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ESRB gives Manhunt 2 a preliminary Adults Only rating

kotaku.com — Take-Two has confirmed that the ESRB has given Manhunt 2 a preliminary rating of Adults Only, they have 30 days to respond.

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  • SfOwnsLa, on 10/11/2007, -27/+7Its only preliminary they only have to take out a few things to make it M.
    • neiltc13, on 10/11/2007, -47/+11The funniest part about this is that it shows just how crappy the entire ESRB rating system is. Firstly, it won't be illegal for a minor to buy this game, even though the BBFC have said that it could harm ADULTS.

      Secondly, you're all complaining about how bad it is that this game got AO, but stand up for ESRB as protecting your freedoms. Surely if the ESRB was legally backed then more stores could sell AO games because it would be illegal for them to sell to a child?
    • AcePup, on 10/11/2007, -28/+7Can we say who cares? People are going to be buying it no matter the age. 5, 10, 15, 20, even the grandma gamer. Screw the ESRB and screw the BBFC.
    • pixelate, on 10/11/2007, -7/+111Good.
      - I'm happy the game exists and it's going to be sold in stores (other countries have banned it outright).
      - Some stores here choose not to carry material they find objectionable (including music with explicit lyrics and AO games)... that's their right and I choose not to spend my money there. Whatever.
      - The "AO" rating might make it a bit more likely that this game will NOT find its way into the hands of 12 year olds whose parents don't know any better.

      Someone will have to explain to me why this is a bad thing... or perhaps why a game like Manhunt 2 (if done properly), shouldn't have an AO rating. Yeah, Rockstar can tone it down to get the 'M', but fans of the game shouldn't want that to happen.
    • washingtonydc, on 10/11/2007, -4/+39@neiltc13, the ESRB cannot be "legally backed" as a matter of US constitutional law. Private ratings are useful for parents in deciding the media their children can consume--but they cannot be used as a way for the government to restrain freedom of speech.
    • AcePup, on 10/11/2007, -0/+38The other 23 AO rated games from the ESRB: http://kotaku.com/gaming/the-manhunt-club/the-other-adult-only-games-270365.php
    • norman619, on 10/11/2007, -10/+23@neiltc13:

      WOW!!! When I read your comment the first thing that came to mind was "BITCH." How pathetic are you that you actually think a videogame will harm you? Are you unstable to begin with? Do you already have thoughts of killing people for fun? If you do then guess what? You need to be locked teh ***** away from the rest of us since you are an obviously pretty ***** up in the head. Everyone else (normal folks) will not be affected at all. You are making the same stupid comments as the people who swear books, movies, and teh naked female form can warp your mind. STFU and commit yourself already.
    • merreborn, on 10/11/2007, -4/+14"Private ratings are useful for parents in deciding the media their children can consume--but they cannot be used as a way for the government to restrain freedom of speech."

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_content_rating_systems#United_States

      Between the FCC regulating television and radio, and prohibiting the sale of obscene (pornographic) media to minors, it's not inconceivable that the government may one day regulate video games as well.

      Hell, there exist games today, which you could not legally sell to a minor in the US: pornographic games. Sure, they aren't very widespread here in the US at the moment, but they're huge in Japan.

      It's already been established that the regulation of obscenity does not conflict with first amendment rights. All you have to do is establish that a certain class of games are obscene.
    • AcePup, on 10/11/2007, -13/+2@norman619

      Define a normal person.
    • richgustavson, on 10/11/2007, -4/+6I think this would be a good opportunity for them to experiment with an online purchase and distribution service (ie BitTorrent) with the AO version. It would allow fans to get the game that the developer intended and it show publishers and retailers how much of a demand games receiveing an AO rating have.
    • norman619, on 10/11/2007, -2/+10Someone who knows right from wrong. Someone who knows reality from fantasy. Someone that knows a videogame or any other form of popular entertainment is not real. DUH!

      Did you REALLY need me to explain that to you?
    • thrallie, on 10/11/2007, -6/+14I hate to break this to you, but the ESRB and MPAA who both rate things are supported by government, we call those entities "corporations". Capitalism is not bad (with true free market) but we seem to have corporatism in America. I say this because it says no where in the constitution that the government can give money and protect a company with the guns of government to take our free speech away.

