Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/British MP continues fight against Manhunt 2http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/british-mp-continues-fight-against-manhunt-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/british-mp-continues-fight-against-manhunt-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/british-mp-continues-fight-against-manhunt-2/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

You'd think the BBFC's official unbanning of an edited version of Manhunt 2 would officially end the battle over the game's release. You'd be wrong though, as Kent Online reports that Kent MP Julian Brazier is working to introduce a "public appeals process" to overturn BBFC decisions, like the one that paved the way for Manhunt 2's release.

Brazier's Private Members Bill to reform the BBFC was discussed and eventually stopped in Parliament late last month, but that hasn't stopped Brazier from trying to revive its political chances. Brazier insists that the eventual decision to release Manhunt 2 "shows once again that the BBFC and its appeals system do not meet the concerns of the public" and that "the public wants a significant tightening up in this vital area." Earlier this month, Brazier accompanied Gordon Brown in a meeting with Giselle Pakeerah, a mother who believes the original Manhunt contributed to her son's murder.

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]]>BBFCbritainbritishcontroversykentlawlegalmanhunt 2Manhunt2MPparliamentrockstarKyle Orland2008-03-20T22:00:00+00:00Manhunt 2 UK ban officially liftedhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/14/manhunt-2-uk-ban-officially-lifted/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/14/manhunt-2-uk-ban-officially-lifted/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/14/manhunt-2-uk-ban-officially-lifted/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


After a tumultuous history of appeals, appeals, and more appeals, the British High Court has finally lifted the ban on Rockstar's controversial title Manhunt 2. The PS2 and Nintendo Wii versions of the game have been cleared for release in the UK, and will carry an "18" rating.

The Video Appeals Committee has stood its ground regarding the release of the censored version of Manhunt 2, stating that it depicts no greater violence than any other release in Britain bearing an 18 certificate. The British Board of Film Classifications has finally seen the light, so it seems, and recognizes that the title will indeed land on shelves without further interruption.

No word yet on when Manhunt 2 will finally be released in the UK, or if anyone still cares about last year's controversial game.

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]]>bbfcmanhuntmanhunt-2manhunt2rockstarScott Jon Siegel2008-03-14T10:40:00+00:00BBFC seeks to keep Manhunt 2 bannedhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/bbfc-seeks-to-keep-manhunt-2-banned/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/bbfc-seeks-to-keep-manhunt-2-banned/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/bbfc-seeks-to-keep-manhunt-2-banned/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The British Board of Film Classification is drawing a line in the sand when it comes to Manhunt 2. The BBFC is going to the next level and seeking judicial review after the Video Appeals Committee overturned the BBFC's decision to reject giving Manhunt 2 a classification -- essentially creating a de facto ban.

The BBFC believes that overturning their original decision, which was essentially not to make a rating decision on Manhunt 2, will have "fundamental implications with regard to all the Board's decisions." According to the BBFC statement, the Video Appeals Committee decision undermines its power to judge "unacceptable levels of violence." Manhunt 2 now waits in limbo again as the BBFC attempts to overturn the VAC's decision.

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]]>bbfcbritish-board-film-classificationmanhunt2vacAlexander Sliwinski2007-12-17T11:00:00+00:00Manhunt 2 one step closer to British unbanninghttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/10/manhunt-2-one-step-closer-to-british-unbanning/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/10/manhunt-2-one-step-closer-to-british-unbanning/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/10/manhunt-2-one-step-closer-to-british-unbanning/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In America, it was quite the saga getting Manhunt 2 from AO-rated, system-excluded game an eventual, mediocre M-rated release. In Great Britain, though, the battle to get the game released continues to this day, though it is moving in Rockstar's direction.

GamesIndustry.biz is reporting that Rockstar has won its appeal of the BBFC's decision to refuse the game classification by a four to three vote. The game's not out of the woods yet, though -- the BBFC could still continue to defend it decision through further appeal to the High Court. "We won't make a decision until we've seen the full printed judgement," a BBFC spokesperson told GI.biz.

