As if banning the bloody mess that is manhunt 2 is going to affect other 'edgy' titles.
MANHUNT IS NOT AN 'EDGY' TITLE.
it's an excuse for a blood bath and a bit of wiimote-esque decapitation.
Bioshock is edgy, Assasins Creed is edgy.
why?
because these titles are exploring new and interesting ways to play games and experince storylines.
Unlike this game, that, while i will still buy it if it ever gets the thumbs up in the UK, is just another 'shock and awe' tactic from developers desperate to make a few quid by being 'edgy.'
infact, all their doing is cloning themselves and making certian areas of the market increadibly stale.
It IS a shame that the BBFC banned the game in the UK.
IT's a shame that there was ever a need to involve that level of violence and brutatlity in a game.

Stop trying to shock us, and give us something truely inspirational to play Rockstar.

the fact of the matter is some ppl like to play games like manhunt and enjoy the violence just like ppl enjoy going to see horror films so to make a distinction against manhunt 2 is just wrong

Sure, but other films get banned sometimes, take Resivour Dogs for EG. that was banned for eons, (or so it felt, lol)
Manhunt wasnt 'picked on' it was banned because it eveidently had too much gore etc in it. for whatever the reason, ALL developers everywhere need tp wake up, and stop trying to shock us. We dont want shock shock shock all the time, we want ingenius, original and truely inspirational gameplay.
Not having to put up with every under 18 yr old begging mum and dad to buy it for them when they come out. coz thats the only market area i've noticed that wants to buy this game. Most gamers my age and older haev grown beyond blood being shocking, and want something with alittle bit more depth.

A film like Hostel/Hostel 2 can be released is more graphic, explicit and nasty than even the most advanced games on the PS3 can ever be.

People are still able to choose to watch such films if they so desire.

So can't you choose, as an adult, to play a game with visuals that aren't even going to be close to what a film can achieve?

The fact that you are in control of the actions of the character in the game is a different matter – but again, we are talking about a title intended for adults, 18+, who are able to choose to drink, smoke, make babies and drive cars. Why can't they choose what games they play? Carmaggedon was banned, presumably on the basis that it would encourage people to get beind the wheel and run people over. It didn't happen, and the idea is now laughable.

There's a funny take on the whole situation on this site. Halfway down there's a column written by a "psychopath", pleading for the ban to be overturned, but with some very twisted logic. Take a look.

http://www.makeyougoblind.com/issue%207.htm

Quite frankly i believe this to be the creative kick up the arse that Rockstar (Or Take 2 for the non-idiots) need. They clearly have some talented people,but they are far too reliant on tapping into some idiotic youth culture, that they have partly created.

Manhunt 2 is a joke, and should go the way of the dodo, theres no need to create a game solely on the basis of violence.

Rockstar should of none what was coming. I saw it a mile of.

while i disagree with censorship of anyone...
at some point, some game is going to offend everyone, even gamers, possibly even the people who make it...

would you be happy with games releasing that position the player as a child predator? ...i can't say i would.

I quite agree with Haze. There certainly wasn't a need to produce Manhunt #2, CERTAINLY not considering the furore that the original Manhunt created.
Perhaps if Rockstar hadn't wasted resources on this irrelevant sequel then there might a credible sequel, specifically a new GTA for the series, ready for release this Autumn.
BBFC have made the correct decision, purely from a business point of view, the moral question is a separate issue.

Censorship is censorship reguardless of your approval or disapproval of the content being censored. Just because you do not approve of something or you feel it isnt necessary does not mean everyone else agrees with you. There is a simple solution if you don't like it don't buy it. Why do you feel it necessary to push your beliefs/tastes on others?
There is a huge double standard when it comes to video games. A video game is simply interactive media and should be subject to the SAME restrictions imposed on other forms of media and in my opinion should even use the same rating system to avoid any confusion. When I can go into a grocery store and buy 2 cases of beer, go across the street and load up on Hostel, and SAW dvd's all without ever being asked for an ID then walk back into the vary same store to buy God of War II and am asked for my ID there is a problem.
especially since I am 40 and nothing encountered in GoW2 is going to come close to the violence displayed on the formentioned dvd's. Unfortunatly until Sony wakes up to the fact that they have an adult user base and that there is a demand for the AO titles that they refuse to publish things will only get worse. Especially since Take 2 & Rockstar are the only ones with enough balls to fight videogame censorship while the rest (to include the console producers themselves) cave to the religious right and concerned parents (who buy thier children Mature titles).

I agree with Gordon Hall's comments, as the banning of Manhunt 2 by the un-elected BBFC could easily become the starting point for more outright bans of future video games.

There are some on here who seem to think that it's okay that Manhunt 2 be banned, afterall, it's just a sick gory game right? Wrong, it's the Texas Chainsaw Massacre of video games; it's the Driller Killer, I Spit On Your Grave, and countless other banned 80's videos of it's time. In the early days of video films, these films were treated in the same manner as Manhunt 2, and are now fully available - Texas being considered as a classic and shown on television - who'd have thought that could happen back in the 80's.

I see Manhunt 2 as a game that is clearly out to finally prove that video games are an equal to films and should be treated as such. It's pushing the boundaries of video games and clearly out to say 'this is just for the adults', moving video games away from being seen as 'just for kids'.

As has been already mentioned, no matter how gory Manhunt 2 is, it will never compare to the realistic gore featured in many films currently available in every HMV store. So why should video games be treated so differently from films. If Manhunt was a film, would it have been banned? Actually, if it had still been animated in the same way, it would probably have been rated a 15.

You may not like most of what Rockstar produce, but they are one of the only companies out there who are really trying to show the world that video games can be just aimed for adults. Only when the censors of this world understand that, will video games be seen in the same way as films... and treated with the respect they deserve.

Here's to hoping to see Manhunt 2 in stores soon, so as an adult I can have the choice of whether or not to purchase it - rather than have some small group of people decide for me!

I agree that Take 2 are just trying to shock to sell games which should not be the basis for a game..

But I think as an industry we need to sart self regulating what is published and the levels of violence in our producets. If we dont do it at some point the government will step in and do it for us and then we will all be sorry we let it get this far..

Sure we work in a creative industry and who is to say what is acceptable or not within a creative enviroment but if we dont put some limits on ourselfs it will be far worse fro us and the consumer in the end.

Imagine having to try and get our games past a gouvernment body set up to check things like this..

Appreciate the fact we can praticaly do what we want.. FOR NOW!