A Week In Comments (Can't Wait For Next Monday!)
Connecticut Senator Searching For "Rape Scene" In GTA IV
Comment by: Nobuyuki
Nominated by: Kokatu
More »Oh man, you guys totally missed the rape scene. You get like a million points for it too.
Connecticut Senator Searching For "Rape Scene" In GTA IV
Comment by: Nobuyuki
Nominated by: Kokatu
More »Oh man, you guys totally missed the rape scene. You get like a million points for it too.
Don't forget we're running a commenting contests of sorts right now. If you're into control and want to get paid to sort of work for Kotaku, then make sure to check out our Komment King contest, where we are desperately searching for the new Commenting Czar for Kotaku. A Kotaku Tower position which will pay $200 a month and grant one lucky reader access to the might Ban Hammer. Check out the link for all of the rules and such.
Become Kotaku's Next King of Comments [Kotaku]
Late last night, we learned the story of Richard Gaywood, the not-so-happy Xbox Live user whose gamertag was banned. Since "RichardGaywood" was both the user's gamertag as well as his legal, honest-to-goodness given name, Kotaku contacted Microsoft to learn the reason behind the ban.
Hit the jump for their response:
More »
Oh. Hi! In case you forgot, today is Monday. Not just any Monday, but Ban Monday. And not just any Ban Monday, but Beautiful Ban Monday. While we don't have any problem banning on regular days, we turn up the Ban Hammer sensitivity to MAXIMUM on Ban Monday. For those who don't know, here's how it's gonna go down: Send us the commenter page for anyone that should get the axe. No, wait. Send it to Witzbold! That's his job. You can put in your request at commentsATkotakuDOTcom. No ban gloating. Gloating leads to Ban Hammer backfire, which could cause you to get the boot. And that would be very embarrassing. We'll be back to normal on Tuesday, lighter, faster and better. Hope to see you on the other side. Smooches!
I woke this morning to find Kotaku at a crossroads, one peopled with a mob. It seems there's a decision to be made: Do we want Kotaku to be represented by the chatter of a thousand voices, people trying to be heard over one another, many not stopping to think before they talk. Or do we want to cull the crowd, reduce the noise so our many intelligent readers can still be heard over the roar and those who speak take the time to think, to read before doing so.
It's disheartening to think that it has come to this, that unless we're talking about the relatively safe topics of consoles and their direct by-products there can't be intelligent discourse on Kotaku. And I don't understand how we've arrived here.
Don't forget! Monday is our favorite Kotakuday, Ban Monday. For those who don't know, here's how it's gonna go down: Next Monday, send us the commenter page for anyone that should get the axe. No, wait. Send it to Witzbold! That's his job. You can put in your request at comments@kotaku.com. Though! No ban gloating. Gloating leads to Ban Hammer backfire, which could cause you to get the boot. This is how the world ends, you know, not with a bang, but with a thud. Delightful!
Yes, yes. It's that time again. Time to ruthlessly ban people! That's right, next Monday (Feb. 25th) is everyone's favorite Kotakuday, Ban Monday. While we adore the commenters who add something to the comment section, we abhor the ones who detract from it and spam it with their drivel. We ban here at Kotaku. Ban like crazy. So please do not confuse our comment sections with your run-of-the-mill forum, boards, blah blah. We're not your buddies! We're very bitter and mean!! For those who don't know, here's how it's gonna go down: Send us the commenter page for anyone that should get the axe. If we agree (even slightly), we'll swing. And swing hard. Though! No ban gloating. Gloating leads to Ban Hammer backfire, which could cause you to get the boot. Tuesday we'll be back better, lighter, strong and faster. Onward!
housekeeping
The blood letting is coming. And it's going to be bad. Next Monday is, you guessed it, Ban Monday. It's our favorite Kotakuday! While we do welcome the new folks, we also want to warn them. We ban here at Kotaku. Ban like crazy. Ku-razy. So please do not confuse our comment section with your run-of-the-mill forum, boards, blah blah. It's different!
We are always open to ban submissions (oh yes), but next Monday the ban sensitivity on the Hammer will be turned up max. Keep a watchful eye and get those submissions ready to send out next Monday. We'll be back next Tuesday lighter, faster and better. Hope to see you on the other side.
violence ban
We knew it wasn't over. The British Board of Film Classification has applied for a judicial review of the appeal that the Video Appeals Committee passed a week ago regarding granting Rockstar's Manhunt 2 a classification, allowing the title to be released in the UK.
"The BBFC is contesting the VAC judgment because in the Board's view, it is based on an approach to harm which is an incorrect interpretation of the Video Recordings Act. The VAC judgment, if allowed to stand, would have fundamental implications with regard to all the Board's decisions, including those turning upon questions of unacceptable levels of violence."This is the sort of problem you run into with any system of checks and balances. Once you overrule a decision on one issue it becomes that much easier to negate decisions on future issues. The BBFC is struggling to maintain their reputation and integrity, and Manhunt 2 is going to have to be sacrificed for that to happen. It's an interesting dilemma. Just wish it was happening to a more interesting game.
BBFC applies for judicial review [GamesIndustry.biz]
violence ban
Rockstar's appeal against the British Board of Film Classification's ban of Manhunt 2 from release in the UK has passed, garnering a narrow victory of 4 to 3 from the Video Appeals Committee. The game was originally banned / refused classification in the UK back in July, with the recut, happier version of the game denied as well in October. The BBFC has stated that they will consider the judgment of the VAC and its reaction once they receive the pertinent paperwork, while issuing a lengthly statement on how right they believe they were in their decision.
Such balancing judgments are inevitably complex and multi-faceted, and are made only after very careful consideration of the contents of a work. We played Manhunt 2 for well over 30 hours prior to our decision.Incidentally, this is 30 hours more than I played Manhunt 2. Judging from their reaction to the appeal, which you can read in full by following the link below, this is far from over.
ban monday
It has already started. Today is, yep, Ban Monday. What is Ban Monday? Besides our favorite Kotakuday, it's an opportunity for commenters to attack each other with pitchforks and knives. In short: You can vote each other off the island! Our Ban Hammer sensitivity has been turned up to max, and we'll be smashing all damn day long. Yes, the streets of Kotakuland will run hot pink and baby shit green!
After the festive (and necessary) purge, we'll be back Tuesday lighter, better, faster. Onward!
Just a heads up! Next Monday is... You guessed it, Ban Monday. While we do welcome the new folks, we also want to warn them. We ban here at Kotaku. Ban like crazy. So please do not confuse our comment sections with your run-of-the-mill forum, boards, blah blah. We are always open to ban submissions, but next Monday the ban sensitivity on the Hammer will be turned up max. So type up your list of those you want out, send along their commenter page, the reason you want them banned and your own commenter page. The streets of Kotakuland will run hot pink and baby shit green!
For those of you ready to clean house, have we got a day for you! Today is our favorite Kotakuday, Ban Monday. Our willingness to ban increases ten-fold as we clean up and clean out. We want to keep the comments section readable (AKA thin the herd), and we want you to help. Here's how it works: Send tipsATkotaku.com commenter pages for anyone you think should get the boot. Our ban threshold is going to be way lower (hello fanboy trolls!). Nothing is definite, but ban requests from longtime commenters will be given great authority with the hammer. So be sure to include your own commenting profile! Ban Monday ends in exactly 24 hours. Tuesday's comment section will be lighter, faster, better. Onwards!