Nintendo Wii News
Manhunt 2 set to sidestep BBFC ban in UK?
By Stevie Smith
Dec 11, 2007, 7:42 GMT

The pot of videogame controversy has received yet another stir today following news that Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive have successfully won the right to appeal against the continuing blanket ban placed against Manhunt 2 by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).

Originally scheduled for a release during the summer months, uber violent Manhunt 2 became the focus of contention in the gaming world when the ESRB in the US slapped the game with a crippling ‘Adults Only’ rating, while the BBFC in the UK banned the title completely.

Since that time, slight edit alterations applied to the game by its creators have seen it graced with a more retail-friendly ‘M for Mature’ rating in the US, while the BBFC stuck staunchly to its guns and maintained its classification refusal despite the blurring of certain extremely gruesome scenes within Manhunt 2’s gameplay.

However, Rockstar Games swiftly moved to contest the continuing ban through the Video Appeals Committee (VAC), which has this week ruled in favour of the always-controversial developer. That decision could now see Manhunt 2 given an ’18 and Over’ certificate by the BBFC if it decides to take no further action against the game after fully reviewing the judgement.

"We are committed to making great interactive entertainment, while also marketing our products responsibly and supporting an effective rating system," commented Rockstar in an official statement. "We are pleased that the decision of the VAC has recognised that Manhunt 2 is well within the bounds established by other 18+ rated entertainment."

The BBFC has offered that Manhunt 2 had been played and assessed for more than 30 hours prior to the board reached its decision to refuse classification. It also outlines that it exercises "great vigilance and care" when ensuring all violent videogame submissions are assessed and classified correctly.

"We recognise that rejection is a very serious step, in which the desire of publishers to market their games, and that of gamers to buy them, must be balanced against the public interest, including the full range of possible harm risks to vulnerable individuals and to any children who may be wrongly exposed to such games," commented BBFC director David Cooke in a BBC News report. "Such balancing judgements are inevitably complex and multi-faceted, and are made only after very careful consideration of the contents of a work."

If the BBFC opts to take the issue no further following the appeal ruling, then Manhunt 2 could be on store shelves with an 18+ rating some time in early 2008.