      Whether anyone likes it or not, the MPAA and ESRB are promoting censorship. They have a biased rating panel (watch: this film is not yet rated) and they give out NC-17/AO ratings to movies/games that are either negative towards them or have some anti-religious theme.

      People seem to think that free speech protects things like Dora the explorer, no it doesn't protect popular speech. It protects things like Manhunt 2 or Grand Theft Auto from people who don't like it. Just because YOU don't like it doesn't mean you know what's better for someone else.
    • championchap, on 10/11/2007, -1/+16You guys think this is bad?
      It's just been banned in the UK BEFORE RELEASE!!
    • washingtonydc, on 10/11/2007, -0/+13@merreborn

      You forget, though, that broadcast media is only regulated by the FCC because it's that--it's broadcast. Because the spectrum belongs to the public, the government can have a certain level of control. There is no such similarity with video games.

      As for obscenity, violence alone can never be legally obscene. The Supreme Court in Miller v. California tried to define obscenity by creating a test to identify it: "The basic guidelines for the trier of fact must be: (a) whether the average person, applying contemporary community standards would find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the [sexual] interest; (b) whether the work depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by the applicable state law; (c) whether the work, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.”

      Needless to say, this is a high hurdle to pass and very few video games could be therefore classified as obscene.
    • norman619, on 10/11/2007, -2/+10@ thrallie:

      LOL!!! You can't be serious right? MPAA and ESRB are voluntary! There is no law against a store selling a AO rated game to a kid. There is no law against a store selling an R rated movie to a 13 year old. So it's NOT supported by the government. Anyone who woudl try to sue a store for sellign these items to a kid would learn this pretty fast as teh courts throw it out.
    • 4degrees, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2adult rating or not, it will still get sold to children. so, who cares?
    • duerra, on 10/11/2007, -6/+9Please, read and sign the petition that I have created, requesting that Take Two continue forward with their original vision of the game, while possibly releasing an M rated version afterwards. This will give us the opportunity to demonstrate to developers and publishers that there is indeed a market for AO-rated games.

      http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/take-two-should-release-manhunt-2-with-two-ratings
    • AcePup, on 10/11/2007, -7/+2@norman:

      So how does that define normal? Most murders/injuries/whatever you want to call it have nothing to do with videogames, nor fantasy, and still know right from wrong. Just because you think you know something is right from wrong doesn't mean others you ask will agree.

      So again DEFINE NORMAL. It's the same thing as average. Your "approximating". DUH!
    • JordanM85, on 10/11/2007, -3/+8I really hope they keep it AO. Maybe then we will see more AO games if this one sells well. And censorship is lame, Rockstar better not cave in here.
    • neiltc13, on 10/11/2007, -28/+3You Americans seem to think some stupid constitution written on paper is more important than your children's wellbeing. I sure as hell am glad I don't live there.
    • Exhaust, on 10/11/2007, -1/+15@neiltc13

      "You Americans seem to think some stupid constitution written on paper is more important than your children's wellbeing. I sure as hell am glad I don't live there."

      You're a douche. This has nothing to do with the "well being" of children! They should not own the ***** game. If you want to protect children go after parents that allow their child to view this material or the stores that sell it to people under 18.

      @duerra

      I signed the petition. Thanks for creating it. I hope Take Two sees it and it gives them the fortitude to withstand needless government censorship. FIGHT THE POWER!!!

    • JefffN, on 10/11/2007, -4/+2http://pastebin.com/932262
    • z00k, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1I want them to ship out two different versions, one adult only one and one rated mature... That way I can get my hands on the best version (AO)
    • alex.will, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1I think ratings systems (movies, music, games) are retarded, but then again I don't have children.
    • BlackCow, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3@pixelate

      and,

      -I, at age 16, can still order it online if I really wanted to.

      Everyone is happy, I'm actually not all that interested in the game though.
    • theragu40, on 10/11/2007, -1/+7@neil

      You're glad you don't live here? Well, so are we. You sound like an *****.
    • EnsErmac, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2I really think they need to rethink the M rating. I do not believe a game like Scarface where there is a curse button should have the same rating as Halo. Maybe a system like M-1, M-2, M-3 or something to the like. That way parents can differentiate what is really harsh and what not. I'd be in favor of the AO rating except its for 18+, at 17 you can enlist in the US military, yet you would not be allowed to buy an AO video game.
    • EnsErmac, on 10/11/2007, -5/+1@neiltc13

      You forget the average age of a digg user. The real reason for protecting the constitutional right thing is, they are mostly 14 and can't buy the game otherwise. The AO rating would raise the flag in Mommy's head, "Maybe I should think twice about this one..."

