The Warring States of NPF - The Crown kicks Manhunt 2 out on it's arse

The Warring States of NPF (http://www.nuklearforums.com/index.php)

- Dead threads (http://www.nuklearforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=91)

- - The Crown kicks Manhunt 2 out on it's arse (http://www.nuklearforums.com/showthread.php?t=21421)

The Crown kicks Manhunt 2 out on it's arse

Well this is moderately big for a video game story.

Long story short the British Board of Film Classifications has denied Manhunt 2 a classification, effectively meaning no UK release. This means it's looking unlikely that Australia(which surprisingly didn't ban the first), NZ(which from what I've heard is usually pretty lenient, but they did ban the first) or Germany will see it either.

Their statement

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBFC

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. 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.

"Although the difference should not be exaggerated the fact of 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. That work was classified '18' in 2003, before the BBFC's recent games research had been undertaken, but was already at the very top end of what the Board judged to be acceptable at that category."

"Against this background, the Board's carefully considered view is that to issue a certificate to Manhunt 2, on either platform, 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."

Personally while I'm opposed to this, I do note the fact that in Australia at least the presence of the ratings board means there is little outcry for further and at the sacrifice of a few crappy games a decade we tend to dodge people like JT getting airtime or politicians considering the crazier game related bills the US occaisionally pumps out. So far I think it's worked in our favour, but that could always change I suppose.

On the game, I was kind of looking forward to renting this just to see how the Wii controls are implemented(garroting in particular intrigued me), though I was never really thinking of buying it, due to how boring the first one was.

Now let disussion of censorship, Manhunt and "how big a publicity whore is Rockstar exactly?" commence!

Manhunt did set a landmark at "make games about cinematic gruesome kills that you ignite but dont control" ...

I also did find the first one Kinda boring (for Pc)... at least for the first levels (i stopped on the Nailgun), you just navigate slowly from Cut-scene kill to Cut-Scene kill ...

Gorefest indeed, but it felt more like a Spy game with killing Featurette

Manhunt 2 dosent seem to want to change this...

Impressive Cut-scenes for attacks in mid-game do work great in some games like Naruto (if only KOF used a similar system for those Special attacks........) But you can only plug a pair of pliers on a man's nuts to rip them off so many times before stop calling it a "engaing Experience"

Quote:

[...]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. [...]unrelenting focus on stalking and brutal slaying and the sheer lack of alternative pleasures on offer to the gamer

You know I've been saying that forever, only instead of walking around saying this constitutes a danger to the general public I walk around saying this constitutes a damn shitty game.

Kinda like SAW in that regard.

Quote:

This means it's looking unlikely that [...] Germany will see it either.

What, that's news now?

Yeah, I was being diplomatic.

It also has just gotten an AO rating in the US. Meaning no Walmart and co. As a result Rockstar's primary market of 13 year olds with lazy parents is kinda out of the market. This can't be helping with the money situation at THQ.

It's apparently a bit more than just going to be hard to purchase.

Apparently The 2 hardware companies refuse to license it so long as it carries that rating.

Quote:

"Take-Two Interactive Software 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 BBFC and ESRB," the publisher said in a written statement.

"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."

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=78278

General problem: they're marketing the game exclusively to adults, but in my experience adults just don't much go for the old ultraviolence anymore.

I don't really get why it can't be licensed. Video games are pretty much interactive/controlled movies now. I note that big hits from this year have been Saw, and Hostel.

This game sold in the first place for one reason, humans love the suffering of others. But I dont get the AO since thats the video game equivalent of a X rating in movies. Is it violent, ya, but so is hostel

to be honest i don't think there's any way they won't edit the game's content down for an M.

Huh, I dunno how I missed this thread...

Anyway, what really gets me is I want to know what's in it that could possibly dub it an AO game. Doesn't AO mean it has to have sexual content? 'Cause Manhunt doesn't seem like that kind of game.

Or it could be the usual thing - people flipping the fuck out about ultra-violence and the fancy Wiimote controls.