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154 Comments
- crisisaverted, on 10/11/2007, -19/+64What a crock of *****. The soccer moms have won
- StormyAaron, on 10/11/2007, -9/+52Uh, the ESRB Has no say over if a game can be banned, it really just gives guide lines to the parents (who actually use the system to see what is in the game) , It was Take Two's choice to postpone the game, but yeah the BBFC does have say over what the British people can handle or not.
- Dracker, on 10/11/2007, -1/+33The AO rating is not what we should be complaining about. This is not the ESRB's fault. As it stands now, it's an accurate rating for the game.
What deserves ridicule is Nintendo's and Sony's (as well as Microsoft's) unwillingness to allow an AO game to be published for their platforms. Buyers will see the rating and know what it is. The rating is appropriate. Shutting out the game from being published is not.
Keep in mind that all the ESRB did was rate the game. - dan.edwards, on 10/11/2007, -4/+33Look the ESRB just called a spade a spade. I think the AO rating sounds right for this game. That said, I should be able to buy this game. I am a adult and I want to play it! Besides this would be a great test for game stores to see if they will refuse to sell to minors or they are just giving lip service to the world.
- MatttK, on 10/11/2007, -5/+23Yeah, I think blaming the ESRB here is kind of like shooting the messenger.
- Dracker, on 10/11/2007, -2/+18You're right that the AO rating was warranted.
But Nintendo and Sony shouldn't ban AO games from their systems. Sure, it's bad taste to most people, but making a game like that is Rockstar's decision. I wouldn't buy it, but that's not the point. They should be allowed to make and sell the game. Adults should be able to buy it. - TimoP, on 10/11/2007, -1/+17"Would you play a game that had rape in it? of course not"
I watch movies and tv shows that have rape scenes. I read books that have rape scenes. Why wouldn't I play a game with rape in it? - orion846, on 10/11/2007, -1/+13How does Hostel II get a simple R rating and not get banned anywhere or even stir much conservative bitching, but Manhunt 2 somehow warrants mass censorship paranoia?
- Snakedal337, on 10/11/2007, -0/+12Im all for the first "Unrated" release of a game.
What amazes me however, is while retailers limit R rated items, unrateds can be sold to anyone of any age, without an ID check, and as everyone knows, the unrateds are usually worse that the R.
Our system is well beyond ass backwards. - sharod, on 10/11/2007, -4/+15Here's where the hypocrisy lies...
SONY, NINTENDO, and MICROSOFT ALL sell consoles that run from 250-700 dollars after taxes,etc... Who exactly do they think are buying these consoles? 10 year olds? 15 and 16 year olds? Hell no, majority of these EXPENSIVE consoles are being bought by working class ADULTS(people over 18). So for these companies to sell us(adults) these consoles, and then turn around and say: "well even though you're an adult and you bought our extremely expensive equipment, we don't want you to play the Adult rated games..." That makes a whole hell of alot of sense... - MrMxyzptlk, on 10/11/2007, -1/+10It also won't be released on a Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo console with the AO rating, which means the big retail chains couldn't sell it even if they wanted to.
- adml_shake, on 10/11/2007, -1/+10Actually you should blame the parents who point fingers everywhere but themselves. Their the reasons groups like the ESRP exist.
- ryanfelder, on 10/11/2007, -1/+8If they're clever, they'll tone the game down and sell both versions side by side, with 'Adults Only' in huge lettering on one, like the unrated version dvds that became popular so recently.
- shaka776, on 10/11/2007, -3/+8Why don't they allow them to make rated and unrated versions like DVDs?
- gcnaddict, on 10/11/2007, -3/+8Yes but then whose fault is that? Blame it on the retailers and console manufacturers who want to be mom-friendly. Don't blame it on an organization with no enforcement powers.
- joklem, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5But Jack Thompson said that if you do movements with your Wiimote in violent games, then it's a serial killer training program!
- Etchii, on 10/11/2007, -2/+7This is stupid, it's called personal responsibility and personal choice.
How can movies like the hills have eyes make it with scenes of rape and graphic violence, but a video game can not? This is blatently hipocritical and a blunt case of censorship.
Games like this should be allowed to be made, and handled the same way as rated R/Adult only movies are handled. It should be up to the retailers to enforce and parents to decide. - oodanner, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5If you want to be pissed off at someone be angry with Sony and Nintendo who stated they wouldn't release a game that had an AO ESRB rating on their consoles. Obviously take two has to go back to the drawing board to take out some of the gore so they can get a better ESRB rating.
- seanthebond, on 10/11/2007, -9/+14"Uh, the ESRB Has no say over if a game can be banned,"
Yes, but if the ESRB rates a game as AO, hardly anyone will sell it, including Wal-Mart, EB/GameStop, and Best Buy. So essentially, yes, they can ban the game. - Dracker, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4I'll take you up on that dare.
