No Sale: Manhunt 2 Going to the High Court
UK video games really under threat now.. .
Posted 17 Dec 2007
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The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is going to take Manhunt 2 to the High Court in a bid to have its refusal to classify the 'controversial game' upheld.
In a statement just received by SPOnG, the BBFC says:
What does that mean? Well, when the BBFC spoke to SPOnG recently, we were told:
As we reported earlier this month, the fact that the game is under appeal by the censors means 'No Sale' in the UK. We also stated that we were, "...not convinced that the BBFC is going to let this one slip gently and quietly away..."
Looks as if we were on the button.
The following SPOnG reports will get you up to speed on the saga:
Manhunt 2 Banned.
Rockstar Appeals Manhunt 2 Ban.
Legal Specialist Comments On Rockstar's Manhunt 2 Appeal.
BBFC Knocks Back Revised Manhunt 2.
Rockstar Slams BBFC's Refusal To Rate Revised Manhunt 2.
Manhunt 2 Can Be Sold To UK Gamers.
Rockstar To Present Manhunt 2 To Video Appeals Committee.
Manhunt 2 Appeal: BBFC Using Game As Line In Sand.
And, of course...
Steve 'Interesting' Davis On Manhunt 2: "All Bollocks!"
In a statement just received by SPOnG, the BBFC says:
"The BBFC is applying for a judicial review of the decision by the Video Appeals Committee to overturn the Board’s rejection of the video game Manhunt 2. The Board’s challenge also seeks suspension of the Committee’s decision that the game should be classified.
"The BBFC is contesting the VAC judgement because in the Board's view, it is based on an approach to harm which is an incorrect interpretation of the Video Recordings Act. The VAC judgement, if allowed to stand, would have fundamental implications with regard to all the Board’s decisions, including those turning upon questions of unacceptable levels of violence. If the VAC’s decision is suspended, then the game will not be classified before the outcome of the Judicial Review."
"The BBFC is contesting the VAC judgement because in the Board's view, it is based on an approach to harm which is an incorrect interpretation of the Video Recordings Act. The VAC judgement, if allowed to stand, would have fundamental implications with regard to all the Board’s decisions, including those turning upon questions of unacceptable levels of violence. If the VAC’s decision is suspended, then the game will not be classified before the outcome of the Judicial Review."
What does that mean? Well, when the BBFC spoke to SPOnG recently, we were told:
"Then we will take it to judicial review, we will take it to the High Court."
As we reported earlier this month, the fact that the game is under appeal by the censors means 'No Sale' in the UK. We also stated that we were, "...not convinced that the BBFC is going to let this one slip gently and quietly away..."
Looks as if we were on the button.
The following SPOnG reports will get you up to speed on the saga:
Manhunt 2 Banned.
Rockstar Appeals Manhunt 2 Ban.
Legal Specialist Comments On Rockstar's Manhunt 2 Appeal.
BBFC Knocks Back Revised Manhunt 2.
Rockstar Slams BBFC's Refusal To Rate Revised Manhunt 2.
Manhunt 2 Can Be Sold To UK Gamers.
Rockstar To Present Manhunt 2 To Video Appeals Committee.
Manhunt 2 Appeal: BBFC Using Game As Line In Sand.
And, of course...
Steve 'Interesting' Davis On Manhunt 2: "All Bollocks!"
Comments
2/4
what a load of crap! BBFC you are going to end up making a fool of yourself!! AND FOR GOD'S SAKE WILL SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THE HELL RCOKSTAR JUST WONT GO AHEAD AND RELEASE THE UNCUT VERSION IN HOLLAND OR ANY OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRY THAT WILL CLASSIFY IT!!! why are they so stupid??? they could be making money on it now! judical review or not this will be a massive embarassment for the BBFC!
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3/4
Or maybe it'd be a massive embarrassment for the games industry if this is pushed so hard to be released, when it isn't that good a game, even the idea behind the game is morally bankrupt, and the Daily Mail will jump all over it.
If this comes out, the industry will be cutting off it's nose to spite it's face.
If this comes out, the industry will be cutting off it's nose to spite it's face.
4/4
JONATHAN KENT wrote:
... judical review or not this will be a massive embarassment for the BBFC!
I'm sure not sure it's going to be. The BBFC is not going to risk its authority by challenging something like this to the High Court.
Remember too that no matter how independent the BBFC wants to appear, censoring things does not earn you cash. That funding comes via the government.
And what better way to be seen as a moral government than to ensure that an example is made of something as innocuous as a video game?
If I'm Rockstar, I'm cock-a-hoop that I'm going to be getting High Court headlines!
We've had no comment from the chaps at R* by the way.
Cheers
Tim
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Stupid, stupid BBFC. They pushed too far and now they just look like power-crazed lunatics. They just don't get gaming, do they? Sooooo out of touch. Scrap 'em and start again, perhaps focusing on how rated games and movies are distributed rather than censorship and banning, which pisses off most of the population as far as I can see.