News
BBFC responds to 'Manhunt 2 vs. Hostel' debate
Ben Parfitt Oct 29 2007, 4:08pm
Comments (4)
Examiner also shares views on why some parents don't understand games ratings
Following MCV’s exclusive interview with BBFC senior examiner Gianni Zamo, fellow examiner Jim Cliff has spoken to consumer site Spong about the Board’s decision to ban the game from sale in the UK – and has answered of the reoccurring questions surrounding the debate.
When asked at GameCity how a game like Manhunt 2 could be denied a release when supposedly equally grim movies such as Hostel are permitted, Cliff responded:
“If the majority of Hostel was the same as some of the most violent scenes in it, it's entirely possible it could have been banned. But it's not. Most of the running time isn't violence, that's mainly crammed into a few short scenes. Also, in Hostel you are very much required to identify with the victims more than in most games.”
Cliff also commented on whether he believed parents understood BBFC games ratings:
“I think it depends on whether they've played games before. They understand ratings on video undeniably. Ninety-seven percent of British parents are familiar with and understand our ratings.
“When it comes to how they apply to games, I think that the biggest issue is with parents who've never played games and are either not interested in what their kids are playing, or don't feel they would be able to understand, and so they don't take an interest.
“And I think it's not necessarily that they're not interested in the ratings, it's that they don't know how they would apply to games. They don't know – whereas they might know what a 15 film is like, they've got no clue what a 15 game is like. And so it's much harder for them and if their kid says that's fine, then they think it's probably fine.”
Comments
“Mr”
Posted by: Gareth Hacon - Oct 29, 6:24pm
15 is a 15 and 18 is an 18, in games and films the age limit is the same understanding o***e rating and to say parents don't know the difference is a joke.
“Re: Mr”
Posted: Oct 30, 4:23pm
Some parents really don't have a clue. When I worked in a game shop at Xmas a few years ago, most of the parents thought the rating was the difficulty, even though it was a BBFC rating just like films (unless they feel an 18 film is more difficult to put into a dvd player than a 12 rated film).
“Re: Mr”
Posted by: cybera***a - Oct 30, 7:57pm
a lot of parents do think age ratings are a difficulty rating since childrens toys have age ratings to this effect same as board games and of course games cross the mediums of toys as well as media so yeah parents get confused in all fairness its up to rockstar to make a fuss over a uk release not us coz lets face it we live in a small world customers are either going to import or if they really want the original uncut version that was leaked onto the net before release they'll get a pirate copy just look at thrillkill hype sold that game alone it is the most pirated game on the playstation if not ever purely because people wanted to see what it was banned for
this will be the same with manhunt 2 except piracy has no age ratings they don't care who they sell to so long as they sell it so the bbfc have failed in educating parents and have lost money for retailers publishers and developers so all we have to care about any more is enjoying the game after getting it from wherever we get it from thanks bbfc
“Re: Mr”
Posted: Nov 5, 2:41pm
that was one really long sentance cybera**a