It looks like PC gamers will be getting their very own version of Rockstar's controversial Manhunt 2 and this one could be the real deal: The ESRB has rated it AO.
The notoriously violent Manhunt 2 had a rough time getting past the censors prior to its release in October 2007. The ESRB originally tagged it with an Adults Only rating, leading Rockstar to edit a few of the more extreme aspects of the game that ultimately resulted in a far more viable Mature rating. Things didn't go so well in the U.K., however, where the game was banned by the BBFC, leading to a back-and-forth legal battle that Rockstar eventually won, but not before the game's release had been delayed by a full year.
Now, if the ESRB web site is to be trusted, the game is on its way to the PC, nearly two years after its console debut. That's an awfully long wait but it might turn out to be worthwhile: The ESRB has rated it Adults Only and unlike the console versions, there's a good chance this rating will hold.
For one thing, there's no licensing or approval requirements required for PC games, so Rockstar is free to include any content it wants. And while most major retailers won't go near AO-rated games, the prevalence of digital distribution for the PC largely negates that concern. There's also the option of taking the Indigo Prophecy route, releasing an M-rated version through conventional retail channels and making the AO version available elsewhere.
It's possible that Rockstar will cut the PC version in the same way it edited the console releases and put it out the door with an M rating, but if that's the plan then why not just submit the edited version in the first place? That dance has been done and unless Rockstar believes that societal mores and ESRB standards have changed dramatically over the past two years and that the original cut of the game will somehow magically earn an M rating as a result, there seems to be absolutely no point in going through all that trouble a second time just to end up in the same place.
Rockstar hasn't yet commented on the matter so it's all conjecture at this point but the hope that we might yet see Manhunt 2 in its original, depraved glory suddenly seems very real.
Ah, so it's just an average day at ROCKSTAR offices then?
Honestly, ESRB must know that gamers were going to remove the edited content sooner or later; hell, I'd imagine that some social rejects might have already managed it on the consoles. Honestly, there's no reason to give the game an AO rating; Jack Thompson's been disbarred, remember?
Also, trying to stop ROCKSTAR from releasing a violent game is like trying to block the door to the ladies restrooms at a Coldplay concert. It can't (and probably shouldn't) be done!
They will. They will. Now if only someone finds a way to map Wii remote motions to the AO version, then we can have the "Murder Simulator" we always dreamed of...
HardRockSamurai: Ah, so it's just an average day at ROCKSTAR offices then?
Honestly, ESRB must know that gamers were going to remove the edited content sooner or later; hell, I'd imagine that some social rejects might have already managed it on the consoles. Honestly, there's no reason to give the game an AO rating; Jack Thompson's been disbarred, remember?
Also, trying to stop ROCKSTAR from releasing a violent game is like trying to block the door to the ladies restrooms at a Coldplay concert. It can't (and probably shouldn't) be done!
The original unedited version was available before the edited version even hit retail for the PS2. Yeah.
Well, from what I've heard Manhunt 2 was a pretty bad game to begin with, so I'm guessing not that much has been lost. Oh well, seeing as it was never on the Xbox 360 to begin with, I guess this news doesn't affect me very much.
iamq: How is Manhunt more violent than other games?
Madworld avoided an AO rating, every God of War game has avoided it, and they even contain nipples (Oh the humanity!), so why is this so bad?
A realistic, non-stylized depiction of not necessarily over the top yet still absolutely brutal killings. The violence is not a function ofthe plot, but rather it is the plot.
Fine. Great. More Gorn is on the way. Yet another Ultra Super Death Gore Fest Chainsawer 3000. Yet another opportunity for media to blame video games for everything. Hell,BBFC controversy was on NTV. A Russian channel. Considering they usually do violence-sex-and-weather routine,it kinda makes you think about it.
In short,yet another game that can be summed up in two words: BLOODY MURDER!!!
Cookies for guessing the reference (if i've got it right).
iamq: How is Manhunt more violent than other games?
