British Bans Manhunt 2 - The First Video Game In 10 Years

You can not buy Manhunt 2 in Britain. The decision by the British Board of Film Classification, or BBFC, means the game, from publisher Take-Two Interactive Software, creators of the controversial "Grand Theft Auto" series, cannot be legally supplied anywhere in Britain.

BBFC director David Cooke said "'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."

He continued by saying

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

The ban in Britain prompted one U.S. family group to lobby for an ‘Adults Only’ rating to ensure major American retailers cannot sell the game to minors. According to Gamepolitics.com, Manhunt 2 has been given an ‘Adults Only’ rating in the States, rather than the usual M (mature) rating which is non-prohibitive and acts merely as a guide for parents. This means that most major retailers will not sell the game.

Take Two/Rockstar still has online retailers and independent stores to channel the game through, but big superstore chains like Walmart account for 25% of game sold in the US.

Other global territories are likely to take a similar stance as the UK and US has -- so it seems the Take Two/Rockstar strategy for stalking success and creating Hellfire controversy may have backfired.

What’s The Big Deal?

In the game Manhunt 2, players become an insane asylum escapee sneaking up on “enemies” and killing them in gruesome ways.

If there was ever a game that deserved an “Adults Only” rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board, Manhunt 2 is definitely it. What other game can you graphically decapitate someone and then use the head as a bowling ball? In Manhunt (original) players were able to suffocate somebody with a plastic bag and kill using razor wire. Sequels are follow-ups introducing bigger and better than the original – if razor wire and effective plastic bag instruments of death was used in the original and received only an M for Mature rating than what the hell do you have to do to get an “AO” (Adults Only) rating?

Manhunt 2 is a disturbing game. I’d like to think I’m not squeamish – at least when it comes to videogame violence. After all, it’s not real; it’s all make-believe, right? But Take Two/Rockstar video games have become nothing more than animated ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ snuff films

My opinion may not be what you were expecting from a self-described proud to be called Game Geek Gurl. There is no story without conflict and in interactive games, that conflict is predominantly played out in violence. God of War and Destroy All Humans have violence in mass quantities, no question about that. But the Manhunt series encourages players to be as vicious as possible in killing their “victims”. One game review of the original Manhunt encouraged this aspect by stating

“it’s certainly fun watching your enemies die and that is one of the main features of this game.”

Manhunt 2 Ban Questions:

• What will be the result of censorship for future games?
• How will the ban effect past, current and future video game classifications?
• Does the ban purpose any serious threats to the long-term future of the gaming industry?

Censorship in any form is risky and further promotes the downwards spiral of a nannied nation. But is the merciless violence of Manhunt’s content video game entertainment or sensationalism of violence?