Manhunt 2 Banned in UK

[feilong801]

Ah, our good friends at Rockstar sure know how to stir up trouble.

Manhunt 2 has been banned from being sold in the UK.

I have mixed feelings on this. I naturally loathe government regulation and therefore have mostly negative feelings, but at the same time, this game is so clearly gruesome (violence porn, as I like to call it), especially the Wii version, that I'm also sort of glad it was banned.

Wait until this sucker gets released in the U.S. I'm sure we'll be hearing from certain individuals...

-Rob

[JustLikeHeaven1]

It sucks for the guys making the game (Rockstar London).  If I was making a game in the US and it was banned and only released in Europe I would be upset.  I'm sure these guys were really looking forward to see what thier fellow countryman thought of their game. 

Plus I highly doubt this game is worse than any R rated gorefest that comes out this year.  It just goes to show that politicians still view videogames as a medium for children.

[m0zart1]

Manhunt itself was only given a BBFC 18 certificate, prohibiting sale to minors.  I wonder how bad this game could be for it to be banned completely?

Also, is it only the sale of the game that is banned or does the ban extend to mere possesssion.  In New Zealand, mere possession of Manhunt is a legal offense.

[feilong801]

@ m0zart: The report (from gonintendo.com I think, or perhaps nintendowiifanboy.com) stated that the board found significant differences in the narrative content in Manhunt 2 (when compared to the original) which put the violence in a different context. Essentially, they said that Manhunt 1 represented the very, very top of what was acceptable, and therefore the sequel must have gone even above that. I believe the board's statement only talked about the sale of the game being illegal. I would certainly be against owning it at all being illegal; as repugnant as it may or may not be, it isn't narcotics or something like that.

-Rob 

[Steerforth]

Oh, well, some things are worse than censorship, like this game for instance. At least the UK has the guts to set a standard of decency for their country, and ban a game that has no redeeming social value.

If you want to be a champion of free speech, take my advice and focus your energy on something worthwhile, this game certainly isn't. Hopefully Rockstar loses their butt finacially on it, Nintendo gets smeared and maybe sued for clearing it for Wii, and it helps spearhead some legislation in the good ole USA.

Not to say I think the government should or even can solve this problem, but if the people who can set a standard on their own accord keep dropping the ball, somebody has to step up, especially when kids are involved, and we all know they will be.

But I suppose some of you have been waiting since 1985 for a game that finally lets you castrate people and cut them up with hand saws. I am less then heartbroken, but I will cut it short because I have posted all this before.

Kudos to this board for sponsoring true free speech, if we followed the example of this game every post would just be a muddle of random cursing and violent images, which on their own are pointless. Thanks for your time!

[Quiet Flight]

First game I've ever pre-ordered.

[Edward M]

[QUOTE=feilong80]

I have mixed feelings on this.
[/QUOTE]


I certainly don't have any mixed feelings about this.   I feel that this is horrible.  I oppose government censorship in all its forms.   I do not like the government telling society what is appropriate for them to view.   The only kind of "speech" a government should oppose are direct death threats, threats of violence,  and child porn.   Other than that, the people should be allowed to make any sort of expression regardless of what society thinks.

I know I have trashed the ESRB and their severe strictness on sexuality before (no way in hell does Dead or Alive Xtreme volleyball deserve an M rating, it deserves an E 10 at the very most)  but it is certainly better than an official censorboard. I know we have had them before in the movie industry and it appears the ESRB will stop idiots like Lieberman from making a real censor board for video games. 

But this makes me glad that we have the 1st amendment in this country.   I am so glad to live in a country where an idiot like Fred Phelps can protest a dead soldiers funeral.  I am glad that we have an American Nazi party.  I am glad that any nut can say anything, and the government wont stop them.   When you allow the government to stop "icky" speech, who knows what they will come for next.

Speaking of which, I think Manhunt is a very underrated game, and I am glad that the government of my country won't stop me from getting its sequel.  I think the game perfectly mixed third person shooting with stealth and had a perfect atmosphere.  I'm glad my country will let me play its sequel.

   I don't mean for this post to sound too pro American, because trust me, my country has done a ton wrong.   But I think the 1st amendment is the greatest thing this country ever did, and I think every country should create a version of it, including not banning hate speech.  

[KanYozakura]

[QUOTE=Steerforth]Oh, well, some things are worse than censorship, like this game for instance. At least the UK has the guts to set a standard of decency for their country, and ban a game that has no redeeming social value. [/quote]

I can't believe you would even post that.  The society should determine the value of art, NOT the government censors.  It's an incredibly slippery slope: once you say someone can't do something, what's to stop them from saying you have to do something?  What's to stop them from telling you what to eat or wear or say or think?  If you personally don't see any value in the game, then guess what? DON'T BUY IT!  No one is forcing your hand or wallet.

[quote]If you want to be a champion of free speech, take my advice and focus your energy on something worthwhile, this game certainly isn't. Hopefully Rockstar loses their butt finacially on it, Nintendo gets smeared and maybe sued for clearing it for Wii, and it helps spearhead some legislation in the good ole USA.[/quote]

You're saying artistic expression and freedom aren't worthwhile?  The freedom to do and say and believe in what you will, free of government oppression?  It's kind of what this country was founded on.  Any and all offenses to this creed are serious, regardless of the fact that it's about a videogame.

[quote]Not to say I think the government should or even can solve this problem, but if the people who can set a standard on their own accord keep dropping the ball, somebody has to step up, especially when kids are involved, and we all know they will be.[/quote]

No, the people dropping the ball need to be held responsible.  Censorship and sales bans will only promote this ignorance towards videogame content.

[quote]But I suppose some of you have been waiting since 1985 for a game that finally lets you castrate people and cut them up with hand saws. I am less then heartbroken, but I will cut it short because I have posted all this before.

Kudos to this board for sponsoring true free speech, if we followed the example of this game every post would just be a muddle of random cursing and violent images, which on their own are pointless. Thanks for your time![/QUOTE]

If that's what it boils down to, then so be it; it's not for you or anyone else to determine.  Everyone is responsible for themselves, including what content they purchase/experience.

[m0zart1]

[QUOTE=feilong80]I would certainly be against owning it at all being illegal; as repugnant as it may or may not be, it isn't narcotics or something like that. [/QUOTE]

I'm pretty much against the sale and distribution of it being illegal as well.  Then again, I am also against the drug war and any illegalization of narcotics, though that's another story.

I understand the need to protect children, but any need to protect can never be made at the expense of the rights of others.  I know you agree with this meme of mine, but it bears repeating:  Governments are only here to protect rights -- and they can't do that by violating them.

[Iain]

Damn, this virtually never happens here. Do you have a link for this? I wasn't going to bother with the game because it wasn't my thing, but I feel like I should buy it on a point of principle now. I guess I will get it from Ireland.