Kotaku
Take-Two just confirmed with Kotaku that the Entertainment Software Ratings Board gave both the PS2 and Wii versions of Manhunt 2 a preliminary rating of Adults Only, which would essentially bar it from all of the Wal-Marts and Targets of the world.
"The ESRB has issued an initial rating of AO (Adults Only) for Manhunt 2," Take-Two said in a prepared statement. "We believe the process of rating videogames is to help people make informed entertainment choices and not to limit them. Manhunt 2 was created for mature audiences and we strongly believe it should receive an M (Mature) rating, aligning it with similar content created in other forms of media. We are exploring our options with regard to Manhunt 2."
The rating comes in the wake of a campaign spearheaded by the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood to get the Wii version of the game an AO rating.
The Campaign was asking people to send an email to the ESRB's Patricia Vance calling for the game to be rated Adults Only, essentially comparing it to an X or unrated movie, because of the "unprecedented combination of video game violence and the interactive Wii platform." Up until that point the letter, while I don't exactly agree with it, at least makes sense. But then it goes on to say that giving Manhunt 2 anything less would be saying that the ESRB condones the marketing of violent video games to children. Keep in mind that a mature rating means 17 or older, while an AO means 18 or older.
The ESRB's Patricia Vance responded earlier today, saying they were waiting for Rockstar's response to their rating:
"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."
The ball is now in Take-Two's court. According to the ESRB a publisher may either accept the rating as final or revise the game's content and resubmit the game to the ESRB, at which time the process starts anew. Publishers also have the ability to appeal an ESRB rating assignment to an Appeals Board, which is made up of publishers, retailers and other professionals.
Comments
Good, we can't have this falling into the hands of all those 17 year olds.
If this actually releases at AO I'll buy it, I've always wanted one of those.
I never planned on buying this game until I heard of the AO rating. Interesting...
They've really got themselves in an interesting situation. An AO game won't make much money at all, but changing the game itself would make them seem like they're giving up.
Although honestly, is there a difference in the level of violence that an 18-year-old can handle that a 17-year-old can't? It's so arbitrary.
AO eh? Didnt expect that
Still, at least USers will be able to buy it, unlike us UKers!
i guess nintendo got more mature than they expected
I am really interested in this game as of today..and I'm aware how shitty the first one was.
now i MUST have this horribly violent, highly-controversial game.
Hey, that's not fair. Why only the Wii version? So the Wii will either be AO or watered down. That sucks!
...and finally, the console-based Adults-Only-rated game was decided upon.
And no one cared outside Jack Thompson.
I think this is going to turn into a "Fight for the Hard R instead of an NC-17 kiss of death" situation like the movies.
On an artistic note, I'd love them to say "Fine, no one under 17 SHOULD be playing this game anyway!" and accept their rating. But not being in brick and mortar stores are going to kill the sales of this game.
@Cereal Killer: The key difference isn't in the age groups for whom the title is appropriate, but which retailers will carry the game.
Obviously the actual numbers are just smoke and mirrors for what essentially amounts to the ESRB's power to censor any game they see fit. Just the kind of bullshit that people in prior Kotaku comment threads said would "never happen," as this whole movement is just about preventing kids from purchasing certain games and couldn't have anything at all to do with granting the ESRB the power to decide what gets released and what doesn't.
I am not sure if this will exactly PREVENT children from obtaining the game. There are parents that would buy these games for kids regardless the violence level and it certainly won't help Take-Two's sales by banning it from Walmart and Target... Then again, banning it from giant retail stores like Walmart and Target might just be a way to keep those types of parents from purchasing for kiddies.
@Cereal Killer: It's really arbitrary. It's not that they think 17 year olds shouldn't have access to this game, it's the fact that an AO rating will prevent many big retailers from carrying it due to store policies. So effectively, they don't just want children to not be playing this game, they don't want anyone to be playing this game.
wow, keeping it out of some of the big box stores, that's ballsy...hope it pays off.
i didnt really dig part 1 that much, but i gotta admit, im intrigued now, much like when books get burned.