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]]>AOBBFCcontroversyMmanhuntmanhunt-2manhunt2ratingsrockstarviolenceKyle Orland2007-12-10T15:00:00+00:00Rockstar's British appeal begins for Manhunt 2http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/rockstars-british-appeal-begins-for-manhunt-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/rockstars-british-appeal-begins-for-manhunt-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/rockstars-british-appeal-begins-for-manhunt-2/#commentsFiled under: ,


Official proceedings began today for Rockstar's appeal to the British Board of Film Classification, regarding their refusal to rate the Wii version of Manhunt 2, effectively barring the game from release in the UK. GamesIndustry.biz provides coverage of the appeal. Geoffrey Robertson, representing Rockstar Games, opened the proceedings with his statement, claiming that the BBFC are "ignorant of the gaming experience," and might as well be called "the British Board of Videogame Censors."

Robertston further accused the Video Appeals Committee of having never even played video games, to which one panel member reportedly responded that some of them actually had (to which we say: only some of them?). Robertson argued that the BBFC is more concerned with their own image than anything else.

Rockstar has clearly come out with fists flying for the appeal. It remains to be seen if the aggressive strategy will prove effective in allowing the lackluster Manhunt 2 to find its way to British Wii's.

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]]>bbfcmanhuntmanhunt-2manhunt2politicsrockstarukviolencewiiScott Jon Siegel2007-11-26T12:30:00+00:00'What They Play' keeps parents in the loophttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/12/what-they-play-keeps-parents-in-the-loop/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/12/what-they-play-keeps-parents-in-the-loop/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/12/what-they-play-keeps-parents-in-the-loop/#commentsFiled under:


When 1UP group mastermind John Davison and executive vice president of the Game Group, Ira Becker, bailed out of Ziff Davis Media in August, it was with the intention of starting up a new family entertainment website geared towards parents. "What They Play" is now accessible via the magnificent power of the internets and, as the succinct name suggests, aims to inform parents what interactive filth their kids are currently rolling their brains in. With an online video game glossary (or "videogame," as they seemingly prefer) and explanation of the ESRB rating system, the site aims to demystify some of the game industry's intricacies and back-of-the-box descriptors to an audience less versed in our M-rated 60fps FPS world.

Most helpful is an objective analysis of a given game's activities, violent content and colorful language, presented in a concise and straightforward manner. You won't find reviews here, only a desire to better equip parents for deciding whether their kids should be playing Zack & Wiki or Manhunt 2.

(Bad example, nobody in their mind should play Manhunt 2.)

[Thanks, Jared]

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]]>ESRBJohnDavisonManhunt2what-they-playLudwig Kietzmann2007-11-12T17:55:00+00:00Target rids its shelves of Manhunt 2http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/07/target-rids-its-shelves-of-manhunt-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/07/target-rids-its-shelves-of-manhunt-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/07/target-rids-its-shelves-of-manhunt-2/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Rumors have been circulating for a while that Target, prompted by the discovery of Manhunt 2's hidden dirty, dirty filthy content on the PSP version of the game, had pulled the title from its shelves. Now, GameSpot has received the official word that, indeed, those hunting (get it?) for a hyper-violent, hyper-mediocre action-stealth game will have to look for a store without red ring decor.

Is this maybe, just maybe, more a move to avoid a media firestorm than an actual concern about keeping young'ns from buying objectionable material at Target? ... We have no idea why you'd think that.

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]]>banningmanhunt2targetJustin McElroy2007-11-07T10:59:00+00:00ESRB issues statement about Manhunt 2 hacks and controversyhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/02/esrb-statement-about-manhunt-2-hacks-and-controversy/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/02/esrb-statement-about-manhunt-2-hacks-and-controversy/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/02/esrb-statement-about-manhunt-2-hacks-and-controversy/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


OK, we're just going to come out and say we're getting a whole seven-year itch from all this Manhunt 2 controversy and coverage. We're bored by it. It's a mediocre game and in no way brings the concept of a thrill kill to the Wii. Back in the day when the whole AO rating affair was going on it was sexy, with issues about retail sales keeping things interesting. Now, it just feels like we're being subjected to lame talking heads trying to grab the microphone.

