Gamertell

Manhunt 2‘s development began in 2004, a year after the release of the original Manhunt.  The title was wracked with controversy almost from the start.

In March 2007, Manhunt 2 became one of Jack Thompson’s pet projects to bar its distribution along with Grand Theft Auto IV.  However, Thompson gave up on that lawsuit after he was charged with contempt of court during his previous suit to have Bully, another Take Two game, blocked.  In exchange for his promise not to attempt to block any other Take Two games, the contempt of court charges were dropped.

As information trickled out about Manhunt 2‘s release the following months, we discovered it was incredibly gory and incredibly sadistic - the main character is trying to escape an asylum by killing all of the guards before they kill him. 

Late May 2007, we finally got to see a few screenshots of the game.

The gaming community, however, was still surprised when ratings boards all over the world reacted by each giving the title their most severe rankings, effectively banning it in many places.

First, on June 19, 2007, the British Board of Film Classification denied classification to the game, making it essentially illegal to sell Manhunt 2 in the United Kingdom.

According to the BBFC, as reported by Games Radar:

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.

Although the difference should not be exaggerated the fact of the game’s unrelenting focus on stalking and brutal slaying and the sheer lack of alternative pleasures on offer to the gamer, together with the different overall narrative context, contribute towards differentiating this submission from the original Manhunt game.

[Manhunt] was classified “18” in 2003, before the BBFC’s recent games research had been undertaken, but was already at the very top end of what the Board judged to be acceptable at that category.

Soon after, an American group called the Center for a Commercial-Free Childhood called for the ESRB to give an Adults Only (AO) rating to the Wii version of the game, saying the fact that the player acts out the killings with the Wiimote makes the game even more gruesome.  The same day, Take Two announced that the ESRB had indeed rated not only the Wii version but every version of the game AO (Adults Only).

The next day, June 20, 2007, the Irish film censor followed the UK’s lead and banned the game outright, being the first game ever to be banned by Ireland.  Also, Nintendo of America and Sony both released statements explaining that they do not license games rated AO to play on their systems, meaning Manhunt 2 no longer had a console to call home.

On June 21, 2007, many game news outlets reported Manhunt 2 would likely be banned in Australia and Germany, countries that already banned the original Manhunt.

With the weight of the censors thus heavy on its wallet, late on June 21, 2007, Take Two announced a temporary suspension of the game.

According to Gamespot UK via Wii60:

Take-Two Interactive Software has temporarily suspended plans to distribute Manhunt 2 for the Wii or PlayStation platforms while it reviews its options with regard to the recent decisions made by the British Board of Film Classification and Entertainment Software Rating Board,” a representative told GameSpot. “We continue to stand behind this extraordinary game. We believe in freedom of creative expression, as well as responsible marketing, both of which are essential to our business of making great entertainment.

On June 22, 2007, according to Game Politics, Italian Communications Minister Paolo Gentiloni announced his plans to ban Manhunt 2 in that country as well.

So now, the censor boards of the world have finally taken a stand.  Take Two, known for pushing buttons on nearly all of its games, has hit a brick wall and found a game that it actually cannot sell.  Will Take Two release Manhunt 2 on the PC, where it can be played unedited but knowing almost no store will market it?  Will the developers tone down the violence and resubmit the game?

Read [Joystiq] Watch [Associated Press] Via [Game Politics] Also Read [Joystiq]