      It's the same as everyone bitching about DRM, using the I want to be able to use it on any device excuse. Well they can do it now, but the data is tagged, so they can't upload it to their favorite P2P network. People get behind causes to support their own selfish needs and give a reason that isn't even close to the real reason they want.
    • Myst3r1o, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Yeah, that's true.
    • tech42er, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1You're right. There will probably come a day when the government censors video games, just like all other media. They've already succeeded in getting the courts to ***** the First Amendment in order to supposedly "protect children" (and adults, but the latter is not as publicized) from "obscenity". All well. I'll support Ron Paul and his ilk and hope they can rein in the Leviathan.

      @neil
      You (Brits? Europeans?) think the excuse of "protecting the children" is more important than standing up for your own rights!
  • OlnyGuy, on 10/11/2007, -7/+3What a bitch.
  • africansk8er, on 10/11/2007, -15/+6Nintendo the kiddie system?
    Last time I checked, there were no AO games for the 360 nor the PS3.
    Time to eat your words, Nintendo haters.
    • mywhitenoise, on 10/11/2007, -4/+3well it's also on the PS2, PSP, and PC. Remember, Man Hunter will be sitting next to Mario Party.
  • Cooldrew, on 10/11/2007, -1/+15We all knew it was coming.
  • meamog, on 10/11/2007, -2/+63"Consider for one moment that in Manhunt 2 you can, Wii remote and nunchuk in hands, use a pair of pliers to clamp onto an enemy's testicles and literally tear them from his body in a bloody display; and if that weren't enough, you'll take one of the poor victim's vertebrae along with his manhood." -IGN

    I don't see what the issue is, the game sure SOUNDS like it should be rated AO, and the fact that they rated it such shows at least some competancy on their behalf. Or maybe I'm an old-fashioned, nut-clamping-isn't-for-people-who-can't-even-buy-cigarettes type of guy.
  • adr4, on 10/11/2007, -5/+7I hope they don't edit it. The ESRB are a bunch of self important assholes, and nothing would give me more pleasure than seeing a game that they wish they could ban go platinum.
    • norman619, on 10/11/2007, -2/+8They are needed. They work much like the MPAA does for films. It's only a tool for parents to use to better control what their kids play at home as they should if they are THAT worried abotu it.
    • thrallie, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3Norman, a tool is fine. But the "tool" is a monopoly. Where is the competing agencies? They are a corporation now that the government protects them and uses them.

      I don't see movie theaters using competing rating companies, or game manufacturers using their own or another companies.
    • norman619, on 10/11/2007, -4/+1You aren't making any sense to me at all.

      But there are other rating systems for games. Do some research.
    • Laiden, on 10/11/2007, -6/+3In Canada we have provincial standards for movies ratings. They are independent entities, but, the government funds them, and thus are accountable to the people (unlike your government, voters have power in Canada).

      The US needs to get a real system of Government, try a Constitutional Monarchy... oh wait...
    • grumbel, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6The ESRB can't ban anything, they just rate games. Its Walmart and friends that you have to blame for not selling AO, since they decide what they want to sell and nobody else.
    • standalonematt, on 10/11/2007, -3/+3@laiden - let me get his straight - your saying government censorship is a good thing - becuase they are accountable to the people. Government censorship is not a virtue - doesn't matter if its China or a nice government like Canada. Truth is in the US I don't have to go to any ratings comission - its totally voluntary. True you might have trouble getting stores to stock your product, or venues to show it - but it is still voluntary. With the advent of digital distribution - it will become less and less necesary to get your game/movie/song rated.

      Right now if I want to release a game - as an American I don't have to get approval of anyone. If I put it on the internet can even make it available to the world. You can keep your Constitutional Monarchy - I prefer our system much more. At least we get to vote for a person here - not a party.

