Nintendo and Sony won't touch Manhunt 2 with AO rating

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jun 20th 2007 at 5:55PM }

Forget retail and renting, if Manhunt 2 maintains its AO rating it won't even be allowed licence or playback on Nintendo's Wii or Sony's PlayStation. In Nintendo's own Nintendo Buyer's Guide the company clearly states, "Please note that Nintendo does not sell or license games that carry the ESRB rating 'AO' (Adults Only)." Joystiq also spoke with Sony spokesman Dave Karraker who stated, "Currently it's SCE's policy not to allow the playback of AO rated content on our systems." Manhunt 2 won't be available on Microsoft's consoles.

And that's the ballgame: Rockstar can either edit Manhunt 2 or -- given its current AO rating -- leave it as a game that can't easily be played or obtained on the PlayStation 2, PSP and Wii consoles. Given the options available to Rockstar, it looks like they'll have no choice but to edit the game or just end Manhunt 2's life and move on.

We asked Microsoft to comment on their AO policy, but they had not yet responded by the time of publication.

Update: Full statement from Nintendo regarding this story after the break.

Nintendo contacted Joystiq with a statement regarding this story saying, "Games made for Nintendo systems enjoy a broad variety of styles, genres and ratings. These are some of the reasons our Wii and Nintendo DS systems appeal to such a broad range of people. But as with books, television and movies, different content is meant for different audiences. That's why the ESRB provides ratings to help consumers understand the content of a game before they purchase it. As stated on Nintendo.com, Nintendo does not allow any AO-rated content on its systems."

Tags: ao, esrb, manhunt2, rating, rockstar

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

mstngo @ Jun 20th 2007 6:01PM

Sony did not have a problem with an AO rated GTA San Andreas

oh boy... @ Jun 20th 2007 6:30PM

...what a sad situation. Nintendo and Sony are pussies and freedom and art are becoming extinct very quickly in the gaming media... sad, sad, sad...

Snorri @ Jun 20th 2007 6:04PM

So Suda51 doesn't have a hope of selling games if he wants to make it "more violent than Manhunt 2".

Fernando Rocker @ Jun 20th 2007 6:02PM

Fuck ERSB! Fuck Jack Thompson!

There are a lot of violents games, even more bloddy than Manhunt... the AO rating is because Jack Thompson...

Snorri @ Jun 20th 2007 6:05PM

So Suda 51 doesn't have a hope of selling any copies of No More Heroes if he wants to make it "more violent than Manhunt 2".

vidGuy @ Jun 20th 2007 6:04PM

Well here's the thing.

Nintendo doesn't license it. Okay, does that mean it won't work on the system? The game is 3 weeks away from release (a little late to be rated, isn't it?), so surely the game has been pressed and is ready to be packaged and shipped to retailers very soon. So if the game is pressed, shouldn't it contain all of the code that is necessary to run on the specified platforms? Wouldn't lockout keys already be implemented in the discs?

I may be way off, I'm just thinking here. If I was Take Two and my games would still play on the consoles, I'd go ahead and release the AO version now and censor down a new version for a M rating for release in the fall.

Nicholas Sulikowski @ Jun 20th 2007 6:06PM

Manhunt....art....that's a new one.

Wii60 @ Jun 20th 2007 6:05PM

Can they sell this unlicensed like Action Replays are?

Rare Hare @ Jun 20th 2007 6:07PM

@ mstngo (#1):

GTA: San Andreas was not rated AO at the time of release. Only after the Hot Coffee mod was discovered was it slapped with an (temporary) AO rating. When this happened, production was halted until such a time as a solution could be provided.

Farseer @ Jun 20th 2007 6:07PM

I was criticizing most of Europe's decision to ban the game outright on a different thread.

I should have been praising it. At least they had the balls to come right out and do it. This de facto censorship is some sneaky shit.

