Anti-videogaming California State Senator Leland Yee recently requested that the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) should be more transparent about the reasons why it re-rated Manhunt 2 from an AO (Adult Only) to an M (Mature).
"The ESRB and Rockstar should end this game of secrecy by immediately unveiling what content has been changed to grant the new rating and what correspondence occurred between the ESRB and Rockstar to come to this conclusion", Yee said in a statement earlier this week.
Yee and his supporters at the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood claim that with an M rating, Manhunt 2 will be actively marketed and sold to children.
Strangely enough, SPOnG would also like to know more about the reasons why the ESRB reached this decision, but for very different reasons to Senator Yee and the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood.
We want transparency on this matter for two reasons: firstly, to appease the anti-violence gaming lobby that the ESRB's decision is valid; secondly, to silence the conspiracy theorists within the gaming industry who are claiming that Rockstar deliberately 'over-egged' Manhunt 2 with the intention of obtaining an AO rating (or, in the case of the UK, to be refused an 18-certificate from the BBFC) in order to garner free, money-cannot-buy publicity for the game by having it banned and then subsequently having that ban overturned.
ESRB president Patricia Vance said it would not disclose why it re-rated Manhunt 2, claiming: "Publishers submit game content to the ESRB on a confidential basis. It is simply not our place to reveal specific details about the content we have reviewed, particularly when it involves a product yet to be released.”
"What can be said is that the changes that were made to the game, including the depictions themselves and the context in which those depictions were presented, were sufficient to warrant the assignment of an M (Mature 17+) rating by our raters."
Vance added, "Rather than publicly second guessing what is unmistakably a strong warning to parents about the suitability of a particular game for children, which presumably neither Senator Yee nor CCFC have personally reviewed, we feel a more productive tack would be to join us in encouraging parents to take the ratings seriously when buying games for their children... It is a parent's rightful place to make choices for their own children."
SPOnG has put calls into Rockstar and the BBFC earlier today and we will be bringing you a full update on the Manhunt 2situation in the UK very soon.
"The ESRB and Rockstar should end this game of secrecy by immediately unveiling what content has been changed to grant the new rating and what correspondence occurred between the ESRB and Rockstar to come to this conclusion", Yee said in a statement earlier this week.
Yee and his supporters at the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood claim that with an M rating, Manhunt 2 will be actively marketed and sold to children.
Strangely enough, SPOnG would also like to know more about the reasons why the ESRB reached this decision, but for very different reasons to Senator Yee and the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood.
We want transparency on this matter for two reasons: firstly, to appease the anti-violence gaming lobby that the ESRB's decision is valid; secondly, to silence the conspiracy theorists within the gaming industry who are claiming that Rockstar deliberately 'over-egged' Manhunt 2 with the intention of obtaining an AO rating (or, in the case of the UK, to be refused an 18-certificate from the BBFC) in order to garner free, money-cannot-buy publicity for the game by having it banned and then subsequently having that ban overturned.
ESRB president Patricia Vance said it would not disclose why it re-rated Manhunt 2, claiming: "Publishers submit game content to the ESRB on a confidential basis. It is simply not our place to reveal specific details about the content we have reviewed, particularly when it involves a product yet to be released.”
"What can be said is that the changes that were made to the game, including the depictions themselves and the context in which those depictions were presented, were sufficient to warrant the assignment of an M (Mature 17+) rating by our raters."
Vance added, "Rather than publicly second guessing what is unmistakably a strong warning to parents about the suitability of a particular game for children, which presumably neither Senator Yee nor CCFC have personally reviewed, we feel a more productive tack would be to join us in encouraging parents to take the ratings seriously when buying games for their children... It is a parent's rightful place to make choices for their own children."
SPOnG has put calls into Rockstar and the BBFC earlier today and we will be bringing you a full update on the Manhunt 2situation in the UK very soon.
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Comments
Dreadknux 29 Aug 2007 09:07
1/2
with an M rating, Manhunt 2 will be actively marketed and sold to children.
But... again... if kids get to play it...
It's nobody's fault but the parents!!!
Or the spotty sales clerk who couldn't give a toss who'd sell an M rated game to any old sod.
With quotes as obvious as these, from people who are working for institutions like a CHILDHOOD society, you'd think we were living in the bleedin' dark ages.
Joji 29 Aug 2007 10:41
2/2
What's worrying here is that they still have this bad protect the children rap (games aren't just for kids anymore). All it takes is for stores to ask to see some valid age ID when selling an mature game, perhaps make the buyer sign a disclaimer form, with each party getting a copy. This way, the industry would be covered a little. Why is this so hard to do for mature games, especially when you need ID to buy fags, booze etc?
I think the ESRB should do the public a favour and tell us why the ban was overturned. I'm guessing it was a kneejerk reaction to the U.K ban, because I doubt they could have tested the build of Manhunt thoroughly within 24 hrs of the U.K ban. In short they don't have a valid enough reason, and possibly didn't even test it. Wouldn't that be a shocking revelation? Maybe Rockstar can enlighten us (I smell an investigative interview op here, Spong).
On top of that, I'd love to know if what if any changes have happened to Manhunt 2. Hope its still the full game.
I think the ESRB should do the public a favour and tell us why the ban was overturned. I'm guessing it was a kneejerk reaction to the U.K ban, because I doubt they could have tested the build of Manhunt thoroughly within 24 hrs of the U.K ban. In short they don't have a valid enough reason, and possibly didn't even test it. Wouldn't that be a shocking revelation? Maybe Rockstar can enlighten us (I smell an investigative interview op here, Spong).
On top of that, I'd love to know if what if any changes have happened to Manhunt 2. Hope its still the full game.