SPOnG has been aware of the fact that there is a leaked version of Manhunt 2 that has been doing the rounds for some time now. Not because a mate of a mate down the pub told us, but because we have played it (for the record - we stand by our initial preview - it's a very average horror game that does not deserver either your attention or a BBFC ban).
However, it was only a matter of time before a mainstream news outlet picked up on the news that the increasingly notorious ‘grisly game’ that has ‘roused the censors wrath’ was available to freely download to anybody with a bit of technical nous, a chipped PlayStation 2 and a broadband connection.
In between dredging up (yet again) some more misleading references to the Stefan Pakeerah murder case and interviewing video game journalist, Rob Fahey about the lack of ‘moral framework’ in the game, Sky News claims that its investigation has found thousands of people downloading it.
Rockstar Games continues to give the line that the content of Manhunt 2 is "in line with other mainstream entertainment choices for adult consumers".
Also of interest is the fact that Rockstar admits the game was leaked onto the web by an employee of a different company who had access to the preview copy.
Rockstar does not give out preview copies of games unless they are very closely monitored. So, why do it? Maybe a cry for free speech? Maybe gross dullness? Maybe just showing off to his or her mates..
Standard theories for this kind of leak include disc duplication houses, third-party development sub-contractors and, of course, the media itself.
Whatever the reason or the source, the person has apparently now been sacked.
SPOnG has put calls in to Rockstar, the producer of the Sky News investigative piece and to other contacts within the industry to find out more about how Sky’s investigation was carried out. Facts about who the person was that leaked it and/or which company he or she worked for would be useful...
In the meantime Rockstar is appealing against the British board of Film Classification ban on Manhunt 2, with the game finally going on sale over in the US on Halloween at the end of the month.
Before we go...
To clarify for the Nth time the issue of the original game and the case in which 17-year old Warren Leblanc was accused of murdering 14 year-old Stefan Pakeerah in 2004. Manhunt was - as SPOnG reported at the time - was discovered not in the murderer's room but in that of the victim.
In terms of 'moral framework' within a game (or any medium) - it's thought not deed, dude!
Here's an example of a murder based on a work with a solid moral framework: The Catcher in the Rye is a book that has - for decades - either bored readers rigid or influenced their lives for good. It's accepted as being a classic. It was also cited as one of the main 'reasons' for Mark Chapman to murder former Beatle John Lennon.
Or was Chapman simply so delusional that the book fed an instinct already in place?
Let's ban it anyway, uh?
Maybe games hacks, including SPOnG, should steer clear of moral philosophy? We're off to listen to Judas Priest backwards, while reading American Psycho and laughing at the filthy humour of Lenny Bruce. Or we might just get pissed up on cheap booze from the supermarket, watch The Bill and beat up our wives and then have a weep while singing the national anthem...
However, it was only a matter of time before a mainstream news outlet picked up on the news that the increasingly notorious ‘grisly game’ that has ‘roused the censors wrath’ was available to freely download to anybody with a bit of technical nous, a chipped PlayStation 2 and a broadband connection.
In between dredging up (yet again) some more misleading references to the Stefan Pakeerah murder case and interviewing video game journalist, Rob Fahey about the lack of ‘moral framework’ in the game, Sky News claims that its investigation has found thousands of people downloading it.
Rockstar Games continues to give the line that the content of Manhunt 2 is "in line with other mainstream entertainment choices for adult consumers".
Also of interest is the fact that Rockstar admits the game was leaked onto the web by an employee of a different company who had access to the preview copy.
Rockstar does not give out preview copies of games unless they are very closely monitored. So, why do it? Maybe a cry for free speech? Maybe gross dullness? Maybe just showing off to his or her mates..
Standard theories for this kind of leak include disc duplication houses, third-party development sub-contractors and, of course, the media itself.
Whatever the reason or the source, the person has apparently now been sacked.
SPOnG has put calls in to Rockstar, the producer of the Sky News investigative piece and to other contacts within the industry to find out more about how Sky’s investigation was carried out. Facts about who the person was that leaked it and/or which company he or she worked for would be useful...
In the meantime Rockstar is appealing against the British board of Film Classification ban on Manhunt 2, with the game finally going on sale over in the US on Halloween at the end of the month.
Before we go...
To clarify for the Nth time the issue of the original game and the case in which 17-year old Warren Leblanc was accused of murdering 14 year-old Stefan Pakeerah in 2004. Manhunt was - as SPOnG reported at the time - was discovered not in the murderer's room but in that of the victim.
In terms of 'moral framework' within a game (or any medium) - it's thought not deed, dude!
