Author Topic: Manhunt 2 from Rockstar? Whoa... (Read 102445 times)

NinGurl69 *huggles · « **Reply #200 on:** June 06, 2007, 06:26:36 AM »

I support JOHN RAMBO and Manhunt 2.

It can't be one or the other, it has to be BOTH, OR NONE AT ALL.

If you're not with JOHN RAMBO, get out of this thread.

WuTangTurtle · « **Reply #201 on:** June 06, 2007, 02:11:45 PM »

This isnt a game for kids, politicians should spend their time on more important things like keeping child predators behind bars. I haven't played this game or the original but I'd still argue that it wouldn't cause anyone to go kill a person.

Did we see a increase in turtle deaths in the 90's? Or one too many kids getting stuck in pipes, thinking they would warp somewhere?

nitsu niflheim · « **Reply #202 on:** June 19, 2007, 12:42:05 PM »

ESRB Manhunt 2 AO

hmm... wonder if this will actually make the game more appealing instead if it were "stuck" with regular old Mature?

Plugabugz · « **Reply #203 on:** June 19, 2007, 12:47:42 PM »

The game was refused a rating in the UK. As it stands, the game is effectively banned.

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/06/19/manhunt_2_banned/

LuigiHann · « **Reply #204 on:** June 19, 2007, 01:05:04 PM »

I think it's funny how "Mature" is 17+ and "Adults only" is 18+, like there's some huge mental transformation that people go through in that one year.

that Baby guy · « **Reply #205 on:** June 19, 2007, 01:09:05 PM »

You know, Take2 just issued some reactions, they're over at Kotaku if you want to see them. If you ask me, if I were them, I wouldn't rework the content, nor would I appeal the rating, or at least, I wouldn't waste man power on appealing the rating. Instead, I would sell the game through online retail channels. I'd start a heavy online campaign for advertisement, and I'd offer free shipping for the game, if it's bought at the Rock*/T2 website. That way, people who want to buy it can get it for the same price they can in any retail store, and since they get full profits, they'll be able to absorb the cost of shipping.

Some AO games are still considered serious games, and this is one of them. Is A Clockwork Orange not a serious movie? To show that T2 considers the game serious, they need to forget about any retailers that refuse to sell their product. They should refuse selling copies of any of their titles to major retailers until a few months after GTA IV has been out, and offer that through online retailers, too. If the marketplace wants to refuse selling one serious game from a specific publisher, I think it's well within the publisher's right to refuse all their games to that merchant. If this were some sex game, I'd understand, but it isn't. And after all, these places sold God of War, GTA III, and BMX XXX, so obviously, they've had games with graphic content and gratuitous sex before.

I don't mind the game receiving an AO rating, I think it probably deserves it. However, I still believe that most video games are a work of art, and therefore protected by freedom of speech in at least the U.S. Take2 needs to address this issue now, and hit it hard. They aren't trying to get their game in the hands of children, nor even 17-year olds. They are trying to allow their game to reach the hands of those who appreciate several forms of art, so to do so, they would appreciate retail channel help.

Ceric · « **Reply #206 on:** June 19, 2007, 02:57:12 PM »

I agree with Thatguy.

I see very well why a big retailer would not stock AO/X content. Its because it is hard to monitor the ins and out of a place that big. Though I don't know why the Gamestop Empire couldn't have it behind the counter. They are small enough, physical store wise, and have the setup already where they could ask for identification and have you sign a content waiver that you will not give this game to a minor. As Nintendo as long as it meets there standard of quality I think they should license it for the system. It wouldn't be the first X/AO rated game to ever be on a Nintendo system.

Kairon · « **Reply #207 on:** June 19, 2007, 03:09:17 PM »

Ever on a console even?

Ceric · « **Reply #208 on:** June 19, 2007, 03:25:43 PM »

I remember seeing different adult games when I was looking for some other games by shader means when I couldn't play them in there traditional form. Thought none for the States.

Deguello · « **Reply #209 on:** June 19, 2007, 04:30:59 PM »

Quote
I don't mind the game receiving an AO rating, I think it probably deserves it. However, I still believe that most video games are a work of art, and therefore protected by freedom of speech in at least the U.S.

The problem is the U.S. government isn't censoring this or even stopping the development of the game. The ESRB, which is run totally by the games industry, has rated it AO, while that effectively blocks a majority of sales and somewhat dampens the game's presence, the government had nothing to do with it.

NinGurl69 *huggles · « **Reply #210 on:** June 19, 2007, 04:34:31 PM »

AO games are for the true big kids.

M games are for the immature ones.

Kairon · « **Reply #211 on:** June 19, 2007, 04:52:06 PM »

Just did some "research" into another AO rated game, Playboy Mansion. I didn't give it a second look when it came out but.. but.. it's... it's... it's a sex-oriented sims! Oh god it looked almost exactly like the Sims! Except with gratuitous sex and nudity!

that Baby guy · « **Reply #212 on:** June 19, 2007, 07:25:25 PM »

Yes Deguello, but I don't think others should take authority to completely block sales of art they don't appreciate. In this respect, if the game is sold under-the-counter, similar to prescription drugs, that's fine with me. If the game is trash to just be trash, that's fine, too, don't worry about it. An 'AO' doesn't necessarily define trash, though. It just means that the game is meant only for mature gamers. Not kids with a parent watching over to tell what is right and what is wrong. The game is intended only for audiences that are old enough to be able to distance themselves from the game one hundred percent of the time, but in this case, the game is serious art, not trash. It shouldn't be punished as trash is, IMO.

