Hackangel-

Well, if it's not a marketing ploy, then I'm sure they didn't think they'd get an AO.

Well no one banned Manhunt in North America, I think that's what he was referring to in his question. Getting an AO rating is not banning nor is it censorship. Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft's decision to not allow AO games on their console could be seen as a form of censorship but it's not like Rockstar didnt know the rules. If they wanted to make an AO game they should have made it for the PC, that's quite simple.

I don't LIKE Rockstar or their games, I just consider things like Censorship and banning games for socially expedient reasons to be worse. It's not so much about the content of their game as not giving power to the Censorship freaks like Thompson, if it's a choice between this game on the market and Jack Thompson making sure all children are wrapped up in cotton wool and ignorant until they are 18 then, and I'll be honest here, Rockstar are putting the American's children in far far less danger than Thompson.

As they say, Ignorance is Bliss, and Jack Thompson wants to pass that on.

In the last week in the UK, there have been 3 attempts to commit mass-murder by terrorists. Do you think, if people weren't aware that the world is a violent place that people would have been as aware or watchful? Lying to children about the fact that violence exists isn't helping them, it's hurting them, and makes it all the harder to come to terms with when it is encountered.

So with all respect to Rockstar, no, I don't like your game, but Jack Thompson is REALLY endangering not just children, but the Public itself with his views, and that's why I don't agree with them.

@UTP

I am with you on this. Thank you Rockstar for being one of the few companies in the entire gaming industry unable to understand that with the freedom of creative expression comes a serious social responsibility.

Rockstar has continually tarnished the image of the video game industry with games that continually lack any social understanding or even one iota of good taste. Why is that virtually every other company has been able to make ultra violent games, bring them to the market, and avoid banning AO ratings, etc? Because they understand the context of what they are doing, they adhere to the guidelines set forth by ESRB (and industry regulators across the globe), and do it in a way that is not completely and totally reckless.

Rockstar is reckless, their titles are not revolutionary or groundbreaking; they are ill conceived and profit minded only. They have forever put a stain on gaming and the entire industry for their 'hot-coffee' code (if that doesn't say something about their programmers, what does?) Manhunt's sheer violence without substantial plot, and now Manhunt 2, which they received an AO rating.

People have been pinning that on the motion sensing, but it *must* have something to do with content if they received an AO rating for the PS2 and PSP games, which have NO motion sensing controls.

I also believe criticism of the ESRB has been misguided at best. The group should not be beholden to the interests of console makers or game publishers, they work should focus solely on the rating. They do not control the games brought to them or console makers decisions to not release them. The ESRB has committed no censorship here, they rated the game as they saw it: Adults Only.

If anything, those up in arms with the ESRB should be more concerned about the console makers and the retailers, they are the ones holding the games back and seem to be more strict than the ESRB. M is 17, AO is 18, only a one year difference and everything changing to this degree is ridiculous. While I very much dislike Rockstar for what it has done to the gaming industry, the censorship committed here is wrong, and it is being done by retailers, Nintendo and Sony (as far as the US goes). The gaming industry faces quite the double standard here, if you compare it to the film industry which enjoys "unrated" DVD releases at virtually all retailers, including Wal Mart.

Shouldn't everyone be a little more upset at them?

Personally, I believe Rockstar is getting what they deserve with Manhunt 2. You may not believe in karma, but it sure seems that Rockstar's actions are finally catching up to them.

I got hooked on to the GTA series after having played GTA III as Claude Speed. Woot! I am very happy and thankful that Rockstar has made such a wonderful game. So to Hitler-like politicians, try us, here is our message and our hatred of you,

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@UTP

Well, now the scenes that made the AO will not be seen 'cause they had to be deleted to make selling the game humanly possible.The ESRB most likely knew of the sony/nintendo policy,and besides that most stores don't carry AO games. Basically, it saying "your banned" without showing some guts like britan and actually SAYING it.

Now, I really don't manhunt, I probally won't buy manhunt 2, and manhunt 3 is not going to improve the series if it's even created. However, I don't like it when anything gets banned. That's probally because my favorite movie as a kid was banned.

I don't understand why people consider this to be censorship. Rockstar makes a product. The ESRB judges the product to be AO. Nintendo nor Sony will licence AO-rated products. Rockstar must now change the game so the product can be licenced and thus sold.

Where exactly does "censorship" come in to this equasion?

Maybe I'm jaded, but I just don't see it.

Weatherlight

true the timing adds up to more PR than activism,but at least it helps the issue if only by gettign the issue in the press.

This is a nice touch by rockstar, but in my opinion a little to late. They should be actively put there and not just sitting back thanking people for support.

@Gamerdad
Lol, from Wisconsin I should have guessed.

Before I start please don’t get me wrong, I’m not rabidly anti-Rockstar or anything, though I admit that the majority of their games are not exactly my cup of tea, I admire them as there is absolutely no doubting that they know how to make a good game.

That said I can’t help feeling that Rockstar/Take Two is playing some sort of game to increase the sales of a game that was not previously gaining much interest. Wherever I look on my favorite gaming sites I have seen are numerous comments along the lines of “Well I wasn’t going to get this game, but now it’s been given an AO I’m defiantly going to get it as I’m against censorship”

I’m sorry if I sound cynical, but just because we gamers like to think game makers as regular joes like use, it doesn’t mean behind the guys who make games there isn’t big business that’s out to screw as much money out of us as humanly possible (just like every other big business)

"Thank you for supporting our publicity stunt with Manhunt 2. You all were great gullible gamers. Buy our crappy game and give us more money, we really need it."

Translation.

@Gamerdad

I really didn't get hooked on GTA until San Andreas. The reason why I got hooked was its story (and its voice actors, Samuel L. Jackson FTW!), and the gameplay was like the french fries at Wendy's or something. Eventually when you get more into the game, you get more into its gameplay and eventually like it for what it is.

A PC Version would work while they make the M-Rated version soon after.

@gamerdad

I can't imagine how it must be to convince parents that GTA is fun, but not for kids. The conversation is playing in my head right now, and it's not pretty.

Hang in there Rockstar. You really rock! Don't let those so-called "protectors of society" let you down.

omfg, Gamers? Activism? That's...like..An Oxymoron!

Hang in there, Rockstar.

Has anybody yet explained what specific content caused Manhunt 2 to garner an AO rating as opposed to the original's M rating?

Now the M-rated cut will come and they will reap the reward

Dear Rockstar -

You have gone down several notches for not fighting this rediculousness. Giving in to those who censor such things as silly as video games only legitimises their stance.

Before I would support you without question - now you are only another developper to wade through.

Congrats