BBFC Prepares for More Manhunt 2 Controversy
BBFC Prepares for More Manhunt 2 Controversy
By now, nearly everyone has heard of Rockstar Games’ problems getting a rating for Manhunt 2. While the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) in the United States ultimately reduced the rating of Manhunt 2 to “Mature” (from “Adults Only”) once Rockstar (part of Take-Two Interactive) changed the game’s content, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) refused to rate the game, preventing its distribution in the U.K.
Since that decision, Rockstar Games has been pushing hard to appeal the BBFC’s decision. The U.K. Video Appeals Committee has granted Rockstar an appeal. In response, the BBFC issued a statement that “The BBFC will carefully study the judgement by the Video Appeals Committee when it becomes available.”
Essentially, the BBFC’s statement emphasizes that its decision concerning the Manhunt 2 rating was carefully considered and taken very seriously. “The BBFC twice rejected Manhunt 2 for its focus on varied and cumulative killings.” The unspoken point is that the BBFC clearly believes its decision was justified and based on its published guidelines. Presumably, if the Video Appeals Committee overturns the BBFC’s decision, the BBFC will face a dramatic overhaul and be forced to review and revise its charter.
Update: The Appeals Committee narrowly decided to allow Manhunt to qualify for the most restrictive rating from the BBFC, so the game can see distribution in the U.K.
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What I don't get is, why is Manhunt2 so in the limelight? The titel is average/mediocre at best.
I have nothing against violence in video games per se, and I played the first title, but I aborted the game after about 10 minutes because it was just badly designed.
So from my point of view the whole "mature" vs. "adult only"-change, and the whole discussion around it, will only result in more sold copies of the game, because it is "forbidden" in some countries. That's nothing new of course, but I allege that they are doing it well-knowing, or even for the sole aforementioned purpose.
If somebody truly thinks that Manhunt2 is a great game, I'd love to know why he thinks so. Feel free to tell me.
I'm certain that you're right: Take-Two Interactive created the Manhunt games hoping that buzz from the popular media concerning the level of violence would sell more copies of a mediocre title.
I think the story is still important. The basic idea is that if a game gets an "AO" rating from the ESRB, most major U.S. chains won't carry the game. Or, if the BBFC refuses to rate the game, it doesn't get sold in the UK. So Take-Two is trying to very carefully tread the line of: "How much violence can we get away with?"
The question is important, because even if this particular game isn't great, it is defining the "maximum" level of violence for all games. (At least in North America and much of Europe). It's also a hot-button issue for many politicians, and so serves as a kind of proxy battle between the conservative public and game publishers everywhere.
BTW - see the update above: Manhunt 2 will see a U.K. release.
I agree with you, any ruling for Manhunt2 will affect a lot of other games as well, especially since violence is such a hot topic in so many countries right now.
You're also right when you say that it is a very political subject right now, sadly enough it's just a means to look good to the general population.
I totally agree that games should be regulated somehow and we don't need to see everything, but the current system for most countries is already good enough and working. What I don't wan't to see is that Games that aren't suited for people under 16 will vanish from the market, not now when games finally loose the tag of being a toy, kidsstuff etc. I want to see more content for people 30+, and this doesn't have to mean violence and nudity, not exclusively, more mature content can also mean that a game has a rather complex storyline that addresses an older audience, which a younger person might just not be interested in.
We all know that it's going to happen, since the kids that played on their C64, or on their Atari2600 over 20 years ago are now grown up, and a lot of those people still want to play, but not necessarily the same games their own kids play nowadays.
Yes - I think you've identified the key conflict.
Fundamentally, the average age of gamers is now in the 30s, but certain groups are still trying to regulate games as toys for children.
The fear is that the ultimate victory of reasonable people isn't certain. At least in the U.S. comic books serve as an example: early regulation by the government set back the comic industry for decades. While I don't expect the same sort of thing will hapen to games (since so far games have been protected as free speech), it's not impossible.