When they were waving the controller around saying they had to mimic stabbing and stuff, it didn't look to much like stabbing to me. Looked more like they were shaking maracas.

The couric report was far more balenced than I thought it would be.

A bit over the top (and those really didn't seem like the type that would have enjoyed a good horror movie, etc. in which this game was intended for), but fair in more ways than most. Glad they actually mentioned that this is intended for adults only, and then SHOWED the raiting controls for a system. As bad as the game is, maybe it will finally get people off their buts to set the system up correctly, even if sadly out of fear of their kids playing this one game.

The game itself looks better than I thought it would but I wonder if swing around the controller like that doesn't get old quickly. As for the report, I can't say much about it. Kudos for mention parental controls.

Also, I didn't particularly care for Katie Couric's little shot at people who want to play the game. There are far more violent movies out there that millions of people watch, so why can't gamers play a violent video game like Manhunt 2? Manhunt 2 may be one of the most violent, if not the most violent game out, but it doesn't even come close to what you can see in a lot of movies.

Also, the motion controls don't make the game anymore "dangerous". You do those same motions to swing a bat, or tennis racket in Wii sports. You're essentially swinging the Wiimote the same way in every game, I don't see how it's such a huge difference since you're still basically simulating hitting something in Wii Sports.

Besides, kids get to simulate shooting people with squirt guns so why not ban them? What about kids growing up playing "cops and robbers"? How about we ban that so kids don't grow up thinking it's okay to steal and defy police and potentially hurt the officers. It's all just double standard nonsense and I think everyone needs to just back off. People might as well just lock their kids up in a padded room and never let them out if they really think everything is going to make them crazy or get them killed.

@Trevor McGee

"Besides, kids get to simulate shooting people with squirt guns so why not ban them? What about kids growing up playing “cops and robbers”? How about we ban that so kids don’t grow up thinking it’s okay to steal and defy police and potentially hurt the officers. It’s all just double standard nonsense and I think everyone needs to just back off. People might as well just lock their kids up in a padded room and never let them out if they really think everything is going to make them crazy or get them killed."

No! Don't give them ammunition! They've got enough of that without us giving them ideas!

"You’re basically teaching a child the behavioral sequencing of killing."
If that were true, then school shooters would go into school, try and press B or waggle the Wiimote and find it doesn't work. You CANNOT learn to fire a gun from a video game played on a controller.

"[School shooters] have two characteristics that are reinforced by this game, invincibility and grandiosity."
Invincibility? With a cheat code maybe, otherwise it's possible to fail in a game. Grandiosity? Most of the games blamed for school shootings have very little "grand" about the main character. In the GTA series you are a hired thug most of the time. In Doom you are a soldier who never says a word and who you can't even see.

"You decide who lives and who dies"
I could do this with my lego when I was a kid.

"and you also identify with the anti-hero."
So? Just because you identify with someone does not mean that you will imitate them.

"This is the worst I’ve ever witnessed because of the torture and the simulated killing."
Personal opinion. It is also not "simulated killing", it is make believe. Would you call to ban "Hansel and Gretel" because they push the witch into an oven because it is "simulated killing"?

He's setting a bad example.



Always use the Wii Strap, kids.

We have tens of thousands of troops in Iraq. Bin Laden is still at large. There are wildfires in southern California. The gulf region has not recovered from Katrina. There is genocide in Sudan. There is plenty of political unrest in South America, eastern Europe, Africa, and southeast Asia. Scientists are constantly developing cutting edge research. Yet, the most important thing to report on is a fear-mongering schlock on "TEH EVIL VIDEOGAMEZ ARE COMING!!11lim(x->0)x/sinx! BOOGA BOOGA!!1!" Seriously, has journalism been this useless for all time, or is it a recent development?

Every time I watch or hear the news lately it reminds of this scene from The Simpsons:

Announcer : It's "Channel Six Action News." [several explosions are shown]

Bart : "Ah, Action News. The last place an impressionable kid can go for TV violence."

Announcer: "And now, here's your Action Anchor Kent Brockman."

Kent: [jumping in, panting] "Hello, I'm Kent Brockman! Our top stories tonight: a tremendous *explosion* in the price of lumber, President Reagan *dyes* ...his hair, plus Garry Trudeau and his new musical comedy revue. But first! Let's check the death count from the killer storm bearing down on us like a shotgun full of snow."

Weatherman : Well, Kent, as of now the death count is zero. But it is ready to shoot right up.

Kent : Oh my God. [shakes fist at heaven] Damn you snow!


Heh... funny stuff...

