"...we have no alternative but to issue an ‘18’ certificate to the game" this was part of a statement released today by the British Board of Film Classification and quoting David Cooke - the Director of the BBFC - which confirms that Manhunt 2 can be sold in the UK.
This statement says that the highly controversial Rockstar game, Manhunt 2, can be released in the United Kingdom with an 18 certificate.
The BBFC's decision comes after the the Video Appeals Committee (VAC) today announced it was not going to reconsider its decision to support certification of the game - which the BBFC has effectively banned by refusing to certify.
The BBFC had taken its appeal against the VAC to the High Court.
In January this year the High Court's Justice Mitting accepted the BBFC's appeal against the VAC's ruling. He had refused to provide any judgement himself, preferring instead to send the game back to the VAC with the strong advice that the Committee should reconsider its decision to grant a certificate.
According to the information we've just received, "The VAC has now reconsidered the appeal in the light of the High Court’s directions on the law but has decided, again by a majority of four to three, to allow the appeal on the basis that Manhunt 2 should be given an ‘18’ certificate.
In the light of legal advice the Board does not believe the VAC’s judgement provides a realistic basis for a further challenge to its decision and has accordingly issued an ‘18’ certificate."
The BBFC is far from happy, saying, "As I have said previously, we never take rejection decisions lightly, and they always involve a complex balance of considerations. We twice rejected Manhunt 2, and then pursued a judicial review challenge, because we considered, after exceptionally thorough examination, that it posed a real potential harm risk.
"However, the Video Appeals Committee has again exercised its independent scrutiny. It is now clear, in the light of this decision, and our legal advice, that we have no alternative but to issue an ‘18’ certificate to the game."
The VAC's decision comes with only weeks to go before the Byron Review into violent in video games is due to be released. It is widely expected that the review will recommend a new or significantly changed system of video game classification.
Don't forget to read our Manhunt 2 Preview right here.
This statement says that the highly controversial Rockstar game, Manhunt 2, can be released in the United Kingdom with an 18 certificate.
The BBFC's decision comes after the the Video Appeals Committee (VAC) today announced it was not going to reconsider its decision to support certification of the game - which the BBFC has effectively banned by refusing to certify.
The BBFC had taken its appeal against the VAC to the High Court.
In January this year the High Court's Justice Mitting accepted the BBFC's appeal against the VAC's ruling. He had refused to provide any judgement himself, preferring instead to send the game back to the VAC with the strong advice that the Committee should reconsider its decision to grant a certificate.
According to the information we've just received, "The VAC has now reconsidered the appeal in the light of the High Court’s directions on the law but has decided, again by a majority of four to three, to allow the appeal on the basis that Manhunt 2 should be given an ‘18’ certificate.
In the light of legal advice the Board does not believe the VAC’s judgement provides a realistic basis for a further challenge to its decision and has accordingly issued an ‘18’ certificate."
The BBFC is far from happy, saying, "As I have said previously, we never take rejection decisions lightly, and they always involve a complex balance of considerations. We twice rejected Manhunt 2, and then pursued a judicial review challenge, because we considered, after exceptionally thorough examination, that it posed a real potential harm risk.
"However, the Video Appeals Committee has again exercised its independent scrutiny. It is now clear, in the light of this decision, and our legal advice, that we have no alternative but to issue an ‘18’ certificate to the game."
The VAC's decision comes with only weeks to go before the Byron Review into violent in video games is due to be released. It is widely expected that the review will recommend a new or significantly changed system of video game classification.
Don't forget to read our Manhunt 2 Preview right here.
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Comments
SuperSaiyan4 14 Mar 2008 12:50
1/12
I am truely disgusted, this game only invovels different methods of killing a person in extremely sick ways.
YenRug 14 Mar 2008 13:44
2/12
Great! Now, if TakeTwo/Rockstar can get their act together, there's just enough time to buy the game and then go on a murderous rampage on the same day as the Byron Review is released!
My life will then be complete, I'll have spent all these years holding my homicidal impulses in check just long enough not to unduly influence a Government investigation. Phew, it was getting a bit close, though, I thought I wouldn't be able to hold out long enough to introduce a scapegoat into evidence for my trial.
My life will then be complete, I'll have spent all these years holding my homicidal impulses in check just long enough not to unduly influence a Government investigation. Phew, it was getting a bit close, though, I thought I wouldn't be able to hold out long enough to introduce a scapegoat into evidence for my trial.
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Ross 14 Mar 2008 13:57
3/12
Finally! common sense wins over.
And i think ill pick this game up. Yeah the first one was a shallow as a puddle and duller then the colour beige, but as long as it annoys the BBFC im there.
Hopefully the BBFC will lose some of its mad l33t skillz when it comes to rating games that have swearing and blood in them and they can go back to slapping ratings on movies with more gore then a butchers back room without a second thought about kids watching pirate releases at home days after they have been screened in cinemas.
/rant
And i think ill pick this game up. Yeah the first one was a shallow as a puddle and duller then the colour beige, but as long as it annoys the BBFC im there.
