Manhunt 2 Beats UK Ban
Rockstar Games has managed to win its appeal against the BBFC’s ban on the controversial Manhunt 2 game.
We recently covered Rockstar’s appeal - and tongue-lashing of the BBFC - to the Video Appeals Committee (VAC), who have now come back 4 against 3 in favour of the game getting a release and a classification from the BBFC. Rockstar stated:
“We are pleased that the decision of the VAC has recognised that Manhunt 2 is well within the bounds established by other 18+ rated entertainment.”
A less pleased David Cooke, Director of the BBFC said:
“The BBFC will carefully study the judgement by the Video Appeals Committee when it becomes available. The BBFC exercises great vigilance and care in ensuring that all violent games which are submitted to us are correctly classified.
“The BBFC twice rejected Manhunt 2 for its focus on varied and cumulative killings. We recognize that rejection is a very serious step, in which the desire of publishers to market their games, and that of gamers to buy them, must be balanced against the public interest, including the full range of possible harm risks to vulnerable individuals and to any children who may be wrongly exposed to such games.”
While this might be a major victory for Rockstar it does not mean that gamers will get to see Manhunt 2 on UK shelves anytime soon since the BBFC will not issue it a rating (18+) until a full report of the decision has been examined. Even then, there is the possibility of the BBFC taking this matter to the High Court.-Martin Lynch
Original post by Eric