electric_blue_kirby
06-21-2007, 02:05 AM
Voice 1:
It's possible you've already noticed the swarm of Internet rage currently being generated by this issue. It has become a bit of a large story over the past few days.
Rockstar's planned sequel for their game Manhunt has received a "kiss of death", so to speak. Manhunt 2 has found itself banned from sale in Ireland, Britain, and Australia with more countries possibly to follow. In the US, it has received an AO rating from the ESRB. Whilst it may only, by definition, entail a one year age difference from the rating of Mature, it has a far broader economic impact. Big Box stores (Walmart, Target, etc.) and numerous gaming stores will not carry AO games. Nintendo has confirmed their long standing policy of not allowing AO games on their systems to be in effect for Manhunt 2, and Sony has confirmed that the PS2 version of this game will not be sold on their system with an AO rating either.
Whilst I respect the liberty of these corporations to make the choice not to allow this game onto their console systems, I find the choice regrettable but understandable. Unconfirmed rumours state that content such as "raping the neck hole of a recently beheaded women, microwaving a live cat, and witnessing necrophilia in a cemetery based level" helped earn the game its current rating. Pondering how one may have used the Wiimote's motion sensing capabilities to perform some of these actions, whilst they may seem amusing to myself personally, would not project a good image for a company. With Jack Thompson and various other groups bandying about the phrase "murder simulator" and attempting to vilify games as it is, there is not many a company that wants to step forward and be known as "the company with that corpse raping game on their system". Also, AO, a rating commonly used for games such as Custer's Revenge, carries a strong stigma about it.
But what does this say for future Wii outings? Sadness proudly boasts that it will "only be for adults" and "not for those with weak hearts". One of the few known details of the game is the ability to slit your enemies throats with broken shards of glass. The Wii is expecting this, and numerous other more "mature" titles to come within its lifespan. While having those games on their system can help dispel the "Kidtendo" stereotype, is there sufficient reason to fear that they too could witness the fate of Manhunt 2? Or was it more a matter of Rockstar being the company of GTA, Saint's Row, and "Hot Coffee" along with a strong pressure from special interests groups that pushed this game to an AO rating? After all, Pyramid Head raped corpses in Resident Evil 4, did he not? Although there is always the chance that the ESRB felt that the Wiimote controls made the game too "interactive" (a concern that has been raised a few times) and thus jeopardizes the fate of other games as well.
Whilst I'd like to be able to see Rockstar publish this game as is with an AO rating and further broaden what is acceptable in games (thus allowing developers to pursue more mature themes in their games, even if they don't go the "ultraviolent" route this game has, without worrying about the "Think Of The Children" groups), that isn't economically feasible as of now. They can only appeal the rating or tone down the game, unless they wish to have a PC only release.
Thoughts?
It's possible you've already noticed the swarm of Internet rage currently being generated by this issue. It has become a bit of a large story over the past few days.
Rockstar's planned sequel for their game Manhunt has received a "kiss of death", so to speak. Manhunt 2 has found itself banned from sale in Ireland, Britain, and Australia with more countries possibly to follow. In the US, it has received an AO rating from the ESRB. Whilst it may only, by definition, entail a one year age difference from the rating of Mature, it has a far broader economic impact. Big Box stores (Walmart, Target, etc.) and numerous gaming stores will not carry AO games. Nintendo has confirmed their long standing policy of not allowing AO games on their systems to be in effect for Manhunt 2, and Sony has confirmed that the PS2 version of this game will not be sold on their system with an AO rating either.
Whilst I respect the liberty of these corporations to make the choice not to allow this game onto their console systems, I find the choice regrettable but understandable. Unconfirmed rumours state that content such as "raping the neck hole of a recently beheaded women, microwaving a live cat, and witnessing necrophilia in a cemetery based level" helped earn the game its current rating. Pondering how one may have used the Wiimote's motion sensing capabilities to perform some of these actions, whilst they may seem amusing to myself personally, would not project a good image for a company. With Jack Thompson and various other groups bandying about the phrase "murder simulator" and attempting to vilify games as it is, there is not many a company that wants to step forward and be known as "the company with that corpse raping game on their system". Also, AO, a rating commonly used for games such as Custer's Revenge, carries a strong stigma about it.
But what does this say for future Wii outings? Sadness proudly boasts that it will "only be for adults" and "not for those with weak hearts". One of the few known details of the game is the ability to slit your enemies throats with broken shards of glass. The Wii is expecting this, and numerous other more "mature" titles to come within its lifespan. While having those games on their system can help dispel the "Kidtendo" stereotype, is there sufficient reason to fear that they too could witness the fate of Manhunt 2? Or was it more a matter of Rockstar being the company of GTA, Saint's Row, and "Hot Coffee" along with a strong pressure from special interests groups that pushed this game to an AO rating? After all, Pyramid Head raped corpses in Resident Evil 4, did he not? Although there is always the chance that the ESRB felt that the Wiimote controls made the game too "interactive" (a concern that has been raised a few times) and thus jeopardizes the fate of other games as well.
Whilst I'd like to be able to see Rockstar publish this game as is with an AO rating and further broaden what is acceptable in games (thus allowing developers to pursue more mature themes in their games, even if they don't go the "ultraviolent" route this game has, without worrying about the "Think Of The Children" groups), that isn't economically feasible as of now. They can only appeal the rating or tone down the game, unless they wish to have a PC only release.
Thoughts?