DailyTech - Rockstar Appeals UK Manhunt 2 Ban

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Software Rockstar Appeals UK Manhunt 2 Ban
Marcus Yam (Blog) - August 3, 2007 10:03 AM

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14 comment(s) - last by afkrotch.. on Aug 4 at 4:04 PM

Rockstar will go before the Video Appeals Committee to give Manhunt 2 another chance

Games developer Rockstar has lodged an official plea with the Video Appeals Committee (VAC) in the UK in hopes to overturn the ban on Manhunt 2, reports trade publication MCV.

A hearing date will soon be set by the VAC and Rockstar will have to demonstrate the game before the committee for the appeal. The games company has not revealed if it plans to carry out similar action for the game’s fate in North America.

In June, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), a body responsible for the rating and classification of video games and other media, said that it has rejected the PlayStation 2 and Wii versions of Rockstar Games’ Manhunt 2 due to the game’s encouragement of “visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing.” The classification of Manhunt 2 means that the game may not be legally distributed or sold in the UK.

Manhunt 2 was later rated AO for adults only by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). Such a rating made the game not able to pass the quality standards of Sony and Nintendo, both of which do not allow AO games on their game systems. Many retailers, such as Wal-Mart, also do not permit the stocking and sale of AO games.

In response to the ratings and ban of Manhunt 2, Rockstar Games announced it temporarily suspended the release of its game on PlayStation 2 and Wii. Manhunt 2 was originally slated for a July 10, 2007 release date.

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I think

By GhandiInstinct on 8/3/2007 10:28:06 AM , Rating: 2

They're better off selling it online as AO, the appeal won't work, they'll get asked to tone it down.

They already have a huge fan base growing because of this fiasco so I say milk that as much as you can.

PC only but what can you do? Maybe PS3 players can download it onto a laptop harddrive then use it?

RE: I think

By piroroadkill on 8/3/2007 10:48:51 AM , Rating: 2

Yeah, and to tone it down would surely be counter to the whole point of the game in the first place.

Parent

RE: I think

By Hoser McMoose on 8/3/2007 4:18:37 PM , Rating: 2

By not being able to sell the game in certain markets and not being able to sell it anywhere for the Wii or PS3 they are being severely limited and that's going to hurt sales.

What I would recommend is that they produce two versions of the game. One is the version they've got right now, AO rated and available only for the PC and XBox, not allowed to be sold in the UK, not carried by Walmart, etc. They can call this "Manhunt 2 - The Directors Cut" or some such.

Then they should make a second, toned down version, "Manhunt 2 - Pansy-assed content regulators cut" for those markets where they are not allowed to sell the current version.

Parent

RE: I think

By afkrotch on 8/4/2007 3:57:57 PM , Rating: 1

The game has only been created for the PS2, PSP, and Wii. If Sony and Nintendo won't allow any AO games on their system, Rockstar essentially created a game, they can't sell.

Parent

This isn't the first one.

By CBone on 8/3/2007 11:22:18 AM , Rating: 2

This is Manhunt 2 ! Why is this one being singled out? It isn't as if it's a major leap from the first one, content-wise. All they've done is make people unfamiliar with the series want to see what the big deal is.

Ratings

By daftrok on 8/3/2007 3:24:40 PM , Rating: 2

I believe that games should be divided into three categories: Everyone, Teen, Mature. No Everyone 10+, no AO. It is the responsibilities of game stores and major electronics stores to ask for ID for M rated games. All the stores I go to I see kids buying M rated games and the vendors don't even ask for their parents to come and get the game for them. It should be the responsibilities of both the vendors AND parents to decide if the kid can handle the game they're playing. But parents don't feel like being responsible on this account and vendors simply don't give a fuck and just want the money. So instead of vendors and parents dreading the AO rating, it should be abolished completely and the current ratings should be enforced. One thing I hate more than blaming game makers for making a violent game is censorship. I don't care what people say, video games are a form of art, be it violent, senseless and gory. The game is insane, its a good story, its a great portrayal of survival and it is ART. DON'T censor it. Get rid of these pointless extra types of ratings and just enforce the damn law onto stupid little kids.

Why are they bothering?

By Merglet on 8/3/2007 9:32:02 PM , Rating: 2

I mean seriously--let's face it, they'll end up spending more in court than they could possibly make from a sequel to one of the worst games of the year when the original came out. What's the point? "Freedom of speech"? Manhunt was a massive DUD, I don't even see the reason for making a second except to appear "controversial"

No Big Loss

By MrHanson on 8/3/07, Rating: -1

RE: No Big Loss

By drebo on 8/3/2007 12:20:46 PM , Rating: 3

So don't buy the game.

And if parents have issues with the way a certain game looks, plays, etc, they should forbid their children from purchasing or playing it. Simple as that. I'm of the opinion that society should not be dictating my morals to me. If I want to play a game that's full of violence, then I should be able to.

The oposite is also true. If I DON'T want to play a game that's full of violence, then I certainly don't have to. And I, as a parent, should be the one responsible for enforcing those morals on my children. Not society. Not some panel of people. Whether or not this game ever gets published (and I hope it does, for the sake of freedom), I believe that the choice about whether or not we play a certain game, watch a certain TV show or movie, or read a certain book or magazine should reside with me, not some interest group or panel, and that it should be up to the parents to enforce strong values in their own children.

Parent

RE: No Big Loss

By trake1 on 8/3/2007 1:26:54 PM , Rating: 2

A lot of children do not have parents. Many of those who do have parents, do not see their parents more than a half hour a day. Many many American children have expendable money, and no supervision at the level you are assuming. IMHO, I feel that strong ratings like this one, will accomplish some good for many.

Parent

RE: No Big Loss

By iNGEN on 8/3/2007 3:21:51 PM , Rating: 2

There is a STARK difference between what keeps Manhunt2 off the shelves in the UK constrasted with the US.

If you are a freedom advocate the US model worked perfectly. A private industry-run group catergorized the product. Private entities then agreed or disagreed to service the product based on that private group's description. Not one party was forced to do anything! It's all voluntary.

If you like government to be your keeper then the UK model worked well. Bureaucrats objected to the content because it might be harmful to some people. So if someone uses the content they will have some of their life or property taken from them as punishment.

Parent

RE: No Big Loss

By afkrotch on 8/4/2007 4:04:00 PM , Rating: 1

Problem is, society plays a big role in your child's development. Do you know what your child is doing every single second throughout the day? No. They'll learn to cuss from others, learn to smoke, drink, have sex, do drugs, and so on through society.

I'm not saying you won't have any influence in your child's upbringing, but you alone aren't the only factor.

Parent

RE: No Big Loss

By encryptkeeper on 8/3/07, Rating: 0

By encryptkeeper on 8/3/2007 1:07:13 PM , Rating: 0

A lot of people like their games because most of the time, they are just well, good games. The violence is only secondary to the main point, which is (usually) mission based free roaming immersion in the world. If you don't like violence, too bad, you're probably on the wrong planet. Rockstar looks to have made something very fun to play (especially on the Wii) and it looks like their vision will be limited by Nintendo and Sony (and considering how many low quality games actually make it to their respective systems, you'd think they'd be a little more lenient). Rockstar can always turn down the gore, or whatever the UK, had a problem with and sell it. The problem is if this game were in it's TRUE form, Nintendo and Sony won't allow it to be published on their systems. So unless they grow some balls and create copies that can have the original content unlocked through a cheat instead of the trimmed down violence that Nintendo and Sony want, they'll wind up making it much less than what it could be.

Parent