 18 certifiacte
I don't get this. Nintendo and Sony don't want 'Adults Only' games on their systems? So does that mean they don't think adults play on their consoles? Are us adults only to play games like Mario and Spyro the Dragon now?
Absolutely unbelievable. The only way for Roskstar to get the game out now is to port it to PC.
I believe 'AO' is a higher rating than '18+'. It's for games that contain extremely f*cked up content. Nintendo and Sony have always said that they will not have those type of games on their system. I personally like stealth games, but I don't feel the need to stab lunatics in the eye and remove their testicles.
I totally agree with you. I'm into nasty sh1t as much as the next man, but people are using complete polar opposites here. Theres a world of difference between Spyro/Mario and Manhunt 2. Adult games can exist on PS2 and wii, but this clearly is taking it too far. Be honest now, when you read that you can rip someones nads off with the wiimote, didn't a small part of your man bits shrink up inside you? Thats because its wrong... pretty damn wrong...
Hey, don't you guys think that this sensation will only raise the sales of the game? I'm sure Rockstar rub their hands in foretaste of millions of bucks. And I won't be surprised if the game will be a piece of crap.
hows it going to raise the sales of the game if it can't be bought anywhere?
Its still going to be possible to get a hold of the game in the UK at least, just get it from the continent. And to be honest, I'm not surprised that Nintendo and Sony took this route. They know exactly what'll happen, it'll just cause more problems for them. And a game getting an AO rating is a massive thing indeed, since the only other game thats had it is the post-hot coffee San Andreas.
The fact is, as has been said Rockstar took a huge gamble and it hasn't paid off. And for all those whinging about the lack of adult orientated games on the Wii, I advise you to go try out the Godfather. Graphically it's not as good as the 360 version, but the controls really do make it a better game.
if it gets banned in Ireland, UK and the US and almost certainly Germany (the original was also banned in Germany), I'm thinking theres not many other places that will release it. Australia are pretty tough too apparently. The way I see it, its the UK that is usually the place that would still allow sensitive games, but when the UK (and the US!) says "no" then who will say "yes"?
It'll still be found somewhere on the net though I'd guess.
I don’t think it will be binned completely and forever. I think it will go back and get re-worked so the depraved killings have more relevance to the plot. If the killings can be some how justified then the game might be able to get a rating and then a release.
Germany banned Dead rising & Gears of war there is no way Manhunt 2 will see release their as its much more violent than those 2 afformentioned titles.
And if they do then German gamers need to protest very strongly
Lets face it, the first game was pap. Rockstar are beginning to annoy me with their constant reliance on controversy to sell a game. This serves them right. I only hope that GTA5 does'nt meet the same fate. At least GTA games are (were?) fun. Could'nt care less about Manhunt 2.
Germany banned Dead rising & Gears of war there is no way Manhunt 2 will see release their as its much more violent than those 2 afformentioned titles.
And if they do then German gamers need to protest very strongly
They banned Crackdown too (why? who knows, but it makes me think perhaps GTA4 will get banned here too, or certainly censored like the rest). Of course they won't release Manhunt 2, the first one was banned also. And anything that has above average violence gets the chop here or is censored into the "Deutsch Version". Like Bioshock will be, and like FEAR had. The USK really do ban everything though, you should see the list of stuff in the pass they have banned, its quite funny.
How ironic that the game that Nintendo and Sony would have released here has been banned by the ratings board and in the US the ratings board has apporved it and Nintendo and Sony have banned it!
I must say though that although I am not sure I like any game getting banned, Rockstar should have done some homework and they would have realised that this game would have stood a massive chance of getting banned, especially in the US (where many large retailers refuse to sell AO rated games).
Its still going to be possible to get a hold of the game in the UK at least, just get it from the continent. And to be honest, I'm not surprised that Nintendo and Sony took this route. They know exactly what'll happen, it'll just cause more problems for them. And a game getting an AO rating is a massive thing indeed, since the only other game thats had it is the post-hot coffee San Andreas.
