Manhunt 2 Baits Flailing Thompson and Media

By Stefan Walters

Rockstar Games has somewhat casually announced that Manhunt 2 will be release for PlayStation 2, PSP and Nintendo Wii, "This Summer". The new title promises more of the dark and grizzly stuff that saw its predecessor pulled from shelves, slammed in Parliament and engulfed in accusations of real life murder.

It’s noticeable that rather than pitch at next-gen, the publisher's commercial savvy sees Manhunt 2 released for platforms with a large installed user base.

A scant press release issued by Rockstar US today states Manhunt 2 will be the debut title for newly-formed Rockstar London, with co-development by the original Manhunt team, Edinburgh-based Rockstar North, and additional work from Rockstar Leeds.

"With Manhunt 2 we have tried to create a game that stays close to the original concept of chilling suspense and stealth, whilst pushing the game design and storytelling forward," said Sam Houser, founder and executive producer of Rockstar Games.

"We are also excited to have our newest development team, Rockstar London, working on the title alongside our two established UK studios, Rockstar North and Leeds."

SPOnG should point out that Toronto is handling the Wii version, going unmentioned by Houser.

Manhunt was linked to the fatal stabbing of British teenager, Stefan Pakeerah, in 2004, and saw the game pulled from shelves by major retailers across the world.

The outcry against Manhunt reached the The Commons several times, with Labour MP Keith Vaz commenting in January 2005, "Hon. Members may recall that I raised at Prime Minister's questions on 15 September 2004 the case of Stefan Pakeerah, a 14-year-old Leicester schoolboy who was brutally murdered. Stefan's parents believe that the perpetrator of that savage attack was influenced by the video game ‘Manhunt’..."

As things transpired it was the victim of the murder who had owned the game not perpetrator, 17-year old Warren LeBlanc. "The video game was not found in Warren LeBlanc's room, it was found in Stefan Pakeerah's room," a police spokesperson said in August 2004. "Leicestershire Constabulary stands by its response that police investigations did not uncover any connections to the video game, the motive for the incident was robbery."

Of course, the uproar across the globe saw demand for Manhunt spike, and rampant tabloid coverage saw it re-enter the charts.

All of this adds up to one thing. A game that was, by Rockstar's standards, somewhat under the radar, became a cult phenomenon and as such, the value of the IP soared.

This news that Rockstar is continuing the Manhunt franchise will also, no doubt, enrage embattled anti-game violence crusader Jack Thompson, (a rare interview with whom may be read here) who seized on the original Manhunt as a clear indicator that his well-voiced theories were correct: Violent games breed violent behaviour. It's likely that Thompson will react to this news, in spite of his current troubles.

As soon as we know more, we'll let you know. And in the meantime, let's see which of our esteemed colleagues charged with feeding the masses dead-tree newsmeal will bite, the headline no doubt reading “Murder Game 2!"

Check the first trailer and more on the game's official website.