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Posted

Oooooo, very nice indeed, All your points were conveyed in the right way and rather than just attacking a point, you looked at both sides!!! The letter is definately a winner, I eagerly await the response you get!!!! :bouncy: (proof of eagerness)

Posted

Check out this!

 

The BBFC has stated that there was no political influence in the decision to ban Rockstar's Manhunt 2 from sale in the UK, GamesIndustry.biz is reporting.

 

The original Manhunt caused a media frenzy following release when it was unfairly linked by the press to the murder of teenager Stefan Pakeerah.

 

The UK games industry was forced to defend itself at the time from various media outlets, with ELSPA's director general Roger Bennett coming face-to-face with Pakeerah's parents on national TV - while publisher Rockstar remained characteristically aloof.

 

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However, the BBFC's Sue Clark has told GamesIndustry.biz that past incidents have not influenced the decision to deny the sequel to UK consumers.

 

"That had nothing to do with this decision, absolutely not," said Clark.

 

"We are independent of government and independent of the industry and we reached this decision based on our guidelines and our concerns and not on any other basis at all," she said.

 

Recent research by the BBFC showed that negative press surrounding controversial games actually encourages sales. A UK ban of Manhunt 2 would not be able to stop dedicated consumers importing copies on release.

"We've rejected this game so you can't buy it legally in the UK," added Clark.

 

"We have to make a decision. If we feel it's not appropriate for classification then we have to make that decision - we can't classify it and hope nobody notices it."

 

The BBFC has recently supported the release of a number of violent videogames despite the titles attracting controversy, including Rockstar's Canis Canem Edit and Capcom's Dead Rising.

Posted

Its such a stupid tactic they are taking. By banning something you make it controvercial. Didn't they learn that last time? If you want to kill somethings potential then you get a conscensus to ignore it. It's just like bullying. If you react to it, it will only make the situation worse.

Posted
"We have to make a decision. If we feel it's not appropriate for classification then we have to make that decision - we can't classify it and hope nobody notices it."

 

And now you've banned it and with the publicity of banning it everyone has noticed it!

 

How dumb are these people? lol

Posted
Oh FFS! Tell us the WHOLE story, BBC.

 

The victim owned the game, the killer had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the game.

 

They do tell us the whole story, actually:

Police said robbery was the motive behind the attack on Stefan in Stokes Wood Park on 26 February 2004 - and not the video game blamed by Stefan's parents.
Posted
Has it occurred to anyone other than me that there may be a reason for the ban?

 

Indeed it has and as i said on the forum roundtable thread both censorship bodies are perfectly within their remits to enforce such a ban if they see fit

Posted
I doubt it'll work either, but its better than nothing, at least it shows the gaming community cares ;)

No it doesn't, it shows the gaming community is an infallibly reactive one. People are sticking up for it because it's a game, but to be frank the BBFC have a far better idea of what the game constitutes than internet forumites who've never so much as played it.

 

I'm not saying I agree with the banning, but the fact that yourself, a 14-year-old according to your profile, is trying to head a petition to get it released speaks volumes. Rockstar's adult output has always been targeted at the underage, and I would imagine that is one of the concerns the BBFC had over certificating the game as a lot of the people that ended up playing it wouldn't be 18 or over.

Posted

They've rated the game in the USA, so it's going to be released there!

 

They cannot however tell us what they have given it as it's less then 30 days since the rating was given, after these 30 days it will be released...'M' for mature probably!

Posted
Indeed it has and as i said on the forum roundtable thread both censorship bodies are perfectly within their remits to enforce such a ban if they see fit

 

Exactly. I get the impression that a lot of people think they've banned it for the hell of it.

They ban very, very few games, so their is going to be something very, very bad about this game to warrant the ban.

Posted
Exactly. I get the impression that a lot of people think they've banned it for the hell of it.

They ban very, very few games, so their is going to be something very, very bad about this game to warrant the ban.

 

Oh yeah, the games disgusting, but it is just a game.

 

It has sex, ripping of testicles, slicing people with saws and axes etc...and the story seems pretty horrific.

 

Also, the Wii version is even worse in a way as your actually doing ther motions aren't you?

 

BUT like i said it is just a game and i think banning it, is o.t.t.

Posted

It's a free world (mostly), people will be exposed to this sort of things eventually anyway and the game has ratings and laws prohibit kids from buying these games, if they don't work, it's not our fault. If you do have an head on your shoulders and dislike the type of game because it's too gruesome no one makes you buy it. This is just hypocrisy and PC bullshit.

Posted

I don't think any material should be banned. The public should take more care and responsibility in what they watch or play individually. They are having to compensate for the fact that people are badly educated about what games are and how serious the rating system is. And as said before, I have no problem with them unclassifying it, just not selling it.

Posted
Has anyone considered that they might have actually banned it for a reason? In the BBFC's press release on the matter they state that, "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."

 

The original Manhunt was about revenge and being pushed towards violence to survive — the player was a victim. From what I've heard about the sequel the game is far more amoral and gratuitous, painting the player as a sadistic murderer.

 

If the game was designed to be controversial for controversiality's sake, then the BBFC is well within its right to put down a ban. Having said that, I wouldn't be surprised if an appeal is negotiated and suddenly Manhunt 2 has a lot more public interest behind it.

 

Manhunt 2 also makes the point that you are the victim - the main aim of the game is to let the world know about the experiments this company did to the character you play, and escape from them.

Posted
It's a free world (mostly), people will be exposed to this sort of things eventually anyway and the game has ratings and laws prohibit kids from buying these games, if they don't work, it's not our fault. If you do have an head on your shoulders and dislike the type of game because it's too gruesome no one makes you buy it. This is just hypocrisy and PC bullshit.

 

erm...i want it? I think you took my post the wrong way. I have no problems buying it.

Posted

@Owen - Don't think he's saying anything bad at you matey.

 

Something I've only just thought. If this gets really out of hand and a black market for importing the game develops then loads of kids are gonna get hold of this. That's what's wrong. There's no way of stopping a 14 yr old (or 12 even i guess) ordering it of play. Shouldn't we be more worried about that?


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