Although Rockstar won the appeal to get the controversial Manhunt 2 rated in the UK, the battle is far from over. The BBFC is now challenging the verdict by applying for a judicial review of the Video Appeals Committee's decision. The BBFC is adamant about its course of action, stating, "The VAC judgment, if allowed to stand, would have fundamental implications with regard to all the Board's decisions, including those turning upon questions of unacceptable levels of violence." Won't someone think of the children?The BBFC is also trying to have the VAC's decision suspended, so that the Board doesn't have to rate the game until after the judicial review.
While it seems no one cares about playing Manhunt 2 anymore, the final outcome is certain to have repercussions for rating games (in the UK, at least) in the future.
[Via press release]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-17-2007 @ 4:10PM
Zack W. said...
Am I mistaken, or does the UK show bare breasts in their tabloids?
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12-17-2007 @ 4:44PM
David W. said...
nudity and violence are very different things...We Americans view nudity as this horrible thing due to our puritan history, but to Europeans, nudity is natural...
12-17-2007 @ 5:06PM
SpinachConvention said...
We do indeed show bare breasts in our tabloids... Personally I would prefer there not to be, but sex sells!
I'm pretty sure that the whole Manhunt 2 issue is a direct result of Manhunt being blamed for the murder of a 13 (or 14 I can't remember) year old by his friend... The fact that the parents bought the game or didn't confiscate it when found means nothing, VIDEO GAMES ARE EVIL.
12-18-2007 @ 3:11AM
carterman said...
Dear BBFC: You lost. Get over it. Quit trying to censor content that adults should be able to make their own decisions about.
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12-19-2007 @ 11:33AM
gavin said...
I'm not entirely sure about this one, videogames do affect your mind on an unconcious level, conditioning you to accept aggression (not violence). The way in which televisual violence effects people has not been fully explored, i hate to think what the interactive aspect of videogaming does. I'm not saying that videogames are dangerous to everyone and yes manhunt will be for adults only but how many 8-17 year olds do you know that have played GTA.
liscensing doesnt work, you cant stop kiddies playing games by sticking an 18label on them. and its a damn shame too.
P.s. I think if I spent a few hours playing manhunt 2 gesturing neckbreakers and fighting movements, being I always get in the odd scrape when I'm out on the town I could easily get drunk and go too far.
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