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wiggo_the_red · #1 06-19-2007, 04:10 PM

Check out this story from IGN

UK, June 19, 2007 - Manhunt 2 on Wii and PlayStation 2 has been banned after the British Board of Film Classification refused to give the game a rating due to its "unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone... which constantly encourages visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing".

Speaking about the ban, BBFC director David Cooke director said that to issue a certificate to Manhunt 2 "would involve a range of unjustifiable harm risks, to both adults and minors, within the terms of the Video Recordings Act, and accordingly that its availability, even if statutorily confined to adults, would be unacceptable to the public".

He went on to explain that it was a decision that hadn't been taken lightly and normally the board would "try to consider cuts or, in the case of games, modifications which remove the material that contravenes the BBFC's guidelines." However, because the violent themes run so deeply throughout the game the BBFC couldn't recommend cuts that would allow Manhunt 2 a UK release, although Rockstar does have the right to appeal against the decision.

Cooke said: "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. There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed, and encouraged, in the game."

The ban may come as a suprises to some, considering the original Manhunt game - which courted much controversy and also featured violent themes and brutal killings - was given an 18 certificate by the BBFC in 2003. However, David Cooke said that the sequel couldn't be viewed in the same context. "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," he explained.

Carmaggedon is the only other videogame to be refused classification by the BBFC. The ban was overturned in 1997 after publisher SCi and developer Stainless Games appealed against the decision and the humans - which you ran over in the game - were replaced with zombies to make the experience less visceral and offensive.

Rockstar has yet to comment on the ban despite several attempts to contact them. We'll keep you updated with further developments throughout the day.

Must be really bad then lol.

Wiggo

Pav · #2 06-19-2007, 04:14 PM

Well, you only have to look at the first one to know that.

wiggo_the_red · #3 06-19-2007, 04:17 PM

Quote:

The ban may come as a suprises to some, considering the original Manhunt game - which courted much controversy and also featured violent themes and brutal killings - was given an 18 certificate by the BBFC in 2003. However, David Cooke said that the sequel couldn't be viewed in the same context. "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," he explained.

The first one was bad and nearly got banned, hence the reason I said what I said at the end of the quote.

So therefore I dont need to look at the previous game to make a comment like that. The ban tells its own story.

Wiggo

Callmege · #4 06-19-2007, 04:23 PM

Oh noes...I'll just import it from France or somewhere.

EDIT: But with that said, the BBFC are a bunch of ****ing pricks and I hope all their families get burnt alive.

BOMBVAIN · #5 06-19-2007, 04:27 PM

nice!

Banned = more sales = $$$ = Manhunt 3

JasonSmithy · #6 06-19-2007, 04:27 PM

HEY I HAD CARMAGGEDON ON PC! ****ING SWEET GAME!..anywho who gives a ****, it's a shit game anyway.

wiggo_the_red · #7 06-19-2007, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOMBVAIN

nice!

Banned = more sales = $$$ = Manhunt 3

Lol,

Yes please, on the ps3, in nice 1080p HD ya mo fo developers lol.

Wiggo

ScootaKuH · #8 06-19-2007, 04:41 PM

BBFC are wankers. If I want to play a violent game then I should have the right to do so. I shouldn't have the decision taken out of my hands by some jumped up ****ing idiots that don't know a thing about the games industry. British Board of Film Classification, what the hell does that have to do with games???. I hope R* appeal.
Manhunt 1 is a classic and one of my favourite games ever. From what I saw of Manhunt 2 it looked even better.

BBFC = ****ing wankers.

Pav · #9 06-19-2007, 04:44 PM

Scoota, you are being extremely short sighted in the matter. These types o games make kids do stupid stuff. mess with their heads. Knock their evil bone. Remember the kid that garroted his 4 year old brother, after playing on Hitman? Point proven.

BOMBVAIN · #10 06-19-2007, 04:45 PM

I bet they buy their sons viva piñata or other wussy games...

yeah rrrrrrrrrrrright!

ScootaKuH · #11 06-19-2007, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pav

Scoota, you are being extremely short sighted in the matter. These types o games make kids do stupid stuff. mess with their heads. Knock their evil bone. Remember the kid that garroted his 4 year old brother, after playing on Hitman? Point proven.

No Pav, point far from proven. Only since they're 18 rated why the hell are kids even playing these games? Certificates are there for a reason. If a kid is stupid enough to go and garot his brother after a game of Hitman then chances are he would have done it anyway and he must have something not quite right in the head. Games are ALWAYS used as scapegoats and it ****ing infuriates me!!! I bought Manhunt when it was first released and I loved every minute of it but you don't see me going out and putting a bag over someone's head. Why? Because my mind is stable and I know the difference between a game and reality. Anyone that doesn't clearly has some kind of mental problem.

EDIT: I am a classic example of this. I LOVE violent games, the more violent the better as far as I'm concerned. But I'm not some twisted psychopath. I recognise that games are games, I am a very non-violent type of person and wouldn't dream of ever hurting another human being unless I really had to.

Pav · #12 06-19-2007, 04:51 PM

I see what you're saying, but I still think it is a good decision. Can you honestly say that as a kid you didn't play 15 games or watch 15 movies? Just import it, like Mege said.

ScootaKuH · #13 06-19-2007, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pav

I see what you're saying, but I still think it is a good decision. Can you honestly say that as a kid you didn't play 15 games or watch 15 movies? Just import it, like Mege said.

Yes I did, but again it didn't turn me into a lunatic. See what I'm saying? Those that commit murder because of a game obviously have something wrong with them in the first place.

Pav · #14 06-19-2007, 04:58 PM

Yeah, they need to be spotted early I think, before it's too late.

Callmege · #15 06-19-2007, 05:05 PM

This is just ****ing out of order as far as I'm concerned. Not only does the BBFC have no legal right over the rating of video games, they themselves recently published a report that showed the much stronger link between violence and film/tv than violence and video games and now they, who have no right to classify this, go and ban it. I thought we had come a long way since the bannings of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Last House on the Left and Clockwork Orange but apparently not.

**** censorship.

ScootaKuH · #16 06-19-2007, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Callmege

This is just ****ing out of order as far as I'm concerned. Not only does the BBFC have no legal right over the rating of video games, they themselves recently published a report that showed the much stronger link between violence and film/tv than violence and video games and now they, who have no right to classify this, go and ban it. I thought we had come a long way since the bannings of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Last House on the Left and Clockwork Orange but apparently not.

**** censorship.

Yeah man, you basically echoed what I was saying. Quite right too.

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