Call of Duty Black Ops Voted ‘Best Game Ending’ Of All Time
15 hours 48 mins ago
Yet another press release in regards to Rockstar's Manhunt 2, the National Institute on Media and Family has declared the recent delay of Manhunt 2 a victory for children and parents. They also applaud the ESRB's strong message to developers who push the envelope. Ironically, the NIMF have not played the game, nor understand the game's target audience, or even that it is not a FPS.
Media watchdog the National Institute on Media and the Family (NIMF) has issued a statement in response to the news that Take-Two has suspended the release of the ultra-violent Manhunt 2. It's been a stormy week for the sequel to 2003's Manhunt, with the title being banned in the UK and receiving an "AO" rating from the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB). An AO rating basically means a game cannot be sold or manufactured in its current form. NIMF appears to be quite happy with the news.
"Take-Two's decision to temporarily suspend distribution of Manhunt 2 is a victory for parents and children," the statement reads. "Because of the their thoughtful decision to give Manhunt 2 its strongest rating, 'Adults Only,' the ESRB has sent a strong message to Take-Two and other game makers that they no longer can push the envelope on gratuitous violence in videogames. The ESRB showed real leadership in assigning this rating and further evidence it is making significant progress in keeping extremely violent and graphic materials out of children's hands."
NIMF is apparently keeping a close eye on other upcoming games that could prove controversial.
"Hopefully Take-Two has learned from its Manhunt 2 experience and will undertake preventive measures to ensure its future games, including Grand Theft Auto IV, are appropriate for families and gamers."
Even though it is the organization's mission to inform consumers as to the content in videogames, NIMF seems a little misinformed as it refers to Manhunt 2 as a "first-player shooter." The title is a third-person action game.
"As gaming technology continues to change, we hope to continue to work with the ESRB to ensure that future games have appropriate content and context for children. The uniqueness of Nintendo's Wii gives game raters a new challenge when it comes to first-player shooter games. We take the ESRB's decision about Manhunt 2 as a positive step in addressing this new challenge."
NIMF confirmed to IGN that the organization has not played the game, and it is basing its decision that the title is unfit for release on the same trailers we have all seen (which don't show any gameplay that is more violent than numerous past games). What is particularly alarming to the Institute is the Wii control which allows players to act out the gruesome killings with the Wiimote.
Latest comment:
Most recently commented on by on Jun 23, 2007
Most recently commented on by on Jun 23, 2007
Comments
"As gaming technology continues to change, we hope to continue to work with the ESRB to ensure that future games have appropriate content and context for children"
How can they expect all games to be appropriate for children? That is just like wanting all movies to be appropriate for children. There is a rating system for a reason so that games/movies that are designed for older people can't be bought by children.
What we need to do is protect children from idiotic reactionists like NIMF.
I am getting so sick of all these ratings and bans by people who don't understand games at all.
I've got to agree with Gary15 as well. Why does the National Institute on Media and Family think they need to protect family and children from all games? They don't. The ratings are there for a reason. Not every game needs to be suitable for children.
This really pissed me off. Not every single videogame is made for children. Take-Two doesn't need to make Grand Theft Auto acceptable for children under the age of 17. Last time I checked Grand Theft Auto was rated Mature and for people who are 17 years of age or older. So children shouldn't be playing the game in the first place. If they do it's the parents fault for buying their child the game in the first place.
I can't believe Jack Thompson and the the National Institute on Media and Family complain about games such as Manhunt 2 and Grand Theft Auto. They say things such as they want to protect the children from games such as Grand Theft Auto and Manhunt 2. Well the ratings already do that. Stores can't legally sell videogames with the mature rating to children under the age of 17. The parents must buy the game for their kid. So why should Manhunt 2 and Grand Theft Auto cut down on the violence for the children? They aren't making the game for the children and they don't need to make the game suitable for children because the game is intended for people over the age of 17. Period.
"Hey lets make this game unobtainable to everybody to protect minors who are already being protected from these games"
I get the feeling that M$ will take advantage of this, what with Wii and Sony's policies.
I think a possible scenario is that Rockstar dilutes the game a bit to recieve an M rating so that they can sell their game through the Evil WalMart and at the same time, keeping a version of their Original AO game to sell simultaneously or later down the line as the Uncensored, Uncut version via other vendors (like an online store).
. . . . imagine if this was made for the PS3 . . ! yikes.
This news story is archived and is closed to comments now.