Some high-profile U.S. Senators, including Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), have made attacking the ESRB their new pet project. The cause of this controversy is, of course, Manhunt 2. You may recall that Rockstar was forced to revise the game in order to remove the "Adults Only" rating given to it by the ESRB. These tactics may have worked in the U.S., but the British Board of Film Classification was unimpressed and still refused to issue a rating for the title.
The Senators are pretty ticked off at the ESRB for not being as censor vicious as the BBFC. But the ramifications of the Senators' attack on the ESRB go deeper than Manhunt 2, and may affect the video game industry in general if the ESRB is put under the "thorough review" that they are demanding.
Even worse, the Senators are calling for more extreme ratings on the Wii, due to the console's motion-sensitive controller. They argue that the Wiimote "permits children to act out each of the many graphic torture scenes and murders."
Of course, they don't acknowledge the fact that children shouldn't be playing Manhunt 2 at all, since the game was given a "Mature" rating by the ESRB, and one of the few ways they can even play the game is with parental permission. If children playing mature games is really their concern, perhaps the Senators should be putting parents under review, and not the ESRB. Those old enough to play violent games can differentiate between using waggle and using real weapons, making separate Wii ratings unnecessary.
It's a little late for Halloween, but you can always pick up this promotional Manhunt 2costume on eBay for next year. What's a better costume than "doctor who got some blood on him, and also a video game logo for some reason?" Nothing, that's what. Of course, you can only do that if society doesn't collapse due to the "easily accessible" uncensored violent content in Manhunt 2 turning every child in America into a thoughtless murderer. You'd better hope that all children don't turn into bloodthirsty maniacs, for the sake of Halloween parties.
Wow, that's the second time this week that looking at Manhunt stuff turned our thoughts to the end of society. Maybe there is something to all the protesting.
This bundle of Manhunt 2promo stuff is the perfect gift for the Manhunt 2 fan in your life. Alternatively, it's a reminder that the game existed, in case, say, we enter a 1984-type scenario in which an oppressive government attempts to write the game out of history. Of course, then, having this stuff would probably just get you shot. Then, it's the perfect gift for the person you'd like to be shot by a hypothetical evil government.
The set contains: a T-shirt, a DVD, two fake hospital identification bracelets, a Wiimote strap, a fake hospital memo, a poster, a ubiquitous Rockstar sticker, and a flimsy connection to gaming controversy that we'll take as an invitation to link to this Night Trap video again.
This has yet to be confirmed, but some Target insiders are claiming that the retailer will not be selling copies of Manhunt 2, the controversialRockstar game. The rumor was started by a Target employee at the Evil Avatar forums, and was later supported at GoNintendo by an electronics specialist at the retail chain.
Adding further basis to the rumor, Target's website states that the PSP version of Manhunt 2 is not available in stores, although it can be purchased online. The PS2 and Wii versions are not even listed on the site.
If this rumor turns out to be true, it won't be good news for Rockstar, especially if other retailers follow suit. As of now, though, these rumblings apply to Target stores only.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Two very high profile games released this week, in both Manhunt 2and Battalion Wars 2. While we have yet to give the former a try, we've been all over the latter thanks to Nintendo. The game is, seriously, very good. You don't need our review to know that (it's coming as soon as possible!). So, if we had to suggest one game to pick up this week, it would definitely be that.
Of course, who are we to say what you should play? Have something else in mind? Please, do share.
Update: Oh, and let's not forget Guitar Hero III. Guess it's a triple does week. Damn this holiday season and its tons of releases.Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
With the recent release of Manhunt 2, and all the controversy surrounding it, the Rockstar Vienna studios that had to close their doors while working on the title (which you may remember was downgraded from AO to M) is a bit ticked off right now. Turns out, Rockstar omitted the entire team of over 50 folks who worked hard on the game from its end credits.
And now, ex-producer Jurie Horneman is fuming. He has a plan to fix the situation, however, and "intends to correct an inaccuracy in the game's credits, namely the over 55 missing Rockstar Vienna employees who worked on the game from January 2004 until the studio was closed down on May 11th 2006." He further documents his disdain for Rockstar by adding "I am disappointed and outraged that Rockstar Games tries to pretend that Rockstar Vienna and the work we did on Manhunt 2 never happened - the work of over 50 people, who put years of their lives into the project, trying to make the best game they could. I am proud to have been a part of that team."Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
The media nonsense surrounding Manhunt 2 has only begun. Get ready for another year or so of shrill news reports, protests, boycotts, "experts," and, of course, Jack. Time to start defending your medium or ignoring everybody!
