Nintendo Wii Fanboy

So what game -- Nintendo or third party title -- do you hope to see the most of of at this year's E3? Or rather, read the most news about, considering the new format. What game does it for you? Are you hoping for all the details on the new Metroid that are fit to print? Is it Boogie that gets you excited? Are you hoping Take-Two will reveal their plans for Manhunt 2 after the ESRB debacle? Are you crossing your fingers for some sign of Super Mario Galaxy? Or is it something else that gets you going? Let us know what game you hope shows up in the news this week.

With all the recent controversy over Manhunt 2, we can't help but think that maybe it's time to relax a little when it comes to games rated AO (Adults Only). The average age of the modern gamer is rising all the time, and we all know that games are no longer just for kids. The Entertainment Software Association has some interesting statistics on just who is buying -- and playing -- games these days; according to them, 83% of all video games are purchased by someone who is over 18, and 69% of the gamers themselves are over 18. Despite the growing number of adult gamers, however, the industry still remains behind the times on the issue of mature titles.

We're interested in hearing what you have to say on the issue. It's not about whether or not we think this particular game is appropriate -- we know some of you are pretty anti-violence, and we respect that. It is, however, a matter of intellectual freedom. In America, we have movies that are restricted to adults, and books and magazines that are restricted to adults ... so what's with crippling games for adults?

We take it back -- Manhunt 2 is in a more dire situation in the US than we first thought, because Nintendo will not even license or allow playback of the controversial title with an AO rating. Looks like Pachter was right: Rockstar is going to bleed money over this title, because they're either going to have to scrap the game altogether, or simply edit Manhunt 2 down until they can wrangle another rating.

It's not just Nintendo, either -- Sony's taken the same hard line on Manhunt 2. Looks like poor Daniel Lamb and Leo Kaspar are at risk from more than just the Pickman Project.

Our esteemed colleagues at Joystiq spoke with the excellent online rental service GameFly about their plans to carry Manhunt 2, or, more to their point, their plans not to. According to a GameFly rep, "GameFly as a general policy does not carry AO rated titles." That makes sense, since they only serve customers 18 and up and deliver games directly to said customers' homes. And to be clear, by "makes sense" we mean "doesn't make any sense at all."

Blockbuster isn't going to carry it either, but that's less of a surprise. Blockbuster has a long-standing policy of not carrying NC-17 or equivalent movies.

Manhunt 2 isn't in as dire a situation in the US as it is in the UK, but it's close. The ESRB has labeled Rockstar's controversial game with an AO "Adults Only" rating. If the game ships with this rating, most retailers will refuse to carry it, cutting sales massively. The only other console game to have an AO rating in stores? Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which was re-rated following the Hot Coffee scandal, and quickly re-released in an edited form.

Rockstar has the option to appeal the rating, or they can edit the game and resubmit it. We doubt they'll release the game at AO, because they like selling their products.

[Via Joystiq]

If you happen to use your computer near someone who fancies themselves a Jack Thompson-alike, then boy have we got something for you: freakalicious Manhunt 2 wallpapers to dress up that desktop. There's nothing like a giant glaring eyeball of death to get you through the workday.

Our spiffy new galleries balk at anything over 800px wide, so you'll have to hit the source for the bigger, better versions. To make up for it, we added some screenshots as well. Enjoy!