London (England) - The British High Court has ruled against the Video Appeals Committee's decision of releasing Manhunt 2, yet again preventing the game from hitting UK store shelves.

Last year, the British Board of Film Classification deemed that Manhunt 2 was too vile to go on sale, and prohibited it from receiving an age rating.  

That means that no retailer would stock it.  However, publisher Rockstar appealed this decision to the Video Appeals Committee, and won.  The VAC said the game was fit for public viewing.

However, the country's High Court this week overturned the VAC's decision and blocked the game yet again, according to local news source The Metro.  Justice Mitting said the VAC committed a "clear error of law" by undermining the BBFC's original decision.

Manhunt 2 was also originally "banned" in the US after the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) stamped it with an "Adults Only" rating, again essentially preventing it from being stocked in retail stores.  Rockstar toned it down a bit and was able to get a revised "Mature" rating.

Good decision

Jan 25, 2008 09:32     

This game is pure mindless filth and I am extremely happy that a line in the sand has finally been drawn. If anyone doubts this, go to You Tube and have a look at some of the in-game footage. Unbelievable that the makers of this game even for a minute thought it would be acceptable....
Howard Beale report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Pathetic

Jan 25, 2008 09:56     

This is pathetic, it's a game. It should be on sale, as it's NOT REAL. If you're unstable enough to be moved towards killing somebody because of a game, then you really need professional help. I've played violent games most of my life, starting with the "banned" game "Murder Death Kill", yet I haven't killed anybody and I'm not violent in the least. If these games affect how you are with people, then playing a game is the least of your worries

Andy report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

goo Andy!

Jan 26, 2008 01:15     

You seem to forget something about human nature and basic right: freedom of choice! If the game is too much for somebody, they just stop playing it, and they don't get it in the first place. But hey, maybe we are just mindless drones, and the central command feels it's their right to think for us. I'd wish for a rating that expresses the rate of violence, sexuality and stuff, and the minimal age to play the game, being we all agree that an underage kid IS a mindless drone that can't control himself in watching and reacting afterwards and is to be told what to watch because he can't be punished for reaction. But at what point in our existence do we have the right to be considered individual human beings capable of deciding for ourselves?

Virtualban report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

A shame

Jan 26, 2008 01:32     

It's a shame that there are so many commenting on something that will be decided by natural laws of market evolution like BlueRay vs. HDDVD and so few comments over this clear violation of basic freedom of choice, like the freedom of Rockstar to address a game to the adult gamers. What's wrong with that? Oh, they can't check if that adult only game really stays in the adult realm. But they don't say that, they tell adults they don't have the right to chose for themselves. Do they realize that black market of digital stuff is harder to keep in check than that of drugs and non-virtual weapons? - what have you got there? - 2 GTA-SA, 1 manhunt, 6 extasy for 13 bucks each, and dope for 16. - Ok, I'll get a manhunt and 2 extasy. - there you go, and remember, you did not get them here.

Virtualban report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0