What's going to set off this new round of controversy? Just about a day after release, hackers have figured out how to unlock the censored material in the PS2 and PSP versions of Manhunt 2. The original kill sequences, rather than being removed from the game's code, were left on the disc. If the code's on the other versions of the disc, it's on the Wii version as well. That means that a tiny, tiny portion of this game's audience will have access to adults-only content!
Will Rockstar ever learn? Or have they learned? This controversy may get the game re-rated and re-edited, but copies will fly off the shelves in the meantime. Check after the break for a video comparison of Manhunt with both censored and uncensored Manhunt 2 content. Adults Only and all that, of course!
CBS anchor Katie Courc thinks that Manhunt 2 is very dangerous. Why? Well, because the vicious acts of murder that are portrayed within aren't carried out in the usual manner, as a player presses buttons on a controller (you do press buttons in Manhunt 2 for the Wii, by the way), but by "wielding a knife, an axe, and a glass shard" to dispatch their opponent. We haven't seen the box for this thing yet, but it would have to be pretty big to include all of these things.
But, what really gets us is the mainstream media's assumption that kids just walk into stores every day and purchase games that are rated "Mature." Even if this happens, and the kid takes said game home and plays it, what about the parents? Are they so absent-minded and uninterested in their child's life that they won't hear the curse words coming from their TV or hear the sounds of these murders (gurgling and the like, we imagine), let alone spend a few seconds to ask what they're playing or, dare we ask, watch their kid play it?
You know, we can understand your stance against violent media in general (well, maybe not everyone's), but the detachment is there. You're holding a white Wiimote and nunchuk, it's not like you could honestly think that you're some crazy psycho killer out there performing murder with no repercussions for your actions. If the game came with a life-sized dummy that you had to choke from behind with the cord connecting nunchuk and Wiimote together for points, then we might be willing to entertain the mainstream media's concerns.
Those of you with a taste for the violent and gruesome have likely already given Manhunt 2 a lengthy play session or two, perhaps even gone so far as to finish the game. Well, some of the critics have, as well, and what they've come away from the experience with is nothing but a bad taste in their mouth, apparently. Most have found the game competent, at best, while others have found the game to be average or less.
Let's see what the critics said, before we get into what you think, shall we?
IGN (77/100) says it isn't as good as the first game: "The AI doesn't feel as good as the first game, the setting and environments don't feel as menacing, and the story is definitely weaker. That isn't to say that Manhunt 2 isn't a good game, because it is - Danny and Leo's adventure is enjoyable, especially if you've played the first title and have been waiting to eliminate enemies with plastic bags, crowbars or other household items. But as a whole, Manhunt 2 isn't the tour de force title that will grab your attention and keep you there like the first one did."
Games Radar (70/100) thinks it's just a dumbed-down stealth game: "It's hardly the pinnacle of stealth games - the enemies are dumb, and there's not much to do aside from sneaking and killing - but if you're in the mood for something creepy and horrific that'll leave you feeling a little dirty, Manhunt 2's still-shocking murders and eerie, is-it-real-or-am-I-just-insane storyline won't disappoint."
GameSpy (50/100) is of the mind that the game could've been something much better: "It's difficult to recommend Manhunt 2 in its current M-rated form to anyone. This material isn't just inappropriate for children, it's not appropriate for most of the people you know. The background material behind the storyline is well developed enough, and those with considerable tolerance for over-the-top gore and violence may derive some pleasure from it. But the game's execution as a bland third-person stealth adventure with sub-par combat and annoyingly stylized death sequences hamstrings what could have been a sleeper hit for mature audiences. It's hard to completely blame Rockstar for all the failings of Manhunt 2, considering the ESRB's hand in crippling the developer's vision."
1UP (40/100) trashes it: "Really, the game warrants a 4 because it's technically playable and, despite its best efforts, probably won't plunge the industry into a period of navel-gazing and political sanction. Everything else about it is largely forgettable."
We've got several new games hitting the Wii this week, including two titles we've been anxious to get our hands on. In fact, this week has something for everyone, with some titles that will appeal to the whole family, a title for the older crowd and a sequel to a GameCube game that wasn't given the love it deserved.
Without further ado, let's check out the releases:
Two very high profile games 
