Manhunt 2 Banned By British Board of Film Classification

[comment]

The video game Manhunt 2 was rejected for its "unrelenting focus on stalking and brutal slaying", the British Board of Film Classification said.

It means the Manhunt sequel cannot be legally supplied anywhere in the UK.

The parents of a Leicester schoolboy who blamed the original game for the murder of their 14-year-old son said they were "absolutely elated".

The original Manhunt game was given an 18 classification in 2003.

Manhunt 2, for PS2 and Nintendo Wii consoles, is made by Rockstar Games.

The company has six weeks to submit an appeal.

The last game to be refused classification was Carmageddon in 1997. That decision was overturned on appeal.

David Cooke, director of the BBFC, said: "Manhunt 2 is distinguishable from recent high-end video games by its unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone.

"There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed, and encouraged, in the game."

To get a small idea about what the noise is all about, check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaHzop0TzT0

Very violent, yes! But should it be banned? I think not, but I guess that just qualifies me as yet another of those sociopaths out (t)here just waiting for some bleak, sadistic and brutal slaying inspiration...


Source: BBC News

[chillman]

yeah I do agree that it is a violent game but banning it to me is going too far. If you don't want your 15 year old playing it then don't buy it for them, it's as simple as that

[AllAgainstPaul]

I agree, It should shouldn't be banned outright. I don't know the rating system in Europe but in the States, the ESRB gave it a AO rating. I wholeheartedly agree with this rating except for the fact that it is a deathblow for the game because almost no retailer will carry AO games.

[red]

I'm all for banning it! The things that the game lets you do is just plain sadistic.

[HiJon89]

I agree, It should shouldn't be banned outright. I don't know the rating system in Europe but in the States, the ESRB gave it a AO rating. I wholeheartedly agree with this rating except for the fact that it is a deathblow for the game because almost no retailer will carry AO games.

If Manhunt 2 stays the way it is, it will be the first console game ever to be released as an AO title. There was also GTA: San Andreas, but that was later re-rated to AO from M due to the hot coffee mod.

[comment]

I just found the official press release from bbfc:

19th June 2007

BBFC Rejects Video Game Manhunt 2
The BBFC has rejected the video game Manhunt 2. This means that it cannot be legally supplied anywhere in the UK. The game was submitted in both a PS2 and a Nintendo Wii version. The decision was taken by the Director and the Presidential Team of Sir Quentin Thomas, Lord Taylor of Warwick and Janet Lewis-Jones.

David Cooke, Director of the BBFC said:

“Rejecting a work is a very serious action and one which we do not take lightly. Where possible we try to consider cuts or, in the case of games, modifications which remove the material which contravenes the Board’s published Guidelines. In the case of Manhunt 2 this has not been possible. Manhunt 2 is distinguishable from recent high-end video games by its unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone in an overall game context which constantly encourages visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing. There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed, and encouraged, in the game.

“Although the difference should not be exaggerated the fact of the game’s unrelenting focus on stalking and brutal slaying and the sheer lack of alternative pleasures on offer to the gamer, together with the different overall narrative context, contribute towards differentiating this submission from the original Manhunt game. That work was classified ‘18’ in 2003, before the BBFC’s recent games research had been undertaken, but was already at the very top end of what the Board judged to be acceptable at that category.”

“Against this background, the Board’s carefully considered view is that to issue a certificate to Manhunt 2, on either platform, would involve a range of unjustifiable harm risks, to both adults and minors, within the terms of the Video Recordings Act, and accordingly that its availability, even if statutorily confined to adults, would be unacceptable to the public.” Under the terms of the Video Recordings Act distributors have the right to appeal the Board’s decision.

Note for Editors
This is the first video game to be refused a classification since Carmageddon in 1997, when that decision was overturned on appeal by the Video Appeals Committee.

Source: bbfc

[AllAgainstPaul]

I'm all for banning it! The things that the game lets you do is just plain sadistic.

While were at it, lets burn a few thousand books and films just because of the content that they contain.

Exposer to violence in the media started way before video games ever came into existence. Before video games there was television, movies, radio, and books. It's not a new thing.

It takes a lot of conditioning early on to become twisted and sadistic enough to pull off some of the crazy things that video games are blamed for. Yes I agree that there are games unsuitable for children to play, just as I feel that there are movies they should not see and books they should not read till they are older and grasp the concept of morality. But I feel that there is a certain point that we must accept that our children are old enough to handle that responsibility.

If Manhunt 2 stays the way it is, it will be the first console game ever to be released as an AO title. There was also GTA: San Andreas, but that was later re-rated to AO from M due to the hot coffee mod.

I thought that putting the AO rating on GTA: SA was a load of BS. It was a stunt to appease the parents and legislative branch of America. In reality, it was block off from access normally and wouldn't even be available without modding the console or using a Gameshark, Codebreaker, or other 3rd party device.

[HiJon89]

While were at it, lets burn a few thousand books and films just because of the content that they contain.

Freedom of speech is not absolute. I'm not sure what the law states in the UK, but in the US if a court decided that this game's content was likely to incite imminent violence then it's not protected.