In essence, the ESRB as reserved the AO rating to effectively ban a game without saying it outright. If a console manufacturer will not support an AO game, then the AO rating does not exist because therefore the game does not exist.

Stef Geiger @ Jun 20th 2007 6:07PM

...Why would they actually kill the game and eliminate any chance of making money off of it when they could just re-tool it and probably make 99% of the revenue they were originally expecting?

Jake @ Jun 20th 2007 6:07PM

Uh oh...Guess they better port this one to PC. As for the San Andreas comment, it was given that rating after release.

And to "oh boy" and the hordes that are sure to follow, I would hardly call Manhunt art. It is their right to deny playback. Why should they have to suffer all of the bad publicity and lost sales just because they supported a mediocre game with sadistic content?

DBX00 @ Jun 20th 2007 6:09PM

They should just release the game with the AO rating and see what happens in the market. Anything watered down will lose the buzz that they've created and won't sell well with a lower rating. Stick to your guns and consumers will reward you with great sales even if corporations don't want to expose themselves to lawsuits (it isn't like they are trying to take a moral high ground or something). I say if parents want to keep this out of the hands of their children then they will need to take an active role in raising and controlling their child instead of leaving it up to v-chips and rating systems.

Dustin @ Jun 20th 2007 6:11PM

Yep they could, and they should.

Also I can't wait till Microsoft says "Hell yeah we'd allow AO, why the fuck wouldn't we!?!?!?!?"

They probably won't, but it would be cool for at least ONE of them to.

Charli3 @ Jun 20th 2007 6:09PM

We all saw this coming. I know a lot of gamers are pissed but if Manhunt 2 is edited at least they would be able to sell it.

Kevin @ Jun 20th 2007 6:13PM

The world is so afraid of itself.

DBX00 @ Jun 20th 2007 6:13PM

Sony will sell this thing because if I were Take Two, I would say I'll retool the game for the XBOX360 and release LA Noire and GTAIV as 360 exclusives. Sony isn't in a position right now to piss on a big third party developer and they would love for Nintendo to drop the game so you'd have to go out and buy the PSP or PS2 version.

Dustin @ Jun 20th 2007 6:13PM

Damn, meant to add that this could be viewed as a great plus for take two. Release a censored version, let the heat cool and then release an uncensored unlicensed version or uncensored PC/360 version or whoever will have it. Effectively selling more than they would have originally.

losttoys @ Jun 20th 2007 6:13PM

Maybe Sony's "currently" will be absolved to allow a Manhunt 2 release.

And what I find funny is that SCE does not allow the playback of AO games, but there is nothing stopping you from using the PS2 to watch Porn titles.

Tom @ Jun 20th 2007 6:14PM

I don't want to say I told you so- but I've been saying for over a month (you can check the last bunch of Manhunt 2 threads) that Nintendo will not allow this game to be released on the Wii. Sony saying they will not release it is a little surprising, but they really don't need anymore bad press. Now obviously Take-two can edit the game down to a M rating, but this is getting blown so out of proportion (similar to the Imus situation), that I can totally see this game be canned all together and never released.

Slaziman @ Jun 20th 2007 6:14PM

Hahahaha, BURN!

Time to replace the weapons with nerf baseball bats!

Trenchalicious @ Jun 20th 2007 6:14PM

M rating and AO isn't that much different.

These companies are acting like babies just because they know the game might not hit most big stores because the AO is 'sooooooooooooo bad'

It's just stupid crap.

I hope Microsoft says they will allow the game because the differences between M and AO are basically nothing. Underage kids shouldn't even be playing most M games. An AO basically keeps them away unless their parents buy it... so in other words

M AND AO ARE BASIALLY THE SAME RATING

Vidikron @ Jun 20th 2007 6:14PM

@15

I'd love for MS to step up and make such a statement, but who knows if they will.

Really, what the fvck is the point of all these AO and 18+ ratings if the game companies won't license them, many retailers won't carry them, and some countries outright ban them?

