Rockstar’s controversial and extremely violent action game Manhunt 2 has become the first to be banned in Britain for a decade.
The sequel to the original game – Manhunt - had been condemned by The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) on the grounds of “unrelenting focus on brutal slaying” and “constantly encourages visceral killing”.
The ruling by the authorities means the game set for PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Wii cannot be legally sold anyway in the United Kingdom.
David Cooke, director of the BBFC, said: “Rejecting a work is a very serious action and one which we do not take lightly.
“Where possible we try to consider cuts or, in the case of games, modifications which remove the material which contravenes the board’s published guidelines. In the case of Manhunt 2, this has not been possible.”
The original game was given an 18 classification back in 2003 and was later blamed for the murder of a 14-year-old boy.
Stefan Pakeerah was stabbed and beaten to death in Leicester in February 2004 and his parents claimed the killer, Warren LeBlanc, 17, was inspired by the computer game.
At the time, the BBFC described the game as being “at the very top end of what the board judged to be acceptable at that category”.
The mother of the victim, Giselle, was “absolutely elated” that Manhunt 2 had been banned.
“Manhunt represents a genre of games that are not, in my view and the views of many other people, fit for public consumption,” she said.
“We have been campaigning against these games for a long time and the BBFC made the right decision. Why don’t these companies invest their energies into creating material that is helpful to society?”
Issuing a certificate to Manhunt 2 would risk the possibility of “unjustifiable harm” to adults and minors, the BBFC concluded.
“Manhunt 2 is distinguishable from recent high-end video games by its unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone in an overall game context which constantly encourages visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing,” said Cooke.
“There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed, and encouraged, in the game.
“The game’s unrelenting focus on stalking and brutal slaying and the sheer lack of alternative pleasures on offer to the gamer, together with the different overall narrative context, contribute towards differentiating this submission from the original Manhunt game.”
Paul Jackson, director general of the Entertainment Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSP), which represents the computer and video games industry, said: “A decision from the BBFC such as this demonstrates that we have a games ratings system in the UK that is effective.”
Leicester MP Keith Vaz, who campaigned with Mrs Pakeerah against the sale of the game, said: “This is an excellent decision by the BBFC, showing that game publishers cannot expect to get interactive games where players take the part of killers engaged in ‘casual sadism’ and murder.”
Last week, Prime Minster Tony Blair spoke out against another violent video game (on the PlayStation 3), Resistance: Fall of Man, which features a shoot-out in Manchester cathedral.
He said of the video game industry: “It’s important that people understand there is a wider social responsibility as well as simply responsibility for profit.”
The last game to be refused classification was Carmageddon in 1997 but the BBFC’s decision was later overturned on appeal.
Rockstar Games now has six weeks to submit an appeal.
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Snige66 says:
Holy christ on a bike! What a bunch off fricking hippies. ” oohhh we’re so pleased this game has been banned. ” Purlease, change the god damn record.
Last week, Tony Blair jumped on the band wagon cos he dont need to give a frig no more.
Arnie’s trying to do right for his ” wrong ” violent movies. You and all the other goody goody poliTITions just stop it. please. Right now. Go jump off somewhere really really high. You are getting on my nerves and serve no purpose. All you are doing is fueling the hype and giving revenue to internet compaines who will be more than happy to sell to us anyway.
Have any of you’s been through Nottingham and night? Somehow, and this is only a rough ball park guess, having a bullet or knife stuck in you by someone, and if asked, I doubt they’ll say ” Oh it wasn’t my fault, I was playing this game see, and well I thought…etc ”
Quote “Issuing a certificate to Manhunt 2 would risk the possibility of “unjustifiable harm” to adults and minors, the BBFC concluded. ”
Really? So couldn’t you say the same for fireworks then? Or selling a knife to an adult? Or driving a car, or smoking, or drinking, or…you get the picture
Rant over! Play asia it is then.