Wii gets an AO game before 360 or PS3...I love irony
Won't someone PLEASE think of the children?!
They're trying their fucking hardest to make sure Wii gets nothing but kiddie games.....
by hook or by crook.
Again, people completely forget how horrible the original Manhunt wants. Game sells on pure shock factor alone.
first, its banned in the UK, and now people want to give it an AO rating, what is the world's problem with this game? its not like a 17 year old would run down the street with a glass bottle, sneak up on people and then brutally decapitate them, while an 18 year old would understand the difference between right and wrong. if you dont want your kids to play this game then dont let them buy it/play it. im 15, but my dad would buy it for me, anyways, so it doesn't matter. anyway, id like this game more now, just because it would give me a game with every rating from the ESRB in my colection
Hell, if it gets an AO rating, I'll buy it for spite.
Sooooo, what was the last game that go AO in America? I would like to have a comparison.
They've just garuanteed that this will be the top selling game when it comes out. People that wouldn't have even looked twice will buy the game just to see how violent it is and videos will flood YouTube...
@EmeraldDragon: Hell, if it gets an AO rating, I'll buy it for spite.
I'm leaning towards a purchase too even if it just sits on a shelf in the packaging.
If it is AO, I'll buy it anyways. I am 22, and I think it is time, after so many years, that they use AO and stop it from being a pariah.
Take two, don't punk out on this. Accept the AO and make this shit hardcore.
@Gremory:
[en.wikipedia.org]
Wikipedia says it's mostly just naughty computer games and San Andreas. :)
The Campaign was asking people to send an email to the ESRB's Patricia Vance calling for the game to be rated Adults Only, essentially comparing it to an ... unrated movie
So this means I'll be able to buy it in Wal-Mart next to the unrated version of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, then?
I know I'm dreaming, but imagine the industry going bananas in reaction to an AO game selling relatively well.. for the Wii.
I might have to buy a few copies, to help sales move along. Just hand 'em out as gifts. Father's Day, July 4th, Valentine's Day, toss 'em off of floats at Mardi Gras.. that kinda thing.
@Gremory:
The last AO-based games were... well... the old version of San Andreas, which was pulled from almost all shelves before the rating was passed anyhow...
...and an 'uncut' version of the last Leisure Suit Larry game. On the PC only.
Developers should not be afraid of the AO rating, though it limits the huge bank that may be made from wider release, it extends the freedom they have to put what they want into the game. big titles like Manhunt being released with an AO rating will hopefully give future developers more courage when facing the ESRB and help them to see AO as a kickass elite rating rather than a death sentence.
Kiss of death.
@Gremory: Sooooo, what was the last game that go AO in America?
Wikipedia's list of AO-rated games. It's generally reserved for seeing "teh boobiez" especially in the case of GTA San Andreas and the Hot Coffee debacle. Killing, profanity, carjacking, that's fine for an M rating, but give the game the ability to display some pixelated jubblies and it's AO.
I hate the conservatives in this country.
here's a fundemental flaw in how our videogame rating system is constructed. giving a "game" a rating that says Adults Only, or even just the word "adult" in the rating, suggests that you're effectively selling/buying pornography. this absolutely KILLS the title, barring it from almost every retailer. however, you can walk into any wal-mart, blockbuster, or etc, and pickup a movie, an R-rated movie, even though it can be something like Hostel which contains both nudity and severe violence. theres no "shame" in an R-rated movie, just X-rated. kids obviously shouldn't go anywhere near a title like Manhunt 2. but kids also shouldn't be watching Saw and Hostel. we need to remove the assumption that every game that gets released, is Super Mario Bros. just how every film isn't Toy Story
The Guy Game was an AO game for consoles.
Still I agree that with the content of the game, it probably deserves an AO Rating.
But, I think that the AO rating is misleading and is unfortunately associated with XXX rated films.
It keeps amazing me how Rockstar keeps exploring uncharted territory in terms of how far you can go in a videogame... it's the same thing atleast once every year. Then it's Jack, then it's the ESRB.. it never ends does it?
ugh, just ugh.
