Manhunt 2 AO Rating Controversy

[Cruelty]

Manhunt 2 Recieves AO Rating

Sony & Nintendo say ""lolwat?"

So basically Manhunt 2 is supposed to be like.. CRAZY violent, and gorey, and scary, and all-around the best fucking game to hit shelves in a long time. Apparently it is SO violent and whatnot, that the ESRB decided it deserved an AO rating. It was just plain banned in most of Europe (and Australia without question), effectively making it illegal to sell there. So today Sony AND Nintendo were both like "Yeah, you ain't selling that shizzle on our consoles, cause we're all about the family entertainment and stuff."

If you want an exact quote:
"It's currently our policy not to allow the playback of AO-rated content on our systems," a Sony spokesperson told GameSpot.

Nintendo's official line was much the same. "Games made for Nintendo systems enjoy a broad variety of styles, genres, and ratings," a representative told GameSpot. "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."

ANYWAY.. the classic debate (maybe not so classic).. why even have an AO rating if any game that even gets NEAR an AO rating pretty much gets burned at the stake? You gotta wonder if Sony's gonna step in and say "NO you can't put out Hostel 2 on our blu ray stuff, cause its too violent and stuff" (assuming Sony owns the whole blu ray thing, i dont know those things too well). Really, any movie with extreme violence, disturbing imagery, and gore and all that good stuff only get an R rating, tops, which is 17 years old and up. So why is a video game different?

"a Take-Two representative said. "Manhunt 2 was created for mature audiences and we strongly believe it should receive an M (Mature) rating, aligning it with similar content created in other forms of media. We are exploring our options with regard to the rating of Manhunt 2."

While Take-Two doesn't agree with the idea of an AO-rated Manhunt 2, one parent watchdog group believes it's only appropriate. Earlier today, Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood demanded that the ESRB give Manhunt 2 an AO rating, saying that "harmful effects of ultra-violent video games on children will be magnified by playing them on the interactive Nintendo Wii system."

I'm sorry, but anyone who would consider letting a child play a game like this should be arrested.. but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be made at all. What's with people thinking that everyone who plays video games is a young impressionable child? Adults play games too. Hence; the M rating.

This game (along with SSBB) was the only reason I was even thinking about buying a Wii.. not to mention I was looking forward to it on my PSP (which is lacking in killer apps). Censoring creativity is wrong. If a company obtains the rights to release a game on a console (which they undoubtedly have to pay for), then they should be able to create what they want to the extent that the law allows without the company just saying "yeah, you can't do that" at the last minute.

Thoughts?

 

[MajorPreAton]

I see no problems with the game being rated AO. It may be/probably is deserving of such. As for Sony/Nintendo's reaction, it's just plain stupid. Why not allow it to be released. It's a game that brings them money. And on top of that... the only reason children get a hold of games that are too mature for them is because of today's lazy parents and the Sales Associates at most reatailers.

So to those idiots at "Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood" or whoever, you need stop focusing on people who make the games. It's no different than reading a book or watching a movie. All forms of media contain things to mature for younger viewers and it's the PARENTS' and RETAILERS' responsibility to controll who is sold or allowed to view this content. And stop interfering with the people who made the game and the people who are old enough to appropriately rationalize what they see in these games, who will now have to sit through a game that has been toned down due to some stupid parent our there today who was to lazy to see what their child was playing and didn't realize that their kid thought it was ok to take a gun and shoot people up. So their kid got killed cause they were stupid and now they're on some crusade to ruin it for the rest of us. Oh well!! To bad! Get over it.

Parents! Spend more time with your kids and watch what they do! Problem solved!

Oh and BTW, I personally have no interest in playing Manhunt 2, nor have I played the first one. I don't really care for that kind of game...

 

[Mr. President]

I agree 100% with MajorPreaton, it's not the game companies fault that the game falls into the hands of children it was not ment to be targeted to. If someone wrote an increadibly gory book, and it was sold at all retailers, no one would complain, but the minute that book is made into a video game with the same images, its all of a sudden a big deal (this has never happened its an example). The problem here is not the fact that parents are lazy, its not the fact that the retailers are lazy, the problem is that the parents DO NOT WANT TO TAKE THE BLAME FOR THEIR IRRISPONSIBILITY! I dont understand why a game ment for an adult audience is getting shit because parents dont want their kids to play it. heres a small, yet effective, suggestion for those parents, pay attention to what your kids are doing! End of story
I dont want to hear that its not just on the parents because it is, i never had a violent video game as a kid, because until i was 16 i was not earning my own money, so my parents where the ones buying everything for me. Who controls the money for these fragile kid, and who pays for the violent video games?

 

[madmax_vii]

if there's so many problems with kids playing the game then the answers is simple:

Spoiler: Message to 'responsible parents'

parents don't let your fucking little snot nosed shits play it, but even if you do they're not gonna become fucking murderers/rapists are they?