The fact is, as has been said Rockstar took a huge gamble and it hasn't paid off. And for all those whinging about the lack of adult orientated games on the Wii, I advise you to go try out the Godfather. Graphically it's not as good as the 360 version, but the controls really do make it a better game.
Yep I think ill get mine from Germany I'm sure that they won't ban the game! Sorry but not one place in the EU will sell this game! I'm so sure ill bet my nads on it
Hey, don't you guys think that this sensation will only raise the sales of the game? I'm sure Rockstar rub their hands in foretaste of millions of bucks.
Its still going to be possible to get a hold of the game in the UK at least, just get it from the continent. And to be honest, I'm not surprised that Nintendo and Sony took this route. They know exactly what'll happen, it'll just cause more problems for them. And a game getting an AO rating is a massive thing indeed, since the only other game thats had it is the post-hot coffee San Andreas.
The fact is, as has been said Rockstar took a huge gamble and it hasn't paid off. And for all those whinging about the lack of adult orientated games on the Wii, I advise you to go try out the Godfather. Graphically it's not as good as the 360 version, but the controls really do make it a better game.
Yep I think ill get mine from Germany I'm sure that they won't ban the game! Sorry but not one place in the EU will sell this game! I'm so sure ill bet my nads on it
Maybe Austria would sell it? If so I will arrange the address details and all that later for postage of your nads, make a nice pair of ear-rings for the lady perhaps.
As I understand it Sony and Nintendo have both said that they wont touch adult only games... Well isn't that a bit hypocritical of Sony since since the GTA games first appeared on the PS1?
And what about GTA 4? The GTA games have always been rated 18+ in the UK, so what about the USA?
thats a shame for rockstar, all that money down the drain, but maybe they should have done more research on what extreme content would be allowed before they started the project.
anyway i can't believe the sony and nintendo comments on not allowing adults only content on their systems. does that mean that their machines are only for kids then? Nintendo i understand cause they've always been against more maturer games but sony, i thought they would, i mean god of war's an 18 but i guess thats all mythical and fantasy
Manhunt 2 will come out eventually, in some guise. As has been said alot of money has been pumped into this project and the marketing potential thanks to this media hype will mean they are guaranteed to sell alot.
Will be interesting to see who is next to jump on the banned wagon.
Glad America aren't getting as well though, that would have really rubbed salt into the wound
Nope. AO is technically just the US equivalent of a UK 18. It's just that most stores that sell games won't stock AO titles for some reason.
Hmm. Are you sure? Why have an M and a MO rating then? My money's on MO being 21+, like their crazy drinking laws.
I think it's sad day for gaming. Regardless of whether the game's any good or not, it's not encouraging to see limits being put on the content that can be portrayed in games. How can games like this get banned, but films like Ichi The Killer and Irreversible be freely available?
To be honest, in my opinion the first game was very repetitive and to be quite frank; Pants.
So really, the second would probably just be as bad, so I'm really not fussed that it may not be coming out on any of the consoles.
However, what does bother me is the fact that poor Rockstar games are now facing a huge loss in money for their company.
Hopefully they will recover from this loss though. They did a great job with The Warriors, and I'd also like to see a remake of The Warriors on PS3 with massively multiplayer online gameplay!
Imagine 2 gangs of 100 people against each other, then another couple of gangs could come in during the middle of the fight.
It'd be amazing..............you could recruit people online, and then get them to join your gang, and then go around tagging up other peoples turf haha.
As has been said before, AO is equivalent to a 21+ rating over here, and Sony & Nintendo won't want to licence those games for two reasons: 1) the negative flak they'll have coming in their direction from politicians and the media, and 2) it would hardly sell, because the principal game outlets in the States have always point-blank refused to sell AO-rated titles.
Manhunt 2 is the first console game to be given an all-out AO rating, IIRC. Previously the only other game to have been touched by AO was GTA: San Andreas after the Hot Coffee incident. Generally it gets slapped on PC titles that have a lot of sex in (and usually end up being pants - Lula's Sexy Empire springs to mind)!
