Manhunt2
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Jack Thompson shows how smart he is on Fox News
As if Fox News has been a beacon for intelligent discussion and sensible thinking throughout the years, it still manages to surprise us every now and then. Take the Cashin' In segment presented above, for example, which brings on "anti-violence activist" Jack Thompson to discuss the Manhunt 2 ban in Europe and the debate as to whether it should be banned here in the States. Jack claims that there are different acts of fraud going on with the game and the ESRB (o ... kay?) and that the game surely didn't have enough time to be altered from an "Adult's Only" to "Mature" rating. Last time we checked, Jack wasn't a game designer or programmer, so we're sure he has no clue when it comes to game development (or much else, for that matter).The rest of the video is pretty much your usual Fox News fair, with each side yelling at each other and no resolution to the conflict made, so if it's your thing, hit up the video above.[Via Go Nintendo]
Manhunt 2 online leak came from SCEE insider
You may recall in early September that an early build of Manhunt 2 for the PlayStation 2, pre-censored, was allegedly leaked on the internet. Not only did that end up being true, but the originator of the leak -- Deep Throat, if you will -- worked for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. According to a statement from Take Two (via Game Politics), the SCEE employee "has acknowledged his responsibility for the unauthorized online distribution of an unrated play-test version of Manhunt 2." Rockstar provided the information that "the person has been sacked," and declined to elaborate whether the original person responsible for the sacking had, too, been sacked.
UK-banned Manhunt 2 is same as M-rated version
Well now, color us shocked that the recent version of Manhunt 2 that was cleaned up for our friends across the pond turned out to be the same exact game that received a "Mature" rating by the ESRB here in the states. So, what's mature to us is absolutely intolerable to them, apparently.This might cause one to think that the BBFC is tougher on games than, say, movies, as the country had no problem allowing films such as Hostel and Saw into the country. BBFC spokesperson Sue Clark says otherwise, stating "If we were more tough on games than any other medium, don't you think we'd be banning far more titles? Manhunt 2 is the second game we have rejected in 23 years. I'd hardly call that draconian." She goes on further to add "Manhunt 2 went beyond our guidelines when it came to gross violence and we had a public duty to reject it."Looks like there is still a lot of debate left here.See also: Croal goes on CNN to discuss Manhunt 2
UK's banned Manhunt 2 same as ESRB's M-rated
Just in case there was any confusion as to whether or not the version of Manhunt 2 The British Board Of Film Classification recently decided was still not appropriate for UK audiences was the same as the retooled version the ESRB granted an M-rating to, MCV reveals that – lo and behold – the two versions presented to the ratings bodies were, in fact, the same. So, while the ESRB has agreed that the changes, notably the obscuration of some of the more violent animations, were enough to remove the AO-rating, the BBFC still found the game "had not gone far enough." The contradiction that the same ratings board has approved the release of violent films like Hostel 2 is not lost on Rockstar. BBFC spokesperson Sue Clark told MCV, "If we were more tough on games than any other medium, don't you think we'd be banning far more titles? Manhunt 2 is the second game we have rejected in 23 years. I'd hardly call that draconian."Well Rockstar would. They're set to appeal the BBFC's decision.%Gallery-3533%
The Political Game: The Battle of Britain
Dennis McCauley contributes The Political Game, a column on the collision of politics and video games: Suddenly, surprisingly, the UK has become Ground Zero in the political and cultural war surrounding video games.For a long time, England was a backwater in this fight. The video game struggle raged primarily in state legislatures and federal courthouses around the United States. Oh, there was Keith Vaz, of course, a Labour Parliamentarian who made some noise about the original Manhunt in 2004 and would occasionally surface to criticize this game or that.But in 2007 the video game issue simply exploded in the UK as one major game controversy after another made headlines. At the same time, game legislation tailed off in the US. While six states passed laws in 2005-2006, none have been passed so far this year. American politicians, seemingly, are getting the message that games are protected by the First Amendment. Not so in Britain, however.