The ESRB recently held an investigation regarding Manhunt 2 and the hack that makes the censored material available -- we've placed the corresponding release and Q&A after the break. ESRB president Patricia Vance makes it clear that unauthorized hacking of the code does not constitute a need to reissue the rating, and that parents should be vigilant of what their kids are downloading from the internet in order to modify or remove "controls the industry has so diligently put in place for their own protection."

Vance better watch her back, parents don't like being told to do their job -- that's how wars with Canada get started.

ESRB STATEMENT REGARDING INVESTIGATION INTO MANHUNT 2

Manhunt 2 was rated Mature by the ESRB for ages 17 and older for Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content and Use of Drugs.

Earlier this week we learned about a hack into the code of the PSP and PS2 versions of the game that removes special effects filters that were put in place to obscure certain violent depictions. We have investigated the matter and concluded that unauthorized versions of the game have been released on the Internet along with instructions on how to modify the code to remove the special effects. Once numerous changes to the game's code have been made and other unauthorized software programs have been downloaded to the hardware device which circumvent security controls that prevent unauthorized games from being played on that hardware, a player can view unobscured versions of certain violent acts in the game. Contrary to some reports, however, we do not believe these modifications fully restore the product to the version that originally received an AO rating, nor is this a matter of unlocking content.

Our investigation indicates that the game's publisher disclosed to the ESRB all pertinent content in the authorized Mature-rated version of Manhunt 2 now available in stores, and complied with our guidelines on full disclosure of content.

What parents, and indeed all consumers, need to be aware of is that computer software and hardware devices are susceptible to unauthorized modification. Parents should be cognizant of whether or not their children are engaging in unauthorized modification of their games, consoles or handhelds, as those modifications can change game content in ways that may be inconsistent with the assigned ESRB rating. That being said, the vast majority of consumers have not made the unauthorized modifications to their hardware necessary to view the content at issue.


ESRB president Patricia Vance said:

"Manhunt 2's rating makes it unmistakable that the game is intended for an older audience. The unauthorized hacking into the code of this game doesn't change that basic fact.

"Parents need to be vigilant about monitoring what their children are downloading on the Internet and ensure that they are not making unauthorized and oftentimes illegal modifications to software and hardware that remove the controls the industry has so diligently put in place for their own protection."



Q&A

How is this situation different from the "Hot Coffee" incident?

The Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas "Hot Coffee" situation involved a scene that was a) fully rendered in an unmodified form on the disc (the Hot Coffee mod did not alter the content that was there, it merely unlocked it), b) not previously disclosed to the ESRB during the rating process, and c) easily accessible to all owners of the PC version of the game. Conversely, in the case of Manhunt 2, a) content that was programmed to be part of the game (i.e., visual blurring effects of certain violent depictions) is being modified, b) the content was previously disclosed to the ESRB, and c) unauthorized versions of software and/or hardware are required to play the modified content.


How is this situation different from the one with "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion?"

After the release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, the ESRB discovered extensive amounts of fully rendered and previously undisclosed blood and gore in the game that warranted a Mature rating. In addition, there was a fully rendered anatomically detailed art file of a topless female character present on the disc that had not been previously disclosed to the ESRB during the rating process. The blood and gore was accessible to all owners of the PC and Xbox 360 versions of the game. The partial nudity was accessible to all owners of the PC version of the game if they downloaded a modification available on the Internet that replaced one version of character artwork for another, both of which existed in a fully rendered form on the disc. Conversely, with Manhunt 2, a) the content in question was previously disclosed to the ESRB, b) the content is being modified by removing the obscuring blur effect that was programmed as part of the game, and c) unauthorized versions of software and/or hardware are required to play the modified content.

Why does this instance not fall under the ESRB's disclosure rule clarification requiring that locked-out content contained in the code on a game disc be considered in the assignment of a rating?

