Sony And Nintendo Axe Manhunt 2 In The US June 22, 2007
Read more Consoles , Games , Wii
Just yesterday, we covered how the BBFC had banned Manhunt 2 in the UK, while the game has also gotten the thumbs-down in Ireland - the first game ever banned there. This has generated some excellent and intelligent debate [thanks readers].
Now, Sony and Nintendo have stated that they will not let Manhunt 2 be released for their consoles. Why? The gaming body Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has not banned it but slapped on an Adults Only (AO) rating. This is proving even worse, since Sony and Nintendo [and Microsoft, apparently] have policies against such explosive content. One Sony spokesperson said:
“It's currently our policy not to allow the playback of AO-rated content on our systems.”
A Nintendo rep said:
“As stated on Nintendo.com, Nintendo does not allow any AO-rated content on its systems.”
Rockstar has argued the artistic merits and freedom rights of the game but with Sony and Nintendo saying ‘nope’, it’s highly likely that artistic pride will be set aside to make room for some serious cutting – of the content, that is.-Martin Lynch
Editor and Contributor | Martin Lynch
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Comments
AO is absolutely no different to our 18 rating and most places wont sell M (17+) rated games to children without parental consent, so why it makes any difference I have no idea..
Theres plenty of 18 rated titles on playstation, and of the top of my head i can think of a couple on nintendos systems. so saying they wont allow a game which only adults may play is keeping a hell of a double standard.
Sony and Nintendo in the US have different policies to their European counterparts. Also, an "R" rating is the equivalent to our 18 rating. There are more strict rating systems in the US than here.
Sony and Nintendo are smart by following the cue off BBFC (which thankfully was made easier with the AO rating by the ESRB as well). It was probably easier to do this than to face more bearucratic administrations AFTER the game becomes available to the public. I've read the debate going on and it was a fantastic read, thanks to those who commented.
Although in an entirely different scenario, they were probably heeding from Sony's "boo boo" with The Church with their Resistance: Fall of Man. Best to avoid conflicts :P
So what's Sony gonna do when GTA4 comes out, surely that must be an 18+ game. Stealing cars, Drugs, killing people ....
James id just like to point out that in terms of games Europe in particular the UK and Germany we have far more stringent rules than that of America as game ratings go.
To be honest i havnt got a clue why they even offered it for the wii its almost laughable given the target market for the wii. And im with Chris on this one, however due to bbfc rules as long as the context of the game deems the violence and such nessacary and contextually important in the game, it should get through without any problems the same can be argued for the Manhunt 2 but again its up to the ruling bodies and sadly not the mature adults such as ourselves who are playing the games.
Did anyone actually play manhunt though?
The violence was much more central to its concept than anything approaching gameplay. In fact I'd consider the first bereft of gameplay - probably why the BBFC have taken exception to it, as it's more akin to interactive snuff than a game. -which was kind of the plot
Here's an interesting take on Manhunt from the other side of the pond:
http://www.unboundedition.com/content/view/1042/50/
Big thanks to Sony and Nintendo for showing that big companies value the rights of their customers so much more then a possible dent in their reputation..