Censorship hits the video game world!

2007-06-20 07:09:25

#1

Braddock: Agitator; +916|6735|Éire

This could've been posted in the gaming section of the forum but it touches on issues of censorship too. Manhunt 2 by Rockstar games (http://www.rockstargames.com/manhunt2/) has become the first video game to be banned in Ireland by the State film censor (a man by the name of John Kelleher, who has been seen as very progressive and lenient compared to his predecessors). The game has also been banned in the UK.

"The board said that Manhunt 2 was bleak and callous and encouraged visceral killing."

What do you think? Should consenting adults be allowed to decide for themselves what they view and listen to in a free, democratic society? It's not like videogames are exclusively the domain of children anymore, why should us adults be banned from playing a game that one man or a board of censors has an issue with?

http://www.rte.ie/arts/2007/0620/manhunt2.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leic … 767623.stm

Last edited by Braddock (2007-06-20 07:10:55)

2007-06-20 07:18:13

#2

crimson_grunt: Shitty Disposition (apparently); +214|7099|Teesside, UK

Yeah I've been following this story. I want to know whats so bad they don't even think an 18 year old can handle it.

Rockstars reaction:
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=78063

Rockstar Games has stated its disappointment at the BBFC's recent decision to refuse Manhunt 2 a rating in the UK, effectively banning the game from sale, GamesIndustry.biz reports.

The Grand Theft Auto and Canis Canem Edit publisher disagrees with the ratings board's decision and believes adult consumers should be allowed to make up their own minds about the content of any game.
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"We are disappointed with the recent decision by the British Board of Film Classification to refuse classification of Manhunt 2. While we respect the authority of the classification board and will abide by the rules, we emphatically disagree with this particular decision," reads a statement from the company.

"Manhunt 2 is an entertainment experience for fans of psychological thrillers and horror. The subject matter of this game is in line with other mainstream entertainment choices for adult consumers."

The BBFC said it would not give Manhunt 2 a rating on the grounds that "to issue a certificate would involve a range of unjustifiable risks, to both adults and minors".

The Rockstar statement continues: "We respect those who have different opinions about the horror genre and videogames as a whole, but we hope they will also consider the opinions of the adult gamers for whom this product is intended."

"We believe all products should be rated to allow the public to make informed choices about the media and art they wish to consume.

"The stories in modern videogames are as diverse as the stories in books, film and television. The adult consumers who would play this game fully understand that it is fictional interactive entertainment and nothing more."

Last edited by crimson_grunt (2007-06-20 07:19:37)

2007-06-20 07:22:54

#3

sergeriver: Cowboy from Hell; +1,928|7202|Argentina

Rockstar always had problems with this issue. I remember one of the GTA's being banned in Australia, if I'm not wrong.

2007-06-20 07:26:20

#4

Cybargs: Moderated; +2,285|7161

sergeriver wrote:
Rockstar always had problems with this issue. I remember one of the GTA's being banned in Australia, if I'm not wrong.

San Andreas, Hot coffee mod.

https://cache.www.gametracker.com/server_info/203.46.105.23:21300/b_350_20_692108_381007_FFFFFF_000000.png

2007-06-20 07:27:53

#5

jsnipy: ...; +3,277|6967|...

They don't ban porn, they don't ban gorey and violent movies, they don;t ban snuff films, why ban this? Adults watch movies, kids watch movies, adults play games, kids play games.

Last edited by jsnipy (2007-06-20 07:28:55)

2007-06-20 07:30:57

#6

Braddock: Agitator; +916|6735|Éire

jsnipy wrote:
They don't ban porn, they don't ban gorey and violent movies, they don;t ban snuff films, why ban this? Adults watch movies, kids watch movies, adults play games, kids play games.

You can get snuff films in Virginia!?

2007-06-20 07:32:13

#7

Bertster7: Confused Pothead; +1,101|7026|SE London

jsnipy wrote:
They don't ban porn, they don't ban gorey and violent movies, they don;t ban snuff films, why ban this? Adults watch movies, kids watch movies, adults play games, kids play games.

Errr, yes they do.

2007-06-20 07:37:05

#8

Agent_Dung_Bomb: Member; +302|7181|Salt Lake City

Until there is definitive evidence that violent video games don't cause people to be violent, this type of situation will continue.

2007-06-20 07:40:07

#9

Braddock: Agitator; +916|6735|Éire

Agent_Dung_Bomb wrote:
Until there is definitive evidence that violent video games don't cause people to be violent, this type of situation will continue.