Madworld avoided an AO rating, every God of War game has avoided it, and they even contain nipples (Oh the humanity!), so why is this so bad?
Well, GoW really isn't as bad as, say, UT2 with the gore turned up or even RE4. I think that was more due to hardware limitations, though...
Still, I can't imagine the violence that would make it an AO game actually contributing to the quality of the game in any significant manner. Of course, I'm just not much for game violence, anyway...
Kollega: Fine. Great. More Gorn is on the way. Yet another Ultra Super Death Gore Fest Chainsawer 3000. Yet another opportunity for media to blame video games for everything. Hell,BBFC controversy was on NTV. A Russian channel. Considering they usually do violence-sex-and-weather routine,it kinda makes you think about it.
In short,yet another game that can be summed up in two words: BLOODY MURDER!!!
Cookies for guessing the reference (if i've got it right).
I'm sorry but are you seriously blaming Rockstar for the media's bandwagon jumping/ stupidity?
Kollega: Fine. Great. More Gorn is on the way. Yet another Ultra Super Death Gore Fest Chainsawer 3000. Yet another opportunity for media to blame video games for everything. Hell,BBFC controversy was on NTV. A Russian channel. Considering they usually do violence-sex-and-weather routine,it kinda makes you think about it.
In short,yet another game that can be summed up in two words: BLOODY MURDER!!!
Cookies for guessing the reference (if i've got it right).
I'm sorry but are you seriously blaming Rockstar for the media's bandwagon jumping/ stupidity?
iamq: How is Manhunt more violent than other games?
Madworld avoided an AO rating, every God of War game has avoided it, and they even contain nipples (Oh the humanity!), so why is this so bad?
I think the difference is the level of realism involved. I dont see anybody killing someone by jamming a signpost through the side of their head and then carrying their still living body across a room until they toss them on a conveniently placed spike on the wall. Nor do I see anybody gutting someone else by swinging blades attached to their arms around.
You can, however, suffocate someone using a plastic bag and you can do many of the things they do in MH and MH2. Sufficed to say, I wouldn't recommend it.
any of Silent Hill's pyramid head executions were more violent then this, yet they slap Manhunt 2 with a AO. it's sad really. but I guess the ESRB and Rockstar don't want another banning in another country.
Manhunt 2 for PC Rated Adults Only
It looks like PC gamers will be getting their very own version of Rockstar's controversial Manhunt 2 and this one could be the real deal: The ESRB has rated it AO.
The notoriously violent Manhunt 2 had a rough time getting past the censors prior to its release in October 2007. The ESRB originally tagged it with an Adults Only rating, leading Rockstar to edit a few of the more extreme aspects of the game that ultimately resulted in a far more viable Mature rating. Things didn't go so well in the U.K., however, where the game was banned by the BBFC, leading to a back-and-forth legal battle that Rockstar eventually won, but not before the game's release had been delayed by a full year.
Now, if the ESRB web site is to be trusted, the game is on its way to the PC, nearly two years after its console debut. That's an awfully long wait but it might turn out to be worthwhile: The ESRB has rated it Adults Only and unlike the console versions, there's a good chance this rating will hold.
For one thing, there's no licensing or approval requirements required for PC games, so Rockstar is free to include any content it wants. And while most major retailers won't go near AO-rated games, the prevalence of digital distribution for the PC largely negates that concern. There's also the option of taking the Indigo Prophecy route, releasing an M-rated version through conventional retail channels and making the AO version available elsewhere.
It's possible that Rockstar will cut the PC version in the same way it edited the console releases and put it out the door with an M rating, but if that's the plan then why not just submit the edited version in the first place? That dance has been done and unless Rockstar believes that societal mores and ESRB standards have changed dramatically over the past two years and that the original cut of the game will somehow magically earn an M rating as a result, there seems to be absolutely no point in going through all that trouble a second time just to end up in the same place.
Rockstar hasn't yet commented on the matter so it's all conjecture at this point but the hope that we might yet see Manhunt 2 in its original, depraved glory suddenly seems very real.
Source: Joystiq
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