BBFC - Banned a Video Game!!

superscaper

arthurp8 wrote: »

Nobody cares less. If the ratings were upheld by the retailers then the game should be sold - but until then it should be banned. Well done ratings board.

I completely disagree. We shouldn't be appeasing illegal activity, that's practically the same as condoning it. The BBFC should never be influenced by illegal activity, otherwise why don't they ban everything that is over PG? They are two separate issues that should be kept separate. Classify media on its own merits and then enforce that classification properly. Classifying something based on "well we know noone will pay attention to our classifications" is self defeating and ridiculous.

mustrum_ridcully

Lets be honest in the big scheme of things this 'ban' is trivial...

Manhunt is the first game to be 'banned' by the BBFC in 10 years, the last was carmagedon. So it's not as if the BBFC are a bunch of old maids or something - there must be some sort of issue with the game.

By the way it also got an AO rating in the USA... which is considered as good as a ban in the USA as a lot of stores won't stock the game.

superscaper

mustrum_ridcully wrote: »

Lets be honest in the big scheme of things this 'ban' is trivial...

Manhunt is the first game to be 'banned' by the BBFC in 10 years, the last was carmagedon. So it's not as if the BBFC are a bunch of old maids or something - there must be some sort of issue with the game.

By the way it also got an AO rating in the USA... which is considered as good as a ban in the USA as a lot of stores won't stock the game.

And from what I've read it's a pretty rubbish game anyway. All the BBFC have really done is increase demand and publicise the game. If they'd just left it with an 18 certificate nothing more would have come of it and it probably wouldn't have sold all that well anyway. I play games that are violent but the Manhunt games don't appeal to me. I think it's more about the principle and why ban instead of giving it an 18 (which surely by definition is the same in this country as America's Adult Only rating).

I first heard about the first ban a few months ago and Rockstar have already resubmitted an altered version and got an M by the ESRB so the AO remark is no longer relevant to the game in its current state but this new M version for some reason is still banned by the BBFC and the one that is recently in the news.

BigDave_Cash_Saver

Also, I bet Rockstar are LOVING all this, you couldnt buy this amount of press coverage for Millions of pounds. When they do get the Green Light it will FLY of the shelves.

superscaper

BigDave_Cash_Saver wrote: »

When they do get the Green Light it will FLY of the shelves.

Will they green light it though? The newer tamer version which has got the M and has been accepted in every other country is still being rejected by the BBFC. I can't understand why if they've removed the specific scenes and excessive violence that got it banned in the first submission. At this stage it seems like BBFC are banning it on principle now and no matter what they do to the game it won't be legal to sell here. But as indicated earlier I don't think there's anything to stop you importing it. It's perfectly legal to own the game.

mustrum_ridcully

Yeah AO is in terms of age the equivalent 18, but the US has M which is 17+.

However the important thing about AO is that some very major retailers in the USA REFUSE to stock ANY AO games - period. If Manhunt 2 was M then Wallmart etc. would stock it, if it's AO then forget it. In otherwords the game is as good as banned.

MoneyMiser

BigDave_Cash_Saver wrote: »

Also, I bet Rockstar are LOVING all this, you couldnt buy this amount of press coverage for Millions of pounds. When they do get the Green Light it will FLY of the shelves.

Very True, I'm sure the game will eventually get the green light and due to all this publicity Rockstar will make a lot.

I would say that there is a lot more violence in America with shootings in schools etc yet they have allowed the game to be released there. Is this another case of our country being run by snobs who know what is best for us all. If so does anyone know their telephone number so I can check if its ok for me to have chips for my tea tonight? :rotfl:

superscaper

mustrum_ridcully wrote: »

Yeah AO is in terms of age the equivalent 18, but the US has M which is 17+.

However the important thing about AO is that some very major retailers in the USA REFUSE to stock ANY AO games - period. If Manhunt 2 was M then Wallmart etc. would stock it, if it's AO then forget it. In otherwords the game is as good as banned.

But it is an M game, not an AO. It was the M version that got banned this time around.

PopeSock

I'm in favour of this. Why? Because Manhunt 1 was absolute cack. The game was designed, in my opinion, with the sole intent of being controversial so it'd sell. Think I'm kidding? If you have the misfortune to play the game you'd see how badly executed - oh ho! - it is. Dodgy camera angles, a half arsed 'stealth' system? It's just rubbish, and if it wasn't for the gore, it would never ever have got greenlighted.

superscaper

PopeSock wrote: »

I'm in favour of this. Why? Because Manhunt 1 was absolute cack. The game was designed, in my opinion, with the sole intent of being controversial so it'd sell. Think I'm kidding? If you have the misfortune to play the game you'd see how badly executed - oh ho! - it is. Dodgy camera angles, a half arsed 'stealth' system? It's just rubbish, and if it wasn't for the gore, it would never ever have got greenlighted.

Hardly a legitimate reason to ban something. That's what free market forces are for!!! Besides Manhunt 1 has got nothing to do with this. It wasn't banned.