Rob Accomando @ Jun 20th 2007 6:15PM

so much for Wii appealing to every gamer. What's the point of AO rating when consoles do not support them? Why not just refuse to rate it until cuts are made.

Capitalist Cowboy @ Jun 20th 2007 6:16PM

HOLY CRAP Nintendo and Sony just sold 360s. With all this news and hype about Manhunt 2 and the only way to be able to play it is on 360. HAHA M$ will be crazy to not take advantage of this LOL.

losttoys @ Jun 20th 2007 6:16PM

Farseer -

AO exists. The problem is, it only exists within the realm of personal computing, it seems.

Vidikron @ Jun 20th 2007 6:17PM

If they do water the game down, I hope the uncensored version magically gets 'leaked' on the internet like what happened with Thrill Kill.

syco @ Jun 20th 2007 6:18PM

Why the hell not? What is the point of having AO if it basically means they have to tame it down to sell it anyway? It makes me sick that the ERSB, the retails, and Nintendo and Sony are collaborating to push this absurd censorship. I mean, it's fairly obvious that this title should not be in the same room as a kid, but there are lots of book, movies, and albums that also fit that description, and I can walk into almost any store and buy them. Most of the time I don't even have to prove my age. This is ridiculous.

I have a hard time being truly upset about this, since I'm not actually interested in the game itself. But as far as I'm concerned AO is an important rating that needs to be used, and games that get that rating need to be available for purchase by adults.

AirIntake @ Jun 20th 2007 6:21PM

Who was that asshole that posted yesterday that an AO rating wouldn't stop adults from buying the game? How very, very wrong he was....

jay @ Jun 20th 2007 6:27PM

Wow. Looks like it'll be redesigned or something. Chances are they could have taken a hit with the UK banning and AO status in America. But to be outright cancelled. Eep

Sidepocket @ Jun 20th 2007 6:30PM

Even thought I will buy the Wii version even as M rated (Manhunt 1 was M rated and I loved it) but I must say...

RELEASE A PC VERSION DIRECT TO DOWNLOAD AO RATING! :D

oh boy... @ Jun 20th 2007 6:31PM

"And to "oh boy" and the hordes that are sure to follow, I would hardly call Manhunt art. It is their right to deny playback. Why should they have to suffer all of the bad publicity and lost sales just because they supported a mediocre game with sadistic content?"

I never said I thought Manhunt specifically was art, all I said was that art and freedom are quickly becoming extinct in the gaming world. The thing with freedom of expression/speech is that you can not be selective but you have to be fair and equal. So if you allow Manhunt to be banned based upon whatever aspect of its contents you open the door for many other titles being banned for their "questionable content". I may not like Manhunt or gravitate towards it's subject matter, but that does not mean that I find it right for it to be outright banned just because of some media/political hype game scapegoat hunt, as this will affect titles I might actually care about down the line... that's all.

vidGuy @ Jun 20th 2007 6:32PM

I will only buy this game in its original version, rated AO, unrated, unlicensed, whatever. I will not buy a censored, edited version.

WhackMushroom @ Jun 20th 2007 6:33PM

ooooooohhhhhhhh .. take that take two! you finally get whats coming to you for your past shenannigans.

bulvan @ Jun 20th 2007 6:35PM

the reason they wouldn't just release it is that there is almost definitely proprietary nintendo and sony code contained on the disks that allows them to play on the system. the license permits the use of that code, among other things. if manhunt 2 were just released without sony or nintendo's blessing, rockstar would likely be sued for copyright infringement and breach of contract because they would not have permission to use that code.

it would make for an interesting fair use case, however.

Jesse Edgar @ Jun 20th 2007 7:23PM

Uh, sooo... Tell me one more time. Why does sony condone Leisure suit larry... but not manhunt 2? How about the guy game?

Casey R Williams @ Jun 20th 2007 6:45PM

Why is it when companies say they are "family oriented" it just means they make kiddie crap? Every family I've ever known had adults in it, so why can't Nintendo condone adult games? I thought the point of ratings was to inform, not censor.