Dennis, as usual, missed the coverage of the Manhunt 2 story on Fox News last night. It was excellent. Because I was working with FNC, Trace Gallagher mentioned the problematic "Strong Sexual Content" in a game sold to minors. Hooah!

"[School shooters] have two characteristics that are reinforced by this game, invincibility and grandiosity".

Reinforced by this game truly? That is supposed to be a part of how school shooters are created? I disagree because as far as invincibility are concerned a doubt a single school shooter considers himself invincible, I haven't heard of a school shoothing yet where the shooter did not die. As for grandiosity I consider mainstream media far more guilty than videogames. Look at how school shooters are immortalized on tv.

And still, you know what I like about Montreal? No media has even touched Manhunt 2 here.

@Hackangel

That the exact point I was going to make. I've never heard of a single school shooter thinking they were somehow "immortal". Most of them kill themselves. Why would someone who thought they were immortal try to kill themself? To see if the bullets would bounce off?

I'm really starting to hate these "doctors". Didn't you need to have qualifications other than "I went to college for a long time" to be considered an expert in the past? Why is everyone with a PhD suddenly qualified to make "newsworthy" statements about anything they want?

I just read the James Tapper piece and he is full of it. I quote:

Some psychiatrists are quite concerned about what might happen should children get their hands on this game, which clearly happens more often than the voluntary ratings system might suggest.

He then goes on to quote the FTC report that no one in the game industry has denied. It has been accepted by the game industry and they are working on improving that number. Where they can get off claiming they are in denial of those numbers is beyond me.

I would also like to know who this Dr. Sylvia Gearing person and what are her qualifications and sources?

@ HandofCrom

Beautifully said. Of all the terrible things in this world (and some pretty amazing ones too) THIS is what they waste air time with. It is irresponsible of all these media types and zealots to blame the ills of society in general and of children in particular on pixelated images on a screen.

Root causes of violence in schools are not video games. Lets discuss poverty, class separation, family dysfunction, questionable parenting, lack of after school activities.... the list goes on and on.

I'm impressed that the story actually mentioned that consoles have parental controls. I liked the fact that they stated that "parent still have to get involved." I'm tired of raising other people's children.

But hey, Rockstar is apparently a lot smarter than the media. They've managed to get thousands of dollars worth of free advertising.

That was more balanced than I thought it would be, save for the shot Couric takes at people who want to play the game.

The psychologist was a nice touch, same with the 'no study has ever proved video games = violent behaviour' guy. Pointing out the parental controls on the Wii? Sheer brilliance! That was the gem of the piece. Showing parents that yes, they can take an active role in what their kids are playing. I don't think any news coverage has ever pointed out that yes, you can effectively stop your children from playing this game if you set up the parental controls, and they get a big thumbs-up from me for pointing that out.

Still have no intention to buy or play Manhunt 2.

I'm genuinely, and pleasantly, surprised. This report was fairly balanced. While it did lean towards "this game is sick", they did mention the ESRB ratings, parental controls, and that there is no proven link between violent video games and actual violence. It could of been better, but it could of been far worse, considering it was a 3 minute piece.

I thin I'd like to be able to compare this CBS story with one of the same nature but about RE4 or another title that has already proven itself. Just to get some insight on what people would say if the game had already been for a couple years but was still thought of as "over the top" violent.

This is a pretty decent article - http://www.thesequitur.com/content/view/1740/43/

Ah...Chick Tracts. I browse those every once in awhile for a quick giggle.

@Hackangel -- chick comics are hilarious in their stupidity.

@ Hackangel

Was that real? Or was it a parody of how people acted toward D&D? If that was real, then I'm speechless. Well, we know what JT gets his training from.

10pm news, channel 2 (KTVU), SF Bay area. This is the #2 story of their day behind the 8:04 pm 5.6 richter earthquake along the Calaveras fault.

News Reporter in the field: There's this manhunt 2 thing, and folks are saying, you know, don't buy it for your kids.

...lots of knee-jerk reactionism and naysaying...my favorite part is the bit about how the game is "still banned in europe" and the implications that those europeans really have this free speech thing covered unlike us...

News Reporter in the studio: Manhunt 2 is rated M for mature, which means it should only be purchased for children 17 or older..


They could have cut to the news reporter in the studio right from the start and completely covered this story. Instead they gave MH2 free advertising time...

Cooking Mama sez: Remember kids! Don't try to cook in real life! ;)

That cheap shot by Couric at the end of the CBS report negates the fact that it was fairly balanced as far as I'm concerned. Of course, I've always thought she was a pretty lousy anchor anyway.

