As you may have expected, Manhunt 2's delay could likely help generate more hype and boost potential sales, according to industry analysts. Remember however that Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter previously warned that a Manhunt 2 delay for the sake of content revision will cost Take Two some serious dough regardless.

The decision by Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. to suspend distribution of the violent video game "Manhunt 2" could actually end up boosting demand from curious gamers, industry analysts said Friday.

Analysts do not believe the move will harm the company's long-term bottom line. And if the game ever sees the light of day, the current controversy could give the title "a lot more exposure that would actually benefit game sales in the long run," said Colin Sebastian, senior research analyst at Lazard (nyse: LAZ - news - people ) Capital Markets.

"Manhunt 2," initially slated for a July release on Nintendo Co. (other-otc: NTDOY.PK - news - people )'s Wii and Sony Corp. (nyse: SNE - news - people )'s PlayStation 2, depicts the escape of an amnesiac scientist and a psychotic killer from an asylum and their subsequent epic killing spree.

Following bans by Britain and Ireland, as well as a ratings flap in the United States, Take-Two said late Thursday it was reviewing its options.

"We believe in freedom of creative expression, as well as responsible marketing, both of which are essential to our business of making great entertainment," the company said.

The game received a preliminary "Adults Only" rating in the United States from the industry's self-governed ratings body, the Entertainment Software Rating Board, restricting sales to customers 18 and older.
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  • 0
    Deis Jun 23, 07
    May? I'm tempted to play it myself.
    • 0
      Final Blade Jun 23, 07
      I was trying not to be over confident. How would you have liked if i said, Yes this will increase blah blah...
  • 0
    Guticb Jun 24, 07
    Of course it will increase demand.

    Honestly, I couldn't have cared less before it was banned, and now I'm considering getting it.
  • 0
    Synthesis Jun 24, 07
    Giving it the "Adult's Only" rating still isn't going to prevent minors from getting the game, when will they realise?
  • 0
    FRoGBuster Jun 24, 07
    the trend in history tends to be that, overall, we get more liberal and let more and more controversial stuff be released for public consumtion. The envelope continues to be pushed and it only gets wider and wider in the end.
  • 0
    Kokoro Jun 24, 07
    They shouldn't have even given it an AO rating in the first place.
  • 0
    Seeker X Jun 24, 07
    I wasn't thinking about getting it, but now, I'd gladly shell out the money necessesary just to get a copy...if a lot of people buy this game, it's a nice little message saying "Up yours, politicians".
  • 0
    Gotenks Jun 24, 07
    I wasn't already interested on buying it before it got the AO rating. But now that it's got it. I really am more interested to see how it got that rating. Plus I just want to play it.
  • 0
    Tainted Jun 24, 07
    I actually wanted to play it on the Wii since I first heard it announced. Now that it's been given an AO rating I won't be able to buy it myself, and I doubt I'll be able to bribe my parents into buying it for me...
  • 0
    dcbake Jun 24, 07
    I know I'll get it, even if I have to order it online.
  • 0
    Final Blade Jun 24, 07
    Yeah who knows i may get this as well.
  • 0
    FRoGBuster Jun 24, 07
    yeah, I can't imagine it being that much worse than the first manhunt, (except for the wii version of course).

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