Should be a lot of interest in this one - God knows we've waited long enough. Roll on the release date announcement!

Am highly dissapointed that they let this disgraceful title be released...Its not game its just brutatlity.

That's half of all games, Gears of War is brutality, GTA is brutality, Fight Night is brutality, you big soft girly!!!

Brutal.... and what.... it takes you into a fantasy world where you can do things like this the fact it is so different and brutal is what makes it so fun. I am so pleased this game is finally going to be released!!!! Do we know when yet? Cant wait to play it loved the first one hope the second one is up to scratch tho after all the trouble its caused and how long we have waited!!! ROLL ON MAN HUNT 2!!!!! :O)

Whats the betting the Human Rights Act had something to do with this eventual climbdown. To be honest I am generally against censorship but in this case I didn't have a huge issue with the ban. However I think we all have a very clear duty to do everything we can to ensure this doesn't get into the hands of minors. Frankly, and this is coming from someone at the retail level (ie the cutting edge where we get the abuse), something needs to be done about 18 certificated products getting into the hands of minors. Parents and the public on the whole need to be educated on what the BBFC symbols stand for especially if they are going to appear on every game in the near future.

Why do they seem to think the 18 cert on a "video nasty" or a porn DVD is different to the full BBFC 18 cert on a game?

Needs addressing. Just hope the certificates on the game boxes get any bigger as half the artwork is gone as it is!

Come on Chuck - either you're winding us all up or else you really don't understand the words that you type. To believe Manhunt 2 is more brutal than any other violent game or movie is to be believe the press nonsense. The BBFC has acted disgracefully throughout this whole affair, and deserves the massive pie in the face it's now getting.

What a complete farce.

So...anything is acceptable then, no matter who it upsets?

Time to watch our industry get dragged through the mud in the media once more then... :o(

A WWII game might upset my granddad - does that mean it shouldn't be released?

This is great news - and means quite obviously, anything goes. Good news for the "Pin the Nails on the Christ" game I've been working on....

If a WWII game has a minigame called "Gas the POWs!" then no, it shouldn't be released?

Or are there no limits?

The game will be average, as are most of R* games tbh. It will sell on the fact that it has garnered so much attention, once again, as do most of R* games. I'm wondering when they'll put adult content into their Midnight Club franchise to boost its sales?

Having imported for PSP I really can't understand what all the fuss is about. I'm over 18 (by best part of 20 years) and am a fairly well-balanced individual, and this game has not encouraged, incited, or inflammed me to go out and murder/brutalise anyone. I'd definately not let my children play it, but that is the same as with other 18 rated products (or any age restriction). I definately agree with Sven that the public at large need to be educated as to ratings on games, and that they are there for a reason

It's the same old controversy that follows certain Rockstar Games and everyone gets up in arms about it. When all is said and done it is a game although a pretty controversial one. The key here is no one is forcing anyone to buy it so the people or gamers against it do just that 'Don't buy it'.
As for ensuring it doesn't get into the wrong hands, Parents, shop staff, older siblings need to ensure they do their job and don't let it fall into the hands of minors. I certainly won't be letting my son play it (He's 11). You wouldn't go out and buy your child porn so the same applies here.

So are we getting the unedited or edited version of the game?

Good that this game is coming out, you start pulling games because people find it disturbing starts a chain reaction you'll have to start pulling more and more until every type of game is banned. If they pulled it then they would have made a distinction between what's brutal and what's not. Either its all okay or none of it is. I agree with an age limit, but if parents cant control what there kids play then they are irresponsible if they don't also make there own mind up if there kid is mature enough if he is say 16 but wants an 18, then they shouldn't be parents, I was allowed to play GTA when i was under 18, because my mum knew i was mature enough.

The whole argument is mostly based on the BBFC allowing films like Hostel and Saw, which are distgustingly violent, and banning a game which has a similar level of violence, only with worse graphics (it's a PS2 game, it can't look that realistic).

I played the first one all the way through and have watched the films mentioned above. The game was laughable in how it was trying to be gritty, whereas the films made me a bit uncomfortable.

I think it is good that they have backed down (or been forced to) as it removes the double standard. However, I have been very surprised with BBFC ratings in the past few years (how Silent hill got a 15 rating is beyond me, and their explaination that they sent me was complete twoddle).

Thank the almighty dark lord it will be released. I have been killing people unimaginatively of late so I am looking forward to getting some inspiration for murder and mayhem. The darkest souls are not those which choose to exist within the hell of the abyss, but those which choose to break free from the abyss and move silently among us.