      P.S. Canada - its a shame - your a soverign country now - time to cut the umbilical between you and the UK. Take the queen off your monopoly money and put some deserving Canadians on your currency - like Tommy Douglas, Don Cherry. Neil Young or TIm Horton - whoever. Stop worrying about American influence so much - 90% of your population lives on the border - your bound to be influenced. Fix the food too - you need to take a more American approach to food - steal from everywhere. You need some Mexicans and Italians to spice up that cuisine asap. The Asian immigration is a good start, especialy compared to the bland british inspired food.

      btw - Starbucks coffee is way better than TIm Horton's (coffee is cheap though) - but I do dig the timbits.
    • MatttK, on 10/11/2007, -6/+2@standalonematt: I love how ignorant so many Americans are. Have you ever been to any country other than your own? They all have colour on their money. Moreover, our money will be worth as much or more than the American dollar within a year, so who'll be laughing then? :)

      I won't bother replying to the rest cause the random hate on Canadian culture, etc. is really just not necessary.

      The above guy was making a good point - your system of government sucks. Even you guys realise that because you don't try to give it to other people when you install democratic governments in their countries (e.g. Iraq).
    • standalonematt, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3I didn't say I hated your culture. I just think the food could be a bit spicier. I know other countries have different colored currency - it was mainly just having the queen on it I didn't get - since you are a soverign and independant country. There is a lot I like about Canadian culture.

      Our system of government doesn't "suck" - that comment is just so insane I wouldn't know where to begin. The US Constitution is one of the most brilliant works ever devised. Sure, sometimes we don't always live up to the freedoms given to us in the US Constitution and we have to work hard to make sure the government doesn't abuse its power - but its worth it. The guy wasn't making a good point - saying our system of government sucked - sure some US politicians suck - but the sytem of government is solid.

      btw - my response about Canadian culture was firmly tongue in cheek. If I wanted to attack Canada I wouldn't be making Tim Horton's jokes. Fact is I have been to Canada many times, have many friends who are Canadian. I just found the constitutional monarchy better then US representational republic argument laughable - and hurled a few stones back. Maybe you can prosecute me under some of your hate speech laws - good thing I am an American with first amendment rights.

      btw - I have travelled to many many countries - so nice try there too. I am also aware of the devaluation of the US dollar.
    • tech42er, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1@laiden
      What? You want to make the government ***** STRONGER? Please. We need the government to have less power. What happened to personal responsibility and personal rights, and personal freedoms? The government doesn't need to protect you from yourself or "violent video games" or marijuana, to give two examples.
    • MatttK, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1We have the Queen on our currency because, believe it or not, the Queen is still our Monarch. I don't necessarily agree with it but it's true.
  • digitallysick, on 10/11/2007, -4/+17They would probably sell more by keeping the Adult Only Rating, i know id buy it
    • merreborn, on 10/11/2007, -2/+10Walmart and several other large chains don't sell AO games. That'll impact sales, especially in areas where those retailers are the *only* game retailers within a reasonable distance.
    • norman619, on 10/11/2007, -1/+14Same here. Just look at how well the bad publicity worked out for Rockstar and their GTA series.
    • nymphetamine, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6I still don't see why they don't seel them in stores, especially in a store like Fry's. If I can buy porn at Fry's, why can't I buy an AO rated game?
    • grumbel, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4GTA got a rerelease to work around the AO rating and go back to M rating. If they would have stayed AO they would have had an issue.
    • ICSU, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1@merreborn
      because you can't just order it by mail...
  • postal21, on 10/11/2007, -5/+19Any game where you can viciously rip another man's testicles off deserves to be rated AO.

    And they need to make this for 360 so I can play it...
  • IanPatterson, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2I cant wait
  • rmw132, on 10/11/2007, -2/+25This just made the game 10x more popular than it would have been just for the infamous AO rating.
  • mywhitenoise, on 10/11/2007, -2/+37I'll buy this for many reasons.

    To spite the ESRB
    To own an AO game
    To show Nintendo they have an audience that shows interest in games other than mini-mario-games (I love Mario)
    To let the industry know that AO games can sell, and to go all out on games without any fear of a loss of sales.

