'Manhunt 2' Gets 'Adults Only' ESRB Rating!

[J.M. Vargas]

http://gamepolitics.com/2007/06/19/wii-mote-prompts-watchdog-groups-demand-that-manhunt-2-be-adults-only/

Around the offices of Take Two Interactive, they’re likely calling this “Black Tuesday.”

In the wake of this morning’s word detailing Britain’s ban on Manhunt 2 comes more bad news for publisher Take Two and developer Rockstar.

Citing concerns over the Nintendo Wii’s popular motion control system, the Center for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) has demanded that Manhunt 2 be rated AO (adults only) by the ESRB. The game is scheduled for release in North America on July 9th.

Although Manhunt 2’s rating has not been made public to date, the ESRB says that it has already informed Take Two and Rockstar of the game’s rating.

The watchdog group’s demand was made this morning via letter to ESRB president Patricia Vance. In a press release, CCFC also says that it will launch a letter-writing campaign “so that parents and advocates for children could share their concerns.”

AO ratings for commercial video games are virtually unheard of and are considered the kiss of death at retail, since many stores won’t carry AO-rated titles. The only commercial game to receive an AO in recent memory was Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas following the 2005 discovery of the notorious Hot Coffee animations and the game’s subsequent recall.

From the CCFC press release:

In Manhunt 2, players can saw their enemies’ skulls in half; mutilate them with an axe; castrate them with a pair of pliers; and kill them by bashing their heads into an electrical box, where it is blown apart by a power surge. On Wii, players will not merely punch buttons or wield a joy stick, but will actually act out this violence…

Said CCFC co-founder, Dr. Susan Linn of Harvard:

If ever there was a time for the ESRB’s strongest and most unambiguous rating, it is now. An Adults Only rating is the only way to limit children’s exposure to this unique combination of horrific violence and interactivity…

An “M” rating is more like a wink and a nod than an effective safeguard. The industry appears to be going through its paces, but as the FTC’s most recent data show, these games are still being marketed to children.

Also quoted in the CCFC press release is Dr. Michael Rich, Director of the Center on Media and Child Health at Children’s Hospital Boston:

Video games are among the most powerful educational tools yet developed… players experience and learn the game’s skills, whether they be based in strategy, logic, or violence. The content of Manhunt 2 and the unique physical interaction with the Wii control combine to take this simulation a level closer to reality - we can expect that the effects of this experience will be even greater.

On June 6th GamePolitics broke the news that, prompted by Miami activist Jack Thompson, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum was looking into Manhunt 2 on the Wii. It is unknown what role, if any, Thompson may have played in the CCFC’s action, but it’s clear that he knew it was coming.

The original Manhunt, controversial in its own right, was rated M (17 and older) at the time of its release in 2003. In addition to the Wii version, Manhunt 2 is scheduled for release on PlayStation 2 and PSP.

A statement received by GamePolitics from ESRB president Patricia Vance said:

We have received the letter from CCFC and, while we might take issue with some of the statements made within, we sincerely appreciate their expressed concerns. Our ratings are intended to provide guidance that allows parents to choose games they deem suitable for their children, and that is a responsibility we take extremely seriously.

It should be noted that ESRB has already assigned a rating for the Wii, PS2 and PSP versions of Manhunt 2, and that rating has in fact already been communicated to the publisher. However, we are unable to publicly release the rating at this time as it is our policy that ratings be posted to our website 30 days following assignment, unless the game is released prior to the end of that period. This is done to give publishers the opportunity to consider modifying and resubmitting their games for rating or appealing the rating assigned to our Appeals Board should they wish to do so. We have not yet been notified by Rockstar as to what they intend to do with respect to our rating assignment.

This is either a stupid decision by Take Two to get some hype for a bad game by making it so violent it would get rated 'AO' (with the intention to release a watered-down 'MATURE' version all along) or a shocking lack of foresight. Regardless, if somehow an 'ADULTS ONLY' version of 'Manhunt 2' gets released on Wii (online directly through Rockstar's website) I will buy a Wii system to play it on principle alone. Since when are 'AO' such a plague to society? Oh yeah, since the MPAA set the standard with their ridiculous double-standard for 'NC-17' rated movies.

[Future Man]

The game sounds vile. The fewer the kids that get their hands on this, the better for us all.

[HGervais]

I tend to agree with Future. If indeed this is made available for sale to adults be it through their website or through a specialty dealer, I don't see what the big deal is. It isn't being buried or censored and there is an outlet for purchase, so everyone is good. I'm not a huge fan of industry mandated ratings either but just by your description it sounds like they got it right in this case.