Hopefully the BBFC will lose some of its mad l33t skillz when it comes to rating games that have swearing and blood in them and they can go back to slapping ratings on movies with more gore then a butchers back room without a second thought about kids watching pirate releases at home days after they have been screened in cinemas.
/rant
Daz 14 Mar 2008 15:15
4/12
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
I am truely disgusted, this game only invovels different methods of killing a person in extremely sick ways.
killng disgusts you yet you like (for some unknown reason) Halo
SuperSaiyan4 14 Mar 2008 15:42
5/12
I think you all should look at the bigger picture, killing aliens is different to going around getting a dirty needle and killing someone by stabbing it in their eye, again its different than shooting someone in a sci fi game than getting a nutcracker and well using it on a guys nuts...Its also different playing say COD in a sci fi based war game using weapons which the army uses then hacking someone to pieces...
This game is target on brutality of a high degree of sickness and is morally incorrect.
Using all sorts of 'equipment' to brutally murder your victims including a plastic bag or barbed wire....*throws up*
This game is target on brutality of a high degree of sickness and is morally incorrect.
Using all sorts of 'equipment' to brutally murder your victims including a plastic bag or barbed wire....*throws up*
Daz 14 Mar 2008 16:58
6/12
well if you ask me killing is killing no matter what the situation, you can't be againest one type of killing and for another
TimSpong 14 Mar 2008 18:22
7/12
Daz wrote:
well if you ask me killing is killing no matter what the situation, you can't be againest one type of killing and for another
Mmmm. That's a huge generalisation and should only be posited by vegetarians.
As a father, I'd have to say that if someone armed with a knife had been rushing towards my child, I would have 'popped a cap' in his 'ass'.
That, of course, might have been a bad idea if the person in question had been rushing at my child in order to stab the person who I couldn't see standing behind said Smith-Sprog and was about to garrotte aforementioned Timspawn.
Oh, it's all too confusing. Anyway, we're not actually talking about killing here, are we? We're talking about the representation of killing. If we start to confuse real killing with the representation of killing, we're all for the funny farm.
Cheers
Tim
Daz 14 Mar 2008 19:33
8/12
good point, but just to clearify I was talking about people not animals, sunday dinners just wouldn't be the same without beef and pork
antonusklesk 14 Mar 2008 20:17
9/12
Bah! What a waste; it was always going to get released, but why-oh-why after this lenghty battle do they choose to force the 'edited' version into classification?
The BBFC gave up, they'd do anything the VAC wanted and instead of putting the complete version of the game out there, they settle for the tame version, where the whole point of it's shock factor is completely lost.
Waste of time.
The BBFC gave up, they'd do anything the VAC wanted and instead of putting the complete version of the game out there, they settle for the tame version, where the whole point of it's shock factor is completely lost.
Waste of time.
Daz 14 Mar 2008 21:02
10/12
antonusklesk wrote:
Bah! What a waste; it was always going to get released, but why-oh-why after this lenghty battle do they choose to force the 'edited' version into classification?
The BBFC gave up, they'd do anything the VAC wanted and instead of putting the complete version of the game out there, they settle for the tame version, where the whole point of it's shock factor is completely lost.
Waste of time.
The BBFC gave up, they'd do anything the VAC wanted and instead of putting the complete version of the game out there, they settle for the tame version, where the whole point of it's shock factor is completely lost.
Waste of time.
at least now we can not get it of our own choosing
joe 15 Mar 2008 10:22
11/12
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
I think you all should look at the bigger picture, killing aliens is different to going around getting a dirty needle and killing someone by stabbing it in their eye, again its different than shooting someone in a sci fi game than getting a nutcracker and well using it on a guys nuts...Its also different playing say COD in a sci fi based war game using weapons which the army uses then hacking someone to pieces...
This game is target on brutality of a high degree of sickness and is morally incorrect.
Using all sorts of 'equipment' to brutally murder your victims including a plastic bag or barbed wire....*throws up*
This game is target on brutality of a high degree of sickness and is morally incorrect.
Using all sorts of 'equipment' to brutally murder your victims including a plastic bag or barbed wire....*throws up*
Killing aliens?? to be honest there are quite a few master chiefs in those "DEATHmatches" where your sole purpose is to go on a murderous rampage and kill more than your competing serial killers.
Dirt Diggler 6 Oct 2008 15:17
12/12
Grat stufff .get this game out there so i can choke a few peeps with plastic carrie bags, or stab em in the face with a broken bottle... Infact... seeing as i've been playing these games for 25 years... surely i must have reached the point where i can do this in reality and blame games for warping my fragile little mind.
C'mon you fools games have no influence over people and they dont incourage violence in any way... Well single player games at least, and i'm sorry but you can't classify real peoples actions and words in an online enviroment so multiplayer is beyond your evil grasp!
C'mon you fools games have no influence over people and they dont incourage violence in any way... Well single player games at least, and i'm sorry but you can't classify real peoples actions and words in an online enviroment so multiplayer is beyond your evil grasp!