    The best thing Rockstar could do is go all out on GTAIV, sell it as an AO game, and Wal-Mart would ***** themselves for not stocking the biggest games of 2007.
    • norman619, on 10/11/2007, -9/+1They should have 2 versions of GTA4.
    • WiseWeasel, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2I would love to see GTA4 be AO rated. I seriously think Walmart would reconsider their position if a game as popular as GTA were to be released AO. That's exactly what we need to show game developers that there's a market for AO games, including porn games in the US. We can't let Japan control the adult media market like this... As for Manhunt 2, I'll probably pass, though I am tempted to show my support for AO games on the Wii...
    • tech42er, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1@Wise
      The last AO GTA game didn't make Walmart reconsider their position. And, right or wrong, I bet a good deal of purchases of GTA are for teenagers to play. If the game was AO and those purchases weren't made, that would impact sales. f course, I don't know if it would impact sales sufficiently, but it is something to consider.
  • MisterFlaut, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3330 days for response? It should be, "Sweet. We're now adding gratuitous sex. Enjoy, fans!"
    • adoggz, on 10/11/2007, -1/+10they should add in the ability to go to the ESRB and rape/murder everyone there. not that I condone those actions or think it would be the coolest level to play, but it would be a hell of a response to the ESRB.
  • ilovethissite, on 10/11/2007, -3/+3Since retailers won't carry them, maybe Rockstar should sell the games at grocery stores and gas stations, those are outlets that are just waiting to get tapped by the video game market.
  • catsaregrey, on 10/11/2007, -0/+14As a mature and responsible adult, all I can say is AWESOME :D

    I'll be getting this.
  • DustinR, on 10/11/2007, -1/+9Ok whatever, at least everyone who buys this game wont be supporting Walmart. I say if they are going to be Adult only then you might as well as kick it up a notch.
  • Jagdwulfe, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1Anyone know if this is coming to XBox 360?
  • pugsby, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3Surr-prise, surr-freakin'-prise.

    They're just taking it out on Manhunt because they let GTA slip past.
  • sivart84, on 10/11/2007, -7/+2The article fails to bring up the biggest problem with having your title rated AO, and that is getting it onto any console platform with such a rating.

    No first party company (e.g. Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo) allows Adult Only rated titles to be published on their respective platforms, which effectively kills any chance of a game being successful.
    • WiseWeasel, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Gee, you must have missed the part about this game being available for Wii and PS2... What was your point again?
  • kelchm, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5going to sell like hotcakes.
  • dillibob, on 10/11/2007, -7/+1honestly who cares? how many of you were going to buy this game if it was rated M? probably 12. the game looks dumb ass hell anyways
  • GameGuru151, on 10/11/2007, -2/+20"You Americans seem to think some stupid constitution written on paper is more important than your children's wellbeing. I sure as hell am glad I don't live there."

    I'm sure as hell am glad you don't live here. Hey! We're both happy!
  • omyard, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3Wasn't Rockstar expecting to get an AO rating?

    I liked the original so I was probably going to get this one as well. It'll be intresting to see who carries it. We know Wal-Mart, Target and their like won't, but will Best Buy or Circuit City take a stab at it? Doubtful, but it'd be a breakthrough if one of them did.
  • sathias, on 10/11/2007, -3/+3Hear that? It's the sound of Rockstar proving Jack Thompson right.
  • wootmacs, on 10/11/2007, -8/+3This is just stupid. I mean whats wrong with teens buying this game? It's not like they haven't seen any of the things in the game happen before.
    • YojimboJango, on 10/11/2007, -6/+1Teens can still buy this game. There's no rule that says that they can't. It's recommended for adults.
    • PvtJenkins, on 10/11/2007, -0/+11Whens the last time you saw someones nut sack ripped off with a pair of pliers?
    • mywhitenoise, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2There are rules, hence ADULTS ONLY. You can't even buy an M rated game without being 17 with ID.
    • WiseWeasel, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1@pvtjenkins: You mean you missed that Abu Ghraib youtube vid? : P
  • untzboy, on 10/11/2007, -4/+1ah hell. You think Nintendo would offer switching blood with sweat..... but it was inevitable
  • YojimboJango, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6Ok whats the big deal with this? It's an AO game. I don't hear anyone bitching that it doesn't deserve an AO rating, just that the rating system is crap ect ect...

    Wallmart, and Target wont be selling this game anyways. The parental groups will be making sure of that. And the government isn't censoring anything. They have no rules to say that you can't purchase this game if you're under x age. They are only giving a report on what it is that you're buying. I wouldn't buy this game for my 8 year old sister, and this rating will help parents that care know not to buy this game for their 8 year old.

