British Classification body rules Rockstar cannot release upcoming PS2 and Wii sequel in the UK

"With Take 2 already in turmoil following the recent company-wide restructuring, the group has been dealt another blow with the news that Rockstar’s upcoming sequel Manhunt 2 has been rejected by the BBFC, meaning it cannot legally be supplied anywhere in the UK.

The only other game to ever be rejected by the body was Carmageddon in 1997, though that decision was overturned by the Video Appeals Committee.

"Rejecting a work is a very serious action and one which we do not take lightly,” BBFC director David Cooke stated. “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. Manhunt 2 is distinguishable from recent high-end video games by its unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone in an overall game context which constantly encourages visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing.

“There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed, and encouraged, in the game.


“Although the difference should not be exaggerated the fact of the game’s unrelenting focus on stalking and brutal slaying and the sheer lack of alternative pleasures on offer to the gamer, together with the different overall narrative context, contribute towards differentiating this submission from the original Manhunt game.

“That work was classified ‘18’ in 2003, before the BBFC’s recent games research had been undertaken, but was already at the very top end of what the Board judged to be acceptable at that category.

“Against this background, the Board’s carefully considered view is that to issue a certificate to Manhunt 2, on either platform, would involve a range of unjustifiable harm risks, to both adults and minors, within the terms of the Video Recordings Act, and accordingly that its availability, even if statutorily confined to adults, would be unacceptable to the public.”


In my opinion this is just the iceing on the cake, they can show what they like at the cinema or on TV, but we cant play a game because it might make someone violent, the BBFC are hypocrites.

Via MCFUk

Censorship disgusts me... If parents did their jobs and shielded their kids from violent shit like this then there would be no argument at all over this. videogames do not make people violent. PEOPLE make people violent. There has never been, and never will be a case where a straight A student, who has tons of friends and has a great homelife picks up grand theft auto or manhunt and then kills someone after playing it.

Look at the kid's backgrounds who go out and kill people after playing a videogame. They've been picked on, shoved around, neglected by parents, or had mental/emotional damage BEFOREHAND. Common sense says you keep violent media and weaponry from these types of kids, but parents nowadays are lazy, irresponsible, and just don't give a damn what their kids are getting into or going through and as a result we get schools being shot up, suicides, murders, etc, etc.

If this shit doesn't end soon then all faith in humanity is lost.

Now the game is rated AO, it might not sell in most store like Wall Mart or Target, well that what i heard.
Some people just dont get it.

Out of curiosity, what does this have to do with the psp? Shouldnt this section be only for psp news as we have other sections for other systems, etc.

It's coming out on PSP too...