manhunt-2
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Manhunt 2 release impending, trailer on display
Holy s***!There sure are a lot of masked gang members, strippers, dirty cops, and more in this launch trailer for Manhunt 2. This Wii, PSP and PS2 game garnered a lot of attention when it earned the much-hated AO (Adults Only) rating from the ESRB, and was effectively banned. It's been edited -- but it still looks like a pretty dirty romp to us. This trailer looks absolutely horrible ... and we love it.Stay tuned for our hands-on impressions.
Leaked Manhunt 2 not due to hackers after all
Remember that uncut version of Manhunt 2 that hit the 'net last month? Looks like it wasn't hackers -- named or unnamed -- after all, but rather, an employee at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. It seems all of the people who were whispering that it might be an inside job weren't too far off ... they were just pointing fingers at the wrong people.The name of the culprit has not been released, though it has been confirmed that, unsurprisingly, leaking a playtest copy of a game online means you lose your job. Who knew, eh?
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.
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.
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.
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'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]
Wii Warm Up: Games vs. movies
Since the Manhunt 2 debacle, there's been a lot of discussion about the differences between graphic games and graphic films. Everyone seems to have a different opinion about which is worse. In fact, two recent articles were not only completely at odds with one another opinion-wise, but they used some of the same examples! However, they did focus on slightly different subjects. Seth Schiesel of the New York Times thought movies were far ahead of games on the gore factor, and he cited comparisons between Saw II and Manhunt 2. Since the most graphic moments in the latter were short, and of course, animated, Schiesel found the lengthy, almost loving shots of "torture porn" in Saw II to be much more disturbing. Clive Thompson of Wired, however, thinks that games are much better than most recent films at creating a frightening atmosphere. Movies rely far too much on gore, he said -- citing Saw as both example and possible progenitor of this phenomenon -- while horror games can recreate the chilling, anxiety-inducing feelings of the best horror films the genre has ever offered, because (Roger Ebert would hate this reason) horror games take a very artistic approach to mood and atmosphere. While he talks mostly about BioShock, the principles can be applied to many other games; he mentions Silent Hill and Resident Evil as well.So our question today is: where do you stand on this? Can games go further and do more, or are films still the benchmark for horror and intensity?
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!]
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]
Wii Warm Up: Keeping those fingers crossed
So what game -- Nintendo or third party title -- do you hope to see the most of of at this year's E3? Or rather, read the most news about, considering the new format. What game does it for you? Are you hoping for all the details on the new Metroid that are fit to print? Is it Boogie that gets you excited? Are you hoping Take-Two will reveal their plans for Manhunt 2 after the ESRB debacle? Are you crossing your fingers for some sign of Super Mario Galaxy? Or is it something else that gets you going? Let us know what game you hope shows up in the news this week.
Rockstar thanks supporters
Rockstar has taken time to thank the concerned fans, who e-mailed them about Manhunt 2 being halted from release. "We wanted to thank everyone who has taken the time to contact us about Manhunt 2, which we had been planning to release on PlayStation 2, PSP and Nintendo Wii." Rockstar's response continued, "As you know, Manhunt 2 was effectively banned around much of the world, after it was refused certification in the United Kingdom, prohibited in Ireland, and denied an M rating in the United States.""We are very proud of Manhunt 2 and believe it builds on what the team accomplished with the first title in the series. The game was developed as a horror experience, and to be an M rated title, aligning it with similar horror content created in other forms of media. Unlike many other people, we do no think videogames should be singled out for special treatment from authorities. We hope to have more information for you soon, but in the meantime, we wanted you to know how much we value all of your messages of support."We couldn't agree more, all forms of entertainment should be held to the same standards. Let's hope it isn't long until that ideal becomes a reality.[Via Games Radar]
Manhunt 2 release "temporarily suspended"
Well, we can cross off one more game off the already-crowded PSP summer release calendar. Manhunt 2 was scheduled for release at the beginning of July, but due to its recent AO rating from the ESRB, Take-Two must reconsider. In a statement to Gamespot, Take-Two stated it has "temporarily suspended plans to distribute Manhunt 2 for the Wii or PlayStation platforms while it reviews its options with regard to the recent decisions made by the British Board of Film Classification and Entertainment Software Rating Board."It seems like an edit of the game is most likely. However, they also admitted that "We continue to stand behind this extraordinary game. We believe in freedom of creative expression, as well as responsible marketing, both of which are essential to our business of making great entertainment." Let's hope the game doesn't undergo too much of a drastic change.[Via Joystiq]