Here's an example of a murder based on a work with a solid moral framework: The Catcher in the Rye is a book that has - for decades - either bored readers rigid or influenced their lives for good. It's accepted as being a classic. It was also cited as one of the main 'reasons' for Mark Chapman to murder former Beatle John Lennon.
Or was Chapman simply so delusional that the book fed an instinct already in place?
Let's ban it anyway, uh?
Maybe games hacks, including SPOnG, should steer clear of moral philosophy? We're off to listen to Judas Priest backwards, while reading American Psycho and laughing at the filthy humour of Lenny Bruce. Or we might just get pissed up on cheap booze from the supermarket, watch The Bill and beat up our wives and then have a weep while singing the national anthem...
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Comments
Bentley 18 Oct 2007 12:31
1/4
SPOnG, I love you.
TimSpong 18 Oct 2007 12:33
2/4
Bentley wrote:
SPOnG, I love you.
Long time?
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Joji 18 Oct 2007 16:16
3/4
Champion post, Spong. You people have won my heart for the day. Couldn't have said it any better myself.
Well ofcourse people are gonna get their hands on it over the net, because the dumbos at BBFC banned it, they made the game forbidden fruit and now we all want to see what its about. The net will get the game out without any problems, but will the government really bother tracking these law breakers down?
Probably not. But you see once again, the government don't understand games or who play them. By banning Manhunt 2, they gave people a free pass to download it for free. The cat is out of the bag and the BBFC let it out.
Who knows, this could play in Rockstar's favour in the end, and see it released, as I'm sure the government would rather take the huge sum of tax for sales of Manhunt 2, than let U.K folk get it for free. Banning things does nothing these days and hasn't been for ages.
They banned guns and people are still getting shot, aren't they?
Well ofcourse people are gonna get their hands on it over the net, because the dumbos at BBFC banned it, they made the game forbidden fruit and now we all want to see what its about. The net will get the game out without any problems, but will the government really bother tracking these law breakers down?
Probably not. But you see once again, the government don't understand games or who play them. By banning Manhunt 2, they gave people a free pass to download it for free. The cat is out of the bag and the BBFC let it out.
Who knows, this could play in Rockstar's favour in the end, and see it released, as I'm sure the government would rather take the huge sum of tax for sales of Manhunt 2, than let U.K folk get it for free. Banning things does nothing these days and hasn't been for ages.
They banned guns and people are still getting shot, aren't they?
deleted 19 Oct 2007 01:19
4/4
Excellent Read Spong,
Its just stupid and i get so annoyed with the government, unfortunate for us there are more mums, dads, gran parents and non-willing to read past the headlines people around than gamers, the media jumps on anything remotly game wise and the government see`s more votes, more money and less questioning from these non gamers and therefore will support the majority to benifit them.
What is completely wrong is how the media takes these items out of context and fails to report the correct situations i:e, the manhunt victim as you already mentioned, or remmebr the little boy who died from electrical shock on holiday from unplugging a device from the wall while his hands were wet but because he owned a gameboy that was blamed!, its like we live in an age were the papers try to make us believe the earth is flat and gaming is witchcraft,.
i guess we are suffering what all forms of entertainemnt have suffered, Rock & Roll during the 50`s, Rap in the 90`s, Violent movies In the 60`s/70`s/80`s & 90`s even book sthroughout the ages have been subject to censor (including the bible) and i suppose this is our time..
the age where gaming is the target?
But what really gets me is these same Media types who try to convince its readers/viewers/listener that gaming is evil and there are performing a good by reporting crap lies, are the ones who continue to purpitate racism, religious conflict. victimisation, bullying and humiliation and purposly instill fear within people they do this in the name of what?
Its just stupid and i get so annoyed with the government, unfortunate for us there are more mums, dads, gran parents and non-willing to read past the headlines people around than gamers, the media jumps on anything remotly game wise and the government see`s more votes, more money and less questioning from these non gamers and therefore will support the majority to benifit them.
What is completely wrong is how the media takes these items out of context and fails to report the correct situations i:e, the manhunt victim as you already mentioned, or remmebr the little boy who died from electrical shock on holiday from unplugging a device from the wall while his hands were wet but because he owned a gameboy that was blamed!, its like we live in an age were the papers try to make us believe the earth is flat and gaming is witchcraft,.
i guess we are suffering what all forms of entertainemnt have suffered, Rock & Roll during the 50`s, Rap in the 90`s, Violent movies In the 60`s/70`s/80`s & 90`s even book sthroughout the ages have been subject to censor (including the bible) and i suppose this is our time..
the age where gaming is the target?
But what really gets me is these same Media types who try to convince its readers/viewers/listener that gaming is evil and there are performing a good by reporting crap lies, are the ones who continue to purpitate racism, religious conflict. victimisation, bullying and humiliation and purposly instill fear within people they do this in the name of what?