Why not until definitive evidence is presented that proves video games DO cause people to be violent? Should we ban cooking programmes until we can prove they don't encourage over-eating and obesity?

2007-06-20 07:43:32

#10

Elamdri: The New Johnnie Cochran; +134|7091|Peoria

Braddock wrote:
Agent_Dung_Bomb wrote:
Until there is definitive evidence that violent video games don't cause people to be violent, this type of situation will continue.
Why not until definitive evidence is presented that proves video games DO cause people to be violent? Should we ban cooking programmes until we can prove they don't encourage over-eating and obesity?

Yah, thats sorta a "guilty until innocent" mentality.

2007-06-20 07:44:48

#11

Vilham: Say wat!?; +580|7211|UK

from the trailer its no worse than a film like saw.

2007-06-20 08:49:15

#12

ghettoperson: Member; +1,943|7094

Yeah, I was reading about that earlier. It seems to me that the problem is that people can't control what games their kids play any more, and so even 18 rated games have to be restricted because a younger child may play it. Which frankly is ridiculous. Movies such as Saw or Hostel contain far more graphic violence than video games will ever be able to portray for many years, but parents don't let (or at least the BBFC thinks so) their kids see those kind of movies. But, just imagine what this will do for demand for the game in countries where it isn't banned, as well as in the UK people will simply purchase it from another European country where it's allowed.

2007-06-20 09:07:06

#13

Poseidon: Fudgepack DeQueef; +3,253|6982|Long Island, New York

Super Mario Brothers encouraged me to do 'Shrooms.

2007-06-20 09:08:59

#14

S.Lythberg: Mastermind; +429|6891|Chicago, IL

Poseidon wrote:
Super Mario Brothers encouraged me to do 'Shrooms.

Yeah, and i ate some red flowers so that i could spit fireballs, then i jumped on a turtle and squished it.

I hope the ban Mario now too, just see what it made me do!

2007-06-20 09:09:43

#15

Doctor Strangelove: Real Battlefield Veterinarian.; +1,758|6913

Ya know, after 1993, the year DOOM was released violent acts committed by minors has sharply dropped. The only spike was in 1998 with Columbine and the copy-cats shootings.

2007-06-20 09:10:14

#16

Poseidon: Fudgepack DeQueef; +3,253|6982|Long Island, New York

S.Lythberg wrote:
Poseidon wrote:
Super Mario Brothers encouraged me to do 'Shrooms.
Yeah, and i ate some red flowers so that i could spit fireballs, then i jumped on a turtle and squished it.

I hope the ban Mario now too, just see what it made me do!

2007-06-20 09:29:11

#17

IG-Calibre: comhalta; +226|7187|Tír Eoghan, Tuaisceart Éireann

they spin this negative crap and yet you never hear stories like this -

Adam Mapleson: gamer, Englishman, hero. Spotting a female security guard being robbed he intervened, getting shot in the chest for his trouble. Having saved her and following emergency hospital treatment, a few more facts have emerged about this have-a-go heavyweight. The 24-year-old's MySpace page supplies a list of interests that includes, "Half-Life 2, Counter Strike: Source, Neverwinter Nights, FEAR, Vampire Bloodlines, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, GTA: San Andreas, Prince Of Persia, Pro Evo Soccer 6, Madden 2007, UT2004, Dawn Of War and Mark Of Chaos", a reasonably clear indicator that he's a gamer. Will this mean headlines emphasising the positive influence games exert and how they contributed to the cat-like reflexes that allowed him to save a life? Or that the moral dilemmas faced daily in Oblivion helped prepare him to risk his neck defending a stranger?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguide/game … 54,00.html

2007-06-20 10:56:22

#18

Dragonclaw: Member; +186|6750|Florida

"The parents of a Leicester schoolboy who blamed the original game for the murder of their 14-year-old son said they were "absolutely elated"

These dumbasses who blame video games for this kind of shit need to die.

2007-06-20 10:58:55

#19

TheEternalPessimist: Wibble; +412|7065|Mhz

I have Manhunt and I've not felt the urge to murder people as a result of it, thats quite sad really, some shops here in the UK refuse to stock it but it hasn't been banned.

