Shipment of Manhunt II to British coastline ruled-out

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum's words finally seems to have an impact on the British lawmakers as the sales of Rockstar's Manhunt II across UK has been ruled out for the time being. This is the second time a videogame has been censored by BBFC in last ten years. The very first game that BBFC banned is Carmageddon, which was seized but overturned later.

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The gamer was under fire for depicting sadism and brutal massacre. The organization refused to rate the game due to the ultra-violent content. The board said that the game provokes antagonism in the players, especially Wii version that officials allege is nothing other than warfare training device, so declares it illegal for the Wii to be sold everywhere in UK.

In a statement, David Cooke, BBFC chief said:

Manhunt 2 is distinguishable from recent high-end video games by its unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone in an overall game context which constantly encourages visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing. There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed, and encouraged, in the game.

The BBFC concluded that the release of the game would involve a range of unjustifiable harm risks, to both adults and minors. However, the developer kept repeating that the game has been rated 'A Only' by ESRB and hence automatically forbids minors from buying it, but the organization overlooked the concern.

However, according to the officials, Rockstar can get the game back on the store shelves if it alters the game content considerably, but it looks impossible on for now because it would render the game content significantly.

As the game has been censored fully, Rockstar is likely to call it 'Black Tuesday' (justified in true sense). Resistance: Fall Of Man is another victim that was under fire earlier this month, but hasn't banned yet. However, Sony has apologized for portraying the bloodshed inside the Manchester Cathedral that it claims unethical.

I think, BBFC is making it an issue in vain, because the violence in every game is more or less same and there is no specific reason to seize its retailing. The only reason (I think) behind banning the game is murder of Manhunt owner by one of his best friends, which they blamed on the game.

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Thought, the debate doesn't ends here only, but has started a new rating issue, questioning the rating system of ESRB once again.

Via: arstechnica