As Rockstar's appeal to have Manhunt 2 unbanned in the UK gets going, the BBFC has admitted that no evidence of a connection between videogames and real-world violence exists. It has, however, maintained that such a connection has not been outright disproven -- it's just that no proof has been found yet.
"The board's position is that there is insufficient evidence to prove, as a fact, there is a causal connection between violent games and behavioural harm," declared a BBFC spokesman. "It's a perfectly fair point, and one which we accept, but it's not by any means a complete answer to the question the [Video Appeals Committee] has to decide."
The BBFC also addressed arguments that games should be held to the same standards as movies. The board disagreed with these arguments, stating that in movies, you identify more with the victims than the killers, contrasting games that put a weapon in your hand and "reward" you for killing "in the bloodiest way possible." I do, however, question such statements when movies like the brilliant but disturbing Ichi The Killer exist, a movie about Japanese gangs in which the main characters are sadists, rapists and murderers and there is very little regard for victims of any kind.
As the appeal continues, I can only hope that Manhunt 2 sees a release in the UK -- not because I want to play it, but because I don't want a worrying new precedent to remain set.
not only will it get released, but it will get a new E rating, brings sunny skies, and cure cancer.
Ha the header image rocks, I'm hoping they let the game in the UK and it puts a proper kink in the anti-game crowds hose.
The differing between movies and games is absurd, beyond Ichi the Killer, I can think of plenty of fucked up movies that give me nothing but horrible people to identify with.
That and there will always be people who identify with the lunatics and killers in any film anyway. I also loathe the "not proven, yet" thought process, to quote Sideshow Bob, "Do they give out a Nobel Prize for attempted chemistry".
No, people absorb media messages in myriad ways and the simple proof that this is all nonsense is in the fact that society hasn't degenerated into an orgy of game inspired violence. Fucking idiots.
Ichi the Killer has always been a enigma to me. I love violence and have a high tolerance to it, but I just couldn't watch all of Ichi The killer. It's just that disturbing
I really wish people would stop dodging around the issue and claim whether or not videogames really cause violence.
What a bunch of horse shit. "We can't prove our own line of thinking, but we're going to place responsibility on you to prove it wrong. Have fun with that, mwuahahahah!"
The BBFC have always stood by this claim, so why they feel the need to state it again, I don't know, its not as if The Sun or any of the other rags published in the country have put out a story about videogames this week, they've all been far too focused on the national wastes of spaces that is the England football squad.
The Hannibal movies, for reference, end up with us identifying with the character of Lecter. By the time Hannibal introduced Mason Verger and completely capitalizes on Lecter's charm and fan following, it's a straight up hero worship of a serial killer.
I love Hannibal, but that film does more to romanticize serial killers than any game.
So... when I watch every action movie ever made, and Loose-Cannon-But-Good-Heart-Cop kills off Probably-Muslim-Stereotype-Terrorist and all of his Goons-For-Hire-Henchmen... I'm identifying with the victem?
God, I didn't even think about Hannibal, the whole last book is from his perspective too, AND it has a happy ending for him. I totally thought he was a kickass cool guy and completely forgot about the face eating.
Well, you know what this means, time for a good, old fashioned book burning before I lose my mind and begin eating people.
I'm not sure they're point is about romantiscizing serial killers as such, and more to do with gloryfying OTT violence, however wrong that is.
Whilst I want Manhunt 2 to be released as, like everyone else, I disagree with censorship. I'm kind of glad it isn't as the rags can't use it as a scapegoat in the near future when someone decides to kill someone else.
I think the blame likes within society though, if we didn't hav such a blame culture, then Manhunt 2 would be released. It's like food, McDonalds, say, is blamed for making kids obese, but McDonalds aren't forcing kids to eat their food at gun point, the kids are choosing to do so, wether thats down ot good marketing or not, its still, ultimately, the kids, or parents, lack of control thats making them obese...
Obviously, they've never seen The Devil's Rejects which ends with a seemingly unending, slow motion, triumphant blaze of glory death scene for three of the worst characters in all of fiction. All set to Freebird.
While we are on killers we identify with what about Jason from Friday the 13th. I don't identify with his victims, christ I want them to die (except for the black guy).
Just give it an 18+ rating, add more contrast to the execution scenes, and get it all over with.
And shame on those who say Ichi the Killer is a good movie. For shame... (It sucked. Hard.)
@aborto
racist
Nineteen Seven: Wrong. Ichi The Killer is great.
Ichi the Killer didn't suck, you just can't watch it like a regular movie, you have to watch it expecting to see one of the most horrendous things ever put on film. I mean it is almost hypnotic.
That in and of itself is an art that takes talent and a freshly delivered truckload of balls.
Anything made by Rob Zombie will have you identifying with the killers, for good or for ill ( I thought Devils Rejects was terrible).
Also agreed with aborto on the Friday the 13th (part two, I can't exactly identify with a crazed mother either).
omfg does not own an xbox!
Jim Sterling: Wrong. I thought the story was genuinely interesting, and I had to struggle at staying awake. Shock value can only take you so far.
I blame the director.
Mixed messages from the people that choose to rate film and our games. They might as well have some one else in charge because now they are clutching at straws.
Like I always said, their stance is one of double standards, because they asume games and the majority of them are violent, without any consequences, this differs as every game isn't the same as the last, but their words sound like they are painting it this way.
Considering it was based off an anime, I don't think you can blame the director for the shock value. Apparently the anime is even more shocking, though I'm yet to see it.
I have yet to see the anime or see anything of the comic, but I don't blame the director for the shock value. I blame him for making it so boring, especially when he's done much better with much worse content.
I have yet to see the anime or see anything of the comic, but I don't blame the director for the shock value. I blame him for making it so boring, especially when he's done much better with much worse content.
"The board disagreed with these arguments, stating that in movies, you identify more with the victims than the killers"
This fella disagrees.
The villains in horror movies are almost always more charismatic than the protagonists.
Nineteen Seven:
Well to be honest, he's NEVER going to top Happiness of the Katakuris.
Regarding the picture: Mengele may not own an Xbox, but he did have a Power Glove at one point, and it drove him to madness.
There we go. No connection. And England's always right, right?
If I want to watch horrible people to identify with, all I have to do is watch politicians do their thing on tv.
Everyone already mentioned the movies I was thinking of that dispute what the board is claiming, so I'll throw out Dexter as TV example
Woohoo.
!
They are just back peddling coming up with BS examples to justify their reasoning. Hell I am sure we could come up with a list of movies where you identify with a bad guy that made money.
Ichi the killer isn't based on an anime, the anime is based on it. Also, it sucks horribly. But yeah, anything by takashi miike, or the lector films, or american psycho, or the vengeance trilogy, or any number of countless other films all portray killers in a sympathetic fashion. Shouldn't innocent until proven guilty apply here too? BBFC are a shower of wankers.
doesn't every action movie have the hero kill hundreds of people. We don't identify with Thug #16, but with chuck, steven, charles, jean claude, et al.
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