Jun 19, 2007, 12:25 amwalking leaf says:
Rockstar Games has issued a statement in response to the BBFC’s earlier decision to reject Manhunt 2 for classification and thus prohibit it from being sold in the UK.
“We are disappointed with the recent decision by the British Board of Film Classification to refuse classification of Manhunt 2. While we respect the authority of the classification board and will abide by the rules, we emphatically disagree with this particular decision.
“Manhunt 2 is an entertainment experience for fans of psychological thrillers and horror. The subject matter of this game is in line with other mainstream entertainment choices for adult consumers.
“We respect those who have different opinions about the horror genre and video games as a whole, but we hope they will also consider the opinions of the adult gamers for whom this product is intended. We believe all products should be rated to allow the public to make informed choices about the media and art they wish to consume. The stories in modern video games are as diverse as the stories in books, film and television. The adult consumers who would play this game fully understand that it is fictional interactive entertainment and nothing more.”
It is ridiculous that a game has been banned due to its extreme nature as the fault lies with the culture and social background of the player themselves. How can a person be so ‘inspiried’ to do a copy-cat killing? Oh, blame the game and not the anti-social behaviour…
Moving on, Manhunt 2 has received a ‘Adult Only’ rating in the USA. What this means is that the game will only be available in limited places - as in not mainstream family-friendly retail establishments.
Best place to buy one? Over the internet but beware of customs checking the DVD-shaped package…
Jun 19, 2007, 4:56 amJanus says:
That’s a bit unfair to hippies Snige. They were talking about this on Dublin’s FM104 last night and incidentally it’s also been banned here, but that’s not such a surprise since Ireland once Banned the Life of Brain… Nine years it took before it was unbanned.
Jun 19, 2007, 10:23 amYink says:
I remember on teh PS1 an EA game also got banned it was a bit sadist. I can’t remember the name of it, but I did manage to get a copy of it and I have to admit was a very kewl game. The blood and gore was harmless one could clearly make the distinction between computer violence and real violence. I think the censorship board need someone on their head to monitor them too. If other countries are willing to let this game be sold then I don’t see why Britain is taking the moral high road.
Specially when Harry can be caught smoking a spliff any given Sunday.
Jun 19, 2007, 5:46 pmSnige66 says:
OK so calling them hippies may have a bit ott. Just so many things in the world that get moanded about now end with the comment ” bloody hippies “.
ON further research it actually sounds a pretty gruesome game. And if the the rumours are true, the game is being ditched by Sony and Nintendo if Rockstar dont censor it or the esrb do a u-turn. ON the Wii it seems even worse as, you get to motion a stabbing movement when, well stabbing someone. There’s aslo a mission where you havr to murder someone in a cinema which is playing a censored hardcore porn film. Sounds ace to me!
It should be mentioned that in Sony’s case it is Sony Europe that dont want this game. As for Nintendo, I cant imagine this game will ever see the light on any region.
And at Yinks point of Harry can be caught smoking a spliff. He’d only get a slap on the wrist too.
Jun 19, 2007, 12:38 amwalking leaf says:
The latest on this Manhunt 2-debate: Both Nintendo and Sony won’t distribute the controversial game in America on Wii and PlayStation 2 respectively.
Here’s Nintendo responsive on the situation: “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.”
This is the same view from Sony: “For questions or comment regarding the rating of Manhunt 2, please contact the publisher, Rockstar. Currently it’s SCE’s policy not to allow the playback of AO rated content on our systems.”
So what’s next for Rockstar Games? Either cancel the game entirely, rework it from top to bottom in a bid to get a lower rating or submit an appeal to the ESRB’s board and argue that the game doesn’t deserve such a high, 18-or-older rating. Let’s see what happens.
Jun 19, 2007, 4:39 amManhunt 2 un-banned and set for release on October 31 | eMagi - Fighting the evil of boredom says:
[...] this for a bit of irony? The previously banned video game that is Manhunt 2 will be available on sale during Halloween with a new Mature rating [...]
Jun 19, 2007, 9:27 am