It's certainly been a rollercoaster for Manhunt 2 in the UK. Banned by the BBFC, edited by Rockstar, still banned by the BBFC, appealed for a reclassification, and now STILL banned by the BBFC, it really seems like a lot of effort for a game franchise that screams sub-par, but this is about censorship, damn it! When we last left off, Rockstar had successfully appealed for a chance to get Manhunt 2 released, but the BBFC cares so much about nannying the entire country (or is just working off bruised pride), it went to the High Court which has now kicked down the appeal.
The High Court has sent Manhunt 2 back for re-evaluation with the VAC and yet another appeal, siding with the BBFC's frankly ludicrous claim that the game will have a "devastating effect on society." Wasn't that game released in the USA several months ago? I've yet to see its devastating effect over there, unless of course you're counting the poor people who wasted their money on the thing.
Rockstar, naturally, has questioned the decision, being unable to understand the choice to spend further public money on censoring material that conforms to the guidelines required for release:
"We believe the Video Appeals Committee decision was correct and do not understand the court's decision to expend further public resources to censor a game that contains content well within the bounds established by the British Board of Film Classification's 18-plus ratings certification,"
The ridiculous saga continues and, like Rockstar says, more time and money will be sunk into something that should never have been an issue in the first place. I, for one, would like to know more details about the supposed harm that is going to come to Britain should people we don't know give us permission to spend our money on it.
Contest:
9:52 AM on 01.25.2008
| 
:(.
Wait, that won't work anymore, there's nowhere left to go. Dammit.
I hope it stays banned. Might make them try something new.
Annoyingly they [BBFC] are banning it because of the under 18's ... Funny that, the people who shouldn't be playing it in the first place are the reason its banned.
The BBFC's decision to ban manhunt 2 for the 18's and over is bordering on the same amount of idiocy as that woman from fox who got dissed by geoff keighley.
UK Gamers need to buy this game if it ever comes out, not for the game itself, but as a sales statistic to protest against censorship.
Why couldn't they have banned Lair instead.
Sure, the game might be not that great, but its the pure principle of the thing, along with this kind of persecution of games. Rockstar could easily argue that Manhunt 2 is an adult game, aimed at adults, like any adult film or book. Problem is the scaremonger powers that be have such fear of anything they don't know or don't understand.
And yes, perhaps Manhunt 2 is pushing it a bit, but that's kind of irrelevant, when we can buy other adult media in a similar vein. I've seen much worse stuff in films.
Rockstar should take this one all the way to the european court if they need to, because we all know this is a clear case of double standard at work, laced in fear and hear say. Perhaps Rockstar should also point out that Manhunt 2 has been on sale in Holland for a while, and we are yet to hear of any mass child serial killers on the loose.