Take-Two shelves Manhunt 2

haha "adults want to play tiger woods" gimme a break! I'd rather play barbie horse adventures than tiger woods! Give me Manhunt, GTA, Saints Row, Dead Rising, Resident evil, Halo, Burnout, Forza, MGS, Final fantasy anyday! well i guess adults do like the same games afterall

Whats unclear to me is why there is a AO rating if you will never see an AO game, at least one that is rated AO before it comes out. There should be no reason for banning AO. Isn't that why they made the rating? Maybe they should ban all rated R movies, after all thats the same thing.

I agree with the hotspot to an extent. When you see how this game is banned, you wonder why movies like "Hostel", "Saw" and other movies are allowed. Imagine what rating the saw game will get. I wasnt a huge fan of the original manhunt, i thought it was sick. But it shouldnt be banned. Thats to far.

i am sick of hearing that this kinda of game is wrong virtual violance isn't freaking real get it through your thick heads the truest and greates diffence between real and fake violaince is simple fake violance doesnt' hurt anyone real violance hurts all that are involved if parents would teach there snot noesd brats this lesson among others like real parents should the world would be a far better place but no the lazy parents of today want the goverment to raise there kids you made them it's your job to raise them should have just kept it in your pants

Thank you mach-stem. Because, as an adult, I agree 100% with you. The things you've mentioned Red Syrup are simply genres that people of any age can enjoy, you shouldn't blanket an entire group of individuals to "boring" golf, RTS, and puzzle games (though, I personally, do quite enjoy all three genres). Just because you are an adult and enjoy these games doesn't mean every adult does. There is nothing better than killing zombies, though. But killing virtual humans is fun too, which is why this damn game better be released. Soon.

Redsyrup: You may as well ask the same question regarding horror movies, pornographic material and any other medium depicting adult material. I, as an adult, don't want to play any golf game, RTS game or Sims, but I do enjoy a puzzle game once in a while. I like playing games which involve me doing one of the following: a) kill a German soldier during WW2; kill an Allied soldier during WW2 b) kill an opponent online c) kill zombies d) kill monsters ...you get my point.

As an adult I have hard time seeing why another adult would want to play this game. In my opinion this game is engineered for mid aged teens give or take a few years. Adults want Tiger Woods, Puzzle Games, RTS and Sims.

videogames r goin through growing pains every new media gets tried like this movies(the exorcist), rock & roll (elvis's pelvis's), rap(gangsta rap) its just the way things work (politicians need votes). they know in any new art form that there are more people who dont understand or use the form than do. so they polarize the people against the art form and get a #*&$load of votes its a standard political recipe. they dont really stop anything they didnt stop elvis's pelvis's and violent games will flow if they make money.

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IS it so bad,murdering people in games..

Beaver_Ben: "You think Rockstar would have a way around this. I know! They could hide the AO content with in the game so no one will ever find out about it. It's not like the ESRB will ever find it, and not a single soul will know." Uh, yeah. Wasn't that what caused the "hot coffee" fiasco 2 years ago? How quickly we forget...

ithebigc yep your right and thanks to that additude sony has tword that kinda stuff they are going to lose the format war they don't want adult stuff on there ps2 or blueray it cost them money on the wrong run

"And what gets me even more baffled is that the blatant ban on any AO games coming from Sony that allows hentai dating games on their PS2 in Japan..." Now that's where you're wrong, Zharay. These visual novels, or "hentai dating games", as you call them, are actually clean versions of their PC counterparts. This is a frequent practice done in Japan, where the adult versions are released on the PC initially, and then the company later releases a clean version for the PS2 containing no explicit content. So, in fact, there is no AO content on the PS2, or, in the case of Japan, a Z in their CERO ratings system.

I for one believe as an adult, we as the consumer should be the only judge as to whether or not this title gets placed into my PS2 or Wii. As such, I can't believe that a rating system that includes the AO rating to tell parents what it is they must expect when buying a game that its not for kids should bar anyone else from buying the game either. And what gets me even more baffled is that the blatant ban on any AO games coming from Sony that allows hentai dating games on their PS2 in Japan... I just hope that Take Two and Rockstar pony on over to the PC where I can get the game without playing through a kiddy system.

You think Rockstar would have a way around this. I know! They could hide the AO content with in the game so no one will ever find out about it. It's not like the ESRB will ever find it, and not a single soul will know.

