Topic: Manhunt 2 Receives Preliminary AO Rating from ESRB

[Ian Sane]

I'm afraid that if Take-Two released the game "unrated" that it would just set off a bunch of controversy from the Jack Thompson types.  The ratings system was largely designed to shut up politicians.  Joseph Lieberman used to be the industry's greatest enemy but quieted down once the ratings were introduced.  If companies start avoiding the ratings then those that backed off because of the ratings may start harping again.  The rating is kind of useless is any company that doesn't like their ratings just ignores it.  Though Take-Two might avoid those problems if they put some sort of warning on the case.  They don't want AO but having some sort of warning probably doesn't bother them.

Though now that we live in an era where anything can be bought online the threat of major retailers boycotting is not as big of a deal.  Anyone who wants this game will get it if they have access to the internet and a credit card number.  It's still not ideal but it's much better than it was ten years ago.

[Smash_Brother]

AO version will sell online only.

M version will feature the stripped-down executions which are done only by button press on the PS2/PSP and will sell in stores.

And I firmly believe Reggie wanted this. He probably set a goal: kill Nintendo's kidde image.

Manhunt 2 gets an AO on the Wii but an M on the PS2?

Who's kidde NOW?

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Zak & Wiki.

[Requiem]

I don't know about y'all but all this controversy is making me want to play the unrated version. If anything, just to see what all the fuss is about!  

Seriously though, I went from "Meh, I may give it a rent" to "I NEED TO PLAY THIS GAME!"




Oh the irony!

Cheers!  

[Ian Sane]

"Who's kidde NOW?"

Nintendo.  Or at least I'm sure that's the conclusion all the third parties making up flimsy excuses to not give the Wii their full support despite strong sales will find a way to come to.  They'll probably come up with some BS about how making a mature game on the Wii runs the risk of an AO rating and thus isn't worth pursuing.

[Smash_Brother]

So Nintendo will go from immature to "too mature".

Lovely.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

"Oh the irony!"

I always said, bad press like this is good press.

[Jonnyboy117]

Quote
Originally posted by: Smash_Brother
Manhunt 2 gets an AO on the Wii but an M on the PS2?

Who's kidde NOW?

Both the Wii and PS2 versions have the AO rating, at least for now.  The increased level of interaction on the Wii version does not seem to have been accounted for in the ratings process, and it's no surprise -- ESRB raters don't even play the games!  If you just watched videos, as the ESRB does, you probably wouldn't notice a big difference between the two versions.

I think this game will either be canceled (which would be a real shame) or will be modified or appealed to get an M rating.  I just don't see Take Two attempting to sell it with the AO rating, not with their financial troubles from San Andreas.

[Smash_Brother]

Yeah, I saw that later, after I got initial information that the PS2 version had an M rating.

[Kairon]

*puffs himself up*

I've played worse.

[Strell]

Hmmm.  I wonder if Suda will live up to his "NMH will be gorier than Manhunt 2" talk.

I guess that means it will get Super AO.

[that Baby guy]

The game will come with a dehydrated plaque-infected rat.

[Strell]

Plaque infected?  I'm not brushing its teeth.  

[Ian Sane]

Gamespot says the both Nintendo and Sony are forbiding any third party from releasing an AO rated game on their systems.  So much for proving Nintendo isn't k!ddy.  The news post mentions MS not allowing AO games either.  So I guess Take-Two is f*cked unless they retool Manhunt 2.

[that Baby guy]

I don't know...I think GS just copied and pasted some company line they found on Nintendo's website.  I wish the quote they used specifically mentioned Manhunt 2.  GameSpot becomes a less and less credible source to me every day.

[pSYCO-gAMER321]

Heh, so looks like Rockstar will edit. ESRB are a pain to make them think that it is an AO game. Well, anyone thinks that the launch will be somewhere between 2 - 3 weeks after launch, unless Rockstar works more for the editing.

[Donutt007]

Quote
Originally posted by: thatguy
I don't know...I think GS just copied and pasted some company line they found on Nintendo's website.  I wish the quote they used specifically mentioned Manhunt 2.  GameSpot becomes a less and less credible source to me every day.

Well they don't mention Manhunt 2 but on Nintendo's website it does say

Quote
*Please note that Nintendo does not sell or license games that carry the ESRB rating "AO" (Adults Only).

Here's the Link