Around the offices of Take Two Interactive, they're likely calling this "Black Tuesday."
In the wake of this morning's word detailing Britain's ban on Manhunt 2 comes more bad news for publisher Take Two and developer Rockstar.
Citing concerns over the Nintendo Wii's popular motion control system, the Center for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) has demanded that Manhunt 2 be rated AO (adults only) by the ESRB. The game is scheduled for release in North America on July 9th.
Although Manhunt 2's rating has not been made public to date, the ESRB says that it has already informed Take Two and Rockstar of the game's rating.
The watchdog group's demand was made this morning via letter to ESRB president Patricia Vance. In a press release, CCFC also says that it will launch a letter-writing campaign "so that parents and advocates for children could share their concerns."
AO ratings for commercial video games are virtually unheard of and are considered the kiss of death at retail, since many stores won't carry AO-rated titles. The only commercial game to receive an AO in recent memory was Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas following the 2005 discovery of the notorious Hot Coffee animations and the game's subsequent recall.
From the CCFC press release:
In Manhunt 2, players can saw their enemies’ skulls in half; mutilate them with an axe; castrate them with a pair of pliers; and kill them by bashing their heads into an electrical box, where it is blown apart by a power surge. On Wii, players will not merely punch buttons or wield a joy stick, but will actually act out this violence...
Said CCFC co-founder, Dr. Susan Linn of Harvard:
If ever there was a time for the ESRB’s strongest and most unambiguous rating, it is now. An Adults Only rating is the only way to limit children’s exposure to this unique combination of horrific violence and interactivity...
An “M” rating is more like a wink and a nod than an effective safeguard. The industry appears to be going through its paces, but as the FTC’s most recent data show, these games are still being marketed to children.
Also quoted in the CCFC press release is Dr. Michael Rich, Director of the Center on Media and Child Health at Children’s Hospital Boston:
Video games are among the most powerful educational tools yet developed... players experience and learn the game’s skills, whether they be based in strategy, logic, or violence. The content of Manhunt 2 and the unique physical interaction with the Wii control combine to take this simulation a level closer to reality - we can expect that the effects of this experience will be even greater.
On June 6th GamePolitics broke the news that, prompted by Miami activist Jack Thompson, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum was looking into Manhunt 2 on the Wii. It is unknown what role, if any, Thompson may have played in the CCFC's action, but it's clear that he knew it was coming.
The original Manhunt, controversial in its own right, was rated M (17 and older) at the time of its release in 2003. In addition to the Wii version, Manhunt 2 is scheduled for release on PlayStation 2 and PSP.
A statement received by GamePolitics from ESRB president Patricia Vance said:
We have received the letter from CCFC and, while we might take issue with some of the statements made within, we sincerely appreciate their expressed concerns. Our ratings are intended to provide guidance that allows parents to choose games they deem suitable for their children, and that is a responsibility we take extremely seriously.
It should be noted that ESRB has already assigned a rating for the Wii, PS2 and PSP versions of Manhunt 2, and that rating has in fact already been communicated to the publisher. However, we are unable to publicly release the rating at this time as it is our policy that ratings be posted to our website 30 days following assignment, unless the game is released prior to the end of that period. This is done to give publishers the opportunity to consider modifying and resubmitting their games for rating or appealing the rating assigned to our Appeals Board should they wish to do so. We have not yet been notified by Rockstar as to what they intend to do with respect to our rating assignment.
GamePolitics Poll: Should Manhunt 2 be rated AO or M? We now have a poll running in the right sidebar. Be sure to vote.
Comments
I think that if you're old enough and responsible enough to have a job or driver's license then you should be able buy any game that you want.
The idea is to have an organization attached to your name -- a non-profit group, something to that effect with an informative website (ie moveon.org or something similar) to get noticed beyond just a polite thank you.
For example, something like the CCFC -- a non-profit that has some credibility. I know generally how to get one started, but its well beyond my ability to do alone.
So, I'll start making some inquiries if people are actually interested, but I don't want to waste my time if no one would jump on board.
AO is much better than refuse to rate.
This is so dumb that Stefan Pakeerah's mom is still bitching out Rockstar. You know the story, Stefan got lured into the woods and beat to death with a hammer by his friend. Wow, so they blame manhunt for this? I understand why, you do lure people around and kill them, but come on you can blame that on anything, fucking for christ sake they could say Marilyn Manson says in this song "Lure some kid into the woods and kill him" and RIGHT THERE here we go again, another dumbshit ignorant parent is out petitioning against music and arts just because she cant get her shit straight and parent her own kids.
And anyway the copy of Manhunt was owned by Stefan Pakeerah, not the kid who killed him, strange how thats true and his parents are fighting so hard against the people who create violence in video games. They must be some parents if they buy violent games for their son and then are suprised that violent games are allowed to be released so easily.
Who the hell lures someone into the woods and beats them with a hammer, it sounds like that kid most likely had some issues to begin with, its not like he was a great happy kid and then played Manhunt and was like "Wow you can kill people with hammers? No way! That is so cool, I'm gonna try it".... Come On, the kid mustve been a fuckin tard to do that.
rofl
rofl
liberals, jesus freaks, doves, democrats, jack thompson. I hate them all.
It's not like this is a marquee title, anyway. It might be worth just going through with it.
what Im getting at here, is that the ESRB really did make the right choice for this situation and if rockstar is worried that the rating will kill there sales then good. they shouldnt have made the game as violent as it is.
thats my two cents and now i gracefully bow out of the topic.
People are already trying their best to rip this game to shreds, but I've yet to see a single activist take up a picket sign against SAW or Hostel 2. Absolutely pathetic society we live in.
Partly it's down to familiarity with the Media format, but it's also interesting to note that someone can behave in precisely that manner about a computer game and get taken seriously.
I think we really o need a 18+ level for games like Manhunt 2 leaving AO for "sex" games.
B: Scream and shout about how messed up your kid will be if he plays THIS game... Like its the games fault....
Sometimes a game comes along and stires ting up like this game, gta and others like them. But give it six months, nobody remembers this.
What happend about the lawsuit against Sony and gta.......?
People have to much time on their hands...
-Greetings from Oslo-
Parents should be more responsible in watching what there kids play.
I played the first manhunt and thought it was dope now i have got to wait and see if i will be allowed to play manhunt 2, and im 21 years old.
well if the ESRB rated it as AO it might not even be made it might be dumbed down to M,I will give rockstar props for pushing it,its high time the world woke up and out into place a mature level headed system where adults can get their games and kids can not its that or take everyone "steaks" away because the children can not eat them think of the poor children!
bah! think of the gray bland world that sentiment creates >
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