[The Omen]

I tend to agree with Future. If indeed this is made available for sale to adults be it through their website or through a specialty dealer, I don't see what the big deal is. It isn't being buried or censored and there is an outlet for purchase, so everyone is good. I'm not a huge fan of industry mandated ratings either but just by your description it sounds like they got it right in this case.

I'm quite certain a M rating is all that's warranted. If Cannibal Holocaust can be had at Best Buy, why not Manhunt 2? I just bought Scarface for Wii and was carded at Best Buy, so I see no problem with the system when it's enforced.

The game sounds vile. The fewer the kids that get their hands on this, the better for us all.

Ugh...here we go again Futureman.

The M rating is to keep anyone from under 18 from purchasing the game. To completely wreck a game, or any art form to so called 'protect the children' is to ignore the laws that are already in place and the parents responsibility that comes with those laws.

I'm tired of people passing the buck. This game should be rated M for Mature, and that's plenty.

[Eric Profancik]

The M rating is to keep anyone from under 18 from purchasing the game. To completely wreck a game, or any art form to so called 'protect the children' is to ignore the laws that are already in place and the parents responsibility that comes with those laws.

I'm tired of people passing the buck. This game should be rated M for Mature, and that's plenty.

Cool. We can now get rid of the NC-17 rating. T'was quite unnecessary indeed.

[The Omen]

The M rating is to keep anyone from under 18 from purchasing the game. To completely wreck a game, or any art form to so called 'protect the children' is to ignore the laws that are already in place and the parents responsibility that comes with those laws.

I'm tired of people passing the buck. This game should be rated M for Mature, and that's plenty.

Cool. We can now get rid of the NC-17 rating. T'was quite unnecessary indeed.

It is, in fact, quite unnecessary.

[mkiker2089]

Personally I think NC17 was a good idea killed by the religious right. If it were debuted in a more liberal time then it would have worked. Not all NC17 movies are porn, but labeling anything "X" automatically equated porn. Unfortunately since NC17 didn't stick we are now saddled with home video being largely unrated which in essence puts Teletubbies and Debbie Does Dallas in the same category.

However in the video game market M means adult only, and AO means adult only. That really is redundant. M= 17+ according to the ESRB and AO means 18+ but it's the same thing really.

[HGervais]

I understand the idea behind rating something. Concerned parents like Future should have some kind of guide to help determine what they do or don't want their children to have access to. It is the stigma behind such ratings or labels that bothers me. Films should be able to show whatever it is the director feels like he/she needs to make their point. Music should be able to express whatever thoughts and ideas they want to. Games are the same thing...although it would really bother if they started rating books. Anyway, the idea of looking at something and seeing right there on the label that the game shows excessive violence would not stop me from buying it but it is nice to know that is what I'm getting into. If a movie is NC-17, great. I'm a big boy. It's when certain groups attack because of those two words and those two numbers without ever bothering to see the work for themselves and would dictate how and if I'm allowed to have access to it that bothers me. It may not be censorship but it is repressive. I guess I just think it is nice to have access to the information but as is often the case, I don't like the way the information is used against games/music/movies.

[Boba Fett]

I'll probably buy this game, since I loved the first, especially Brian Cox as 'Starkweather.'

Still, I really can't justify either game existing, as they are perhaps the most malicious, morally bankrupt titles I've ever seen.

Before the Wii came out, I made a joke to a friend, that Manhunt should get a sequel on it, if nothing more than to see the controversy it would cause. It looks like it's delivered.

[Future Man]

Ideally, obviously misanthropic material (i.e., hatred for all mankind) such as this would be met with the same univeral revulsion and condemnation that society quite properly levels against racism (i.e., hatred for a particular group of mankind), etc. The question should never simply be, 'can I?' but 'should I?'

[Andrew Forbes]

Ideally, obviously misanthropic material (i.e., hatred for all mankind) such as this would be met with the same univeral revulsion and condemnation that society quite properly levels against racism (i.e., hatred for a particular group of mankind), etc. The question should never simply be, 'can I?' but 'should I?'

My initial reaction to Future's comment was one of complete disagreement, but I realised that he has touched, indirectly, on an interesting point regarding objectionable content in games. We are quite willing to make the argument that violence on screen and violence in a game are roughly equivalent--that they are merely synthesized representations of real world concepts that we engage in passively, or at least harmlessly, and by extension we are more than willing to play a game in which we kill and maim. I wonder how many of us would be willing to play a game in which the protagonist is an active member of a KKK lynch mob, or a Nazi gas chamber worker, or a child rapist? I don't think many of us would advocate the censor or banning of such a game, simply because of our views on freedom of expression, but I think our attitude toward the player would be substantially different. And this is a game that lives or dies on the bloodlust of the player. So, as a huge fan of the GTA games who is quite amused by barreling down streets and flattening pedestrians, I wonder when we'll stop saying "I'm a big boy and I can play what I want" and ask "Why do I want to play?"