I think people will have to look very hard to find anywhere in the world that will have this released on consoles - PC may be the only option open to Rockstar.
It does seem hypocritcal by both companies when you consider it's 'on' the Wii and the Playstation's original image was aimed at a more adult/mature gaming demographic - 20 somethings. The biggest question must be how badly this will affect Rockstar's monetary situation - can any company aborb the hit of not making any money on a game almost 18 months in development?
Does the game actually have castration as one of the in game kills? If so that really is taking it too far and I'm glad the game has been banned. This is coming from someone who actually enjoyed the first game.
The violence in the first game was pushing it, as if the industry wasn't getting criticised enough already for violent games. Rockstar should have shown more sense in all honesty.
Yes, going by the American ratings it would appear most games that get an 18 certificate here would most likely get an "M" rating over there, i.e 17+ rating. The AO rating (18+) as has been said has not been given to many games and when Sony and Nintendo say they will not touch AO games it doesn't mean the 18 rated games in the UK as they would appear under M in the USA.
From what Nintendo and Sony have said, they are not necessarily not allowing it, just not licensing it. Rockstar could go it alone and do all the dirty work themselves. Codies did it back in the 80's/90's.
Personally I don't see the issue with hacking up a few people on screen, I take it for exactly what it is. A videogame. Quite honestly films like The Hills Have Eyes could be deemed more graphic in terms of over the top gore and violence than some non realistic looking videogame.
Seems to be a bad month for games companies. What with the Church and the Sony row and now this.
I believe Rockstar are right, it should be down to the public to decide what they can or cannot see. This isn't the 70's any longer and Mary Whitehouse is dead.
The biggest question must be how badly this will affect Rockstar's monetary situation - can any company aborb the hit of not making any money on a game almost 18 months in development?
By all accounts I wouldn't have thought so. If it is Rockstar who self publish Manhunt, the cost will fall on them, but they have made a mint through GTA. Otherwise it falls on Take 2's head and it would be them that would lose the money.
As i have already said, there is too much money at stake though dev costs, not to mention potential profit to be made from this situation to scrap the game. Remember Rockstar have 6 weeks to appeal the ban in the UK at least, and there is no question that a new stategy will be in place to rework the game into a more acceptable medium.
If I understand correctly anything that gets slapped with an 18+ rating in the US is fairly extreme and more often than not porn... and that's something mainstream media don't want to be associated with - hence Sony and Nintendo's wish to avoid any game slapped with that certificate.
So they're not saying they don't want 'adult games' on their systems - those would normally get slapped with a 17+ at worst over there, as the US system is a little more liberal than ours. So there's no point making misguided comments about Nintendo only allowing 'kiddy games' if you don't understand the rating system in question.
As for the BBFC - they do have a rating above '18'... 'R18' rated content can only be shown/sold in specially licensed cinemas/shops... again usually associated with more 'hardcore' porn in this country... no idea if that could be applied to a computer game though.
The BBFC have actually shown a fairly liberal and well reasoned approach to game certification in recent years - something that was backed up by one of their members I spoke to at a games conference recently. She had actually said that it was highly unlikely that the BBFC would refuse a certificate to a game... which can only reflect just how unpleasant the content of Manhunt 2 actually is.
edit: BTW, Bali was great . Shame the weather back in the UK is s**t.
I bet the game isn't even as sick as they're making out. There was a lot of fuss about Hostel but that wasn't even gruesome but the Hills Have Eyes? Now that was brutal and it didn't hold back I have to admit that I like a bit of gore in horror films but would I like to see it in real life? no way! By the way Manhunt 2 is still available on Play.com
Make it for the PC & get Valve to put it on Steam. Problem solved.
You still wouldn't be able to buy it in the UK. Valve can region lock content on Steam, and they'd have to since it would be illegal for them to supply it to someone in the UK.
I have just called the play.com helpline and they will be able to sell it as they are based in jersey which is not classed as the uk, also the member of staff said the ban is going to be appealed against anyway and that they have not been told that they cannot sell it
I'm sure Rockstar could probably just sell the game on its own website or something. With all the media attention the game is getting before it has even launched is sure to gurantee it will sell.
