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Joined: Nov 29 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 91

This is the same exact shit that MMPA pulls in the movie industry with it's deadly "NC-17" rating. There's a great documentary out there called "This Film Is Not Yet Rated" which exposes a lot of this hypocracy, but it's been pretty hard to find since it was originally punished with an...NC-17 rating (I think its rating has actually been changed to "unrated" now). What is this magical distinction between 17 and 18 where suddenly explicit sex, nudity, and ultraviolence are just A-OK for you?

Posted: Jun 26 2007 09:49 am

The thing is, stuff can get an NC-17 rating and still get a release... you just need to know where to look.

If you live in a big city like Boston, LA, or Chicago, there are movie theaters that cater to movie connosieurs by playing every limited release film that comes out. When The Aristocrats came out, a few mainstream theaters around here even showed it.

A game that gets an AO rating is going to have similar status. It's not going to stocked in places like Wal*Mart and Best Buy, making it hard for unsuspecting children to somehow accidentally get their hands on it. You're gonna have to go looking for this game, and retailers are most definitely going to card you to buy it. And that should be enough.

Limited release due to extreme rating + carding at time of purchase = a violent game that only dedicated mature gamers will ever own

Joined: Nov 29 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 91

When an independent film like The Aristocrats gets a limited release becuase of an NC-17 rating, it's not such a huge loss for the film company, since the budget was probably quite low to begin with. Take-Two has probably spent a TON of money on developing Manhunt 2, and if it gets relegated to obscure consumer channels due to its rating, Take-Two will either take a huge loss or charge an absurd amount of money for the game to help offset some of the development costs. It REALLY sucks to be them right now.

Posted: Jul 09 2007 01:47 pm

Manhunt 2 (delayed because of the ratings controversy over its violence) will feature an ending based on in-game actions.

According to NGamer, (via Kotaku), the game's final level will be determined by your conduct in the rest of the game. So psychos who kill puppies and whatnot will get a "darker" ending then players who don't eviscerate the innocent.

Some people don't think a lighter tone will help. The game is just dark. And dark games are okay for adults to play. Let's call a spade a spade and stop apologizing for the more violent faces of human nature. Ignoring things doesn't make them go away.

Posted: Aug 01 2007 10:20 pm

http://ps2.ign.com/articles/809/809808p1.html
The appeals battle begins!!!

Quote:

Six weeks after the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) refused to give Manhunt 2 an age rating in the UK - effectively banning the game from sale - Rockstar has lodged an appeal to get the decision overturned.

Yesterday Rockstar made its plea to the Video Appeals Committe (VAC) - which has the power to overrule the BBFC - although it's not known on what grounds the developer is basing its defence. Manhunt 2 was refused classification because of its "unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone... which constantly encourages visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing".

Speaking to IGN about its appeal, a Rockstar spokesperson said: "Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. confirmed today that Rockstar Games has appealed the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) decision that prohibited the release of any version of Manhunt 2 in Britain."

Meanwhile, the BBFC said that no further comment could be made at this time because the appeal process is a legal one, meaning Rockstar just has to wait while John Woods, VAC chairman, selects indvidiuals for an appeal panel who will then vote as to whether the ban stays in place. The BBFC has confirmed it will announce when the panel has been formed.

Posted: Aug 01 2007 11:10 pm

You know there was another dark game years ago, that reminds me alot of the Manhunt fiasco, Kingpin.

Anybody else remember this game?

Very violent, very profrane, and very controversial. It even came up in the senate, as they looked to blocked the game. But, yet it got released, and acually got good reviews.

How did it get released?

The company placed this message on the game, and showed it again on the installation screen:

"In light of the recent acts of youth-related violence that have taken place across America we thought that you should know how 'Kingpin' was initially conceived. Kingpin was never intended for children. This is a game with mature themes made for a mature audience. There was never any attempt to market or influence children to buy Kingpin."

Posted: Aug 02 2007 12:02 am

So it might get released in Britain. But what does this mean for 'Merican audiences? I only care about games I can here... in 'Merica!

Posted: Aug 02 2007 12:04 am

We'll just have to pirate the UK version, instead of the american version, like we normally do.

Posted: Aug 02 2007 12:08 am

Follow-up questions:

If it gets released in Britain, will it only be on PS2 or will it be on the Wii as well?
Does the Wii have regional lockouts?
Since 'Merica is better than the UK, if the game gets released there, will 'Merica be shamed into releasing it as well?

Posted: Aug 02 2007 01:29 am

I figured since they were appealing in the UK, the US would be the next step. Fight one battle at a time. The game will at least get a release here, which made the UK a more viable target.

Posted: Aug 02 2007 01:34 am

The only fight on our shores is over the AO rating. They want a M, becasue if they get an AO, most major retail stores won't carry it. (Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target, etc.)

Posted: Aug 02 2007 02:46 pm

I'll make sure that it gets released the American way!

IN AMERICA!!!

Posted: Aug 02 2007 03:27 pm

Char Aznable wrote:

I'll make sure that it gets released the American way!

IN AMERICA!!!

Damn, you beat me to it Char.

Posted: Aug 24 2007 02:47 pm

So, Rockstar edited content, and the ESRB gave 'em a shiny new M rating.

http://wii.ign.com/articles/815/815446p1.html

Release date: Halloween.

(edited)

Joined: Feb 24 2006 Posts: 2578

Mr. Bomberman wrote:

So, Rockstar broke down, edited content, and the ESRB gave 'em a shiny new M rating.

And by "broke down" you mean "wanted to actually be able to sell their product."

Posted: Aug 24 2007 02:56 pm

DarkMaze wrote:

Mr. Bomberman wrote:

So, Rockstar broke down, edited content, and the ESRB gave 'em a shiny new M rating.

And by "broke down" you mean "wanted to actually be able to sell their product."

Yup.

Now, they just have to win back a better rating from the Brits.