Take-Two: Manhunt 2 will be published

[Chevron]

Publisher states that it 'will do whatever we need to do' to bring the banned UK and US title to market, slams the US ratings system.
By Emma Boyes, GameSpot UK
Posted Jul 9, 2007 6:36 pm PT

The would-be publisher of violent stealth-action game Manhunt 2 has vowed to release the controversial title following its outright banning in the UK (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6172830.html) and its de facto banning in the US. Take-Two Interactive executives said the company stood by the title, which it called "art," and promised it would eventually see a release.

Take-Two chairman Strauss Zelman stressed that he believed the company took its social responsibility very seriously. "We also have hundreds of extraordinarily talented people who have worked on this title for three years, and supporting their creative vision and bringing it to consumers as unvarnished and unchanged as possible is crucial to us," he said during the call.

The chairman added that Take-Two subsidiary Rockstar Games, which publishes Manhunt and the Grand Theft Auto series, sees itself as a producer of games rated M for Mature. However, Zelman did say Take-Two would stand by its game, even if it bore the dreaded AO for Adults Only rating. "We don't see ourselves in the Adults Only business," he told analysts listening to the call. "Having said that, if we find ourselves in the Adults Only business, it would be because we have a title that we consider art and entertainment, that we consider if appropriately labelled AO, and that we would like to bring to market."

Zelman also was critical of the American rating system, where the game received an Adults Only (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6172743.html) rating from the Entertainment Software Ratings Board, a certificate intended to ensure that products don't make it into the hands of those under 18. However, the majority of major retailers refuse to stock adult only rated products, and Sony and Nintendo (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6172830.html) also refuse to allow AO rated games on to their consoles.

The chairman pondered, "What is the purpose of a rating if it means effectively that a title cannot be released?...Having a rating that we don't think is appropriate is one issue, obviously, and a separate issue would be if we feel the rating is appropriate and we can't bring it to market…that seems somewhat nonsensical."

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6173894.html?tag=nl.e578

[Ruandre]

Why are everyone so damn paranoid? The film industry doesn't have to deal with this kind of ****. I mean, just take something like Saw, or 300, or whatever as an example – lots of gore and stuff, yet no AO rating. Why don't they rather take steps to ensure that parents and/or stores actually use the rating system? </rant>

[Miktar]

Because most parents are lazy, uneducated and arrogant. Parents don't actually take the time, energy or spend the effort to raise their children.

[Ruandre]

...and consequently, the development (maturity?) of the Video Game industry must suffer.

[Toi]

I think that parents are also very self centered and pre-occupied way to much with jobs and stuffz.

When I think of parents I think of it the same as any relationship....sacrifice. You're time isn't only yours anymore, it's you're kids time too. People should think about stuff like this before they have kids. You should think, feel, be you're kid. It's deep stuff but it's the truth, being a good parent is being a parent and a kid at the same time.

Boy, I'm serously gonna be like the best dad eva!!!

@Ruandre: You're right. Take something as violent as Hostel, my little cousin who's 15 watched the bloody movie. They don't control which movies kids watch in any way what so ever.

Btw, it's really funny how they refer to the game as "art". LOL!!!!!

[Repline]

Why are everyone so damn paranoid? The film industry doesn't have to deal with this kind of ****. I mean, just take something like Saw, or 300, or whatever as an example ? lots of gore and stuff, yet no AO rating. Why don't they rather take steps to ensure that parents and/or stores actually use the rating system? </rant>

Not this discussion again. This usually turns out bad.

I have already made my point on this. Movies like Saw and 300 gets age restrictions, usually, 18, with our new constitution 18 yo is now officially adults so an AO restriction is the same as a 18 rating. The question here is really how can we hamper this product to fall into the hands of a child. Banning is the only option AT THIS POINT. Certain parents just don't care and it is not the banning of a product that "let the development of VG industry suffer" those parents are the responsible ones. Up to the point where a better procedure than banning is proposed (and it works), banning is the governments only option.

Yes, I say the gaming community is being punished because of the negligence of SOME parents, because they themselves are irresponsible. Do you have a better IDEA, that will actually work in stopping a under 18 yo getting the game?

As for banning, some of the community believe, banning is politically incorrect, I agree, but up to this point there is no point in saying this to me; As the other proposed option is even more ludicrous and ridiculous than banning.

[Ruandre]

I've been playing violent games and watching violent films for as long as I can remember. Until I go out and blast a whole bunch of people to smithereens, I will continue believing that age restrictions don't mean dilly ****. So there.

[Repline]

Fair enough.

