Yeah, the BBFC runs under a different set of rules to the ESRB. I believe- though may be wrong - that even re-submitting the censored version may count under the appeal?

If it's so, then the appeal is going to take a long time anyway...

Damn brown, but whose worth replacing him with?

lets just hope the appeal goes through, theyll probably just end up doing the same thing as america and resubmitting the watered down version. Whether thats the appeal, or the next stage in the plan I cant say.

Having recently watched Hostel 2, I find it somewhat amazing that it could get an 18 certificate and that Manhunt would get refused. I look forward to playing an uncensored PC version to find out exactly why the BBFC made their decision.

He sucks....he sucks not.....he sucks......he sucks not.....and it turns out that HE SUCKS!

@ Daniel

According to the response, the game is currently under appeal, but there is no word that I have seen of whether they have resubmited the game or not.

OK, so were you REALLY expecting the government to overturn this decision? They put in place these guidelines which the BBFC followed and now that a few people have complained that one of the games they wanted to play was banned, you think they will publically condemn the BBFC and given them a vote of no confidence? That isn't how politics works, and frankly even a hardened gamer like myself sees games as a minor political point compared to the wealth of other issues.

There are, as they said in the reply, provisions for appeals and resubmissions. The appeal is underway and it it fails then they can submit the changed content much like in the US.

This isn't a them vs us situation and not everything has to go well all the time. The economy needs the gaming industry and one game is not about to change all that.


PS, I'm a Lib Dem voter, not a Labour one, just incase anyone thinks I am being partizan.

Rammsoldat: Your version of democracy seems to be that a minority of people complaining about things should require a change in the law. Isn't it EXACTLY that which the gaming industry are fighting in the US?

I'm confused a bit.

Manhunt 2 was changed a bit to get an M rating from the ESRB.

Did they not change the European version as well and resubmit it to the BBFC? Or is the BBFC STILL refusing to rate even the new version?

Nightwng2000
NW2K Software

This is why I am so happy my ancestors scraped up whatever they had, spent it all on a ticket and got out of Europe.

Then again, Canada isn't much better....

Zerodash:

*cough* PATRIOT ACT *cough*

And the government is merely declining to intervene. The BBFC have the say and I'm inclined to trust them as they have done a good job up to now.

@Zerodash/orangekrush


why is it that every time we get a story about the BBFC we have some subtle criticism as if we're living in a totalitarian state, I dont rant on that youre country spawned the likes of Jack thompson, or cite all the bad things about your country.

We're in this together, we should be united by our common interests for the betterment of media worldwide.

As chuma said this isnt a governmental matter, theyre refusing to intervene (The US government is doing the opposite, trying to introduce those antigame laws), the original manhunt 2 is under appeal and hey, best case theyll make a convincing case and we'll get the uncencored version, worst case theyll say no again and R* will submit the toned down one for rating.


At the end of the day on this issue we're both in the same boat, whether the word 'ban' is official or not, we have both felt the hammer of cencorship from our rating boards, so come on, lets act like the civilised people our opposition doesnt understand we are are quit with the international rivalry and get with the international camaradery.

Earlier this week, the Brown government offered an online response:

One that as per usual bureaucratic standards, offers nothing beyond current stated policy. No explanation as to why they consider banning "right", why they refuse classification instead of just creating a "restricted" one.

@Erik

We can all rants, everyone has their fair share of flaws and thats my point, pointing out the flaws of others is counterproductive, the issues have to be taken up by the people effected to the people affecting.

I mean we basically end us saying "We may have it bad but they have it worse" How does that provide a solution to the problem? It reconciles and normalises the negative position rather than working to resolve it.

You've got to love the e-Petitions stuff. Amongst the rejected gems:

- We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Ban the Playstation 3. Sony has delayed the release in europe to concentrate on Japan and the USA which is blatant discrimination towards the people of Europe

- We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Take Tax Off Nintendo Wii Consoles Because of their Health Benefits And Low Power Consumption.

And my favourite:

- We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to lobby cadbury to create a giant 'creme egg'

@chris

Of course we are in the same boat- you can feel free to take note of our alarmist creeps. I'm sure that your attempts to fight the irrationality & condescending attitude of the BBFC, you would have the full support of American gamers.

Yep got the E Mail, i signed it soley to see how many people would, hopefully thats 3000 votes Brown (Who we did not vote in) will not get in the next election.

I however do not think the BBFC do a great job, a piss poor job in fact with the ammount of films cut and edited year in, year out.

So what if they have not banned a game in ten years, did that game cause everyone to jump in their cars and start killing people when it was finally released on appeal? No

Amazing when they release a statement a week early saying Games do not cause Violence !!!

Yeah, yeah, yeah, one game gets banned from being released and some of you start going, 'omglolz, the british government sux!'

Seriously guys, get over it. It's just one bloody game that to be pretty honest is only getting attention because of its shock value. For all we know, the game could be a poor pile of smeg anyway, and just because some of us can't play it it doesn't mean that it's 1984, Big Brother Brown is watching us and that the thought police will be about to storm the gamers' rooms any minute.

There's far more things to base a government's ability on besides the banning of a single video game that just happens to be more violent than others. Try learning about how political systems work before you start commenting on them, especially ones involving the non-governmental system that we Britons have like the BBFC.

Of course, Erik, what happened in this case is that the government REFUSED to get involved, so that argument is invalid...

Erik:

Yes the government would still stay out of it. The POLICE would prosecute them though. UK is not a police state, thanks for asking.

its really good they are this strict, and come on, lets face there are far better games out there, Bioshock, HL2 and various others spring to mind, plus UT3 is coming out in a bit so why complain over one game that was just a bit too violent? although i do think that they should at least play fair on stuff like Hostel 1/2 etc