Leaked Manhunt 2 downloaded by thousands

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By Stevie Smith Oct 24, 2007, 13:04 GMT

It would appear that the current controversy surrounding ultra violent videogame Manhunt 2 has only fuelled the desire of those wanting to experience the latest blood-soaked slice of Rockstar Games’ hugely contentious series. Specifically, an advance play-test version of the software leaked onto the Internet last month has now been downloaded by several thousand curious gamers. Play-test version of contentious Manhunt 2 videogame leaked online by SCEE employee and downloaded by thousands. Credit: Rockstar Games.

Play-test version of contentious Manhunt 2 videogame leaked online by SCEE employee and downloaded by thousands. Credit: Rockstar Games.Significantly, the un-rated version of the game could well have fallen into the hands of players aged well below the game’s original ‘Adults Only’ ESRB rating, and also below its adjusted ‘M for Mature’ rating. Manhunt 2 was recently shifted down to a more retail-friendly M for Mature rating by the ESRB after Rockstar Games and publisher Take-Two Interactive edited certain particularly gory elements of its gameplay.With regard to the posting of the test version of the game and the identity of the individual behind the leak, an official statement offered up by New York-based Take Two reveals that: "A former employee of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe [SCEE] has acknowledged his responsibility for the unauthorised online distribution of an un-rated play-test version of Manhunt 2." Current chatter suggests that the SCEE employee has since been fired from the company as a result.Manhunt 2, while set for release in the U.S. on October 31 following its adjusted ESRB rating, remains completely banned in the United Kingdom, where the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) deemed it unsuitable to receive an ‘18’ certificate. The BBFC rejected the edited version of the game on October 08, standing firm behind its initial assessment that: "Manhunt 2 is distinguishable from recent high-end videogames by its unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone in an overall game context which constantly encourages visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing. There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed, and encouraged, in the game."A petition from some 3,000 concerned consumers was submitted to the British Prime Minister’s Office following the BBFC’s decision to ban the game, which called for Manhunt 2 to be released to retail with an ‘18’ certificate. The UK government duly rejected the petition and supported the ratings board’s initial stance, while also refusing to become involved in the appeals process.Rockstar is presently appealing the BBFC’s decision to block the edited version of the game.

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