 

[Rain]

The thing that makes this news worse, is that over here, in the UK it has been COMPLETELY banned. Not even in adult only shops or what ever can you get your hands on this game which in my opinion is very unfair. Having a group of people (The BBFC) decide what I can and can't play is disgusting and if I was american I would be complaing about my consitutional rights about now. ':|

Also, it's not going to stop people playing this game, especially seeing as it's out on psp, and those bad boys are region free :thumb:

 

[madmax_vii]

Actually Camisado, it'll still be purchaseable on play.com, and plus the french version is available in English, so no need to worry.

 

[holloway]

Camis, they're appealing, and I reckon the BBFC will fold- we hardly ever ban stuff.

With this though, they may have a legitimate (ish) cause; back when number one was out, a kid butchered his best friend and then said he tried to make a snuff video "like on Manhunt". That's why, at least, the UK BBFC banned it.

 

[Rain]

Camis, they're appealing, and I reckon the BBFC will fold- we hardly ever ban stuff. .

Thank god for appeals :p

With this though, they may have a legitimate (ish) cause; back when number one was out, a kid butchered his best friend and then said he tried to make a snuff video "like on Manhunt". That's why, at least, the UK BBFC banned it.

And also, I really hate that damn excuse, it's like... so what? One person killed there friend out of millions of people who played it world wide. IMO he probably would have done it with or without having played Manhunt, what they usually fail to tell you in that incident is that he was actually a heavy drug user as well, could that have contributed to the death of his friend? Not as much as a videogame apparently >_>

 

[holloway]

I know, I don't feel it's reall to blame- but it would be a bit bad for the family when the killer tried to copy the first and then the sequel is released.

 

[madmax_vii]

oh well, im gonna get it whether they ban it or not, fuck the BBFC!

 

[Rain]

oh well, im gonna get it whether they ban it or not, fuck the BBFC!

Hurrah for controversial subject matter! I didn't want this game half as much before the controversy as I do now :p

 

[bradleydfc]

Manhunt 2 Recieves AO Rating

Sony & Nintendo say ""lolwat?"

So basically Manhunt 2 is supposed to be like.. CRAZY violent, and gorey, and scary, and all-around the best fucking game to hit shelves in a long time. Apparently it is SO violent and whatnot, that the ESRB decided it deserved an AO rating. It was just plain banned in most of Europe (and Australia without question), effectively making it illegal to sell there. So today Sony AND Nintendo were both like "Yeah, you ain't selling that shizzle on our consoles, cause we're all about the family entertainment and stuff."

If you want an exact quote:
"It's currently our policy not to allow the playback of AO-rated content on our systems," a Sony spokesperson told GameSpot.

Nintendo's official line was much the same. "Games made for Nintendo systems enjoy a broad variety of styles, genres, and ratings," a representative told GameSpot. "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."

ANYWAY.. the classic debate (maybe not so classic).. why even have an AO rating if any game that even gets NEAR an AO rating pretty much gets burned at the stake? You gotta wonder if Sony's gonna step in and say "NO you can't put out Hostel 2 on our blu ray stuff, cause its too violent and stuff" (assuming Sony owns the whole blu ray thing, i dont know those things too well). Really, any movie with extreme violence, disturbing imagery, and gore and all that good stuff only get an R rating, tops, which is 17 years old and up. So why is a video game different?



I'm sorry, but anyone who would consider letting a child play a game like this should be arrested.. but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be made at all. What's with people thinking that everyone who plays video games is a young impressionable child? Adults play games too. Hence; the M rating.

This game (along with SSBB) was the only reason I was even thinking about buying a Wii.. not to mention I was looking forward to it on my PSP (which is lacking in killer apps). Censoring creativity is wrong. If a company obtains the rights to release a game on a console (which they undoubtedly have to pay for), then they should be able to create what they want to the extent that the law allows without the company just saying "yeah, you can't do that" at the last minute.

Thoughts?

Someone may have already answered this, but, your question "what makes a videogame so different?"

The reason that it is different is for many reasons, no.1, it is a different format, you are likely to turn on your video game console to play manhunt that to turn on your dvd player once to watch a sacry move. Secondly, a video game involves the player. And with the realistic graphics giving the feel of the player being immersed in the game experience, you will act like you will in real life: connecting a bridge between reality and the game if you like. Finally, a video game such as Manhunt got the rating, so everyone should get over it. If you're that bothered, go pick up an ilegal copy, or, Rockstar can appeal for it to be rated a second time. Now, knowing Rockstar, they are quite a large company in the industry, and they didn't get all of the GTA games on the shelves by openly parading the game, they obviously "covered" things up. So, they might even get a 17+ rating anyway. Get over it guys...