Last edited by TheEternalPessimist (2007-06-20 11:00:16)

2007-06-20 11:01:02

#20

CaptainSpaulding71: Member; +119|6802|CA, USA

perhaps this sort of thing exists because parents don't want to actively parent anymore - or can't because they work while kid is home alone.

overall, i think that parents need to be more involved in what their kids are doing. i'm completely dumfounded when i hear that Klebold and Harris' parents (columbine) didn't know what their kids were doing. maybe it's easier to blame someone else instead of owning and fixing the problem.

2007-06-20 11:13:16

#21

DazzaDavie: Member; +0|6907|Southampton, United Kingdom

The only game in UK history to not get a BBFC rating was "Carmageddon" in the vanilla form. They got round this problem by changing the pedestrians to zombies or robots. It was released in the end in 1995, only a blood patch was about that changed them back to pedestrians.

Is this some thing Rock-star could do to get around this problem?? admittedly carmageddon was 2D style pedestrians

Last edited by DazzaDavie (2007-06-20 11:15:58)

2007-06-20 11:31:02

#22

crimson_grunt: Shitty Disposition (apparently); +214|7099|Teesside, UK

CaptainSpaulding71 wrote:
perhaps this sort of thing exists because parents don't want to actively parent anymore - or can't because they work while kid is home alone.

overall, i think that parents need to be more involved in what their kids are doing. i'm completely dumfounded when i hear that Klebold and Harris' parents (columbine) didn't know what their kids were doing. maybe it's easier to blame someone else instead of owning and fixing the problem.

Good points. Someone i know used to work in a video game store and said on a number of occasions he turned away kids trying to buy a GTA games and they went straight to their parents to buy it for them. The guy refused to serve the parents who then got angry and said they would buy the game elsewhere.

Some parent's seem to think that shutting their kids up is more important than causing someone to break the law which could cost them their job.

2007-06-20 13:17:06

#23

DazzaDavie: Member; +0|6907|Southampton, United Kingdom

crimson_grunt wrote:
CaptainSpaulding71 wrote:
perhaps this sort of thing exists because parents don't want to actively parent anymore - or can't because they work while kid is home alone.

overall, i think that parents need to be more involved in what their kids are doing. i'm completely dumfounded when i hear that Klebold and Harris' parents (columbine) didn't know what their kids were doing. maybe it's easier to blame someone else instead of owning and fixing the problem.
Good points. Someone i know used to work in a video game store and said on a number of occasions he turned away kids trying to buy a GTA games and they went straight to their parents to buy it for them. The guy refused to serve the parents who then got angry and said they would buy the game elsewhere.

Some parent's seem to think that shutting their kids up is more important than causing someone to break the law which could cost them their job.

That's spot on i used to work in a Game store and you have to right down every time you turn some one away for being under aged. Kids used to just try and buy games in school uniforms. I once had a mom come up to me and ask why a game was 18 (think it was GTA Vice City) the kid (about 12) said to his mom it wasn't really that bad and that it was only a bit of shooting. So i told her about drug running, killing ppl, steeling cars and having sex with proses. The kids face dropped like stone and the mom went ape sh%t at him.

The thing with parents is if it's a quick fix they take it, then blame the game developers and publishers for making the game. Despite it having 18 in a big red circle on it.......i mean they wouldn't buy there 11yrold porn would they!!!!!

Last edited by DazzaDavie (2007-06-20 13:20:04)

2007-06-20 13:30:01

#24

Agent_Dung_Bomb: Member; +302|7181|Salt Lake City

I have no problem with a rating system and laws that require certain content only be sold to people of certain age, but completely outlawing it for everyone is just flat out wrong and Draconian.

2007-06-20 15:24:36

#25

Braddock: Agitator; +916|6735|Éire

It would seem, according to the latest reports on the story, that the game in question contains footage (or footage reminiscent of) the abduction of Jamie Bolger, who was brutally murdered by two young children a number of years back.

Mmmmm ...I'm all for freedom of choice for adults but that's a pretty sick attempt to court controversy by Rockstar games if it's true.

Last edited by Braddock (2007-06-20 15:25:24)

BF2S Forums Censorship hits the video game world!

sergeriver wrote:

jsnipy wrote:

jsnipy wrote:

Agent_Dung_Bomb wrote:

Braddock wrote:

Agent_Dung_Bomb wrote:

Poseidon wrote:

S.Lythberg wrote:

Poseidon wrote:

CaptainSpaulding71 wrote:

crimson_grunt wrote:

CaptainSpaulding71 wrote:

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