Your example is self defeating. Such a game would easily be AO and wouldn't sell, regardless of whether anyone banned it, due to lack of appeal. Movies, games, whatever, companies should be free to make them about whatever the hell they want. The limits of what they can make should be limited by what the people will buy, not some artificial boundary created by a nanny state, in this case publishers. - DarKnight90, on 10/11/2007, -3/+7ManHunt 2 is the main reason why I bought the Wii this summer. I'm 19, I work, I buy there product after they told me it won't be a "kiddie" system. This is complete *****. I'm sorry I don't want to play Warioware, or MarioParty. (I enjoy Zelda but already had the Cube version) I'm sorry I'm not 12 anymore, I'm an adult with adult tastes. ***** you Nintendo.
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4No, I think they were just creating a sequel to Manhunt which was an amazing game.
- theonlyvlad, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4as far as I know, no law in the US forced Sony and Nintendo to ban these games.
All I'm saying, is, this is not a problem with the law, nor ESBR, it's an issue with how AO content is treated by corporations. - n8r0n, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5Makes you wonder how this is going to affect GTA IV...
Are they going to need to tone down that game too? - apothekari, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4To call out the Elephant in the room...
I love how our governments see absolutely nothing wrong with incinerating or killing thousands of people in a vague at best justification for whatever the hell we are doing in the world yet polygonal sex or polygonal violence "is just too real" I really have no ***** confidence in our species at this point.
2012 can't come soon enough....***** morons. - inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4Because Manhunt is a learning device or whatever the ***** Jackass Thompson said.
- Kinjiru, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4I have emailed Rockstar/Take2 in support of their not only releasing this as a PC game but also for them to release this for Nintendo and Sony's systems labeled as "Unauthorized" and w/o their seal of approval. It's a mini-war of sorts but what are we.. sheep? Come on lets fight this pathetic censorship by Sony & Nintendo.. YOU have purchased the console(s) after all... do you reality want a "Big Brother" saying what you can and cannot play? Whats next.. your XYZ company DVD player refusing to let you watch an R rated movie?? This is beyond pathetic by N & S... it's time we FIGHT!!!
(Ohh and DIGG.. this new comment system SUCKS!!) - fani, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Its the same for movies too then.. Make sure we make only G movies in that case. ( that means no PG, PG-13, R etc. )
- oscarwp, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3If ninty knew what was good for it, it would allow this thing with the AO rating and advertise it that way. "Wii, great games to play with your kids and the parental controls for the great games you play without them." I want to play AO games and I'm an adult!
- Bahimiron, on 10/11/2007, -2/+5I'd rather have the ESRB rating a game and allowing console manufacturers and retailers deciding what can be sold than to have the government deciding what can and cannot be developed, produced or sold.
I mean, Germany does that, right? So what rating did Gears of War get? - TheTaoOfBill, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Any act of fictional media should be allowed to have any situation in it. No fictional work should be censored EVER. Let the market decide what is appropriate material for a video game. If people buy it then it is acceptable material. That's all there is to it. Of course ESRB isn't to blame. They just rate it. But those like nintendo who are trying to stop this game from being sold simply because it has very mature qualities are to blame for censoring freedom of speech.
- kelbear, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3The AO rating was appropriate, and the console companies banning AO games outright is unfortunate. The ESRB didn't do anything wrong, and the console companies are trying to protect an "image". I believe the console companies are misjudging this, they simply need to portray this game on their system as being "allowed" to publish, not being pushed forward by their company.
This is an AO game. There's nothing wrong with saying that. It's that that the COMBINATION of the rating and the game companies has changed the rating from Adults Only to Nobody At All. - Exhaust, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4Hey douche. It was never slated to come out on the PS3. Soooooo YOU shut the ***** up. Learn something before you open your pie hole.
- cwizard13, on 10/11/2007, -2/+5I honestly think that Take Two should go ahead and release ManHunt 2 BECAUSE of its AO rating. I mean, yes they will lose the backing of target and wallmart. They'll be banned in the UK and possibly Austrailia. But just think of all the people who'd line up at their local EB or whatever their countries equivalent is, to get the only mainstream AO rated game thats come out in a long time. I think the last AO rated game i remember seeing was called Crystal Fantasy back in the 90's and that was only cause of sexuality. I think that this AO rating A. Gives the game hype and publicity B. Gives it that charm and claim to fame.. People will want to brag to their friends that they have it and C. Would show the industry that gamers will support them. No disrespect to ESRB, they do good work. But not all gamers are children, and some gamers are mature enough to handle content that is gorey or sexual in nature. Just my 2 cents...
- DarKnight90, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3I never bought a PS3 so I'm not going to bitch about PS3.
- Krakn3Dfx, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4In the kids version, you play as a fat plumber in a red pair of overalls, and you have to track down mushrooms and step on them, and when you do that, a they disappear and gold coins appear...