Our rule clarification following Hot Coffee required that pertinent content that is programmed to be locked out but which exists in an unmodified, fully rendered form on game discs must either be removed or disclosed to ESRB during the rating process. In the case of Manhunt 2, the scenes in question were playable (not locked-out), programmed to include the blur effect, and fully disclosed to the ESRB.

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]]>esrbmanhuntmanhunt-2manhunt2rockstarstatementAlexander Sliwinski2007-11-02T17:58:00+00:00Manhunt 2 credits neglect Vienna teamhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/02/manhunt-2-credits-neglect-vienna-team/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/02/manhunt-2-credits-neglect-vienna-team/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/02/manhunt-2-credits-neglect-vienna-team/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Oops, looks like some people didn't get credit where credit was deserved in the sweeping epic of love, lust, loss, betrayal and murder known as Manhunt 2. Former producer Jurie Horneman writes on his blog that the names of 55 people, who worked on the game at Rockstar Vienna before it was closed in May of 2006, are missing from the game's credits. He lists the names as best he can remember, with the exception of one person who did not wish to be named.

Horneman says, "I am disappointed and outraged that Rockstar Games tries to pretend that Rockstar Vienna and the work we did on Manhunt 2 never happened - the work of over 50 people, who put years of their lives into the project, trying to make the best game they could. I am proud to have been a part of that team." Development teams switch up all the time -- it's a wonder we don't hear about stuff like this more often.

[Via Develop]

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]]>creditmanhuntmanhunt-2manhunt2rockstarviennaAlexander Sliwinski2007-11-02T12:29:00+00:00Dr. Phil talks Manhunt, but Steinberg steals the showhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/01/dr-phil-talks-manhunt-but-steinberg-steals-the-show/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/01/dr-phil-talks-manhunt-but-steinberg-steals-the-show/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/01/dr-phil-talks-manhunt-but-steinberg-steals-the-show/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We're totally enjoying CBS' coverage of Manhunt 2. After Katie Couric's eye-roll inducing Notebook entry two days ago, the odiously designed CBS.com site bubbles up a clip of Dr. Phil with Early Show host Harry Smith and journalist Scott Steinberg. We're sorry, but just try not to laugh as Smith introduces Dr. Phil to the show and Steinberg starts flailing the Wiimote trying to execute the guy on screen. Of course, you'll have to go to CBS.com to watch it. We're sorry, but the networks haven't discovered the basics of embeddable code.

Dr. Phil is far more careful here then the last time he talked about video game violence's effect on children during the Virginia Tech massacre -- probably because his hypothesis was dead wrong last time and he looked like a total (insult of choice goes here). Dr. Phil says about Manhunt 2, "Now the truth is, if somebody plays this game and then they go and do this in their life, there was something seriously wrong with them before they got the game. But it's modeling." We'd prefer if the mainstream media did a simple PSA and told parents not to let their children play M-rated games instead of all this fear mongering.

[Via GamePolitics]

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]]>abccbsdrphilharrysmithmainstreammanhunt2scottsteinbergsmithsteinbergAlexander Sliwinski2007-11-01T16:20:00+00:00Manhunt 2 retail vs. uncensored: a video comparisonhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/01/manhunt-2-retail-vs-uncensored-a-video-comparison/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/01/manhunt-2-retail-vs-uncensored-a-video-comparison/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/01/manhunt-2-retail-vs-uncensored-a-video-comparison/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If you're interested in seeing some of the ways Rockstar bypassed that sales-killing (sorry, bad pun) AO-rating to get Manhunt 2 on US retail shelves this week, Game Videos has created a short montage of footage contrasting specific scenes of violence found in Manhunt, Manhunt 2 retail, and the uncensored Manhunt 2 beta.

Two points are made from what we see in the video:
  • The original Manhunt can be just as gory at times as the uncut version Manhunt 2
  • The best way to lower your game's ESRB rating is to use crazy filter effects during acts of gratuitous violence
We'd really like to see this video expanded in the future to give a more complete visual comparison of the three versions. For a game poised to be the next hotbed of controversy, surely there's more than 90 seconds of violent similarities to be found amongst the titles.

