Praise for Manhunt 2 Ban in UK
- Scribbled on June 19th, 2007 by Jonah Falcon
- Filed in Action, ESRB/Ratings, Editorial Content, Industry News, Nintendo Wii, Sony PlayStation 2
The first reaction to the ban of Manhunt 2 in the UK has been one of praise. Entertainment & Leisure Software Publishers Association boss Paul Jackson said that the ban “demonstrates that we have a games ratings system in the UK that is effective… The games industry is a creative phenomenon that produces all kinds of games across all kinds of genres that appeal to all kinds of people across the country, young and old, male and female.”
Of course, this assumes that slapping a Mature or Adults Only rating means it’ll go straight into the hands of 10 year old children. Who’s fault is that?
(Thanks again, GamesIndustry.biz .)
June 19th, 2007 at 8:13 am
I don’t know if I agree with this guy. Someone please inform me if I’m wrong on this, but it appears that the lack of a rating means that this game cannot legally be sold in the UK.
If this is true, then this ban does not mean that the “games ratings system in the UK … is effective…” It means that the games ratings system in the UK doesn’t have a rating for games such as Manhunt 2 - effectively controlling the type of content that UK citizens are exposed to. In the US, we call that “censorship.”
What blows my mind is that after bragging about how the ban shows the effectiveness of the UK ratings system, he goes on to say “[t]he games industry is a creative phenomenon that produces all kinds of games across all kinds of genres that appeal to all kinds of people across the country, young and old, male and female.”
So, yeah, the games industry produces a wide range of games for a wide range of people, but the UK won’t let a certain segment of its citizens choose to play games that fit into a certain segment of that range.
June 19th, 2007 at 10:15 am
In Germany, if a game can’t be issued a rating, then it is effectively “banned”. I don’t know if it is the same in the UK, but I know it happens there.
And yes, UK, can you please make all of my choices for me? Also, how about where and when I can eat? With the current state of the world and human development, I know that I can’t make my own rational decisions.
Btw, I am being sarcastic.
June 19th, 2007 at 10:40 am
No no no no no sir. You don’t legally NEED a rating for something. Its there as guidance. It’s just something REALLY good to have.
June 19th, 2007 at 11:20 am
MitchyD,
Joystiq’s post on the ban earlier this morning indicates that the lack of a rating means Manhunt 2 can’t legally be sold, which is what I based my comment on. Assuming they’re correct (they don’t cite anything), then this definitely is censorship.
June 19th, 2007 at 11:21 am
Joystiq’s?
http://www.gamestooge.com/2007/06/19/manhunt-2-banned-in-uk/
I posted it first :p
June 19th, 2007 at 11:30 am
I know. But I was referring to this specific sentence in the Joystiq post:
“This means that Manhunt 2 may not be legally supplied anywhere in the UK.”
Joystiq is now linking back here for this story, though.