I bet Jack Thompson is probably crying in the corner of his room like some demented emo right now 'cos his 'work' is being done for him
I have just called the play.com helpline and they will be able to sell it as they are based in jersey which is not classed as the uk, also the member of staff said the ban is going to be appealed against anyway and that they have not been told that they cannot sell it
lol if its banned in most countries Rockstar arent gonna get a few hundred copys made just so play.com can sell them lol
I have just called the play.com helpline and they will be able to sell it as they are based in jersey which is not classed as the uk, also the member of staff said the ban is going to be appealed against anyway and that they have not been told that they cannot sell it
lol if its banned in most countries Rockstar arent gonna get a few hundred copys made just so play.com can sell them lol
good point but they haven't been told otherwise and all this publicity will make the game even more in demand. Thrill kill was banned but you could still get hold of it
I find it odd that Manhunt 2 is getting banned becase of its content, especially by Nintendo. Correct me if I'm wrong but in Japan games have been released on the DS in which you can hunt for witches in a school by sexually assualting underage school girls! I have more problems with a game based on sexual assualt of underge girls than I have on a game based around violence - for the record I have no desire to commit either actions in real life.
To be a devils advocate I have to say that I think street racing games are more dangerous than games about killing people. In my local area I constantly hear and see young men screeching around in their souped up cars, and in one part of Birmingham street racing has become an epidemic problem. Although I don't have any sources I'm pretty sure that more people die at the hands of wreckless drivers every day than they do at the hands of psychopaths. Isn't it strange how games like PGR and NFS are not only very popular but also widely available and given lower certificates than Manhunt and its ilk.
Make it for the PC & get Valve to put it on Steam. Problem solved.
You still wouldn't be able to buy it in the UK. Valve can region lock content on Steam, and they'd have to since it would be illegal for them to supply it to someone in the UK.
Actually that's wrong. The BBFC classification system only applies to boxed goods - CDs, DVDs, game discs and cartridges etc. - it doesn't apply to downloadable content... In the past this has meant that games like Carmageddon, which was eventually granted classification with 'toned down' content (i.e. zombies rather than human peds), could be patched to replace the offending content... In this case it means the game could potentially be downloaded from something like Steam.
Video games are very good at teaching valuable life skills.
I love my home made machine gun/chainsaw hybrid and it's all thanks to games.
It also comes in very handy for cutting myself out of the wreckage whenever I crash my car into another whilst doing 180mph.
This kind of publicity is exactly what rockstar wanted, they are not stupid and knew the game would not get approved. They will already have a more suitable version finished and everyone will buy it when it's released thanks to the publicity.
I find it very strange that people immidietly wonder how sick manhunt 2 is. Well i rather wonder how pathetic the boards are. I can still remember going to the movies with family to see troy. My cousin who was 15 almost 16 wasn't allowed to see the movie, because of the 16+ rating it got in holland. I wanna smack the person who thought that the violence was so bad. Guess nowadays christian and mothers have conquered the boards.
From the discussion I had with the BBFC representative I spoke to, their job is, to a certain extent, to represent public opinion... that's apparently why they tend to be stricter over sexual content than violence: "no sex please, we're British" springs to mind
She was also very clear that extreme violence was acceptable if it fitted in with the context (i.e. it was relevant to the story - for e.g. see the French film 'Irreversible' which got an 18 cert); but was not acceptable if it was violence for violence's sake and there was no other purpose to it. The Irish board's summation seems to indicate that they didn't think it offered any experience other than committing acts of extreme violence, hence the ban...
I personally think it's a good decision. Although the connection between Manhunt and the kid's murder here in the UK was - correctly - rejected, it still struck me as being in very bad taste to make a sequel: basically exploiting that controversy for the sake of easy publicity and extra sales.
And TBH I don't see the appeal of a 'murder simulator', as our friend Mr Thompson would put it. I find it hard to believe that many mature individuals would get that much pleasure out of such a game, leading me to the conclusion that most of the people moaning about the decision wouldn't be old enough to buy it if it were to be released...