  • miyamotofreak, on 10/11/2007, -4/+1I hear this one isn't as grisly as the first so why is it AO?
    • YojimboJango, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4I hear that this one is more grisly that the first. And that the wii controls add a whole other realm of realism to the violence.
      Apparently the ESRB thinks it's worse.
  • Samiyam, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5My guess is that Take Two will get the game reworked to an M rating. They are in business to make money, not to test the limits of censorship or to lose money while retaining integrity of the original product. It's the same reason only 3% of movies are rated NC-17, and I doubt Take-Two can recoup the costs of development if it sold with an AO rating and got the lower sales numbers.
  • timvidal, on 10/11/2007, -5/+1is this the work of jack thompson? wouldnt suprise me if that bastard had his hand in on this one....
    • mywhitenoise, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6Who gives a *****? Kids shouldn't be buying this game anyway. If you're old enough to buy an M rated game, then you only have to wait 1 more year to buy this one.
  • s0medantastic, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0I was praying for the AO rating as opposed to it being banned.

    Can't wait for this release!!
    • WiseWeasel, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2ESRB doesn't have the authority to ban a game... That would be up to the state or federal government, and would probably be overturned as unconsitutional.
  • iChaz, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0good, it's a good filter for the messed up kids, however it probably won't stop anyone who really wants to play the game from getting it. ratings aren't really too meaningful these days.
  • Bfettmaul, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4so this wont be sold in family friendly stores. big deal EB and Gamestop will sell, Amazon will sell. It will sell millions of copies and open the door for more ADULT games. It's about time really, most of the old nintendo gamers are now adults and into mature themed games. This may save the market.
  • Jaysunli, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Looks like I'll be selling this game on ebay for double the price.


    Thanks BBFC!
  • ZenDavis, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2PVance@esrb.org

    Patricia Vance

    I believe this is the woman at the ESRB who got the title rated AO. As mature gamers, please write to her in a respectful manner and ask her to stand up for mature gamers and not censorship. I'm not 100% sure that the e-mail will work, but the message I sent her hasn't bounced back yet so I'm assuming it works. Let her know your stance and please for god's sake, be mature about it.

    ______________________

    Please do the right thing and give Manhunt 2 an M rating. Hostel, Saw, and various other films never received the dreaded NC-17 rating so I don't understand why Manhunt 2 has to go through this indignation.

    Prove to the people who are this industry's livelihood why you stand up for them and not the special interest groups whose only goal in life is a hypocritical 'think of the children!' mentality. If they were doing their jobs as parents, Manhunt 2 would never end up in their hands to begin with and Ms. Vance, you know this to be true.

    Please all you're doing is punishing the adult gamers this title was aimed for by essentially having the game blacklisted from the market and it's pretty much a backhanded manner of censorship. Please don't do this.

    Thank you and take care.

    Zen Davis
    • dagobah77, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Don't you think you should see the content in the game before comparing it to Saw and Hostel? They've seen the game; You haven't. The ESRB obviously feels the game deserves a higher rating than the first.

      Adult gamers will still be able to get their hands on it online and at non-box box shops . Your problem shouldn't be with the ESRB but with retailers like Wal-Mart and Target who refuse to stock AO games because of store policy.
    • theragu40, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Wait...your name is "Zen"?
    • Bfettmaul, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0Hostel and Saw weren't interactive.
  • ZenDavis, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2On a side note, Nintendo does not release AO games on their consoles. Unless the rating is lowered, you won't be playing it anywhere.
  • waterdrop, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1I'll have to dust off the ol' PS2 or shell out $250 for a Wii to play this game now that I hear about its AO rating...
  • JordanM85, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5We should be emailing Rockstar and Take Two, not the ESRB. Let them know we want the AO game, not a watered down M title.
    • onimusha115, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Agreed. I just emailed rockstar, and hoping others will do the same. Let them hear the opinion of the fans because in the end they will want to deliver the type of game that the buyer wants.

      I dont want them to change the game, not just because it will have the AO rating, but because I dont want to play it knowing that its just some watered down version of the origional.
  • mykos, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2This rating system system is nothing more than a helpful guide for parents who care about what their kids are getting in their heads. Parents are free to ignore it if they want.