Yes i am aware of those same freedoms but at the same time i feel that company's like microsoft nintendo and sony need to realize that being a adult and a father i want to be able to play anyting i want!! tell me whats the point of AO rating when all the console makers are going to say is we arent going to publish that on our systems do they think everyone who owns their systems are children? like someone has already pointed out whats the diffrence between 17 and 18 years old nothing.. i would except this from nintendo but for microsoft and sony that blows my mind..by you taking up for these idots we are losing more and more of our rights to be free.. have you even went to manhunt 2.com and looked at there trailers and such the game looks BA censorship of ART should be more upsetting to you then what nintendo or sony has a right to do we as the peole are what makes them money ... but at the same time i do respect their freedoms to restrict this game on their systems as i do to voice my Opinion.

Well...overall we should blame ourselves...we are the ones who suggest for the games...and to make them better we suggest some more...if this game got this much attention...than it mustve have been good...cause yea we all have sick minds enough to produce this...media always wants to talk aobut sex, murders and drugs...gives a great boost...but when movies have this or TV...they spend one second on it...but video games they spend days on end talking about it...ESRB is great at rating the games but come on does anyone watch what people play...people are just irresponsible and at teh last minute blame the game and not themselves...somehow that just doesnt fit...these games were made for adults and the mature...why does it end up in kids hands and with the parents right next to them...all games need creativity...and since we have had gaming for a very long time..all we are doing now is just taking an old game and changing names and faces but with the same story...so unless you can make a better game that makes millions more than this one...than hey sue rockstar for all its worth

It's a game, and as a responsible adult I want to play said game. I'll go back to playing Resident Evil 4, a mature title, and stare at the body being burned alive at the stake as well as a woman's half decapitated body pinned against a wall with a pitchfork...still a bloody mess. Again, the game as rated mature, as should Manhunt 2. There's no debate, it's simple. Might as well start rating all horror movies and torture title movies to a nice XXX to keep them away from the people who don't want to see them. Oh, and for the record, Hell is a human concept, not truth. PEACE

If there was a game released with an AO rating called "Holocaust" in which you tried to slaughter as many Jews as possible, I don't think any of you would be crying freedom of speech anymore. So just shut up already, you all must admit that a line has to be drawn at some point, even if it isn't real after all. Just be glad that it was finally drawn at this point. Oh, and rockstar games should go to hell for this...

riffraff- the same freedoms that your mad about being taken away is the same freedoms that the companies are exercising - you ARE aware of this right?

JinxBoy Are you mad?! Are you actually suggesting that giving deviants a more interactive way to fantasize would deter the behavior?? If that's the case, why don't correctional facilities provide crime simulators?? By your argument, shouldn't that quell their criminalistic desires?" Well, I think that criminals IN PRISON are deterred enough--it's what those on the outside might do that gets them put in. I wrote that time spent playing games is time not spent on anything else--whenever they stop playing though, there could be problems--though I'm sure we don't need everyone set up in a Matrix to prevent evil. The fact that there are games and other media made at the level of MH2 is just the way of "giving deviants a more interactive way to fantasize". Like I wrote, I don't think we should be giving them ideas, no matter what the media type. And as for "Media such as movies or tv are the same but without control of choice--you view until the end of the show", do you really have so little self control that once a movie or program begins that you have no ability to turn it off, change the channel, or walk out on it?" Thanks for dragging me out of my channel stupor--17 hours I've been stuck in my chair and now I'm free!! Oh ----. Look, it's about those who might be affected or thrown over that edge--they don't need anymore incentives then they might get in their regular life--why should anyone be providing them with gasoline for their fire? For T2, it comes down to the profits so the game will probably be changed to fit into the M rating just like some movies are edited to fit into a lower rating. carddude "Thank god that I'm the messiah of letting kids get overexposed to crap that shouldn't be in their hands!" If we would start thinking of how others may react to something, our dollar votes might actually be put to better use--(potential criminals are voting with their dollars as we speak--too bad for us.) It's not your fault carddude--let go of the anger--you will play your game regardless of what other's do so it shouldn't matter to you right--unless you preordered MH2. Ok, I see why you might complain. Overall, I think this is a setup for the ESRB to show it is still relevant in what it is doing.