It's a crap game anyway.

 

[Rain]

Someone may have already answered this, but, your question "what makes a videogame so different?"

The reason that it is different is for many reasons, no.1, it is a different format, you are likely to turn on your video game console to play manhunt that to turn on your dvd player once to watch a sacry move. Secondly, a video game involves the player. And with the realistic graphics giving the feel of the player being immersed in the game experience, you will act like you will in real life: connecting a bridge between reality and the game if you like. Finally, a video game such as Manhunt got the rating, so everyone should get over it. If you're that bothered, go pick up an ilegal copy, or, Rockstar can appeal for it to be rated a second time. Now, knowing Rockstar, they are quite a large company in the industry, and they didn't get all of the GTA games on the shelves by openly parading the game, they obviously "covered" things up. So, they might even get a 17+ rating anyway. Get over it guys...



It's a crap game anyway.

My point is less about the game and more about not being given the choice to play the game in what is apparently a free country.

Sure you should have a governing board like the BBFC rating games so that people know what they are in for when they play a game but giving them the power to outright ban a game is appalling, why happened to my free speech and my right to judge what is appropriate for myself?

Also, when you have movies turning up in cinema's that are far more gruesome than any game, how come it's alright to sit and watch those on a big screen, but it's not alright for you to do something similar but far less gruesome (usually :p) just by hitting a button? It's a 'moral panic' at best and the BBFC and other governing bodies are jumping on the media band wagon of condemning every videogame that comes out that shows even the slightest bit of violence as being a 'murder simulator'.

Saying that you will act like you are in real life is a bullshit copout excuse, I've played many violent videogames and not once have I thought about repeating what I have done on screen in real life, it's a game and no one is going to lose the gap between fantasy and reality as easily as people think (as the media make a point of making daily) If anything it's them who can not bridge the difference between fantasy and reality if they are taking the subject matter so seriously.

I understand that a young man killed his friend after playing manhunt, but he was also a heavy drug user, but that apparently, wasn't the reason for killing his friend... no, it was a videogame.

Videogames are just the latest in a long line of scape goats for people to pin the blame of society?s problems on. Millions of people bought Manhunt 1, and unless the rest of them are really good at covering up their murders, I think it?s pretty obvious to say it's an isolated case.


Rant over ':|

 

[holloway]

To be fai, blaming it on the drugs is probably excessive too. If I remember rightly, it was weed. BBC always slips in that someone smoked weed because they've held the same moral position for years- you smoke, you're a joke.

 

[bradleydfc]

My point is less about the game and more about not being given the choice to play the game in what is apparently a free country.

Sure you should have a governing board like the BBFC rating games so that people know what they are in for when they play a game but giving them the power to outright ban a game is appalling, why happened to my free speech and my right to judge what is appropriate for myself?

Also, when you have movies turning up in cinema's that are far more gruesome than any game, how come it's alright to sit and watch those on a big screen, but it's not alright for you to do something similar but far less gruesome (usually :p) just by hitting a button? It's a 'moral panic' at best and the BBFC and other governing bodies are jumping on the media band wagon of condemning every videogame that comes out that shows even the slightest bit of violence as being a 'murder simulator'.

Saying that you will act like you are in real life is a bullshit copout excuse, I've played many violent videogames and not once have I thought about repeating what I have done on screen in real life, it's a game and no one is going to lose the gap between fantasy and reality as easily as people think (as the media make a point of making daily) If anything it's them who can not bridge the difference between fantasy and reality if they are taking the subject matter so seriously.

I understand that a young man killed his friend after playing manhunt, but he was also a heavy drug user, but that apparently, wasn't the reason for killing his friend... no, it was a videogame.

Videogames are just the latest in a long line of scape goats for people to pin the blame of society?s problems on. Millions of people bought Manhunt 1, and unless the rest of them are really good at covering up their murders, I think it?s pretty obvious to say it's an isolated case.


Rant over ':|

Hehe yeah. Sorry I was a bit angry earlier. But I do agree with that aspect, I just don't see the point in people not being able to tell that some people cannot see the difference between reality and fiction...

 

[Anonymous]

With this though, they may have a legitimate (ish) cause; back when number one was out, a kid butchered his best friend and then said he tried to make a snuff video "like on Manhunt".

hahahaha holy shit someone actually did that?

also manhunt is pretty lame so i'm neutral to this. censorship is dumb but so are INTERACTIVE SNUFF FILMS or whatever so.

 

[madmax_vii]

well alctually, he put a plastic bag over the kids head and beat him to death, not very savoury I must say.

 

[Fafnir]

It's surprising how you get to hear all this stuff about these evil games making these kids go crazy and on killing sprees, etc. etc.

And yet not a single game developer, violent or non, has gone on a killing rampage....(that pretains to videogames, not... other issues...)