High Court orders Manhunt 2 release to be re-evaluated
Gory game to hit the shelves at last?
The controversial ‘slasher’ videogame Manhunt 2 is to be re-assessed by the UK's Video Appeals Committee (VAC) after the High Court this week judged its decision that the game should be released was legally flawed.
Rockstar's Manhunt 2: release to be re-evaluated
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) ruled in October 2007 that the game is too violent to be allowed on UK shelves, but developer Rockstar appealed against that verdict.
Reviewing the appeal, the VAC said the game should be given a release in the UK.
However, following a day-long hearing at the English High Court yesterday, Mr Justice Mitting noted that the VAC based its initial decision on the game’s likelihood to cause "devastating harm". He said that the law made no mention of this degree of damage, and that the VAC should therefore reconsider its decision.
A spokeswoman for the BBFC told Register Hardware that it will decide on its next course of action once the VAC has re-assessed the game. “There are adults who could be classed as vulnerable and we’re legally bound to protect them from games like Manhunt 2, as well as children,” she said.
It’s impossible to speculate, at this stage, what the seven-member VAC panel’s second verdict will be. But the original ruling was a close one: When it originally ruled against the BBFC’s ban, the VAC’s decision was based on four people in favour of the game’s UK sale and three against.
COMMENTS
Re: This game is crap?
Good point, it is just a game.... therefore get over the fact that an officially appointed body sees fit not to certificate it and get on with your life.
You are right, whether it's crap or not isn't the issue. I think the BBFC have taken an considered, intelligent stance over this game, which is more than most of the posters here and elsewhere have taken.
Why are people so upset about not being able to play this game - if it had never existed, would your life be any worse?
The children! Who will think of them?
If computer games influenced children then my generation would spend their time in darkened rooms, munching pills while listening to repetitive electronic music... oh wait.
borrowed without permission from Markus Brigstocke
The game is crap?
@ Those people commenting that the ban should go ahead because the game is crap...
That is your own personal opinion and not reason enough to justify banning a game.
Lets be real here people, its just a game... I played the original and I've never been tempted to go out and make my own snuff movie.
*Exactly*
"Again, the difference between a movie and a game, is that you're encouraged to "do" the bad things. In a movie, you just watch it happen and don't get the choice to be "evil" - it's not that subtle a difference."
I couldn't agree more. This is the thing everyone glosses over when comparing films with video games. Film ask you to watch what's going on, games ask you to take part. That's a *massive* difference. Sure, there might be gory scenes in films like Saw, but you watch someone else carrying it out and it's more likely that you feel empathy with the victims not the sicko carrying it out. Games like Manhunt ask you to *be* the sicko and stepping into those shoes on a regular basis and getting fun and reward out of doing it is not a good thing to be doing, especially when kids get hold of it.
At the end of the day, just what sort of person do you have to be in the first place to be uspet that a game like Manhunt2 got banned? If you're desperate for this game and aren't happy with the hundreds of other games available, then perhaps you should take a good look in the mirror and ask yourself why your desire to play games like this is so strong.
Bargain bucket? Yes please.
If it is really that bad then I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. Could be just what my dusty PS2 has been waiting for.
