Manhunt 2 banned by UK ratings board

by JC Fletcher { Jun 19th 2007 at 1:00PM }

Rockstar Games' Manhunt 2 is now illegal to supply, according to the British Board of Film Classification due to its extreme violent content. David Cooke, the BBFC's director, said that they were unable to suggest changes that would make the game sufficient for release. "There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed, and encouraged, in the game," he said.

Paul Jackson of the Entertainment & Leisure Software Publishers Association said that this decision "demonstrates that we have a games ratings system in the UK that is effective." To editorialize a bit, we couldn't disagree more; ratings systems are designed to prevent censorship by ensuring that material goes to the proper age groups only.

Tags: ban, banned, manhunt, manhunt2, nintendo, ratings, rockstar, wii

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Liam Óg @ Jun 19th 2007 1:38PM

It has also been banned from sale by the Irish ratings boards. Yay for censorship.

TheDude @ Jun 19th 2007 1:50PM

Well, they've ensured that Manhunt 2 will be the most popular game ever.

hvnlysoldr @ Jun 19th 2007 2:24PM

Just like Rule of Rose in Italy right? It's just a really weird decision and Suda 51 has his work cut our for him to fulfill his promise of a more violent than Manhattan 2 game.

Wedge @ Jun 19th 2007 2:29PM

Perhaps the folks in charge over in the UK feel that there is no age group for which that game is appropriate (akin to how no one in America is legally allowed to have or produce child pornography).

Let's face it folks, every place has cencorship. There's no true free society.

Are they justified in banning the game in the UK? I don't know. But to be fair we have to admit that this is, in essence, no different than what happens all the time in places throughout the world.

Hame @ Jun 19th 2007 2:39PM

I'm from the UK and this is absolutely ridiculous. Once again videogames take the flak, and yet the BBFC seemingly have no problem with sick, disgusting, sado-masochistic movies like Saw and Hostel and the just released Vacancy (a charming little film about 'snuff movies' I believe) which depict violence and torture in a far more graphic and gratuitous way than any game could.

It seems that good old Hollywood with its god-like celebrities can get away with anything these days. But games are an easy target. The BBFC is totally gutless.

Mario @ Jun 19th 2007 2:51PM

Hold on a second, are you likening the killing of pixelated figures to the exploitation and molestation of children? Manhunt 2 isn't a snuf film, they didn't video capture actual murders or assaults. It's a video game. Are you seriously comparing it to child pornography? I'll make an argument that Manhunt 2 can be programmed, manufactured, sold and played without a crime being committed and without turning someone into a victim.

Now, you make the same argument with child pornogrpahy.

pete @ Jun 19th 2007 2:59PM

yeah, mario, we both read the same thing... stupid, stupid, stupid wedge.

soulbreather @ Jun 19th 2007 3:56PM

I LIVE IN ENGLAND AND I CAN'T SAY THE WORDS I REALLY WANT TO RIGHT NOW

James @ Jun 19th 2007 4:25PM

First they took the guns, but that didn't stop people from having violent thoughts. Then they installed cameras on every street corner, but that didn't stop people from having violent thoughts. Now they ban a video game in hopes of stopping violent thoughts.

When this doesn't work, what freedoms do you think they'll take away next, in the name of stopping violence?

evilcod @ Jun 19th 2007 5:34PM

But this is still getting a PAL release yeah? Ill still be able to import it for my PAL system?

gary jones @ Jun 19th 2007 8:52PM

i'm from england and i just want to say im glad its banned, thats what i'd say if i were a faggot ive had it with all this bullshit about games turning people into murderers, ive watched scary films all my life and played violent games since i could hold a controller and have i turned out to be a killer whose weapons of choice are shopping bags and shards of glass? obviously no i havent, its got an 18 certificate on it and im sure an 18 year old wouldnt be influenced by it would he? i was 13 when the first one came out and i wasnt influenced by it. its up to parents if they want their kid to play these games, not a bunch of morons who i saw on tv thought the incredibles game was too violent, yes thats right! you heard me.

Dan @ Jun 20th 2007 1:21AM

yeah, i don't see what was wrong with an 18+ year old playing this game. (and i'd even make the case that a good parent could buy this game for their well adjusted kid and there would be no harm.)