Croal goes on CNN to discuss Manhunt 2
Newsweek's N'Gai Croal recently appeared on the CNN program American Morning to discuss all of this business about Manhunt 2 and its gruesome acts of violence. What is most odd, Croal reports, is that the interviewer (Kiran Chetry) was reasonable and didn't have "an ax to grind." She instead asked Croal a series of reasonable questions.Of course, she still brought up the whole "kids acting out murder" thing. Croal, however, brought up the common sense argument, stating that the game is rated "M" for mature, and isn't designed for children. Of couse, some kids are still going to get their hands on it, but he believes (just like many other sane individuals) that it is up to the parents to keep their kids away from material that isn't appropriate for them.
Manhunt 2 rejected by BBFC again
It looks like Rockstar may have to go back to the drawing board for a second time as the British Board of Film Classification has again rejected Manhunt 2. The first version of the game was rejected by the BBFC in June, which caused Rockstar to tone down the violence before resubmitting it for review. "We recognize that the distributor has made changes to the game, but we do not consider that these go far enough to address our concerns about the original version," said David Cooke, director of the BBFC. "The impact of the revisions on the bleakness and callousness of tone, or the essential nature of the gameplay, is clearly insufficient. There has been a reduction in the visual detail in some of the 'execution kills,' but in others they retain their original visceral and casually sadistic nature."Cooke said the BBFC made even more suggested changes that went ignored, which caused the second rejection. It's interesting to see the BBFC's latest decision as the ESRB recently awarded the revised Manhunt 2 a Mature rating after it initially rejected it, too. Take 2 has the right to appeal the decision, and frankly, we hope they do.
Manhunt 2 still not tame enough for UK, Rockstar appealing
The saga continues, as word hits that the latest version of Manhunt 2 hasn't received the A-OK from the BBFC. Turns out, the game is still too violent for the UK, as David Cooke, director of the BBFC, recognizes the changes made, but says the game's content is still far too violent. Cooke explains "We recognise that the distributor has made changes to the game, but we do not consider that these go far enough to address our concerns about the original version." He goes on further to add that the "impact of the revisions on the bleakness and callousness of tone, or the essential nature of the gameplay, is clearly insufficient."Rockstar isn't taking this lying down, however, as they are appealing the decision. Fat lot of good their appeal is bound to do for them, as it looks like the suggestions made by the BBFC for how the game should be changed are "unacceptable" to Rockstar. Rockstar further commented that "The BBFC allows adults the freedom to decide for themselves when it comes to horror in movies and we think adults should be similarly allowed to decide for themselves when it comes to horror in video games, such as Manhunt 2."Read: BBFC rejects Manhunt 2 againRead: Rockstar to appeal
Rockstar to appeal second British Manhunt 2 ban
Rockstar Games, whose Manhunt 2 has effectively been banned twice in Britain (though finally OK'd in the United States), have announced that they are appealing the most recent rejection.The British Board of Film Classification has made further suggestions to the game's content that the developer has deemed "unacceptable." In a statement released this morning (via Gamespot), Rockstar said, "The BBFC allows adults the freedom to decide for themselves when it comes to horror in movies and we think adults should be similarly allowed to decide for themselves when it comes to horror in video games, such as Manhunt 2."Is there a double standard when it comes to video games and movie censorship? Is it warranted? The purported psychological effects on interactive entertainment have been the subject of debate for much time now. Unfortunately, the BBFC's suggestions are not public record so we cannot debate the merits of their revisions. Will British gamers ever get to play this game?