@baberg: And what does it matter? You want 8 years olds playing the game? I never get the whole hoopla people make of restricted material when they are of age.
Do you want your kids watching hardcore porn?
Nevermind, Guy Game got an M rating...
"You can't get this game unless you're 17."
"WHY ARE YOU SELLING THIS TO CHILDREN!?"
@balls187:
"The Guy Game was an AO game for consoles."
But we can't even count that as a game - there was no gameplay!
If Seanbaby reviewed the game, odds are pretty good that the game was not at all close to 'good.' Or 'a game.'
This is yet another stupid Kidtendo rehash Mario kiddie game that I will not be playing due to its childishness. As a hardcore mature gamer, I demand games with blood and guts to prove to people how mature I am, and I will not settle for any--...
Wait what? ...Adults Only, you say?
If it remains rated AO, they'll barely be able to sell it, hence the whole project will have been a monumental waste of time for R*. They'll have to tone it down, or figure out some other mainstream way to sell it.
Man I finally turn 17 and can buy M games (Best Buy would never sell them to me and EB's use to sell them to me but as of late have gotten stricter)
Back to buying games with my Dad.
Wouldn't this be the first AO game to be released in the US?
I think the rating makes sense from a 'You're cutting this guys head off with your wii-mote' kind of thing.
It deserves the rating. And honestly, I hope it sells like shit. It's exploitative for the sake of attracting attention, and I'm tired of Rockstar painting a target on all of our backs as enthusiasts and members of the subculture. The only punishment Rockstar deserves is a commercial failure. But that would be enough.
[eat-sleep-game.com]
I hope it sells really well just to show that many Wii owners are, in fact, interested in something different than colorful minigame collections.
At least it's being rated, not being erased from existence like in Britain. Wal-Mart is not the only store in the country.
@slappymcgee: As far as I know, most other retailers won't carry AO, either. Not Best Buy, probably not EBgames or GameStop. AO = commercial death.
@aegies: Sounds like you've already played the game. How bout you give us a quick review while you're at it. I've never played the first one, but seeing how it's being outlawed, there's a good chance i'll try to pick up a copy for my banned literature collection. I keep one to remind myself how great democracy truly is.
could end up SELLING more copies due to this. which is intresting.
It wount make the stores due to this rating, but if it ever ends up on a digital download ah-la xbox live or ps3network, (or I guess steam :P ) Expect a killing *rimshot
@RedRedSuit: EB and Gamestop will carry it, just places like Walmart and Target wont
Ugh, this is retarded. There is NO reason why the Wii version alone should warrant an AO rating unless there's some scene where you need to put the remote on your crotch and make thrusting motions to fuck someone to death.
@Gil-Galad:
Wouldn't this be the first AO game to be released in the US?
I think the idea is that they get released every so often, but it's unlikely you'll ever see them on a store shelf or a Blockbuster.
@whoiseric: just wait a year! In that year you will grow to be a man who is mature enough to handle graphic violence in a video game.
I have the original hot coffee GTA San Andreas. So that is one AO game in my collection.
Great, if it stays rated AO I won't be able to rent it...
@JCtheMC: Many people did play the original, and it got very mediocre and poor reviews. The 2nd one looks to be more of the same.
@Kamakazie: i think they're more appaled by the fact you make actual stabbing and slashing motions with the wiimote... considering this.. i might just pick up the wii for that truly visceral experience.
Why does US get it and we don't *crys*
Is it me, or everyone completely forgetting this game is coming to PS2? People seem to think this is a Wii only game?
I'd hit tha -- I mean, I'd buy it.
What bothers me is the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood only wanted the Wii version to get an AO rating. They sounded happy with giving an M rating to the game's other ports.
This really worries me. Granted, the Wii brings us one step closer to acting out the physical acts of violence in the games, but the bottom line is: it's still a game. Most gamers know it's just a game, and whether you control it with your thumbs, or control it with your arms, it's still a far cry from actually punching, kicking, biting, maming, decapitating, defecating upon, or incinerating human beings.
I think I need to start a Campaign for Forcing Political Activists to Stop Using Change to Scare the Public into Supporting Them.