If you're familiar with the Manhunt 2 saga, you'll know that things were looking good for Rockstar. The company recently won an appeal against the BBFC, meaning that the controversial game could finally be rated and sold in stores in the UK. The BBFC had one last trick up its sleeve, however. The board essentially appealed the appeal by bringing the Video Appeals Committee's decision under judicial review. That's where we last left off.Unfortunately for Rockstar, the High Court sided with the BBFC. The VAC must now reconsider its appeal, which for all intents and purposes probably means, "Change your decision to agree with the BBFC, or else."
During the trial, the BBFC argued that the VAC's decision undermined the board's role as the watchdogs of entertainment. This may be true, but what is the point of having a Video Appeals Committee if it's not able to uphold appeals? This is also a huge blow to Rockstar, because it gives the company little hope of ever being able to sell the game in the UK.
Rockstar is also currently dealing with criticism in the UK for its new rendition of Bully, which is coming to the Wii and Xbox 360 later this year.
[Via Games Industry]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-25-2008 @ 7:37PM
John said...
Are you serious? At what point will they realize the responsibility is in the parents to step up and raise their kids. If you want to shut anyone down, target retailers failing to ask for i.d. I feel this is completely blow out of proportion, I use movies as an example, it has just as high entertainment value and in the end you have actors who people will associate with later and take key interest to their values. In theory movies can be a lot more dangerous than video games for that reason. Above all, what I'd like to see if it isn't already implemented is a system where parents can set parental access codes in the consoles and games being m rated or r, cannot be played unless given permission. I highly doubt a child will be able to find the connect and then mod the system, the risk would too much high. I know my argument seems all over the place, hopefully someone understands >.< (RLS BRAWL ALREADY!)
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1-25-2008 @ 7:58PM
ArmorForVictor said...
i totally agree with you and everytime i see a parent wanting to buy their kid a mature game i want to yell at them that they are ruining it for us mature gamers!
1-25-2008 @ 9:22PM
sn1per said...
IIRC, the wii has a feature that lets you control which game ratings can be played on the console.
1-25-2008 @ 10:32PM
hvnlysoldr said...
Heard UK is considering paying fat people to get in shape? Totally disregarding adults' responsibilties in favor of a nanny state? OK that's a slippery slope.
1-26-2008 @ 9:01AM
Perverted said...
I imported this game just to see if it deserved the banning.
It really deserves it i mean the game is terrible, no one deserves to play such crap.
In terms of violence? Meh, pretty tame....There are some killings with everyday objects but actual over violence and killing just for the sake of killing is pretty much non-exsistant. There's pretty much no blood either.
If Rockstar want this game on sale in the UK, this is what hey should say: "The Wii has built in parental controls, so if parents bought this game for their children or the children somehow acquire it would not work" Anyone with common sense at the BBFC:" Oh well that makes loads of sense sorry to have bothered you and we look forward to GTA4"
I think their picking on the Wii because it's got a rep as a children's console.
Finally there's a lot more games out for the ps360 deserving a ban.
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