Here's an interesting note, there is a different cut of that report that is entirely lopsided against games. I fell asleep on the couch last night and woke up around 3 or 4 this morning to see it playing.

@Trevor McGee

Yes that was real, sadly. It's a good example that fanatiscism, whether it be religious, social or philosophical, is never a good thing.

@GryphonOsiris

I wouldn't know, I have only played halo twice (at a friends and at a demo kiosk) and never owned an xbox (christmas hopefully brings a 360)

You've got me curious about what you mean though, would you mind explaining?

God mode=invincibility. I think that's about all I know.

@JT

Any chance a media outlet other than Fox will actually let you on (or have any influence on) their show? Oh, wait...I suppose you actually would have to possess the capacity to form coherent statements.

As for "Strong Sexual Content," the game is for 17+ year-olds. You know that if a film contains strong sexual content, it typically receives an "R" rating?

From the MPAA - "An R-rated motion picture may include adult themes, adult activity, hard language, intense or persistent violence, sexually-oriented nudity, drug abuse or other elements" - And considering how far the sexual content actually goes in Manhunt 2, I'm pretty sure it falls in here. Hell, Saw and its sequels got R ratings (violence, I know. Same theory, though).

LOL @ JT's "You missed my 'same s*** different day' blathering on TV.' Seriously, I don't think we missed much of anything :P

Also, who's up for buying him Manhunt 2 for christmas? Maybe that'll cheer him up after he loses his license... Nah I'm just kidding, All he'd get from me (if anything) is a lump of coal. :P

THE BEST THINGS WERE SAID AT THE END OF THE SHOW......

WHY THE FUCK PARENTS ARE SO COMPLAINING ABOUT

EACH SYSTEM HAS A PARENT CONTROL RATING....

parents who say: "games dont interest me, i dont understand it, my kids know more about it then i do".... then he/she as a parent, has a problem about not joining "in" in what their children do....

@FlyinM_X

Our favorite dementia suffering Florida Lawyer said that the Beltway sniper trained the kid to shoot on that thing, in those modes; forgetting that the man had an expert marksman rating in the Army.

I don't see why some claim that this TV report was balanced. More balanced than others, perhaps, but it's still a very hypocritical and ignorant view on an issue that really shouldn't be as complex as they're making it out to be.

The first thing that set off my bullshit alarm was when they started talking about how this game should not be played by children. No shit? I don't recall Rockstar ever saying that this game was aimed towards children, what I do recall, however, are Rockstar saying that this game was aimed towards adult, horror movie fans. Why are they assuming that video games are all intended for children? Because they're just as ignorant on the subject as the rest of people that try to claim the same thing.

The second thing I noticed was when the reported said that even the preview shouldn't be watched by children. That's ridiculous, why is it that I never hear that about movie trailers? Honestly, that preview wasn't really bad. Let's be honest about this. Are you prepared to tell me you've never seen a kid in an R rated movie? What about watching shows like Family Guy and South Park on TV? If watching a short preview is really that bad, then why isn't there an uproar about the things out there that are much worse? Again, because they're hypocrites, and because they're hungry for ratings. Why else would they try to add fuel to the fire?

And what about that bald moron playing the game? Are you honestly telling me that lightly swinging your hand around vertically and horizontally is "simulated murder?" Bullshit. Why aren't they saying that about twilight princess then? Which feature the exact same controls in regards to stabbing and slashing horizontally and vertically? Again, because they're ignorant, and so is whoever buys into this shit.

After this they reinforce the whole "video games are for children" idea by bringing in a child psychologist. At this point, I'm beginning to feel insulted. Do I need to reiterate myself? Rockstar didn't make this game for children. The only way a kid would get their hands on this game is if their parents or relatives bought it for them. Not only that, but it isn't as if Manhunt 2 is the first game aimed towards adults. There are plenty of games out there aimed towards an older audience, in fact, it almost seems like most games are. Just like with movies and other media, there are indeed shows and films aimed towards "family," but there are even more that are solely intended for older audiences.

What's with this whole "studies showing links between violence and video games?" Correct me if I'm wrong, but there are studies that actually show the contrary. Being honest once again, are all these people going to have me believe that they never watched mature shows or films as a child? There seem to be a lot of 10 year old kids on Gears of War... No matter the games content, kids will get a hold of it, not because they have bad parents (although this may be the case sometimes), but mostly because parents realize that it honestly won't do harm. True, there are certain things parents should shield their kids from, but people are starting to overreact. Are games really going to desensitize kids towards violence more than violent movies and tv shows?