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]]>manhuntmanhunt-2manhunt2rockstartake-twoRoss Miller2007-11-01T13:29:00+00:00Censored Manhunt 2 content sprunghttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/31/censored-manhunt-2-content-sprung/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/31/censored-manhunt-2-content-sprung/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/31/censored-manhunt-2-content-sprung/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

hot pliers
Wanna play Manhunt 2 the ways it's supposed to be played? Simple, just delete the "replace original file" scripts in the game code. A group of hackers allege to have done just that, altering the PSP game file and 'unlocking' the otherwise filtered gore. It's not quite on the scale of Hot Coffee -- remember kids, explicit sex is much worse than gratuitous violence -- but this latest scandal (call it "Hot Pliers") could become just as overblown, despite the hack being currently limited to the portable version of Manhunt and requiring a homebrew-enabled PSP, along with some basic ISO manipulation. Quick! Hide your PSPs before the grownups burn them!

[Via PSP Fanboy]

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]]>hot-coffeehot-pliersmanhunt-2Manhunt2rockstarJames Ransom-Wiley2007-10-31T17:15:00+00:00Mainstream TV news covers Manhunt 2http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/30/mainstream-tv-news-covers-manhunt-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/30/mainstream-tv-news-covers-manhunt-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/30/mainstream-tv-news-covers-manhunt-2/#commentsFiled under: , ,


OK, so it's not a big surprise that Manhunt 2 looks to be falling pretty flat with the gaming community. But remember, there's still all that expectation of controversy that the mainstream media has been gearing up for! This evening, both ABC and CBS news had segments on Manhunt 2. We seem to have missed the CBS one, but we did catch the ABC segment. We'd love to share the package with you, but the networks are quite behind the times and we can't seem to find the segments anywhere on their sites yet (and we're even less sure to find embeddable code). If it finds its way to YouTube, we'll be sure to post it. (Update: Still no code, but here's CBS' segment.)

ABC.com's news section actually does have a quick rundown of video game ratings and terminology on their site for the utterly uninitiated. CBS took a different approach, however, as CBS.com features Katie Couric's Notebook. "What sets this video game apart is that the player can become physically involved in the acts of violence," Couric says. "Rather than just pushing buttons, the player actually wields a knife, an ax, a glass shard -- to stab an opponent."

Ummm, no. Don't know who writes the copy over there at that ratings powerhouse, but that's just plain wrong. Although the PS2 version would be about pushing buttons -- unless CBS has discovered some new feature -- we're currently unaware of the Wiimote's ability to shape-shift into any of those items described allowing a player to "stab an opponent." Couric then says that research shows violent games cause children to accept violence as an every day part of life. Ironically, a kid with average intelligence should be able to figure that out by watching the first segment of Katie's news broadcast every weekday evening.

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]]>abccbsmainstreammanhunt2Alexander Sliwinski2007-10-30T20:13:00+00:00Metareview: Manhunt 2 (Wii, PS2)http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/30/metareview-manhunt-2-wii-ps2/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/30/metareview-manhunt-2-wii-ps2/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/30/metareview-manhunt-2-wii-ps2/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The horror, HORROR; Manhunt 2 is apparently bloody -- bloody awful. Reviews are starting to squirt out of outlets like a punctured carotid artery about Rockstar's juggernaut of controversy and it's pretty much what most were expecting. Looks like little Timmy won't be getting that "murder simulator" he wanted for the Wii this holiday, unless his parents want to punish him with bad gameplay. According to many of the reviews, the edits forced on the game by the ESRB actually hurt the overall Manhunt experience.
  • IGN (77/100): "Manhunt 2 for Wii is, in my opinion, the version to buy, if only because it looks ever-so-slightly better and offers a deeper level of interactivity since the Wii remote is used to act out executions. I've referred to this game as Splatter Cell before and I still think that's a fair comparison. Even with its blurred and darkened executions, Manhunt 2 is still an incredibly violent game - easily the most brutal you will find on Nintendo's console. ... The ESRB has forced Rockstar to make content changes which have in turn significantly reduced the impact of the franchise's trademark executions. In fact, oftentimes you won't even able to see who Danny is murdering or how he's doing it - instead, you'll behold a big, dark, motiony blur accompanied by gruesome sound effects. By comparison, many of the executions in the original Manhunt are much more satisfying."
  • GameSpy (50/100): "The biggest issue that fans of the original Manhunt will have with Manhunt 2 is the way that Rockstar toned down the violence in the game in order to appease the ESRB's ratings board. The game's trademark executions have been altered significantly, to the point where the player loses nearly all recognition of the events taking place onscreen. Initiating a killing maneuver cuts the camera to an angle more suitable for viewing, which is then browbeat by an unwieldy series of camera edits and obnoxious crimson filters that distort the images to the point where it's anyone's guess what exactly is taking place."
  • 1UP (40/100): "Finally, and most unforgivably, the Wii version plays host to unskippable cut-scenes. Better still, they're frequently positioned after checkpoints so you can enjoy them over and over again whether you want to or not. Just in case the adolescent violence, clunky exposition, and lengthy visual explorations of 'kinky' S&M bars weren't embarrassing enough the first time around. Really, the game warrants a 4 because it's technically playable and, despite its best efforts, probably won't plunge the industry into a period of navel-gazing and political sanction. Everything else about it is largely forgettable. "