Tom Cribbins @ Jun 20th 2007 6:37PM

Anyone any idea of the legal ramifications if Take2 release an unlicensed version..? Doesn't sound viable to me tbh.

Bang goes my idea of getting it from France :o(

[.sm0ke.] @ Jun 20th 2007 6:37PM

To everyone saying Manhunt 2 should be on the Xbox 360, I doubt it would work even if Microsoft allowed it. The game is being developed for weaker systems (the Wii isn't a 360, folks).

Even if the game WAS ported to the 360, they'd have to retool it to add Achievements and other Xbox Live shenanigans, and everyone would be whining about the last-gen graphics.

The game is going to get delayed and retooled. It would cost Take-Two too much to cancel the game at this point, and releasing it uncensored and unlicensed would provoke lawsuits from Nintendo and Sony, similar to Nintendo's suits against Tengen in the 80's.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tengen_%28company%29

maxgoetz2000 @ Jun 20th 2007 6:38PM

@28

Agreed. The game companies, retail stores, countries (UK, Ireland, etc.), and media have already called us law abiding citizens guilty. Guilty of what? Who knows. The game hasn't even landed on shelves. Why do I feel like this is something out of Minority Report.

Diskoboy @ Jun 20th 2007 6:40PM

#2 - actually you can thank Senator Joe Lieberman for the ESRB.

ncxcstud @ Jun 20th 2007 6:41PM

#20 -

There are vast differences between M and AO ratings...

In it's current state, Manhunt 2 DESERVES the AO rating, at least on the Wii...when you start 'acting out' actions that kill individuals on screen (as opposed to pressing buttons.' that makes it considerably more 'gruesome' than others.

AO games are 'normally' reserved for porn titles and such, which are much different than your 'normal' M rated game. I dont' know of any other game (besides GTA:SA for a brief time) that has received an AO rating outside the porn industry...

There are considerable differences between M and AO. I for one haven't seen anything on Manhunt 2 (the first one was terrible and too sadistic for my taste), but from what I know of from the first game...the PS2 version should get a M rating, and the Wii an AO just because of the controls...

Rob Accomando @ Jun 20th 2007 6:41PM

R* should slip the ESRB that $50 million to change the rating to M.

Andrew @ Jun 20th 2007 6:42PM

Honest question: Why do you guys want a game this violent?

Mogul218 @ Jun 20th 2007 6:45PM

Right about now would be a good time for Microsoft to step up and buy exclusivity, since T2 will lose money anyway. Maybe they can even parlay exclusivity on the the next GTA after IV as part of the deal?

Casey R Williams @ Jun 20th 2007 6:46PM

"And what I find funny is that SCE does not allow the playback of AO games, but there is nothing stopping you from using the PS2 to watch Porn titles."

Ahh, that's another problem with corporate censorship; the sex/violence double standard. The thing is, Manhunt2 didn't get its rating for sexual content (thank goodness, I surely wouldn't watch a porn called "Manhunt") but rather graphic violence of the more sadisitc kind. Remember, not all violence is treated equally. Sadistic, remorseless acts of violence aren't and shouldn't be treated the same as violence commited by soldiers or police (heroes) acting in the line of duty. Some day there will be an actual, legitimate porn title that people will want to play, not becaus its porn, but because it's a good game. That game will get an AO and people (oblivious that "Adults Only" is pretty self explanatory) will complain that AO is too lenient because AO is for violence and decry that the game needs some kind of X/XXX rating. Because, for the most part it seems, people are idiots.

ncxcstud @ Jun 20th 2007 6:46PM

Andrew -

I don't at all. There's violent, and then there's overkill. Manhunt2 is overkill in my mind.

I'm not one to censor and deprive others of viewing/playing what they want. But Manhunt2 on the Wii, with that control scheme just creeps me out...