Manhunt 2 Allowed On Sale In Holland
Hooray for the last bastion of liberalism in Europe
UPDATE: Rockstar in the UK has just informed SPOnG that the company currently has no plans to release the original version of Manhunt 2 exclusively in Holland.
The Dutch Justice Ministry declined to intervene this week to prevent the release of Manhunt 2, following the news earlier this week that a toned-down version of the game is to go on sale in the US this coming Halloween.
Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin said, in a letter to the Dutch Parliament, that Manhunt 2 could not be banned under Dutch law, but it could still be possible to prosecute people who distribute it to under-16s.
Ballin said, "The current law is based on the principle that every adult is considered capable of deciding for himself which games he wants to play, unless it contains illegal material."
Deciding whether children should be allowed to play a game is currently, "the joint responsibility of parents, the audiovisual industry and the government", he continued, adding that his ministry was now examining whether new laws were needed ‘to better protect the youth."
Ballin wants to see a unified EU standard for video game ratings, adding that, "A joint approach could lead to a ban on the most violent games.”
The Dutch Justice Ministry declined to intervene this week to prevent the release of Manhunt 2, following the news earlier this week that a toned-down version of the game is to go on sale in the US this coming Halloween.
Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin said, in a letter to the Dutch Parliament, that Manhunt 2 could not be banned under Dutch law, but it could still be possible to prosecute people who distribute it to under-16s.
Ballin said, "The current law is based on the principle that every adult is considered capable of deciding for himself which games he wants to play, unless it contains illegal material."
Deciding whether children should be allowed to play a game is currently, "the joint responsibility of parents, the audiovisual industry and the government", he continued, adding that his ministry was now examining whether new laws were needed ‘to better protect the youth."
Ballin wants to see a unified EU standard for video game ratings, adding that, "A joint approach could lead to a ban on the most violent games.”
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Comments
ozfunghi 30 Aug 2007 19:18
1/3
Errr. Like i said over a month (maybe 2) ago. The game is allowed in Belgium as well. Selling the game to minors isn't even a fellony (or how the hell you spell that).
I'm actually wondering how many countries DID forbid the game, besides the UK.
I'm actually wondering how many countries DID forbid the game, besides the UK.
Hypnotoad 31 Aug 2007 01:55
2/3
Ah leave it to the Dutch to play it exactly how it should be done. God I love those people :-D
Joji 31 Aug 2007 11:35
3/3
The real big problem here is breaking the vice like perception of the masses, who still think games are only for kids and that, that's Rockstar's intended audience to shock. It couldn't be further from the truth. Only a matter of time before we see it in the U.K, though. Can't wait to see the looks on muppet politicians faces.
There's a big oppurtunity for the industry to educate the masses about games, their ratings and such. Unfortuntely the industry are missing the mark, if parents can't give a damn that's up to parents, but the industry must guard itself just in case.
There's a big oppurtunity for the industry to educate the masses about games, their ratings and such. Unfortuntely the industry are missing the mark, if parents can't give a damn that's up to parents, but the industry must guard itself just in case.