Manhunt 2 still not OK for UK, says British ratings board
Despite receiving an M rating from the ESRB in the US, Manhunt 2 on the Nintendo Wii is still not appropriate for release in the UK, according to the British Board of Film Classification, who have once again rejected the title, despite changes made since the original rejection back in June.Any hope of Manhunt 2's release in the UK now hinges on publisher Take 2 Interactive appealing the decision, but not before further changes are made to the final version of the game. David Cooke, director of the BBFC has stated that the changes made to the title thus far are not sufficient, and that the game still retains the same "visceral" and "sadistic" gameplay that warranted the original rejection.It's unknown at this point whether Take 2 will once again appeal the rejection, or if Manhunt 2 is simply not meant for release in the UK.
Wii Warm Up: Matched set
We actually think the Manhunt 2 Wii is pretty cool. It looks fairly realistically bloody, and in general reminds us of Silent Hill. We like it in a "we can appreciate it on the Internet" kind of way. Similarly, we've seen amazing custom jobs from Morpheon Mods, made in Zelda and Metroid themes, and appreciated them on the Internet (though we passed mostly for financial reasons in those cases). The proliferation of such game-specific mods leads us to a two-part thought question for today: what game theme would you want for your Wii, and how would that look? Painted a certain color? Lights? 3D elements? For some of you, that white side panel must look like an empty canvas.
Local news station is late to the Manhunt 2 debate
We loving seeing local news stations try to cover gaming news, because their coverage is almost always based on misinformation. Seriously, who does the research for these folk? Certainly not someone capable and unbiased, that's for sure.And while it's easy to write off this latest piece from New York City-based ABC 7, at least they aren't being particularly negative about the control scheme in the Wii version of Manhunt 2. In fact, based on their on-the-street interviews, it would seem most gamers look at the control scheme as being a positive aspect of the title, allowing the player to become more immersed in the game's world. Considering how easy it would be for ABC 7 to just say this is a murder training simulation, we'll just be thankful that at least some section of the report was devoted to arguing for the game.See also: Rockstar's M-rated Wii console
Rockstar gets their Manhunt 2 Wii all bloody
There's very few ways that Rockstar could have tastefully promoted a Manhunt 2 contest for a Wii, and you've been huffing too much paint thinner if you think they were even going to try. What Rockstar decided to do was cover a Wii in a blood motif in hopes that you'll enter their Radio Rebellion Sweepstakes, where you can win this blood-soaked lookin' Wii and a 50" Plasma.We'd be remiss if we didn't say there are clearly more efficient or accidental ways of having a blood stained console -- although avoiding e. coli and hepatitis are usually good rules to follow. Now we're just waiting for one more grand publicity stunt before Manhunt 2 actually releases on Halloween. We're thinking a Wii made to look like it was made from pieces of human skin stitched together. Come on, Rockstar's got a month -- you know something has to happen beyond the usual.[Via Wii Fanboy]
Rockstar's M-rated Wii console
var digg_url = 'http://www.digg.com/nintendo_wii/Rockstar_s_M_rated_Wii_console'; My, is this Manhunt 2-themed Wii ever disgusting. If not for the fact that the Manhunt 2 logo is clearly visible, and the nominal stickering of the Nunchuk, it would look pretty much just like a blood-stained Wii. And Rockstar is betting that you'll find that cool enough to enter their Radio Rebellion Sweepstakes.They're probably right, anyway. Limited-edition anything is a good way to get people's interest. Or free anything, for that matter. Did we mention you also get a 50" plasma TV?While the Wii may not match our usual aesthetic, we still think it's a cool idea for a bizarre giveaway item, and another chance for Rockstar to capture some of the controversy they need to push copies of their game. Maybe later they'll release this as a skin for people who want the look, but already have a Wii. Or, we suppose, you could do it the old-fashioned way.[Via GamesRadar]
Manhunt 2 is cheap
Whoever said the cost of living is high never lived within the confines of a video game. Turns out, the price of a life trapped inside of a disc is rather reasonable, as Rockstar's Manhunt 2 will only charge you the small sum of $39.99 to get in on its action. Since we were interested in the game anyway, this news only causes our anticipation for gesture-based homicide to grow that much more. We do wonder, though, if any of you skeptics out there are brought down from the fence?