Nintendo and Sony knew all about this game, and it's only now they come out against it? Hopefully we'll see a version for the PC sometime in the future. But I guess this will still go on untill people learn that games are not just for kids.
Nope. AO is technically just the US equivalent of a UK 18. It's just that most stores that sell games won't stock AO titles for some reason.
Every major store in the US wont stock AO title, be it dvd, films, cd's or games because they dont want to fall foul of the nut cases that call themselves christians and want anytype of fun banned, unless that funs involves giving people the death penalty, marrying your cousin, owning any number of firearms and killing anyone who breaks into your home, all legal in the wacked out world of the states.
But anything with graphic violence or swear words and its no no no you can be seeing that.
As for stuff being banned in germany like gears of war, crackdown, dead rising, people in germany have an easy option they just get it from the netherlands, belgium, france, switzerland, czech republic, denmark or italy though the internet.
As for nintendo and sony banning it, they knew long before the game was finished what it contained (every console maker has a content control policy with software), at any point they could have went to rockstar we like the game, but we feel this should be tonned down and that shouldnt be their, nope instead they let it be untill faceless small minded idiots in charge of what FREE people can and cant watch determined that the material in this product wasnt suitable for adults.
Firstly, this is a nice bit of media attention for Rockstar which will only help sell this game if it ever gets released. Everyone will wonder what all the fuss is about and feel the temptation to check it out... Secondly, I class video games as interactive movies so if Hostel, a film about a private club for torturing and murdering tourists is allowed to be shown in the cinema to the mass public, why can't a game about hunting people down be allowed? I feel the problem is that alot of older people still class video games as something to stick children in front of for a few hours to keep them busy rather than looking at what they really are...
And TBH I don't see the appeal of a 'murder simulator', as our friend Mr Thompson would put it. I find it hard to believe that many mature individuals would get that much pleasure out of such a game, leading me to the conclusion that most of the people moaning about the decision wouldn't be old enough to buy it if it were to be released...
bulls**t. i had the 1st game on pc, and im 25. i truly loved it. i thought it was incredibly slick, polished and playable. especially when played on the hardest setting where your radar is taken away - then it becomes more of a survival game than a stalker game.
"murder simulator" that is a joke.
Well the fact that I dragged Jack Thompson's name into it might suggest that my tongue was to some extent 'in-cheek'.
Whatever... the way some of the people have talked about this game on the forums in the past suggested all they were interested in was the various methods of dispatch and nothing more... which certainly leads me to question their maturity. Note that I said I didn't believe 'many' more mature gamers would enjoy it - which implies that there would obviously be some, such as your good self, who might well do. Ultimately I guess it all comes down to a matter of taste/opinion.
Denmark will sell the game too. We don't believe in censorship like that. Luckily we have a rating system to be proud of. They understand to be advisors, not making the decisions for the consumer.
Is it just me that thinks this game looks and may actually be quite good?
A bit of sickley blood and gore isn't that shocking when you compare it to violence in other films and games or even the original.
The most graphic media I have ever encountered is actaully some of the horror books by Richard Lamon and Bentley Little, and books are not monitored at all. The images they give you are easily just as bad as seeing them in the flesh. They are very wrong by all accounts yet these are freely available to anyone who wants them. My girlfriend started reading them when she was 12 and could easily walk into the shop and buy them.
From what I have seen I am truly surprised that this has happened, and wish Rockstar all the best in there battle to bring it out.
Correct me if I'm wrong because I haven't played it but the first Manhunt game sounded a bit like a more gruesome game version of The Running Man.
When I heard that it was coming to the Wii I immediately thought that it was a decision that some would love and some would absolutely hate because to allow violence with a joystick is one thing but to allow the worst kind of violence to be play acted with a Wi-mote would raise big questions about videogames.