Does this decision just concern the (forced) self-censored version (as released in the USA) or the original version (that was intended to be released before the complaints in the USA and UK) - the one without this disgusting filter effects?

most of the posts on this subject are in favour of releasing the game.

I think it is irresponsible of the VAC to go against the (BBFC - look how marginal the decision was - 4 to 3) if the gamer's only objective is to track people down and kill them.

Games by their very nature are INTERACTIVE, and the Wii (as pictured) will use controls in a realistic manner to slash and kill. You do not get as immersed in a film as you do with a game.

There is no evidence that interactive entertainment has any added effects.

One argument is that actually performing the actions is worse. Another argument is that viewing them makes you passive, and that has added effects. There is no real answer.

I'd argue performing the actions is likely to quell violent behavior. Not incite it.

Thanks to the Times and the ill thought out prose of the time, Manhunt was blamed for a murder. What the hell is going to happen when this reaches the mainstream press? This is going to be manic.

The trouble is those that oppose such games dont have a clue or have never played such games. Ive been a avid gamer and still am since the days of the ZX spectrum and have played all sorts of games from every decent FPS/ Hack and slash/ Gore etc and to date i have never commited any sort of harm on any other human. GET a GRIP games don`t kill, people do regardless of what games they play or films they watch, if someone is so inclind they will do regardsless. Leave us alone to enjoy our games if you don`t agrree with a game then don`t buy it. simple eh...

Never should have been allowed to be released. Totally sick game.

listen, the bottom line is if you are mentaly stable then playing this game will not change that, as for minors and the mentally un-stable it may have some effects of their behaviour but no sane person would buy this game, take it home, stick it in and play it for 2 hours then turn into a psychopath and destroy everything in his sight, if anything this is a healthy way to release anger and stress which could be built up and let out in different ways, 1 burning question i have and have not been able to answer as yet, what exact consoles is this game being released for, some1 please say xbox360 8^)

I'm surprised at the poor journalism in the games press surrounding the whole Manhunt business. I'm also surprised at the lack of awareness amongst gamers who think games are being picked on. It's pathetic. A little research into the history of censorship in the his country and a little more knowledge about the BBFC is recommended. I've been following this since the first ban and I've written to the BBFC myself. The VAC didn't uphold the High Court decision to challenge the BBFC. It was the BBFC that took the VAC decision to the High Court. Not simply because it disagreed with the original VAC ruling, but because the VAC seriously mis-interpreted the Video Recordings Act. It was necessary for the BBFC to seek clarification from the High Court due to the potential influence on future decisions. The High Court agreed with the BBFC and required the VAC to reconsider its original judgement using a correct interpretation of the law. Who knows how the VAC justified its decision this time. But then who cares? By all accounts it's a useless game with rubbish graphics - and the version which will be released is Rockstar's self-censored watered-down filtered waste of time. The original version remains banned!

Good round-up there, Gameboy. Thanks.

And I think comment 24 makes an important point that is often forgotten - no 'normal' person is going to sit down for a session of Manhunt 2 and emerge any differently.

great hopefully won't be 2 long for the release....

The last thing we need is another scapegoat for the likes of jack thompson/the daily mail.

At the end it boils down to, is the game really good enough to warrant all this attention?

I'm in favour of that people should choose whether or not they should play a game or not and don't believe in all the censorship. However, I do think that it takes some kind of wierdo to actually want to play this game. Probably the same kind of wierdos that think Saw is a good movie... It's the kind of thing anyone old enough would have grown out of wanting to play years ago, so the target audience for this sort of game is really the age group that just can't play it or just old enough to. There are plenty of other good 18 certificate games with better story lines that appeal to a wider age gap.

@29

Agreed. It's sad that people would want to play this, but they should still have the option to make that choice either way.

COMMENT 29:

RUBBISH, RUBBISH, RUBBISH

How can you say you would have to be a weirdo to play this or to watch the saw movies, well i played the first game and have watched all the saw films and would not say i was a weirdo, id say i was perfectly normal person. The fact that the game is so different and that it isnt something that happens everyday and thats what appealing about it and also pretty much saying that we are childish to play this game, but obviously your mind isnt capable of playing a game like this and that why you thing it is ok to slate it and people who play it, Better stick to Lego Star Wars or something easy that wont offend, OLD MAN!!

:0)

I have never agreed with the stupid attitude regarding the censorship of computer games, hell! there is no more violence in extreme than an 18 certificate movie/dvd, just simply treat them the same and afford them the certificates and all will be fine. TED

ITS SEPTEMBER FOR CHRIST SAKE HURRY YOUR UGLY ASS UP