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Associated Press Hates Manhunt 2, Lair: Worst of 07 List

Shiva Stella — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 12:05:18 -0600

The Associated Press has published its list of worst games of 2007, with chart toppers including Manhunt 2 and Lair.

While most of the games on the AP list aren't of the best quality or the most enjoyable, the majority of the titles are just games that people are tired of hearing about - not necessarily the worst of the worst of 2007. You'll have to keep an eye on GameBump for that list...

AP's Worst of 2007:

Manhunt 2
Vampire Rain
Deal or No Deal
Lair
Escape from Bug Island!

Most Disappointing:

Halo 3
Assassin's Creed
Blue Dragon
Heavenly Sword

Enough Already:

Tony Hawk series
World Wrestling Entertainment games
Final Fantasy series

Worst Flaw in Great Game:

Inventory system in Mass Effect (agreed)

Sen. Yee Warns Against Purchasing Shooters and 'Killing-machine' Games

Shiva Stella — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 13:29:00 -0600

Next-Gen has a story on US Senator Leland Yee, who is warning parents about picking up games in which players "torture women and racial minorities" this holiday season.

In a recent statement Sen. Yee commented that, "Unfortunately, some parents dont realize that in many top selling games, the player actively participates in and is rewarded for violence, including killing police officers, maiming elderly persons, running over pedestrians, and torturing women and racial minorities."

The Senator claims that "If there are violence and sexual themes in the title and cover picture, you can assume these themes are also in the game. Avoid the 'first-person shooter' and 'third-person shooter' killing-machine games."

Sen. Yee also seized upon the Manhunt 2/ESRB "issue" and took the opportunity to state that not only is the game on many a child's Christmas list (sounds like some fact checking is in order) but that "It was recently revealed that the game which many [be] called the most violent videogame ever produced has accessible content designed for an Adults-Only (AO) rating."

He continues, "Despite the graphically violent scenes which were supposedly removed in order to receive the downgraded Mature (M) rating, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has refused to re-rate the game."

I will admit that I don't like certain companies (Rockstar) bullying ratings boards and pushing out crap titles like Manhunt 2 just to shock the senses (and, consequently, worsen matters for the rest of the industry), but someone tell me where in Call of Duty 4 I was forced to torture a woman or racial minority?

BBFC Fights Back, Defends Manhunt 2 Ban

Shiva Stella — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 12:43:26 -0600

Following Rockstar's ranting at the BBFC Monday, the panel has issued its own statements defending its original decision to ban Manhunt 2.

Andrew Caldecott, representing the BBFC, has remarked: "In a Utopian society, you would have effective measures where the over-18s could play what was suitable for them without being cluttered by the fact minors will see them. But you can't make classification decisions without regard to the social prevalence."

Caldecott then turned his attention to differentiating between film and video game mediums.

Film is a different medium; it is simply a different experience. There are ways in which it is perhaps more involving, because you are dealing with absolute reality, with real people, in film.

On the other hand, many people watch horror films to some extent from the point of view of the victim, or the point of view of what's going to happen - not with [Manhunt 2's] very distinctive point of view of being the person who's wielding the weapon, and is rewarded for killing in the bloodiest way possible.

Apparently the message is that the BBFC is willing to let a violent film, such as Hostel or Saw, through while a violent game is pushing the limit, as (according to Caldecott) a violent game is much more likely to be experienced by a minor than a violent film (read: censorship floodgates now open; prepare for debate).

The BBFC is now promising that a certification decision will be made promptly.

Rockstar Pissed Off at BBFC's Rejection of Manhunt 2

Shiva Stella — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 09:40:01 -0600

I suspect it must suck if you're a member of the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) today, as Rockstar and the BBFC have engaged in a heated discussion regarding Manhunt 2 and the BBFC's refusal to certify the title - allowing it to release to gamers in the UK - at Rockstar's appeal of the decision.

Eurogamer has the full scoop and details Rockstar's defense of the BBFC's rejection of Manhunt 2 as delivered by Geoffrey Robertson, who suggested that the BBFC be renamed to the "British Board of Videogame Censors" (oh, snap).

Stated Robertson, "There's no evidence that playing interactive videogames leads to a propensity to act them out in real life. We wonder why Manhunt 2 has been singled out for special treatment."

He continued, addressing the Video Appeals Committee, "There you are, seven of you - not one of you has experienced, I'm told by the chairman, computer games, or are a gamer." In response one member of the panel did admit to having played computer games before and the panel did acknowledge that they had played Manhunt 2 (I'm curious as to if one of them has killed anybody yet).

Robertson concluded, "We [Rockstar] say [Manhunt 2] has been banned not because of any likelihood it will harm gamers, but because of the likelihood it will harm the reputation of the BBFC."

I must say, though, that Rockstar can't be surprised at the BBFC's rejection, as the ESRB had reacted to the material in almost similar fashion, at first rating the title Adults-Only until Rockstar made some "adjustments" for a Mature rating. You can read up on Manhunt 2 here.

When Politicians Attack: Manhunt 2 Re-raises ESRB Concerns

Shiva Stella — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 12:40:00 -0600

I will destroy you, ESRB.

Next-gen and other sites are reporting that Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Evan Bayh(D-Ind.), and Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) have sent a letter to the ESRB encouraging the ratings board to "review the... ratings process."

The letter apparently follows the foursome's anger over Manhunt 2 receiving a Mature, as opposed to an Adults-Only, rating (it also might have something to do with that hacked content).

Here's a quote from the letter as posted by Video Business:

As you know, in June 2007, the British Board of Film Classification refused to rate Rockstars Manhunt 2 videogame stating that it contains unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone. In October 2007, the BBFC again refused to rate a revised Manhunt 2 stating that the impact of the revisions on the bleakness and callousness of tone is clearly insufficient.

