Earlier today, I broke the disappointing news that Manhunt 2 was deemed too harmful for an overprotected British public, pushing back the progression of civil liberties several decades and making me wonder if I lived in the UK or communist China. With that in mind, it seems that America has no intention of being left out of the overreaction happy fun party as the ESRB has seen fit to slap an 'Adults Only' rating on Rockstar's much maligned boogeyman-in-DVD-form.
While slightly better than an outright ban, the move will see popular chains like Wal-mart refusing to stock the game and will have a significant impact on Rockstar's earnings while movies like Hostel 2 will hit theaters with no such crippling restrictions in place. Many thanks to the ESRB who have pitched in and helped the illogical and childish enemies of the games industry pop another ill-gotten feather in their caps. We all appreciate it very much. Seriously, on behalf of gamers everywhere, thank you for making the quest for games to be viewed without prejudice and bias all that more difficult.
Meanwhile, in the UK, the European wing of the Destructoid collective will continue to fight the BBFC's decision to ban the title. Stay tuned for news of a new campaign that will soon be unleashed so gamers may provide some much needed balance to the ridiculous demonization of our favorite hobby. I think I speak for all the sane ones among us when I say this - the bullcrap's getting ridiculous.
[With thanks to Joe 'I got banned from Gmail' Burling]
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
7:00 PM on 06.19.2007
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joe burling...
i believe we've seen this before.
damnit, i thought it was getting an M rating. now i have to wait another year to be able to buy this damn game.
^_^
Why should movies get a pass on content while videogames get screwed over!
Fuck JT.
Fuck the dumbass parents who don't know shit when it comes to videogames and their ratings(and sometimes rely on their children because they know better-WTF)!
I watch gore/sex-filled movies (i.e. Hostel, SAW, etc.)
Why i can't i play games that have almost similar content?!
Anyway I have to agree with DeusPayne here, we really have no idea what the game is like. I would think its better that it is rated AO instead of having some family groups protest because the rating is too low for what the game has. An AO will give a clearer message that your kids should not buy this game. That and didn't the first Manhunt suck anyway?
And, like it or not, game ratings should not be approached in the same way that movie ratings are. They're different animals altogether. Besides, the MPAA sucks, anyway.
--
Podtoid 17 - @ the 20:33 mark
Sounds tasteless and horrible to me, but it should be MY decision if I want to play it or not, not somebody else's.
The double-standard is the problem, not the presumably-correct application of the AO rating to Manhunt 2.
AWESOME!!
Well, in America, it IS our choice, Jim. Isn't that what this comment thread is about? I'm sorry that it got banned over there, but we do still have the choice of whether or not to play it, over here.
It's too early to tell what Rockstar is going to do about this, but an AO rating is pretty bad. Yes, people will still find it someway or another, but without mainstream advertising or major stores backing the game, the number of sales is going to go down. The main thing I hope for is that the game doesn't turn into another Thrill Kill incident. I don't mind having to get the game through some other means, but it certainly can't be good news for the company.
From my understanding the rating boards do not actually play the games (go figure) but create their ratings based on developer submitted videos of gameplay. is it possible that Rockstar just submitted some really bad stuff which they will later 'withdraw' from the final retail version? Or has my faith in the BBFC been utterly destroyed forever?
yeah, i commented about that earlier. hopefully the one year i'll have to wait will mature me enough to take on the gratuitous sex and violence in the games. yeah!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEbElh8HIdI&mode=related&search=
i did come across a video from the punisher where he puts a goy onto a bench saw and proceds to push the guy crotch first
[/sarcasm]
Gg, ESRB. Gg.
That's what the image reminded me of heh (only the hardcore will know this reference).
I didn't like the first Manhunt much so it doesn't affect me, but if the MPAA and ESRB are anything alike, there were boobs in this game. These groups think boobs are more evil than a demon eviscerating a child with her or her own teeth. Cover those filthy, nasty, evil things up ladies, they have no reason to ever be seen in society.
It strikes me as odd is all, the game is meant for adults, and thusly, is given an Adult rating. It isn't like you are strangling people out...with cocks.
Also, what is so different with the Wii controls for Manhunt compared to any other game? You're always slashing and swinging the Wiimote around, the only difference is what happens on screen. Big deal.
Besides, only so much can change in between 17 and 18 years of age. This is a stupid thing to do, and it'll only cause problems for Rockstar and the people who want to buy it because most places refuse to carry AO games despite carrying R rated and even Unrated movies. It's all bullshit and double standard nonsense.
Rockstar will do just fine. Real gamers don't shop at Wal Mart anyway.
But Best Buy and GameStop also have policies that have them not carrying AO titles.
Although I would suspect that certain wheels are in motion to change policies at at least ONE of those chains. Probably the one that can make money on the game twice via the preowned market.
Something needs to happen to get the word out and educate these people. Not all video games are for kids. Some are for adults. There is no need to play big brother and protect the ignorant parents.
It's a fucking video game. Srsly.
If you want "anyone" to go and point at a game and say "murder simulator" this is that game. I could care less to play it because the appeal is something I've divested myself in countless times before, in much more compelling ways.
Can we at least have a game worth fighting over Rockstar? Or was this your goal?
I don't care either way. My copy of Manhunt 2 stays on the shelf for some other championing schlub to go belly up to. Give me a compelling cause that I support with my dollar and I'm there.
If Hitler got an unfair parking ticket levied against him, would you want to jump up and say, "Hey! Unfair parking ticket dude!"?
And to be perfectly honest, I think the ESRB is probably a lot more honest than the MPAA. The MPAA has this vague set of loose standards with no set checks to run through when they rate a movie.
While the ESRB will point out what you have done to earn your rating, the MPAA tells you "excessive violence" or "too much nudity" and leaves it at that.
Also given here is that with film, there's alternate takes and angles to provide breathing room with those ratinges. Whereas with a video game, since everything is prescripted actions, the ability to alter these actions is more time consuming to the process and less likely to be changed for the sake of the rating.
Rockstar had to have known what they were going to do, they got it, and now whatever happens from it, I'd say, buy it if you want, but judge it for the game, not for the controversy that surrounds it. If you do that, you've potentially wasted $50 on a mediocre game that could've been better spent on something worth your time.
Also, just to spite the ESRB, I'm going to make sure every impressionable young mind that enters my home gets to demo this game. I would have never done this otherwise, but thanks to ESRB, the minds of children WILL be corrupted.
WAY TO GO ESRB!!!
If you have been exposed to or used any of the following, we need to hear from you immediately:
Played baseball
Used a watergun
Spread margarine on toast
Pulled a drawstring shut
Aired up a tire
Masturbated
Peeled an orange
Wired speakers
Shaken a tree for it's fruit/nuts
Tied your shoes
Used a zipper
Played pinball
and many other cases...
You may have unknowingly taken part in a murder simulation. If so, you may be entitled to a large settlement from Rockstar Games for their commonality to these actions to their new popular murder simulator Manhunt 2. If you feel that you've been improperly tricked into any of these activities, we have representatives standing by to hear your case.
"I was clikin' my mice for 3 hurs a day and found out that I was gettin' haloes the whole time! I got free cheezeburgr!"
-Harbl handler, AZ
"I found that my frequent masturbatory habits were actually simulated rape, so I persecuted Rockstar and myself for $6 million and settled for a pack of Slim-Jims, a fleshlight, and a Hustler!"
-DVDdesign
"I just wanted to hurt wolves. Little did I realize that those wolves were simulated video game characters I'd projected actual violence onto. Now I have 70 real wolf carcasses, and Gordon Freeman has the Combine to deal with. I suck ass."
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