Rockstar Games will finally release its long-awaited sequel “Manhunt
2” in North America after the Entertainment
Software Rating Board (ESRB) has rated the title “M” for Mature for ages 17 and
older. Along with the Mature rating, the ESRB also assigned the following
content descriptors to “Manhunt 2”: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong
Language, Strong Sexual Content and Use of Drugs. As a result, “Manhunt 2” will
be released for PS2, PSP and Nintendo Wii in October.
“Manhunt 2” is the debut title from the newly formed
Rockstar London studio, which is developing the game in conjunction with series
creator Rockstar North.
In June Rockstar Games decided to suspend the release of the
horror title when the ESRB issued an AO (Adults Only) rating. The ESRB decision
was equivalent to a potential financial disaster because the retailers like
WalMart or BestBuy will never sell an AO-rated game.
Two years ago, when Rockstar was caught in a middle of a
scandal due to a sex-minigame hidden in its GTA: San Andreas, the game was re-rated
as AO instead of M. Take Two decided to recall the game rather than sell it
with the new rating.
Also Rockstar Games was forced to modify its game because Nintendo
or Sony had said they won’t support on their gaming platforms an AO
rated-title.
"Games made for Nintendo systems enjoy a broad variety
of styles, genres and ratings. These are some of the reasons our Wii and
Nintendo DS systems appeal to such a broad range of people. But as with books,
television and movies, different content is meant for different audiences.
That's why the ESRB provides ratings to help consumers understand the content
of a game before they purchase it. As stated on Nintendo.com, Nintendo does not
allow any AO-rated content on its systems." a Nintendo spokesman said in
June.
Sony adopted a similar position. "It's currently our
policy not to allow the playback of AO-rated content on our systems." stated
a Sony official two months ago.
So, in order to get the “M” rating Rockstar Games has
submitted to the ESRB a modified version of “Manhunt 2”
“Manhunt 2 is important to us, and we’re glad it can finally
be appreciated as a gaming experience,” said Sam Houser, founder and executive
producer of Rockstar Games. “We love the horror genre. Manhunt 2 is a powerful
piece of interactive story telling that is a unique video game experience. We
think horror fans will love it.”
Also two months ago, Manhunt 2 became famous as the first
game to be banned in UK
in the last ten years after it was rejected by the BBFC (British Board of Film
Classification) the British equivalent of ESRB.
"Where possible we try to consider cuts or, in the case
of games, modifications which remove the material which contravenes the Board’s
published Guidelines. In the case of Manhunt 2 this has not been
possible," David Cooke, director of the BBFC, said in a statement at the
time. Ten years ago, BBFC banned Carmageddon, but the initial decision
was overturned after SCi’s appeal.
Also, shortly after BBFC’s decision, Manhunt 2 was banned in
Ireland.
Earlier this month, Rockstar Games confirmed for MCV that it
has appealed the ban of Manhunt 2 in UK,
but for the moment the status of the appeal is still unknown.
Manhunt 2 seems to have the same gameplay as the original game,
but there are two playable characters, Daniel Lamb and Leo Kasper. They both must
escape from Dixmor Institute for the Criminally Insane in order to find out
their true identities.
Manhunt, released in 2003, was also criticized for its
explicit violent scenes and the vulgar language, but apparently those elements
were also what ensured the game’s success on the market. Manhunt was rated as
18+ in UK
and Ireland,
and M in US. Shortly after its launch the game was banned in Germany and New Zealand.