In sum, we ask your consideration of whether it is time to review the robustness, reliability and repeatability of your ratings process, particularly for this genre of ultra-violent videogames and advances in game controllers.

Someone tell me how controller technology is the ESRB's business as well as violent?

Manhunt 2 Hack Not Rockstar's Fault, Says ESRB

Aaron Dunlap — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 14:26:52 -0500

As we mentioned earlier, some crafty hackers figured out how to unlock the edited content from the PSP version of Manhunt 2 using modded software. People began predicting this would be a repeat of the Hot Coffee... incident wherein the sex scene in GTA: San Andreas could be unlocked through equally devious means.

Maybe not. ESRB head Patricia Vance quickly stepped up and released a statement acquitting Rockstar of any wrongdoing in this Manhunt 2 hack.

"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," Vance said. "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."

Basically, she says, Rockstar never intended for people to unlock this content so they're in the clear.

One could infer from this that Rockstar also did nothing wrong with Hot Coffee, since it's virtually the exact same situation. For now, I'm going with that being the case.

You have to wonder how many times this can happen before it stops being not-Rockstar's-fault and starts becoming a trend.

Hack Reveals Unedited Content Within PSP Manhunt 2?

Eric Jonathan Smith — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 23:20:00 -0500

What was a rumor as of yesterday has now been confirmed by Rockstar: hackers have accessed part of Manhunt 2 deemed "Adults Only" by the ESRB.

The game had previously been given the dreaded-by-retail "Adults Only" rating only to see Rockstar edit the game down to receive its current "Mature" rating.

However, utilizing a modified (read: not Sony approved) PSP, hackers were able to illegally modify the game and access the portions edited out (but apparently not completely) of the final release. Rockstar was mum on details of whether or not hackers would be able to access this verboten content on the PS2 or Wii versions.

Hot Coffee, anyone? Perhaps the scope is not the same as a completely hidden sex minigame, though this begs some questioning: are developers responsible for content not accessible by legal means? Is Rockstar leaving this content in and counting down the days until someone opens the virtual magical door and leaks the details to the masses?

Click "read" to jump to GamePolitics and get the full story.

Surprise! Protesting Video Games Only Makes Them Sell More

Aaron Dunlap — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 19:37:34 -0500

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Manhunt 2, Bully, all three of those games have three things in common: first, they're all made by Rockstar (which makes the motivations for the second point a little transparent); second, they all had considerable uproar and protest around their release due to their violent or offensive content; and third, they sold (or probably will sell) around three hundred and forty five trillion copies.

It seems rather obvious, that all the continual media coverage given to the outrage over a game is nothing more than free advertising. The people protesting the game are actually increasing its exposure, defeating their own purpose.

Wired has a great article about this, following the trend back to games like Mortal Kombat and beyond.

Sociologists and psychologists will tell you that boycotts rarely work because the phrase "Don't buy _____" includes the words "buy _____" -- but protesting a game because of titilating content worsens the situation because the titilation is what most people want.

Imagine if there was an unmarked store on a street and as you were walking past it somebody grabbed you and said, "Don't go inside there, they have low priced pornography!" If that protester hadn't said anything, you would never have known about the cheap porn in that store and would have walked right by it. In the same way, people complaining about all of the sex and violence in these games just lets more people know that, hey, here's a game with sex and violence they can buy.

The real debate is whether Rockstar makes their games so prone to protest on purpose, knowing it's a great business model. If that were the case, would that be cheap or brilliant?

Manhunt 2 Available in NA Market and Nowhere Else

Shiva Stella — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:12:08 -0500

Rockstar's Manhunt 2 for the Wii, PlayStation 2, and PSP is now officially available at North American retailers.

The game is the successor to the incredibly gruesome Manhunt and is no doubt yet another expression of Rockstar's rebellious nature and its desire to test the social boundaries of the gaming industry. UK gamers, however, are going to be (legally) out of luck in getting their hands on this title as the BBFC has denied the game's release in that region, though a download version might be made available at a later date.

Hit the jump for more info.

Excerpt:

"Manhunt 2 has gone through much to reach this day," said Sam Houser, Founder and Executive Producer of Rockstar Games. "We are very excited that fans will finally get a chance to experience the magnificent horror experience we've crafted with Manhunt 2."

The sequel to the critically acclaimed, best-selling franchise, Manhunt 2 is a dark and disturbing psychological story revolving around the sinister events of a secretive research project called The Pickman Project.

Plunging into the depths of human psychosis, terror and paranoia, the twisted plot and brutal gameplay conspire to create the most atmospheric gaming experience ever, with GamesRadar.com stating, "Manhunt 2 looks to be a deeply, horrifyingly unsettling experience, and we mean that as the highest possible compliment."

The title is rated Mature by the ESRB, however that follows an initial Adults-Only (AO) rating that the ESRB and Rockstar worked together to adjust.

New Manhunt 2 Trailer

Shiva Stella — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:09:22 -0500

A new trailer for Manhunt 2, sequel to what some (this writer included) would view as one of the most disturbing games to launch, ever, has hit the Web recently to promote the game's launch.

Manhunt 2 is set to launch on October 29 for the PlayStation 2/PlayStation Portable and October 31 for the Wii.

Give it a view in the meanwhile.

New Manhunt 2 Imagery

Shiva Stella — Wed, 02 May 2007 12:13:00 -0500

This article was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Certain formatting, imaged, and embedded content may have been lost in the transition process.

Rockster has published new screenshots of its Manhunt 2 running on the PlayStation 2. The game is also being developed for the Nintendo Wii and PlayStation Portable handheld. All three versions are scheduled to launch on July 6. Enjoy.