    The original Manhunt is the only game I've played that actually IS a murder simulator in places (sorry Jack Thompson, Counter Strike doesn't count). I definitely wouldn't let a child under 13-14 come near this.
    • tech42er, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I still can't believe CS is an M-rated game. Not that it matters because everyone gets it through STEAM, but still!
  • Reaktor5, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0.....and Jack Thompson just came.
  • PCBuckman, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1It will be interesting to see what Take Two decides to do about the rating. I'm all for the AO rating if the game needs it, but I do feel that it will hurt sales of the game. I remember when GTA San Andreas came out on the PC, I bought it the first week when it was rated M. When it was uprated to AO a week or two later, the game vanished from shelves at Best Buy, where I had purchased my copy. Even EBGames, who deals exclusively in games, pulled the game off the shelves and hid it behind the counter like a porno mag in bookstores. You could still buy the game, you just had to ask for it. And once they sold out, I think you had to special order the game. Hopefully someone like Amazon.com will stock the game if the AO rating keeps.

    Overall rating systems aren't very good anyway. My biggest problem has been how do you discern content between two equally rated items. With the MPAA for instance, using the F words more than a few times will get the movie an R rating, even if the flick is about bunnies and kittens. At the same time another R rated movie might have a story featuring strong violence and sexuality. It might be better if media had an overall rating, and then a breakdown of the elements like violence, sexuality, and language on a scale from 1 to 100 with 100 being the strongest.
    • Bfettmaul, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0Actually if the movie has anything to do with sexuality it can go from r to an NC17 really quickly.
      Thats the irony of the mpaa, violence is fine, sex and naughty language is a no-no
  • XivGNP, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Has anyone here actually bought a game from a Target or Wal-Mart? The selection is utter crap anyways, even with the very few mature games they have on display. To be perfectly honest, I'm incredibly glad it got an AO rating, and I really hope Rockstar sticks with it all the way to release. And on a side-note, am I the only person on the Internet who actually liked the first Manhunt?
    • JudgeMonkey, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1"Has anyone here actually bought a game from a Target or Wal-Mart? The selection is utter crap anyways, even with the very few mature games they have on display."

      I have plenty of times. haven't had an issue of availability unless the game was hard to find everywhere.

      "To be perfectly honest, I'm incredibly glad it got an AO rating, and I really hope Rockstar sticks with it all the way to release."

      I don't really see the point of an AO rating. It's only 1 year difference in the description. What the hell is one year going to do? I wouldn't mind an AO rating, but you KNOW the game is now going to end up delayed and censored to high hell. It would be financially destructive not to. At best we can hope for two versions such as Leisure Suit Larry MCL. It's true the ESRB and MPAA don't censor movies, but in order to get to more people, they dev's or filmmakers might end up butchering their own work to get a "better rating".

      "And on a side-note, am I the only person on the Internet who actually liked the first Manhunt?"

      No, I liked the first one a lot.
      On another side note I hope horrible things happen to this stupid CCFC. Maybe if they just took care of their kids like they are supposed to they wouldn't have so many problems.
  • Flunk, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I find the most shocking part of this whole Manhunt 2 mess is that the governing boards found the Wii graphics realistic enough to find offensive. Shocking.
  • ShivaOritiner, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1So if the game is rated AO some soccer mom can't go to Target or Wal-Mart and buy it for her 12 year old. So instead, the 12 year old is going to whine and drag his mom to gamestop and she'll just buy it for him there even after the person behind the counter mentions that the game is rated 18+. To which her reply will be, "But he wants it.... hun you know this game is too old."

    I'm sick and tired of everyone BUT the parent being blamed for the above situation that happens on a regular basis. Almost every single time I go to buy a game, I see the above happening.

    Go ahead, give the game an AO rating. I want it and I'll get it regardless and I guaran-dam-tee you that when I have kids, my ten year olds will not be playing it.
  • bnl771, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1So I wasn't interested in this game until this. It's exactly like the MPAA slapping an NC-17 on something. THAT'S when I get interested.
  • gfreeman223, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I cannot WAIT to play this game.

    "Casual Sadism" and BDSM bars? I'm too shy and nerdy to go to pervy bars and suffocate people in real life, lol.

    God I love my wii. And my dead hooker... just love em to death.
  • dunnace, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Oh great. When you Americans get an AO you moan and in the uk we don't even get the sodding game!
  • annihilator675, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Why is there no delete button? bury this please.
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