What Nintendo started by allowing Resident Evil 4 on the Cube they are continuing on the Wii. But, whereas nearly nobody complained about the considerable graphic violence in that game (which is a very good game for intense action, though the remake remains my favourite in the series) Manhunt 2 is the game to attract all the controversy. Part of the reason for this is that Resident Evil 4 is set in a semi-fantasy setting. Villagers with creatures invading their bodies and huge stone monsters don't exist in real life. But the Manhunt series is far closer overall to the worst of reality as we know it.
But wasn't The Silence of the Lambs too? A film that, seems to invite the viewer to regard Hannibal Lecter as an intelligent anti-hero rather than a merciless killer- it's a questionable legacy for an actor to leave yet Anthony Hopkins is now a knight of the realm (but he does have Shadowlands to his name too).
I can understand why Manhunt 2 has been banned and I wouldn't have played it. It it is the intensity and perversity of the violence that is the reason for the ban. In that respect, Manhunt 2 goes far too far for a Nintendo console. It it is ultimately Nintendo's policy of not allowing 'adults only' games on their console that has stopped Manhunt 2 in its tracks so far, not the classification decision itself and I think that, to look back on the Wii as a place where some true psychopaths (rather than those playing the game purely for entertainment) could physically exercise their worst instincts, is not something Nintendo or many of its fans would want to reminisce over.
it good having your choice to play or buy games isn't it?...well not here...it's a disgrace that adults aged over 21 have to be subjected to some poxy censorship bunch of old farts deciding what you can and can't play-watch-read...I think we should all go out and buy a Sheep woolly coat and start lining up with the other sheep been walked into slaughter house...a complete joke R.I.P. Manhunt 2 as it's not coming now... thanks to narrow mind parties and also for taking away my rights of choice along with it!.
I live in Ireland and never has it happened to me not to be giving a choice of what I can and can't play or buy..I think the censorship have knocked in a nail for the demise of adult content in video games and Rockstar should get a "Right to be released petition" from genuine email address and have this over thrown..."WE" all should have the right to decide what we play in the private see of our own homes and have more strict rules in stores when purchasing this type of material..as I know many dumb ass / stupid / 10 IQ parents that let the undeveloped minded children play the like of GTA:SA , the warriors etc...which is not intended for them to play...it's those parents fault and this is why the censorship is acting on..no because of the Game..because of the heat the game will generate through parents in uproar because little Jonny played manhunt 2....it's a sad day in the video games....
I think it's completely disgusting!
and to Rockstar..I think you guys a visionaries for making this "to Be Bold" type of software..my heart goes out to you...in which your time and money has been wasted in creating this game... I hope you win your case
Whilst I agree with most people on here that censorship is in general a bad thing, in a lot of ways both the BBFC, Nintendo and Sony might be doing us all a fovour... All it would take is one nutter (over or under 18 it wouldn't matter)to play this game and then to do something brutal or violent and there would be all hell to play for the industry. Can you imagine the Daily Mail 'video game trained killer' headlines? The point is the games industry has to show that it is capable of self regulation or our lovely government will start passing laws 'for our own good', which ban everything from the frying pans in Raving Rabbids to the A-Bombs in C&C. And at the end of the day the original was pap, and there are plenty of games out there if you have to indulge your sadistic sides.
It's worth noting that American ratings systems are more lenient than ours, so whereas AO is a harsh rating there, here it basically means "banned".
I don't see the point of Manhunt 1 or 2, the very idea does not appeal. Rockstar have a good thing with GTA, but it isn't just killing that's fun in GTA, there are many other things to do. I spend most of my GTA time exploring and trying new things, so the revelation that GTA4 is gorier than ever is a little disheartening. I think they should have made it look more like Crackdown, to match the box art on GTAIII, VC & SA. It's always been a cartoon for adults; keep it that way.
A game bourne of mindless violence and nothing else (note that it isn't a case of "little else", it really is nothing else) should not be made, just as movies of this nature should not be made (Hostel and Saw, I'm looking at you). They give the industry a bad name and are just the most sick examples going. Why not put a pacifist mode in Manhunt 2 where all you have is the tranquiliser? Why make it about gore when you can have just as much fun NOT killing people. MGS2 had an achievement of sorts for finishing the game without killing anyone.