[Speederlander]

Fine don't ban this game, but anyone caught selling it to kids should be treated like they were selling alcohol to those kids. Further, parents giving hyper-violent crap like that to their kids need to be investigated by social services, or whatever the equivalent is in Britain. I don't think things should be "banned", but this doesn't mean I think kids need access to them. The penalties need to be severe. Until you are an adult, your rights are limited to what society and the legal system says they are.

[NickS]

Cool game

[red]

While were at it, lets burn a few thousand books and films just because of the content that they contain.

I'm all for banning gore. And whatever else I don't like. If I was president, I'd bomb the KKK. Boo to freedom

Freedom of speech is not absolute. I'm not sure what the law states in the UK, but in the US if a court decided that this game's content was likely to incite imminent violence then it's not protected.

[aMp]

Freedom of speech is not absolute. I'm not sure what the law states in the UK, but in the US if a court decided that this game's content was likely to incite imminent violence then it's not protected.

Maybe, but that'd never happen. I presume you're talking about the Brandenburg v. Ohio standard, which is far more protective of speech (which the courts have so far found games to be) than anything in Europe. The "imminence" requirement is very strict -- in Brandenburg the speech at issue was a Klan rally where a bunch of armed lunatics ranted about blacks and Jews, but the threat of violence wasn't considered imminent because there wasn't anybody else at the rally. I can't imagine some kid with a SixAxis being more likely to commit violence than an armed, drunken redneck.

More to the point, the Brandenburg test and the imminence issue only come into play if someone's intentionally advocating violence. Banning speech altogether is a prior restraint issue, which is even less likely to succeed, especially where (as here) the causal link between the speech and violence is tenuous at best.

Sorry 'bout that digression. Personally, I think the game looks pretty sick, and it worries me that it's got such an eager audience. Reminds me of movies like Hostel, where explicit depiction of horrific torture and violence seems to be an end in itself -- a Hollywood snuff film. But I'd be far more worried about having a government body deciding whether or not I could see it.

[bazx]

if a company wants to sell products in any country around the world they should stay within the guidlines and laws of that country period

i find it hard to believe the makers of this game did not do some market research and take legal advice on the positon the uk authorities would take on this matter

[HiJon89]

Maybe, but that'd never happen. I presume you're talking about the Brandenburg v. Ohio standard, which is far more protective of speech (which the courts have so far found games to be) than anything in Europe. The "imminence" requirement is very strict -- in Brandenburg the speech at issue was a Klan rally where a bunch of armed lunatics ranted about blacks and Jews, but the threat of violence wasn't considered imminent because there wasn't anybody else at the rally. I can't imagine some kid with a SixAxis being more likely to commit violence than an armed, drunken redneck.

More to the point, the Brandenburg test and the imminence issue only come into play if someone's intentionally advocating violence. Banning speech altogether is a prior restraint issue, which is even less likely to succeed, especially where (as here) the causal link between the speech and violence is tenuous at best.

I know it would never happen, it just always peeves me when people seem to think that freedom of speech is without limits

[AllAgainstPaul]

I know it has its limits, but this falls way below them. The point I was trying to make is that we should prevent this kind of material falling into the hands of children while still having it available to those who are mature enough to handle it's content.

[jokester]

There won't be anything stopping someone from importing it, the only difference is now pretty much every gamer in the UK knows about the game.

Jokester

[djgandy]

There won't be anything stopping someone from importing it, the only difference is now pretty much every gamer in the UK knows about the game.

Jokester

Yeah you're right. Also now there is just a black market for it. I'll just download it, TBH I didn't know Manhunt existed or what it was till they started babbling on about it and the court case. Games and killing is a stupid argument anyway. If a game makes you want to kill there is already something wrong with you. Bad parenting more like it.

You think i'd be used to crap like this in this country by now but it still pisses me off. Everyone is all 'rights' and no 'responsibility'.


Also to the guy who mentioned alcohol. Unfortunately there isnt a huge tax on video games so the uk doesnt really care whether it gets sold or not Infact you'll have 30 quid to spend on booze now and they'll take a nice 25 of that :-)

[Gunlance]

So someone else is deeming that a game is too violent for me. Hmm always thought I would be able to decide things for myself. Well I guess not.

[EvlUndrWareNome]

So someone else is deeming that a game is too violent for me. Hmm always thought I would be able to decide things for myself. Well I guess not.

dont ya love that? i see your location, go pats

[awdrifter]

Kids will just download it instead, this ban is pretty much useless.

[Kingcarcas]

Kids will just download it instead, this ban is pretty much useless.

QFT, if anything it will just make them want it even more. LOL @ government and their "morals"

[Revv23]

Socialism FTW.

If it isn't for the good of the people, don't let the people have it.

Whats next, free bread?

[FischOderAal]

I'm forseeing this:
PEGI: 17+
USK: Banned

like always *sigh* and our stupid politicians want to make it even worse. instead, they should teach the parents better to look what their children are playing. but hey, let's just ban them, much easier the 14 year old know where and how to get their games

[steelballzz]

one of todays papers here in my country had a front page pic of a bomb victim....we could see what was left of the legs
that is gore.......
much worst than any videogame


like someone wrote before in this thread.....lets burn some books...

baaaah

[[XC] riptide]

I heard something about it banned here... Ireland that is. Fools. I might just go out and start reselling it, just to pi$$ them off.