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]]>manhunt2metareviewps2wiiAlexander Sliwinski2007-10-30T14:36:00+00:00New York Times does 'Manhunt 2 for Dummies' recaphttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/29/new-york-times-does-manhunt-2-for-dummies-recap/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/29/new-york-times-does-manhunt-2-for-dummies-recap/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/29/new-york-times-does-manhunt-2-for-dummies-recap/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Need to explain to grandma why this whole Manhunt 2 kerfuffle is ridiculous? Then go pick up (or send her the link if she's all modern) to today's New York Times article which gives a simple version of the Manhunt 2 saga for mass consumption. If you've been keeping up with all the Manhunt 2 coverage then you pretty much already know everything the New York Times article has to say. Wait, you haven't been keeping up with the controversy ... seriously? OK, ok, we'll make an even simpler version of the NYT piece.

Here we go: Although violence in games is focused on more, movie and television violence is worse. Child sodomy is fine in movies, testicles being ripped off with pliers is bad for video games. Manhunt 2 still retains 99% of its AO content -- a pesky 1% change makes it M. The controversy showed the ESRB has teeth and also helped market a game that probably would not have gotten attention otherwise. NYT basically says the game "will probably prove as luridly, fleetingly diverting as any slasher flick." Fin.

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]]>manhunt2newyorktimesnytrockstarAlexander Sliwinski2007-10-29T11:55:00+00:00See Manhunt 2's neutered killshttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/26/see-manhunt-2s-neutered-kills/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/26/see-manhunt-2s-neutered-kills/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/26/see-manhunt-2s-neutered-kills/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Dear Diary:

Hey, it's Jack T. again. What's up? Pretty good day today, got to yell about violence on, well let's just say it's one of the top seven most respected news outlets. Then I had a KFC Famous Bowl. So yeah, a pretty great one all around. But then I saw the videos of these Manhunt 2 kills and frankly: I'm concerned. No, no, not about America's youth, don't be silly. I'm worrying what I'm going to get all worked up about.

I mean, there's a guy with a crowbar following another dude and then the screen gets all discolored and flashes. Maybe I could get upset on behalf of epileptic kids, but regular kids? I just don't know. You just can't see much at all, it's barely even sexy. ... I mean violent! Yeah! Violent.

Love, Jack

P.S. Thanks, Sidepocket.



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]]>manhunt2rockstarJustin McElroy2007-10-26T08:30:00+00:00UK could still get Manhunt 2 as a downloadhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/25/uk-could-still-get-manhunt-2-as-a-download/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/25/uk-could-still-get-manhunt-2-as-a-download/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/25/uk-could-still-get-manhunt-2-as-a-download/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The wild frontier that is the internet can be scary at times, what with all the card sharks who would shoot you as soon as look at you and snake oil men out to make a quick buck. Also: pirates. But it does have it's plus sides too. For instance, it could make it possible for our friends in the UK to buy Manhunt 2, even though it's been effectively banned there.