Lastly, I love how this idiot closes off with "why anyone would want to play this creepy game is beyond me." This is truly the icing on the cake. Why? Well, how much do you want to bet that after saying this she went off to watch The Sopranos or Saw 4? Is this person honestly claiming she's never enjoyed a horror movie or TV show? Even if she didn't, she has to realize the fact that just because she's not interested in something, doesn't mean that it is wrong. Hell, anyone that agrees with this bitch needs to realize the same thing.

This video is exactly why I don't watch the news on TV.

Oh and before I forget...

If those "hardcore gamers" were actually true gamers and true teenagers, they're probably getting their ass beat to a bloody pulp right about now. What kind of gullible person would actually believe their parts were not scripted? Besides, when they showed clips of them playing the game, I don't recall seeing them "recoil because of the grotesque violence," I recall them smiling and laughing. Besides, these kids aren't 17! Does that mean the station provided them with a chance to actually play this game? Oh lawds... If what they're saying about Manhunt 2 is true, they just breeded two school shooters. Nice job assholes...

@Josh Martz:

Not that he gets to play it or anything, but yeah, he still has a copy.

@GryphonOsiris

I found his comments about that very disturbing. Having gone through that myself(the sniper thing not training or being arrested), he mis represented the facts and got people who didn't know that case to take action. The man was an expert marksman, a Muslim extremist sympathizer, and unstable to boot. His kid/ nephew was mostly the driver (maybe took 2 shots) and was about as unstable as he was. Were video games comes into the story I have no idea.

---------------------------------------------------

As for this media "out rage". It was bias. Also it was mature, Mean it was market for adults not kids. So I just don't get it. Plus as many have pointed their are parental controls. In the video they make it sound like "if you play this game you are a bad person". I also love how they only got 2 gamers to review it. If it was truly a "center for video games" were are the people that like it? Were is the defining voice? Also were is the criticism of the SAW III and other movies? There are some book that are extremely violent. Were is the rating system for that medium? So if you say I want to protect my kids for this product and I want the government to help. Where is the rating system on other genres of entertainment?

wow they didnt take a one sided view point like fox does it was more open to it and they actually reported the news
bravo CBS


P.S. Go to HELL jack thompson

Nah. There's a reason Jack draws comparisons with Don Quixote. In his mind, he's a sterling knight of justice who can do no wrong. When things go wrong, it's never his fault, but is instead the result of a vast conspiracy which he shall ultimately triumph over.

It's really, really pathetic. The only funny part is how he views his TV appearances as successes, when they're really just a symptom of his lack of clients.

@ JT

"Dennis, as usual, missed the coverage of the Manhunt 2 story on Fox News last night. It was excellent."

Maybe that's because Fox News SUCKS.

"Because I was working with FNC, Trace Gallagher mentioned the problematic “Strong Sexual Content” in a game sold to minors. Hooah!"

There's a different between something that is sexual and actual sex, Mr. Thompson. Please pick up a dictionary. Mr. Webster could help you read better.

You give me too much credit. It was clearly bias, While better then fox it is was bad.

more balanced than most, but yea, Mrs. Couric messed up the whole story with her last statement in the last 5 seconds of that clip.

"Teh Teh childrenzzz!"

Okay, moronic parents and media outlets, anyone with a functioning brain cell understands the following two premises:

1. Video games, like any other creative medium, do not intrinsically belong to a specific age demographic. The CONTENT of the medium, NOT THE MEDIUM ITSELF, is what determines appropriate demographics. Stop creating witch hunts, and giving bible thumping facist pigs a chance to rape our freedom, by implicitly stating the idea that games are the exlusive domain of children.

2. It is CLEARLY STATED that "M" games ARE NOT INTENDED FOR CHILDREN. Stop basing any argument against the production and distrubtion of MH2 off the "for teh childrenz" argument. This product is not intended for your children. It is your fault, as a lousy parent, if you allow this game to fall into your child's hands. Retailers and the industry have taken extensive steps -- at the expense of lowering demand levels of adult oriented games -- to ensure that your over-protected and obscenely indoctrinated children remain free to suffer under your absurd and contradictory perception of value/morality.

With this said, the treatment of MH2 and other MA/AO games, has been absolutely disgusting.

I love the guys comment at the end in response to Courics statement as to who would want to play such a creepy game, "Some gamers out there.."

Give me a break you bonehead! What do you think about the people who went to watch the SAW movies...."oh its just those movie goers out there..." what a jerk.