Are you listening, Rockstar?
I agree with Miyamoto's view on violent games: I just don't see the point. There's acceptable videogame violence, and then there's Manhunt.
It's worth noting that American ratings systems are more lenient than ours, so whereas AO is a harsh rating there, here it basically means "banned".
I don't see the point of Manhunt 1 or 2, the very idea does not appeal. Rockstar have a good thing with GTA, but it isn't just killing that's fun in GTA, there are many other things to do. I spend most of my GTA time exploring and trying new things, so the revelation that GTA4 is gorier than ever is a little disheartening. I think they should have made it look more like Crackdown, to match the box art on GTAIII, VC & SA. It's always been a cartoon for adults; keep it that way.
A game bourne of mindless violence and nothing else (note that it isn't a case of "little else", it really is nothing else) should not be made, just as movies of this nature should not be made (Hostel and Saw, I'm looking at you). They give the industry a bad name and are just the most sick examples going. Why not put a pacifist mode in Manhunt 2 where all you have is the tranquiliser? Why make it about gore when you can have just as much fun NOT killing people. MGS2 had an achievement of sorts for finishing the game without killing anyone.
Are you listening, Rockstar?
I agree with Miyamoto's view on violent games: I just don't see the point. There's acceptable videogame violence, and then there's Manhunt.
Yeah I agree, I don't see the point in violent films either lets all hold hands and wathch Thomas The Tank Engine instead
I agree with Miyamoto's view on violent games: I just don't see the point. There's acceptable videogame violence, and then there's Manhunt.
And what right do you have to suggest what is or is not 'acceptable videogame violence'? None. The one and ONLY ONE person that can tell me what is acceptable and what isn't is ME. You (and Miyamoto) may not see the point to these types of games, but others do. And really, what's the point of any game - escapism perhaps? Well, this certainly allows you to do things you can't enact in real life. Fun? You could suggest it wasn't fun, but for one, you haven't tried it, and two, well, Hitman was incredible fun and yet I was killing people FOR MONEY in that. Is that somehow better?
As for Miyamoto. Sure, he's an amazing game designer, probably the best this generation has (and maybe will ever have), but lets be fair, his games appeal to a certain market - the broad 'family market'. Great though they are, they are not mature games. The videogame market is big enough to support a broad spectrum of games, ranging from ones that appeal to pre-schoolers RIGHT UP TO AND INCLUDING adult only games. If movies can, why can't these. Segregate these AO games in video games shops, but do not stop us from making that choice completely.
A similar thing happened to a game called thrill kill. the publisher refused to release it as the violence in it was over the top. I then was told that a few "warez" sites had it for download. i managed to locate a full version of the game and played it on a ps1 (yes it was that long ago) emulator on my PC. i must say that i when i downloaded the game it was about 8-9 years after it was supposed to have been released, and i couldn't help think why they never released as it wasn't that gross a game.
So you never know a disgruntled worker might just release a version on the web for download
( not that i would advocate such a thing...... but i would start check the websites from the soviet union, korea and china if you want a copy of this game..... i will GUARANTEE a copy will be available (ps2 version only sorry wii users but buy a real man's console anyway and lay of the kiddie consoles).
A similar thing happened to a game called thrill kill. the publisher refused to release it as the violence in it was over the top. I then was told that a few "warez" sites had it for download. i managed to locate a full version of the game and played it on a ps1 (yes it was that long ago) emulator on my PC. i must say that i when i downloaded the game it was about 8-9 years after it was supposed to have been released, and i couldn't help think why they never released as it wasn't that gross a game.
So you never know a disgruntled worker might just release a version on the web for download
( not that i would advocate such a thing...... but i would start check the websites from the soviet union, korea and china if you want a copy of this game..... i will GUARANTEE a copy will be available (ps2 version only sorry wii users but buy a real man's console anyway and lay of the kiddie consoles).
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. Shame the weather back in the UK is s**t.
Nintendo and Sony knew all about this game, and it's only now they come out against it? 
