Yep. Not lookin' good for the BBFC. That's what happens when you act like a dick.

This is a really good week to be a gamer, even if I personally hate the game.
Sounds like a big mess up.

"The argument here is not whether Manhunt 2 is bloody, brutal, sick or whatever superlative people want to choose. What it shows is that the current certification system the Government can’t wait to get involved in is not worth the paper it is written on."

I like that right there.

I like that smell in the *looks at corner of the screen* evening, smells like good fun.

@ Jake

"He cannot kill what he cannot see, and power has blinded him long ago."

It's good to see criticism of the anti-gamers. Makes me smile.

Y'know, the BBFC probably could have saved face with this issue... Had they just accepted the first appeal and just accepted it, it might have helped them some. It's like, "well, we got a job to do and we thought the public was concerned, but we guess it's not... oh well, whatever"... as opposed to bringing it too court TWICE, the 2nd time trying to overrule the first appeal, and then feeling regretful in their lose. This gives them that "grudging nature" mentioned in the article... it makes a difference, in that the later makes it sound like they have no choice, were forced into this decision and thus have limited power, while the former allows them to give off the impression, "we just did are job, this is how these things works" and save some face

Remember what ever she says in the report will be just a recommendation. The government wont have to follow suit.

So i bet if she favours handing the job to PEGI they wont, yet if she favours handing the job to BBFC only then they will.

I hate to think how much taxpayer's money has been squandered to satisfy the BBFC's witchhunt. The BBFC is supposed to be fair and impartial, but the fact they consistently pursued a ban after a court high ruling rejected its recommendation show that certain individuals are not acting impartially, and clearly have an axe to grind.

I wouldn't be surprised if the seemingly non-stop publicity ManHunt has got since this saga began has actually served to increase sales by sensationalising the whole thing instead of writing it off as a one of the few examples of extremely bad taste in games.

"The grudging nature of the BBFC’s statement, that it now has “no alternative” but to grant the title a certificate"


and thats the problem, it isnt about whats right/wrong, its about whats the current trend /policy the government wants people to look like they're supporting this week .


and thats just not right.



oh n in all fairness to rockstar, i actualyl creidt to them for being brave enough to release this game

@Aliasalpha
First off, that was one of the funniest game videos I've ever seen. Secondly, I'm sure Jack Thompson and others did everything they could to find something wrong with Table Tennis. Unfortunately for them there were not any hidden sex scenes to complain about. Nonetheless, I still think Rockstar gets a lot of undeserved attention when there are far more violent games on the market that get ignored by the press. Look at games like Gears of War where you can dismember opponents with a chainsaw. Or the God of War series with its over the top finishing moves and hot steamy threesomes. And of course I already mentioned the brutaly violent Condemnd series. All of these games have something in common. They are all far more violent than Manhunt and yet they got ignored by the mainstream media. Rockstar games has become the honorary whipping boy of the industry and I just don't understand why. Yes they make violent games but so do a lot of other developers. The games I just mentioned came from Epic, Sony, and Sega respectively. I could go on all day about games I feel are just as violent if not more so than Manhunt and GTA but I think I'll just end my rant here and go shoot some more terrorists in the head on Rainbow Six Vegas 2.

Okay, so the BBFC made the wrong call on Manhunt 2, but the system worked, and VAC got the game released on appeal. I certainly put more store in what the BBFC say, given their approach to certification than than the tickbox-checking PEGI method.

@ Jazcentral

I'm glad you're ok with your tax money being wasted on the legal fees the BBFC have to cough up for the year long debacle.

I've got a very good understanding of how the BBFC works thanks; it's funded by the submission fees it charges to the industry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bbfc

BBFC ratings are not presently compulsory for all video games, only those that lose exemption under section 2 of the Video Recordings Act 1984. Same goes for some video works, like music or sports videos. If they are exempt they don't need to be classified.

Moreover, presently those classifications can only apply to a physical product. Distribution of PC games online via a service like Steam, for example, isn't covered.

The PEGI system is completely voluntary, it's the console platform holders who mandate all games published on their platforms have ratings, nobody else.

The BBFC's accounts are published in their annual report each year but if you still doubt this post and/or Wikipedia then feel free to write to Department of Culture Media and Sport, a film distributor or a games publisher and they'll confirm it for you.