Manhunt 2 has succeeded in getting itself blacklisted in at least one country before its release, and Jack Thompson wasn't even involved. According to various news reports, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has refused to classify Rockstar's upcoming game for the UK, effectively banning the title from being legally sold in the PAL region. The BBFC board has naturally deemed the game's subject matter as a potentially dangerous influence certain adults. That said, the board has noted their decision was not affected by any political influences.
Rockstar itself has expressed disappointment over the decision, but resigns the game to its fate in the UK, though it still has an opportunity to appeal. The UK's Entertainment & Leisure Software Publishers Association, representing most of the region's game companies, meanwhile tries to make lemonade out of lemons by stating that the BBFC's decision to ban Manhunt from being sold in the UK is simply proof that the territory has a rating systems which is "effective" and enforceable. Wonder what they would have said if Grand Theft Auto 4 was banned instead?
"A decision from the BBFC such as this demonstrates that we have a games ratings system in the U.K. that is effective. It shows it works and works well. Any decision the BBFC takes, it takes on the basis of its remit to rate on screen entertainment," commented director general Paul Jackson. "The games industry is a creative phenomenon that produces all kinds of games across all kinds of genres that appeal to all kinds of people across the country, young and old, male and female. The important thing to know is that all games are rated according to age suitability, with over 70 per cent of games being available to all ages over three years."
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I might just go out and murder them with my Wiimote for this.
But flat out ban it? That is ridiculous.
If anything now they are making it more gilded. It is the forbidden fruit analogy, you want what you can't have even more.
(most people with half a brain and a computer will get the ISO somehow anyway)
I wasn't even fussed with this game. Now though, Ill get it imported just to piss David Cooke off.
In this day and age, banning a product just hurts the local stores, consumers can still get the product.
Seriously, it seems Manhunt games in particular are getting the worst of it.
Oro Viejo, what's the other game that was banned?
I am very curious though, how this game would be defended in court.
"This game, that asks you to decide to murder someone graphically, and helps you execute it by a series of promted commands, actually has no negative effects on society at all. Everyone playing this game can distinguish between real and fiction, and our entire playing audience knows this and will refrain from real violence. Seriously, your honour, this game condemns violence and is sure not to provoke or influence any individual."
Although, banning it kind of, Kind of makes it harder for younger people to get their hands on the game, even though older people can still find a way to import it. Maybe they know their rating system CAN'T be enforced that well. That's why they chose this tactic...
If the ban WAS lifted, it would be a massive relief to all gamers, but would BBFC really do such a thing?
Why not, at worst, give it an "Adults Only" or "18+" rating? Then they aren't isolating fans just for the sake of preventing a "potentially dangerous influence for certain adults". Seriously, an adult would have to be pretty messed-up in the first place, for a game to have a "dangerous influence" over them.