British Manhunt 2 petition as effective as every other online petition
An online petition to the British government asking for an 18 rating (and therefore a possible release) for Rockstar's Manhunt 2 was unsuccessful in swaying the British Board of Film Classification. The office of the Prime Minister responded to the petition, leaving responsibility for game rating decisions with the BBFC, as expected: "The BBFC considered Manhunt 2 and concluded that, within the current guidelines, it could not be given a classification. The BBFC takes its responsibilities very seriously and it uses its powers to reject works extremely rarely." The statement then registered the government's agreement with the BBFC's ruling.The big news here isn't the failure of the petition, but rather the fact that the Prime Minister's website has its own integrated petitioning system, and that someone in the office reads the things. That is just cool. You go, British government.[Via GamesIndustry.biz]
M-rated Manhunt 2 gets previewed
In the interest of comparison, IGN has now played an M-rated build of Manhunt 2, taking their time to document the differences between this new version and the older AO version. As one might imagine, the violence has been toned down, but that doesn't mean the game is going to be completely devoid of blood and guts. Oh, there'll still be loads of that.IGN was able to take the title through its paces on two levels, one of which they were lucky enough to play before. Now, in these levels, stealth is still heavily emphasized, as players must sneak up on and murder their enemies as lead character Danny. Not only that, but IGN comments that some murderous sequences in the game are still downright disturbing, which we fully expected given the game has Manhunt in the title.%Gallery-3148%[Thanks, BPMΩ!]
M-rated Manhunt 2 leaves testes intact
Proving that his brain must be made of Teflon, IGN's Matt Casamassina played Manhunt 2 in its AO-rated version and didn't flip out and kill everybody he loved. In fact, he was so un-scarred by the experience that he went back for a second helping of the game in its newly M-rated version. Are you mad, man? Though IGN says that the game is "mechanically identical" to its wicked AO twin, they said there are some more "cosmetic" changes. First off, the game's death strikes have been blurred and darkened to the point that the heinous act being done is unidentifiable. Like using a vending machine blindfolded, you just use a push a couple of buttons and hope that you get a Snickers. Though IGN says the kills are still fun, they say they're less rewarding in the still-not-particularly-family-friendly version.There's something much more heinous in the changes though: You can no longer rip an enemy's testicles off with pliers. ... Hear that? It's the sound of Manhunt 2's GOTY award flying out the window. This is 2007! What's the point of even playing a game if you can't rip some testicles asunder? Oh, also: -1 to Manhunt 2 machinima.
Possible unedited copy of Manhunt 2 leaked
In what has to be the least surprising leak ever, it seems an early version of the PS2's unedited Manhunt 2 surfaced on the internet late last week. Early suspicions pointed to a source inside Rockstar for the leak, but parent company Take-Two has moved quickly to squash video and other media from the title, and now "unnamed hackers" (who have possibly been named as 'Team Slonik') are being blamed for the game's release into the wild. While we certainly do not condone piracy in any form, we can't help but harbor a hope that someone keeps a copy of this alleged leak around for comparison in the fall, when the official, cut version of Manhunt 2 hits retail outlets. Of course, what's out there may not be the actual unedited cut -- and if it's exactly the same as what gets released, we're sure that will be the precise reason given -- but since the ESRB will not speak to the changes, perhaps this build will.[Via Digg]
Uncut Manhunt 2 leaked, intro cinema revealed
Supposedly, a leaked version of an early "uncut" PS2 Manhunt 2 is making its rounds on the internet. To prove the authenticity of the leak, videos of the game can be found on YouTube, such as the game's sufficiently violent introduction. We don't see anything particularly "Adults Only" about the intro, which has us questioning the ESRB's original decision. Perhaps the game becomes far more gruesome later on?See the video after the break. Because the game is rated M for Mature, you must be 17 or older to view the clip.[Update: Rockstar has already removed the video from YouTube.][Thanks, bob! Via Maxconsole]
