Manhunt 2 questions ESRB rating process

According to Game Politics, aggravated by Manhunt 2 rating, US Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) sent the letter to ESRB president Patricia Vance yesterday, calling for a review of the ESRB’s ratings process.

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Take-Two reacts on Manhunt 2 censorship removal

It seems that it will never end with Manhunt 2 being the main topic in the news. Latest is the reaction of Take-Two to the fact that PSP version of the game can be modified to show original (uncensored) murder scenes. ESRB gave an M rating to the game after murder scenes were censored, and since the removal of the censorship is considered to be illegal and unauthorized - Rockstar and Take-Two are covered, but then again they had to react…

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How to play uncensored Manhunt 2 on your PSP?

Yes, You read it properly. There is a way to play Manhunt 2 - without censorship on your PSP. After months of controversy regarding how Manhunt 2 should be censored (or not), and their previous “gaffe” with “Hot Coffee” in San Andreas, Rockstar did it again. Not a week has passed since Manhunt 2 hit the shelves, and already the russian modders discovered how to remove censorship from the game. (Un)fortunately, not all PSP owners will be able to see their favorite vicious murderer uncensored. Only ones with homebrew-enabled PSPs will be able to see full blood-and-gore of murder scenes. Read further for the instructions …

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How did Manhunt 2 go from AO to M?

Much talked about Manhunt 2 gets released this week in the US, and not with the announced AO rating but with - M. With past few months covered in controversy regarding the rating of the new Rockstar game, it seems that finally gamers will be allowed to play the role of vicious murderer. Jeronimo Barrera, vice president of product development at Rockstar Games gives an interview regarding the release of Manhunt 2.

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BBFC Not draconian to Manhunt 2

Upcoming Manhunt 2 game got banned in the US and UK, Rockstar revised the game and it passed in the US but the UK ban was not lifted. Rockstar got pissed off and submitted an appeal, fighting for game to be released, but British Board of Film Classification stood still. BBFC spokeswoman Sue Clark issued a statement regarding Manhunt 2, and the reasons behind BBFC rejection of revised game classification even though ESRB rated granted it Mature classification in the US.

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Manhunt 2 or BBFC hunt?

Just today British Board of Film Classification announced that they will not give a classification of Manhunt 2, video game, and here comes the response from the angry Rockstar Games. Obviously not happy with the ban of Manhunt 2 in the UK, Rockstar argues that consumers should decide whether they want the blood and guts or not.

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Manhunt 2 banned in UK - again!

Even though revised version of Manhunt 2 got an M for Mature rating from the ESRB, Brits banned the game again. British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) again denied the classification of the game since the changes to the revised Manhunt 2 are not enough. Manhunt 2 was due on July 13th, and is only the second game ever banned in the UK.

David Cooke, BBFC Director
The impact of the revisions on the bleakness and callousness of tone, or the essential nature of the gameplay, is clearly insufficient. There has been a reduction in the visual detail in some of the ‘execution kills’, but in others they retain their original visceral and casually sadistic nature.