Because of a loophole in the UK's 1984 Video Recordings Act, downloadable games don't need to go through the certification process required for retail games, meaning that a downloadable version of Manhunt 2 could be permitted. Of course, even if Rockstar decided that was an avenue they wanted to pursue, it would be an impossibility on the PS2 and a giant paradigm shift for the Wii's Virtual Console, so it still doesn't seem terribly likely. Ah well, at least we know that when Manhunt 2 turns our nation into a pack of murderous zombies, we'll have a country where we can chill out.

[Via CVG]

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]]>bannedgamesbbfcmanhunt2Justin McElroy2007-10-25T12:27:00+00:00Manhunt 2 official trailer teases the depravityhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/25/manhunt-2-official-trailer-teases-the-depravity/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/25/manhunt-2-official-trailer-teases-the-depravity/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/25/manhunt-2-official-trailer-teases-the-depravity/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's almost time for some pixelated horror as Manhunt 2 gets ready to chop, carve, incise, impale ... well, do something horrible, starting Halloween on Wii, PS2 and PSP. Above is the trailer for the next installment in the controversial series, which since the big AO kerfuffle ended in the States, really hasn't been all that controversial.

We're just waiting to try out the Wiimote controls with the game and see if it's all the murder simulator it can be. From the trailer this sequel seems a little more thought through than the original Manhunt -- but still depraved. All we know is if some stupid controversy springs up following Manhunt 2's release with its M-rating clearly on the box, we're going to ask for someone to edit together a clip the worst parts of Saw IV (premiering this week) and Manhunt 2, and we'll see what piece of media really deserved to be potentially banned.

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]]>manhunt2rockstartrailerAlexander Sliwinski2007-10-25T09:31:00+00:00Manhunt 2 online leak came from SCEE insiderhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/22/manhunt-2-online-leak-came-from-scee-insider/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/22/manhunt-2-online-leak-came-from-scee-insider/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/22/manhunt-2-online-leak-came-from-scee-insider/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

You may recall in early September that an early build of Manhunt 2 for the PlayStation 2, pre-censored, was allegedly leaked on the internet. Not only did that end up being true, but the originator of the leak -- Deep Throat, if you will -- worked for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.

According to a statement from Take Two (via Game Politics), the SCEE employee "has acknowledged his responsibility for the unauthorized online distribution of an unrated play-test version of Manhunt 2." Rockstar provided the information that "the person has been sacked," and declined to elaborate whether the original person responsible for the sacking had, too, been sacked.

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]]>europeleakmanhuntmanhunt-2manhunt2rockstarsceesonytake-twotaketwoRoss Miller2007-10-22T14:45:00+00:00UK's banned Manhunt 2 same as ESRB's M-ratedhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/12/uks-banned-manhunt-2-same-as-esrbs-m-rated/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/12/uks-banned-manhunt-2-same-as-esrbs-m-rated/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/12/uks-banned-manhunt-2-same-as-esrbs-m-rated/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Just in case there was any confusion as to whether or not the version of Manhunt 2 The British Board Of Film Classification recently decided was still not appropriate for UK audiences was the same as the retooled version the ESRB granted an M-rating to, MCV reveals that - lo and behold - the two versions presented to the ratings bodies were, in fact, the same.

So, while the ESRB has agreed that the changes, notably the obscuration of some of the more violent animations, were enough to remove the AO-rating, the BBFC still found the game "had not gone far enough." The contradiction that the same ratings board has approved the release of violent films like Hostel 2 is not lost on Rockstar. BBFC spokesperson Sue Clark told MCV, "If we were more tough on games than any other medium, don't you think we'd be banning far more titles? Manhunt 2 is the second game we have rejected in 23 years. I'd hardly call that draconian."

Well Rockstar would. They're set to appeal the BBFC's decision.

Gallery: Manhunt 2 (Wii)

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]]>BBFCManhunt2RockstarUKChristopher Grant2007-10-12T15:34:00+00:00