Tech News
ESRB finally hands Mature rating to controversial videogame
By Stevie Smith
Aug 27, 2007, 13:18 GMT

The ongoing controversy surrounding Take-Two and Rockstar Games’ hugely violent Manhunt 2 is likely to take another turn today following news that the ERSB (Entertainment Software Ratings Board) has backed down from its initial AO Adults Only rating and instead offered up a more lenient M for Mature retail guideline in North America.

New York-based Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., which suspended the retail arrival of Manhunt 2 back in early June based on the crippling Adults Only restriction the ESRB slapped it with, has now finally attained the more consumer friendly M for Mature rating based on an amended version of the game submitted for fresh evaluation.

"Manhunt 2 is important to us, and we're glad it can finally be appreciated as a gaming experience," commented Sam Houser, founder and executive producer of Rockstar Games, following the new ESRB rating. "Manhunt 2 is a powerful piece of interactive story telling that is a unique video game experience. We think horror fans will love it."

Already completely banned from retail in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Manhunt 2 is the sequel to the original Manhunt (2003), which appeared on the Sony PlayStation 2 and drew more than its fair share of regional controversy concerning unfounded accusations of its supposed influence on the murder of a teenage boy in England.

The original Manhunt game, which saw the player assume the lead role in a snuff film and duly awarded points for elaborately gory killings, remains banned in Australia, New Zealand, and Germany – where it is actually a criminal offence to own the game.

Manhunt 2 is developed by Rockstar Games, itself no stranger to controversy following its prior releases Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – for the ‘Hot Coffee’ mod that revealed in-game nudity – and Bully (a.k.a. Canis Canem Edit), both of which caught the attention of activists campaigning against videogame violence and the sale of M for Mature titles to underage consumers.

Manhunt 2 will be released across North America on October 31 for the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Wii.