Manhunt 2 Ban Lifted In The UK
It seems that the controversy around Manhunt 2 may finally, slowly be winding down. After months of hold ups, the Rockstar's is finally getting a UK release. Originally slated for release in July of last year, the game was placed on hold after the BBFC refused to rate the title, barring it from sale.
After a couple of appeals and some legal humabaloo the board is now certifying the game with a rating of '18'.
BBFC Direct David Cook stated:
As I have said previously, we never take rejection decisions lightly, and they always involve a complex balance of considerationsWe twice rejected Manhunt 2, and then pursued a judicial review challenge, because we considered, after exceptionally thorough examination, that it posed a real potential harm risk.
However, the Video Appeals Committee has again exercised its independent scrutiny. It is now clear, in the light of this decision, and our legal advice, that we have no alternative but to issue an '18' certificate to the game.
It's sad that it took this long for the game to receive a release, but it's certainly a step in the right direction for freedom of speech.
Manhunt 2 receives UK release [Gamesindustry.biz]
Asterick
Posted to Hot Stuff, Video Games on 14 March 2008
· Comments (6)
Other stuff like this: ban lifted, manhunt 2, rockstar games, united kingdom
While I'm glad that the decision was overturned, it's a shame that Manhunt 2 was such an awful, buggy mess. Did I mention it wasn't fun? I really wanted to like it. I even bought it the day it was released. It was just generic and uninspired. I even experienced a number of freezes on the Wii version. If it had not received the press it did, I don't think it would have even seen half of the sales it did.
It's NOT freedom of speech. The released version is the edited version so has nothing to do with freedom of speech. However, the edited version complies with the requirement set by the UK BBFC standards, so they had no right to refuse to rate it in the first place.
Tex, I can agree that without the press, no one would be talking about this game, but I think "awful" is little bit of a stretch. It's certainly an acquired taste, but wasn't *that* bad. Then again, I didn't encounter any bugs/freezes, so...
I bought it on release and got what I expected. I played the first one, so I knew that stealth elements wouldn't be up to par with Sam Fisher or Snake. But as "meh" the gameplay is in Manhunt 2, the atmosphere and environments featured in the game are something else! Not that they are breathtakingly beautiful, but I can't remember the last game I played that included a skanky leather bar. For me, Manhunt 2 did exactly what the first one did; it was a tense action game and had enough gore to make Eli Roth fans squirm just a bit. I'm not sure it had goals beyond that. ;)
One thing that I really missed from the first game was the headset functionality featured in the Xbox 1 version. "The Director" spoke over the headset creating a really creepy soundspace as he provokes you to kill. Also, depending on the difficulty you played, the game would pick up noises coming into the mic. Want to sneak up on someone in hard mode? Better hold your breath so your victim doesn't hear you. Sadly, the Wii version didn't have anything to replace this very effective element.
I never bothered to play the game, but why is the bolded part hilarious to me?
"It is now clear, in the light of this decision, and our legal advice, that we have no alternative but to issue an '18' certificate to the game."
It seems that if they could have, they would have still kept the game banned if legally possible, regardless of who else said it was alright.
MME is right. Try to tone down your editorial bias a bit. The BBFC and certification in the UK is a more complicated process than you seem to understand. It's not about a bunch of old conservative men in grey suits sitting in a dark room saying "Ooh, I don't like that. Let's ban it! That'll show those liberal bastards!"
Film (and game) certification works VERY differently in the UK than it does in the US. Try to research such things.
Marsten: I'm not sure you fully understand MME's post.. He's criticising the BBFC.
I live in the UK, and the BBFC have come across as precisely that; aging conservatives with a worrying detachment from reality.