David Braben: Manhunt 2 damages the industry
“I think at the root of this problem is that there’s still an expectation among parents that ESRB/PEGI/BBFC ratings can be ignored – possibly based on their experience of games when they were younger. There have been a few games that have strange ratings like Gears of War (18). That does not make sense to me. Why is it not a 15? Okay, there are some slightly gruesome bodies hanging up in the first section of the game, but this is no more than you’d expect in a 15 film like Alien Vs Predator or The Terminator films. This means that when a more genuine 18 comes along, parents assume it is no worse than Gears of War, and is perhaps why Manhunt 2 was banned, as they felt they could not give it the same rating as Gears. Having said that, from what I’ve heard of Manhunt 2 (I haven’t had the chance to play it), it is not the sort of game the industry should be making, as it is inevitably going to attract controversy. While Manhunt 2 might have brought short term gain to Rockstar, it damages the reputation of the industry as a whole, long term. We do need a strong, consistent rating system, where 18 really means 18, and is enforced, and then it may be more acceptable to make such games, or to bring in an additional rating (as in the US) of Adults Only – which are only sold in very restricted places.” – Frontier Developments boss David Braben
I am going to leave my opinion to myself. I am wondering what you guys think?
September 9, 2007
I think that the reason that the ratings are so much more strict is because you’re controlling what is going on in the game, where as in a movie it’s all scripted. I just saw Halloween yesterday and there is no way that Man Hunt 2 could be more violent than that movie.
I hear a long time ago that the ESRB gave Man Hunt an AO rating as a way of getting back at Rockstar for all the stuff that they’ve gotten away with in the past. But honestly I think that ESRB (games) is just as bad as the BBFC (movies), I know that the BBFC is comprised of a handful of people and based on there opinion alone they can give the movie whatever rating that they choose.
I think that the rating system is a bunch of bull $hit. It should be the parents responsibility to make sure that the child plays suitable games. A game shouldn’t be banned just because it’s to violent.
September 9, 2007
I agree that it should be the Parents responsibility to monitor what kids play. I think one way that would help parents do this is, “Don’t Give Your Kids Money.” When i hear parents complain about their 13 to 15 year old kid playing “violent Video games.” I think to myself, “who is giving them this money? The parents are, right? Most kids that age don’t have a job? Also it should be up to the stores responsibility to monitor the ESRB rating system. Even how crazy the rating may be. I wouldn’t mind if stores would start ID kids when they buy a M rated game. Like “some” movie theaters do for R rated movies.