[Adam Arseneau]

I like how in all the controversy over the AO rating of Manhunt 2, people are studiously ignoring the fact that the first Manhunt was a lousy and boring game.

Maybe that's the reason why nobody will end up playing Manhunt 2.

[The Omen]

Ideally, obviously misanthropic material (i.e., hatred for all mankind) such as this would be met with the same univeral revulsion and condemnation that society quite properly levels against racism (i.e., hatred for a particular group of mankind), etc. The question should never simply be, 'can I?' but 'should I?'

That's not the point though. (it is a point however) Whether you should or shouldn't isn't what the rating is for, and no matter how evil you may think I am, I have the right to buy whatever I want. Now, my problem isn't only with the AO rating. In fact, I wouldn't have a problem at all except for the fact that the system is set up so that any Adults Only title is basically wiped off the map. From the consoles and from the stores. That's huge BS and another case of the sniveling swine banning a work of art because they don't like it. It's the same thing with NC 17. Both ratings cover up what is really happening-they are taking our books and burning them because they think they're evil, or may cause problems for the power guys, or perhaps give too much knowledge...whatever the case may be. The ratings are pure and simple bull, and if we simply either allowed them to be sold with the AO or NC17 to the targeted audience, or actually enforced the M and R ratings, I would be fine. The fact that people defend idiots who make choices for us is simply stunning. And lazy.

[Shmoooooo]

Ideally, obviously misanthropic material (i.e., hatred for all mankind) such as this would be met with the same univeral revulsion and condemnation that society quite properly levels against racism (i.e., hatred for a particular group of mankind), etc. The question should never simply be, 'can I?' but 'should I?'

That's not the point though. (it is a point however) Whether you should or shouldn't isn't what the rating is for, and no matter how evil you may think I am, I have the right to buy whatever I want. Now, my problem isn't only with the AO rating. In fact, I wouldn't have a problem at all except for the fact that the system is set up so that any Adults Only title is basically wiped off the map. From the consoles and from the stores. That's huge BS and another case of the sniveling swine banning a work of art because they don't like it. It's the same thing with NC 17. Both ratings cover up what is really happening-they are taking our books and burning them because they think they're evil, or may cause problems for the power guys, or perhaps give too much knowledge...whatever the case may be. The ratings are pure and simple bull, and if we simply either allowed them to be sold with the AO or NC17 to the targeted audience, or actually enforced the M and R ratings, I would be fine. The fact that people defend idiots who make choices for us is simply stunning. And lazy.

I gotta admit, The Omen makes a very good point. While I think a game like Manhunt is disgusting and immoral ... and while I think that the people who made that game deserve to have a hard time falling asleep at night ... I can't say that I have a right to stop people from playing it. While I agree that children should not be allowed to play the game, who am I to tell a fellow adult that he has no right to play that game??? If AO games were allowed to be played on consoles and yet were enforced in such a way so that children could not buy it ... then I really don't see the problem. If M rated games were equally prevented from being played by children then there wouldn't be such a concern. It is really too bad that this is not the world we live in ... truly. Unfortunately, these games are sold to children all the time ... there is little, if any, enforcement. And, as such, the rating system is worth less then the cost of the ink used in the rating logo ... with the exception of AO ... which is so strong that it will prevent a game from being sold. Do I like this system??? No, absolutely not. Would I vote for it to be changed to something like what I had stated previously??? Definately. Given the fact that "M" rated games are sold to kids all the time, would I be comfortable with Manhunt 2 given a rating of "M"??? Not a chance. The lesser of two evils here is to prevent kids from playing Manhunt 2 ... as opposed to stopping grown adults from playing it.

I am truly sorry that the AO rating is a death sentence for any game that it is placed upon ... and I hope that changes ... but as long as the "M" rating means little more then the "E" rating ... then I have to consider that a very large percentage of consoles are used by kids. A Very large percentage. I have to consider that games based on torture and murder with no redeeming qualities are quite a lot different from the Half-Life and Doom "uber-violent" games of their time. Against everything I once held dear, I think I find myself in a position I never thought I'd find myself in ... I think I just sided with Futureman. As much as I wished I lived in a society that games like that could be made and only adults could buy them I have to acknowledge that I don't ... and as such, Manhunt 2 cannot be played by Adults who have every right to play it. I don't like this situation ... but until things change it seems to be the best course of action.