Ex-ELSPA Bennett Slams Successor's Manhunt 2 Stance
Roger Bennett, SPOnG salutes you
Roger Bennett is sorely missed. The ex-director general of UK games regulator ELSPA has come out strongly in favour of Rockstar over the BBFC in the case of the recent Manhunt 2 ban, while strongly criticising ELSPA’s decision to quickly jump to the support of the censors.
Bennett is clearly a man who values common-sense and speaking his mind over the current nonsensical politicking which has seen ELSPA shamefully support the BBFC on the Manhunt 2 ban.
The former ELSPA director told MCV that he hopes the firm understands the long-term implications of supporting the BBFC’s decision to ban Manhunt 2 – and that he believes both the government and BBFC have become heavily influenced by anti-game prejudice.
“I hope that ELSPA’s response to the BBFC’s decision not to grant a rating to Manhunt 2 was not made without recognising the long term possible effects of such an action, as pointed out by Stuart Dinsey last week,” Bennett told MCV.
“It is most interesting to note that the guidelines used in reaching this decision by the BBFC includes the assumed criteria that because games are interactive, they are different to other forms of screen entertainment and should be rated accordingly.
“There is no evidence for it to make such a flawed assumption. Games are becoming increasingly and wholly unjustifiably separated from other forms of screen entertainment. It seems to me that the Government and thus the BBFC have become heavily influenced by previous events which in no way have any link to our industry.”
source:MCV
Bennett is clearly a man who values common-sense and speaking his mind over the current nonsensical politicking which has seen ELSPA shamefully support the BBFC on the Manhunt 2 ban.
The former ELSPA director told MCV that he hopes the firm understands the long-term implications of supporting the BBFC’s decision to ban Manhunt 2 – and that he believes both the government and BBFC have become heavily influenced by anti-game prejudice.
“I hope that ELSPA’s response to the BBFC’s decision not to grant a rating to Manhunt 2 was not made without recognising the long term possible effects of such an action, as pointed out by Stuart Dinsey last week,” Bennett told MCV.
“It is most interesting to note that the guidelines used in reaching this decision by the BBFC includes the assumed criteria that because games are interactive, they are different to other forms of screen entertainment and should be rated accordingly.
“There is no evidence for it to make such a flawed assumption. Games are becoming increasingly and wholly unjustifiably separated from other forms of screen entertainment. It seems to me that the Government and thus the BBFC have become heavily influenced by previous events which in no way have any link to our industry.”
source:MCV
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Comments
Dreadknux 29 Jun 2007 12:38
1/11
Rock the house Bennett.
haritori 29 Jun 2007 12:50
2/11
thats ok for him to say now but would he of made these comments should he still be the boss?, nice to see common sense but i fear this is simply a comment based on what he would of done differently if he was still there (ie; i could of run the place better if i was still there) but would he really?
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tyrion 29 Jun 2007 13:06
3/11
haritori wrote:
thats ok for him to say now but would he of made these comments should he still be the boss?, nice to see common sense but i fear this is simply a comment based on what he would of done differently if he was still there (ie; i could of run the place better if i was still there) but would he really?
You may not remember, but it was Mr. Bennett who was interviewed on TV and in newspapers defending the original Manhunt after the Stefan Pakeerah murder was tied to the game. He defended Take2's right to publish the original game, I can't see why he wouldn't defend their right to publish its sequel.
Also Mr. Bennett retired on his own terms, so it's not as if he has an axe to grind against the current management of ELSPA.
Joji 29 Jun 2007 13:14
4/11
Guess we'll never know. Truth of the matter is videogames always get a bad rep. It seems the non gaming public can't be bothered to even understand them and those that play them, and that's a big shame.
The adult horror game is here to stay, whether they like it or not. Perhaps what we really need is a new ratings system for games and mature/adult games to come sealed in clearly labeled plastic, like music cds with explicit content sometimes do.
Someone give this guy another job at BBFC.
The adult horror game is here to stay, whether they like it or not. Perhaps what we really need is a new ratings system for games and mature/adult games to come sealed in clearly labeled plastic, like music cds with explicit content sometimes do.
Someone give this guy another job at BBFC.
Ditto 29 Jun 2007 13:25
5/11
For God's sake, can people please stop moaning about this game?
It was needlessly violent therefore it got banned according to the rules. In the US it got a wholly appropriate rating.
Where's the problem?
It was needlessly violent therefore it got banned according to the rules. In the US it got a wholly appropriate rating.
Where's the problem?
YenRug 29 Jun 2007 13:44
6/11
Adam M wrote:
Where's the problem?
The fact that they refused to rate it, is the problem. Whilst there are problems with the US rating, at least they gave it one; the BBFC are being hypocritical, firstly they publish a report which downplays the affect of interactivity of games over film, then they go and refuse to rate Manhunt 2 because of its interactive nature compared to a film. Me? I see a problem with that, what about you?
Bentley 29 Jun 2007 14:23
7/11
Rockstar need to get this man on their team immediately!
Firstly, because he speaks sense. Second, because he might still have a bit of sway with ELSPA. And third, because he looks a bit like James Caan and hopefully will scare the s**t out of the BBFC until they back down and show some bloody common sense.
Firstly, because he speaks sense. Second, because he might still have a bit of sway with ELSPA. And third, because he looks a bit like James Caan and hopefully will scare the s**t out of the BBFC until they back down and show some bloody common sense.
Bentley 29 Jun 2007 14:28
8/11
Adam M wrote:
For God's sake, can people please stop moaning about this game?
It was needlessly violent therefore it got banned according to the rules. In the US it got a wholly appropriate rating.
Where's the problem?
It was needlessly violent therefore it got banned according to the rules. In the US it got a wholly appropriate rating.
Where's the problem?
The problem is that some adults like playing scary games and don't appreciate it when they are told what they can and can't do by people who don't understand them, the games or the genre in general. That includes you, Adam M! And as if we are about to "stop moaning" about this game because someone just as out of touch as the BBFC asks us to, without making a reasonable point and missing our case entirely.
"This game has been banned from sale because Adam M says it was needlessly violent"
Not everyone thinks like "Adam M", hence we need a fairer system of CLASSIFICATION and NOT CENSORSHIP.
I can only assume the "M" stands for "Monger".
Adam M Is Gay 29 Jun 2007 19:12
9/11
what more can be said
Ditto 30 Jun 2007 10:23
10/11
Wow, so now we're into personal insults...
Adam M Is Gay 30 Jun 2007 11:11
11/11
Ditto wrote:
Wow, so now we're into personal insults...
yeah, judging by todays society i thought i may as well get them in before they are banned