Shift Key · « **Reply #213 on:** June 19, 2007, 07:41:50 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Deguello
The ESRB, which is run totally by the games industry, has rated it AO, while that effectively blocks a majority of sales and somewhat dampens the game's presence, the government had nothing to do with it.

Its still censorship by any other name.
What I have issue with is the UK decision to ban it directly - this probably will result in the game being banned here no matter what changes are made to the game.

Quote
The Board's carefully considered view is that to issue a certificate to Manhunt 2... would involve a range of unjustifiable harm risks, to both adults and minors, within the terms of the Video Recordings Act, and accordingly that its availability, even if statutorily confined to adults, would be unacceptable to the public.

I do not like a "board" making decisions as to what I can and cannot see or play. Thanks for looking out for me, but I'm far more capable of knowing what I will like and what I won't like.

If you have problems with a subset of the public (ie kids) viewing some items, there are other ways around the problem rather than a ban. For example, more stringent checks at retailers or informing parents about these games. I don't want to backhand today's generation of parents, but the responsibility for monitoring mature games seems to be on the developers rather than anyone else.

I'm going to have a nice rant about censorship when I get some time - I saw this coming a while ago and the fact that Manhunt 2 probably won't make it to Australia (the original Manhunt was banned here not long after the UK decision) really shits me off. Not just because of the game, but because the problem of mature games isn't being handled properly. The console makers may claim that non-gamers and new markets are opening up this generation but until I see the ratings system for games include an 18+ category and games are not banned simply because they could fall into the hands of minors - the whole console market is still centered around people who are under 18.

Mario · « **Reply #214 on:** June 19, 2007, 07:48:26 PM »

I don't think anyone, kids or adults, should be playing a game where you realistically brutally murder people. Great news.

Shift Key · « **Reply #215 on:** June 19, 2007, 07:52:26 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Mario
I don't think anyone, kids or adults, should be playing a game where you realistically brutally murder people. Great news.

Its not realistic when you're using two pieces of plastic in your parent's basement.

Requiem · « **Reply #216 on:** June 19, 2007, 08:01:02 PM »

That's a very closed minded thing to say Mario.

Art is art, no matter what the form. It is only because it's a game that you have a problem with it. Hostel and other such gory films are left on questioned, but a gory game is perceived as something bannable?

In the bible, Jesus Christ is brutally murdered, but I don't hear you complaining about people reading it.

Art is just art people. If you don't like it, don't pay attention to it. And thank God the first amendment exists. There is no constitutional way to ban such a game in the States.

Mario · « **Reply #217 on:** June 19, 2007, 08:47:08 PM »

Reading about it and practicing it aren't even comparable, and no i'm not American so i'm not familiar with the bible. I guess kiddie porn could be considered art too.

Shift Key · « **Reply #218 on:** June 19, 2007, 08:58:40 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Mario
I guess kiddie porn could be considered art too.

I'm pretty sure that child molestation is illegal in the civilized world.

Mario · « **Reply #219 on:** June 19, 2007, 09:00:49 PM »

Just like murder.

that Baby guy · « **Reply #220 on:** June 19, 2007, 09:05:37 PM »

Right, but we watch murder on TV every day. That makes it ok for grown men to think about it constantly.

But seriously, more cultures exist that are against sexual taboos than violent taboos. I don't know why that is true, though I would guess it's because of the volume of war that nearly every generation sees, whereas sex is on a personal level, and is harder to have out in the open. But I have to agree with several points, that there are many more brutal and distasteful seeming things that are legal and not censored out there. To pick and choose an industry that is younger as the one that is censored is wrong.

Shift Key · « **Reply #221 on:** June 19, 2007, 09:08:30 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Mario
Just like murder.

Don't get the digital world and real world mixed up. Might as well bring out the old "murder simulation" argument - and even then, most people will still be able to differentiate between the two.

Kairon · « **Reply #222 on:** June 19, 2007, 10:03:48 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Shift Key
Quote
Originally posted by: Mario
I guess kiddie porn could be considered art too.

I'm pretty sure that child molestation is illegal in the civilized world.

Child ummmmmm stuff, is highly controversial, but it CAN be art. i.e. Lolita, and that recent tiif in Canada over an author's novel which had a lot of child uh... Oh here read about it yourself.

blackfootsteps · « **Reply #223 on:** June 19, 2007, 10:19:26 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Mario
I don't think anyone, kids or adults, should be playing a game where you realistically brutally murder people. Great news.

Would you include war shooters (eg Call of Duty) in this statement? Where's the line?

Kairon · « **Reply #224 on:** June 19, 2007, 10:42:31 PM »

Shooting people in the groin in Perfect Dark is okay maybe?

News:

Author Topic: Manhunt 2 from Rockstar? Whoa... (Read 102445 times)