As far a s Rockstar/TakeTwo is concerned, it looks as though two things are occurring:
1. This is garnering Manhunt 2 tremendous press and will likely equate to moderately high sales.
2. Doug Lowenstein’s chastising of the industry at the DICE conference sunk into their heads, they’ve grown a pair and are finally standing up for their work. We should all get behind them.

I would rather call it “Manhunt 2 doesn’t sell”. I read about the first game, and as far as I remember, the game itself was pretty boring and repetitive. Of course, there were discussions about moral and ethics etc etc, but some reviewers who ignored that and just wrote about the game said that it was pretty dull. And even if they improved the second game, the bad first game might have impact on the sales of the second one.

And one thing that should be concerned: It might be, that Rockstar Games doesn’t even care too much for the sales. They are a big company with many successful titles, perhaps Manhunt 2 was their “let’s do that game, just to have fun and for the fans”-project ;)

It’s free advertising, and it’s exactly what they wanted to happen – just like manhunt 1.

And frankly, good. Because this is the only way that video games will be judged as art, instead of as a threat to society – like movies were in the 80s. And I’m kinda glad we have at least one studio willing to stand up and make a point instead of pussying out and trying to slide their game under the Teen rating.

Of course censors don’t see themselves as censors, just “defenders of good taste and morality”, which is a load of BS. The problem with your argument is who decides what is and isn’t worthy of public consumption? If the far right and far left had their way then nothing would be suitable. The world would be Mario games and Happy Days reruns. I’m sure that probably sounds great to you but to the rest of us, not so much.

The rating system is put in place to do the job of keeping crap like Manhunt 2 out of the reach of minors. Adults should be allowed to play whatever the hell they want.

Both the government and the industry need to get their act in gear and let the system work. If your game gets and AO rating don’t cry about it, don’t appeal on the grounds of “art” – FIX IT or accept that you have limited resources to sell your game with. And the government needs to stand by the AO rating and say “Okay, this game goes with the porn magazines in the back” rather than banning it outright.

I hate arguments about censorship and free speech. Some people ignorantly think they have the “right” to say or do whatever they want. And people stupidly use this argument to defend all kinds of obscene and trashy products, language, behavior, etc.

Worse yet, are those who say they don’t personally approve of what someone says or does, but they defend their supposed “right” to do it. How screwed up is that?? “I don’t approve of trashy magazines”, but you’ll defend their right to sell them in the grocery line where my kid can see them? “I don’t approve of drugs”, but you’ll defend someone’s “right” to sell them or take them if he/she wants?

There are legitimate reasons for restrictions and/or censorship. Always have been. If something you say or do or create intentionally harms someone, openly encourages crime or treason, breaks the law, or violates the basic concept of decency and good taste that is accepted by a society, they have every right to censor, restrict, or ban you.

People are always pushing the boundaries of what is considered acceptable, and unless and until someone draws the line in the sand and says “this far, and no further”, people will continue to produce trashier and more disgusting stuff. Just look at all the garbage on TV and in the theatres. I say “bravo” to the UK. It’s about time someone put their foot down.

I can’t help but feel that people are missing the big picture here… A work of fiction (and some claim art) was banned! Not just restricted, but outright banned (as non-rated games can’t legally be sold in the UK). Since when is censorship a good thing?

Obviously the sale should have been restricted to 18 years or older and not banned. As an adult you have every right in the world to make your own choices and decisions about what you want to see, hear, think and speak about.

I’m not condoning the content of Manhunt 2 or approving of what Take2 are continuously doing (provoking the “puritans”) but I’m just saying that banning is wrong!