Take Two's Zelnick: Manhunt 2 is 'fine piece of art'
Following the lead of developer Rockstar, Manhunt 2 publisher Take Two has come out in support of the game in light of restrictions on its sale in England, America, Ireland and likely bans in Australia and Germany. Take Two Chairman Strauss Zelnick said in a statement that the game's content "fits squarely within the horror genre" and "is in line with other mainstream entertainment choices for adult consumers."A fine enough defense, but Zelnick went even farther in support of the game, saying it "brings a unique, formerly unheard of cinematic quality to interactive entertainment, and is also a fine piece of art."We haven't played the latest Manhunt game so we can't really judge it on its artistic merits just yet. That being said, the whole idea of games as art is a pretty thorny subject as it is. Throw it in with the "do game cause violence?" debate currently raging around Manhunt 2 and you've got a perfect storm of controversy liable to melt message board servers the world over.Which is, of course, what Take Two probably wants right now. Remember that 2 Live Crew's "As Nasty as They Wanna Be" went on to sell over two million copies due in part to the controversy over its racy lyrics. If Manhunt 2 is eventually released for sale, in any form, you can bet all the controversy surrounding it will only make it more desirable to its potential audience.
Wii Warm Up: If gamers are aging, should AO games be okay?
With all the recent controversy over Manhunt 2, we can't help but think that maybe it's time to relax a little when it comes to games rated AO (Adults Only). The average age of the modern gamer is rising all the time, and we all know that games are no longer just for kids. The Entertainment Software Association has some interesting statistics on just who is buying -- and playing -- games these days; according to them, 83% of all video games are purchased by someone who is over 18, and 69% of the gamers themselves are over 18. Despite the growing number of adult gamers, however, the industry still remains behind the times on the issue of mature titles. We're interested in hearing what you have to say on the issue. It's not about whether or not we think this particular game is appropriate -- we know some of you are pretty anti-violence, and we respect that. It is, however, a matter of intellectual freedom. In America, we have movies that are restricted to adults, and books and magazines that are restricted to adults ... so what's with crippling games for adults?
Nintendo says no to AO Manhunt 2
We take it back -- Manhunt 2 is in a more dire situation in the US than we first thought, because Nintendo will not even license or allow playback of the controversial title with an AO rating. Looks like Pachter was right: Rockstar is going to bleed money over this title, because they're either going to have to scrap the game altogether, or simply edit Manhunt 2 down until they can wrangle another rating. It's not just Nintendo, either -- Sony's taken the same hard line on Manhunt 2. Looks like poor Daniel Lamb and Leo Kaspar are at risk from more than just the Pickman Project.
The shunning begins for Manhunt 2
Our esteemed colleagues at Joystiq spoke with the excellent online rental service GameFly about their plans to carry Manhunt 2, or, more to their point, their plans not to. According to a GameFly rep, "GameFly as a general policy does not carry AO rated titles." That makes sense, since they only serve customers 18 and up and deliver games directly to said customers' homes. And to be clear, by "makes sense" we mean "doesn't make any sense at all."Blockbuster isn't going to carry it either, but that's less of a surprise. Blockbuster has a long-standing policy of not carrying NC-17 or equivalent movies.
Manhunt 2 gets AO rating from ESRB
After being rejected by the BBFC in the UK, Rockstar's Manhunt 2 is seemingly getting banned in America as well. According to Game Politics, the "murder simulator" is getting an AO (Adults Only) rating, which effectively bans it from all major video game retailers.Take Two games will certainly fight this decision as fiercely as possible in the coming days. Remember, the game's release is supposed to be only a few weeks away ...[Via Joystiq]
Manhunt 2 rated AO by ESRB
Manhunt 2 isn't in as dire a situation in the US as it is in the UK, but it's close. The ESRB has labeled Rockstar's controversial game with an AO "Adults Only" rating. If the game ships with this rating, most retailers will refuse to carry it, cutting sales massively. The only other console game to have an AO rating in stores? Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which was re-rated following the Hot Coffee scandal, and quickly re-released in an edited form.Rockstar has the option to appeal the rating, or they can edit the game and resubmit it. We doubt they'll release the game at AO, because they like selling their products.[Via Joystiq]
