Violent video game ban may be reviewed, says film censor
Manhunt 2 became the first computer game to be banned from sale earlier this year after the Irish Film Censor’s Office found it featured “gross, unrelenting and gratuitous violence”.
Players act as a scientist with amnesia who escapes from an asylum and then goes on a bloody killing spree.
The game’s predecessor, Manhunt, was blamed for inspiring the murder of a 14-year-old British schoolboy, after it was alleged that his teenage killer had been addicted to the game.
A new version of the “mature” rating from the US Entertainment Software Ratings Board, meaning it is meant for players aged 17 and over. Previously, the US ratings board had put an ‘adults only’ rating on the game.
The censors in Britain as well as Ireland have banned the game frombeing sold. The game’s creators said they were pleased with the US censor’s decision.
“Manhunt 2 is important to us, and we’re glad it can finally be appreciated as a gaming experience,” said Sam Houser, founder of Rockstar Games, the development team that created Manhunt and is behind other popular but controversial titles such as Grand Theft Auto and Bully.
The Irish Film Censor’s Office yesterday said it was open to reviewing the game’s sale in Ireland but no request had yet been submitted.
“The game hasn’t been resubmitted to us yet. It’s up to the distributor to decide that,” said a spokesperson for censor John Kelleher.
The film censor said in June it recognised incertain films, DVDs or video games that strong graphic violence may be a “justifiable element” of an overall work.
It was decided however, that with Manhunt 2 that there was “no such context and the level of gross, unrelenting and gratuitous violence” was unacceptable.