Oh wait... - TheTaoOfBill, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3That's what the rating system is for, Genius. If you buy your kid an adult game no one is to blame but yourself. Especially with game stores cracking down on minors purchasing mature games without parental consent
- onimusha115, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4Hey, Nintendo said they wanted to reach a wider audience, and this is the game to do it, This a good way to get rid of that Kiddie image that the gamecube had. I'm fine with the AO rating, this game probably deserves it, the ESRB just did its job, whats not cool is that the manufacturers dont want the games on thier consoles. I say that the day a video game store has a "back room" of AO games will be a fine day indeed. Its about personal choice, no need to have someone decide for you what you can and cant handle.
- MeanGeno, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3YOU HAVE GOT TO BE ***** ME!
I swear, I do not understand what the ***** is the big deal about "violent" video games. If parents don't want their kids playing them, DONT BUY THEM and monitor them more closely. What a freaking joke. I was waiting for this game for over a year.
Why do people like jack thompson and others have to be so ***** stupid and ruin everything? It's just ridiculous. - ptsd, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3you can make a game where you murder 100's of people, thousands of people, millions of people...you can make a video game where you can wipe out whole planets possibly murdering billions of people. and it will get a teen rating. as long as there is no blood and no gore. as long as there is nothing to provoke a thought or feeling that what the video represents is the taking of another life.
this, the idea that in videogames murder and killing is ok as long as you dont show blood or suffering is completely ***** insane. - scooterbaga, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Good call. This is a problem with retailers and console makers deciding what games are "allowed" for us to consume, not the ratings boards.
It's still backwards as hell. Why not let us decide what we'd like to purchase for the systems/memberships we pay you for Nintendo, Sony, Blockbuster? - sardiax, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3Exactly, what we really need to break this ***** AO stigma is a triple A title released with an AO rating. What Rockstar really needs to do if it really wants to get some controversy and make some waves is get GTA 4 the AO rating and stick to it.
- merreborn, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3"Would you play a game that had rape in it? of course not"
There are tons of Japanese games that not only include rape, but are centrally focused on it. For example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapelay
Somebody's buying these games. Hell, there's such an active fan community around that game that people have self-released translation patches. So, yes, actually, some people would *love* to play games with rape in them.
Regardless, I agree: Manhunt 2 deserved the AO rating, hands down. What the hell were they expecting? - Krakn3Dfx, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3Welcome to the world where no one gives a ***** what you think. Plenty of people liked the first one, including me, and I'm looking forward to this one as well.
- tizz66, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3You must be new to digg - haven't you noticed that the free market people are only in favour of it until the free market turns against them? ;)
- emjaymj, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3I think you're going to have to come up with an idea more outrageous than "gangbanging kindergartners". If a developer wants to make that game, who cares? Do you really think people would suddenly become morally outraged just because character models in the game are made to look younger? It says more about you than it does about the people you're trying to preach to, because your obvious willingness to impose your quaint morals on others has led you to an argument that is flat out WRONG. Granted there will be a few exceptions, but generally the only people who would be crying about "Toddler Hunter" are the same people crying about Manhunt 2.
If you find the game distasteful, nobody is forcing you to play it. And if everybody really DID think the game was disgusting, nobody would buy it and the company would end up losing a LOT of money, which would in turn make developers think twice about releasing a similar game in the future. It's funny that generally the same group that become indignant about morals in a video game are modern-day conservatives, who seem to not trust very well the same capitalist system they otherwise place their faith in.
Besides, I don't think most people here even call the AO rating bull, so much as the fact that none of the console makers will allow AO games to be played on their system. The sentiment, from what I've read (save a few comments and the article poster himself), largely seems to be that it deserved the AO rating, just as "Toddler Hunter" would.
The fact is, you're building up an elaborate strawman argument. You're assuming that on some level, everybody shares the same naive morals with you, and you're attacking everyone else based on the picture of them that YOU'VE painted. - LogicBomB, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3This is like a movie getting an NC-17 rating. Nobody can stop it from being sold but when was the last time you saw an NC-17 movie lying around in the open?
- Lazyboy0172, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2sorry, didnt know who to reply to, im not clickin all those times just to see if this has been said:
the ratings for movies hardly work, why should it for games? just release an "unrated" version alongside an "edited version", so people know specifically what they are buying and stores will carry it
btw, thats the dumbest thing I've ever heard, true as it may be. Unrated director's cuts come out every week on dvd with added, more grotesque content that couldnt make it in the movie because it would have gotten NC17, but here in DVD-Land, they can release whatever they want, mark it unrated, and blockbuster will sell it to 14 year olds that couldnt go see the R rated film in theaters because there is no laws about content that is not rated at all. - moxley, on 10/11/2007, -2/+4What a pussy move by Rockstar - especially with all of the free publicity. In these days nothing is going to help a game sell more than media coverage of how supposedly twisted it is.
Be PROUD of your art. ESPECIALLY in the face of attempted censorship - Exhaust, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Yeah would suck to ruin the reputation of being a ***** kiddie console... terrible to loose that...
Nintendo is a bunch of pussies plan and simple. Same reason they have retarded credit card number Wii codes to connect with people online. They think they have to protect us from ourselves. -
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