By now, everyone knows about the controversy surrounding the possible rating of Manhunt 2 as an AO (adults only) game. Sony and Nintendo have vowed not to publish the game if it gets an AO rating.
It already has been banned in the UK because the British Board of Film Classification refused to rate it, which for all intents and purposes, means the game cannot be sold.
However, the boys at Rockstar aren’t taking this laying down and have responded to the complaints of various activist groups about the violence contained within the game — especially that of the Wii version where gamers mimic the motions of stabbing, hacking and strangling their victims with the WiiMote.
Strauss Zelnick, chairman of Take Two said, "The Rockstar team has come up with a game that fits squarely within the horror genre and was intended to do so. It brings a unique, formerly unheard of cinematic quality to interactive entertainment, and is also a fine piece of art."
Of course, others would refer to Manhunt 2 as a piece of something else, but we can’t say it because GamerNode would be rated "AO." (not really, but we thought it was funny.)
CCFC chairman, David Cooke, head of a children’s activist group said, ""There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed, and encouraged, in the game."
Zelnick concluded, "The stories in modern videogames are as diverse as the stories in books, film and television. The adult consumers who would play this game fully understand that it is fictional interactive entertainment and nothing more."
Bottom line? Take Two is getting lots of free publicity and they’ll be laughing all the way to the bank.
[via BBCnews]