However,

Just remember those words should you in 10 years time catch your 8 yo son watching a hardcore porn movie. Seeing as it will have no affect on him whatsoever. ;)

[Ruandre]

Well, firstly, I don't want to have kids. Secondly, I believe parents should have an open and honest relationship with their children. Parents should carefully and accurately answer anything their children ask, irrespective of their age. They might not be able to understand everything at some ages, but they would trust you enough to speak to you about any questions they might have in the future – instead of learning about things (such as sex, but also death and other basic moral reasonings) from friends who have a poor understanding of it themselves.

[Toi]

^^ Ditto, if only all parents would actually do it.

[wisp]

I've been playing violent games and watching violent films for as long as I can remember. Until I go out and blast a whole bunch of people to smithereens, I will continue believing that age restrictions don't mean dilly ****. So there.


didn't take long this on to get back on the forums
@Ruandre-i second that
as i said banning doesn't solve the problem, it just heightens interest.im really hope that for those who will buy this game "just to see what all fus is about" that it is a worthwhile purchase
:(

[Ruandre]

didn't take long this on to get back on the forumsUm, please put some more effort into your replies, it's often quite difficult to understand what you're trying to say.

[Toi]

I think he meant for the whole banning\no banning argument to come back.

[wisp]

I think he meant for the whole banning\no banning argument to come back.

thats excately what i mean't we had a major debate on this subject two or three weeks ago..it is done and dusted , sorry if i wasn't clear on my reply :D
http://forums.tidemedia.co.za/viewtopic.php?t=2628&sid=531ef7d6c8ffca53ba62f9bcf605dd78

[Azimuth]

I've been playing violent games and watching violent films for as long as I can remember. Until I go out and blast a whole bunch of people to smithereens, I will continue believing that age restrictions don't mean dilly ****. So there.

You're awesome.

[Ruandre]

You're awesome.Um, thanks?

[Azimuth]

Yes, it was a compliment. Thank you for being the articulate voice of reason.

[Ruandre]

I really am thankful, I just don't want to seem like I think a lot of myself, you know.

[Chevron]

This is off topic, but looking at Ruandre avatar made me think of shaun of the dead. The guy hit zombies with his cricket bat.

[Ruandre]

The guy hit zombies with his cricket bat.Good fun, wouldn't you agree?

[Azimuth]

This is off topic, but looking at Ruandre avatar made me think of shaun of the dead. The guy hit zombies with his cricket bat.


You did not just go there.

[Repline]

Seeing as this topic is bringing back memories, AZIMUTH, what ever happened to Oneoa? Last time I saw her post was when me and her discussion on Manhunt went.... devastatingly? Haven't seen her posts in quite sometime!

[wisp]

Seeing as this topic is bringing back memories, AZIMUTH, what ever happened to Oneo? Last time I saw her post was when me and her discussion on Manhunt went.... devastatingly? Haven't seen her posts in quite sometime!

Onona has left the forum and probably won't be coming back . happened about two weeks ago in the trashcan .

[Ruandre]

Yeah, I'm really going to miss her input, especially in the Film threads (Onona).

[Repline]

Onona has left the forum and probably won't be coming back . happened about two weeks ago in the trashcan .

Could not have been a very nice one. She was one tough cookie (no disrespect meant).

Anyways back to the point @ Ruandre, I agree with you dont get me wrong (something I should have said to Onona as well)

However Im just fighting for those kids that do not have parents who will "parent" them in respectable way. That does not care to teach their children in what is right and what is wrong. Those who gets a good "parenting" are excluded from the rule. Be honest to your children yes. Should they ask questions, answer them, yes. However there is parents who just does not care. They will give their children a porn movie / or gory game just for the heck of it and even encourage it. I think that is a bit morrally instable?

Am I so wrong? Should children get full blown access to everythin inmoral almost evil at their age on purpose? Do you really think it will have no consequences at a later age of his life?

[Jedi]

It's funny seeing this considering I just had an argument with someone regarding violence in video games. I'll be honest and say I never really enjoyed manhunt when it came out, it just felt like much of the same to me. Interesting facts that have been brought to my attention though "the average child sees about 200,000 random acts of violence in the media (TV, Movies,games,news etc...) and about 16 000 murders before they hit the age of 16", it occurred to me that brainwashing seemed an adequate label for that little titbit.

Obviously to me banning would not have been the best move for the game, all that has achieved is giving the game great free press from a gamers perspective. Even though I never enjoyed the first game I am intrigued to see what has got the respective governments up in arms over the sequel, and I say this knowing the first one went through similiar cycle.

It all seems rather stupid to ban video games!

[Garson007]

Unlike Movies, games are interactive, you do the action, not see someone do the action. There's a big whooping difference. That said I played Doom, Duke Nukem etc. all when I was under the age of 10. I can’t say I’m a better person because of it and I can’t say I’m a worse. That’s the problem with human “research” as we can’t replicate the same reality twice; once without the influance and another with.