June 30, 2007
While current Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA) president Paul Jackson is okay with Manhunt 2's U.K. banning, his predecessor is not.Roger Bennett (left), in an op-ed penned for MCV, wrote::
Putting aside for a bit the various opinions on whether adults should or should not need to be told by a State sanctioned censoring body what they can and can’t watch or play... I hope that ELSPA’s response to the BBFC’s decision not to grant a rating to Manhunt 2 was not made without recognising the long term possible effects of such an action...
It is most interesting to note that the guidelines used in reaching this decision by the BBFC includes the assumed criteria that because games are interactive, they are different to other forms of screen entertainment and should be rated accordingly.
There is no evidence for it to make such a flawed assumption and concerns should be apparent that through pressure from Government, games are becoming increasingly and wholly unjustifiably separated from other forms of screen entertainment...
GP: Point scored by Bennett. Here at GP we've similarly taken issue with the more recent - and completely unsubstantiated - idea that the Wii controller somehow makes game violence more egregious.
We know of course from other legislation in recent years, that many politicians vote for it based on their own narrow and often ignorant opinions and from media pressure – not listening to evidence at all, even to official research reports instigated by themselves.
It seems to me that the Government and thus the BBFC have become heavily influenced by previous events which in no way have any link to our industry, other than the fact that someone with a certain opinion stated that there is, without a shred of knowledge or fact to justify such a claim...
GP: Since Bennett is operating in the U.K., he is likely referring to the 2004 murder of Stefan Pakeerah, which some blamed on the original Manhunt.
Comments
'A government department doing things based on politics? Oh say it ain’t so ;-;'
I think you'll find that the BBFC is actually (quoted from their site):
'an independent, non-governmental body, which has classified cinema films since it was set up in 1912, and videos since the passing of the Video Recordings Act in 1984.'
The only political aspect behind the BBFC is that in 1984, Parliament passed the Video Recordings Act, which stated that video recordings offered for sale or hire commercially in the UK have to be classified by an authority designated by the Secretary of State, which he then chose the President and Vice Presidents of the BBFC, and charged with applying the new test of 'suitability for viewing in the home'.
Silver_Derstin
I already have mine =^^=
I think the BBFC or any other Classification Board has gone overboard when banning a game outright just because it's content is offensive. This is esspecially when movies like Hostel Part 2 and Saw 3 (which are more realistic and way more gruesome then Manhunt 2) get an 18 certificate uncut and are allowed to be screened and seen but this game is not.
Also, I have tinfoil hats for everyone. Any takers?
The guidelines to which Bennett refers have nothing to do with the Wii-remote, it was both versions of the game that were refused a rating.
Whatever you think of the Manhunt 2 decision, the notion that the UK government are pressuring the BBFC to increasingly separate games from other media doesn't stand up when you look at recent history.
I agree however, that it is more likely they are responding to media frenzy and political pressures in both the UK and US.
Amigos! We must protect our freedom and human rights, if they chose to use force and fists, we use our torches and swords!
That said, I agree with Mr. Bennett. The implications of this banning and AO rating, and repurcussions on future games, are very bad news for the videogame community.
Hardcore girls here
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