"Jebril AO rating means you have to be 18 to play the game, a rating of M means you have to be 17. All this controversey over a one year separation period? Anyone else say WTF!?" That's because the ratings boards are complete BS. They are more of a suggestive guideline than anything else. Most parents saldy don't give a **** what their kids play, and will buy them M rated games themselves. I should know, my 8 yr old cousins mom buys him nothing BUT M rated games. sad but true.

We as americans and living abroad should protect our freedoms manhunt 2 is art and by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board and the [British Board of Film Classification] giving it a AO rating pretty much signs its death warrant it will not be published on any system except for the pc.. i for one along with many others are tired of politicians and these other rating groups deciding whats appropriate for me as a adult and using our childrens as ways to censor what we see play or hear for that matter we need to stand up for our rights everyone pls sign this petiton so we can show these people that freedom is freedom plain and simple and that we decide whats best for us not them.<< LINK REMOVED >>.

"I, for one, am glad this game got "shelved". This industry does not need to give the Jack Thompsons and Hillary Clintons of the world more ammo to use against it, censorship or not." You shouldn't be, because that reasoning isn't sound. You say we shouldn't release this game to appease Jack Thompson (and others) and make him be quiet? I say it should be released because this shouldn't be about letting them win, it's about freedom to create.

f america free my a$$

Democracy!!! Has anyone read American Psycho?!! No rating on books as it's considered an art form. Freedom to play what I want to play as long as I don't do what....!!! People with a mental illness will do.... People at breaking point with their boss will do... People are people and that will never change. I'm interested in freedom of choice, not what 1 in a 1,000,000 may do regardless of a game, film or book! Stop telling us what is good for us. The present war for oil is ok but Manhunt 2 is a step to far... I don't think so.

If this game hits XBOX360 and PC then Nintendo would have repeated an early 90s mistake(censoring SNES Mortal Kombat) they made during their war with Sega. Personally I'd like to play this game the way it was meant to be played AO or not I don't care what platform it's on (unless its' PS3) and I've been annoyed with similar controvervies since the age of five when they made a big deal about Mortal Kombat. If anyone else is annoyed then go to: << LINK REMOVED >> and sign the petition to get the AO version released.

You know, the subject of Manhunt 2 and its recent controversy really kind of astounds me. The reason I say that is because, apparently, people are undermining everyone's intelligence levels to some extent. The one complaint I keep hearing from everyone is that the Wii version of the game, with its motion-sensing controls, teaches you to kill people. Yeah, because we didn't already have the basic concept of how to choke someone with a piano-wire or punch their nose into the frontal lobe of their brain...how to pick up a chainsaw and misuse it...and we also have no clue that guns can kill humans. Violence is bred into all human beings, and it is nothing you can control. If it's not Manhunt 2, then it'll be something else. It almost makes me wonder if Jack Thompson had anything to do with Manhunt 2 getting an AO rating. Regardless, I think that it should be released, regardless of anything. I'll buy it. I hated the first game, but I've been wanting to check this out for a while now because I've heard they fixed a lot of the problems I had with the first game. I also agree with the fact that these are psychopaths trying to kill you...so, ya know...I've got no problem with the "kill or be killed" mentality. It works in Iraq...it should work on the Wii.

People don't play Hostel. They don't play the news. You by all means are the murderer in this game. So everyone needs to stop bringing up the news and the movies. That is a stupid analogy.

Game Collectors Alert!!! That copy of Manhunt 1 you miss out on buying just got a little bit more difficult to find. D´oh!!

Oh man, my violence gore fan series has been history.

I can Jebril...WTF! And true, buzita.

Everyone you kill in the first game are out to kill you, and they range from gangs, to psychopaths and corrupt cops. It's kill or be killed, not mercilessly kill innocent bystanders.

I, for one, am glad this game got "shelved". This industry does not need to give the Jack Thompsons and Hillary Clintons of the world more ammo to use against it, censorship or not.

gronmonster...you make a good point....but if I recall from the first one (I never played it myself..not much interest) your killing other psychopaths I believe...not innocent people....I think that would go a little far. Im not completely sure though..anybody play the original?

I think some people on this board are missing the point of the 'ban' all together, its not just because its not fit for minors. Its not fit for anybody!...Its sick and twisted, some say its just a game, but its more than that. The simple idea of the game is too enjoy (simulating) torturing and raping innocents, how can this be fun and enjoyable? Yeah, Hostel etc has been released, but does this make it any more right? Any person who gets pleasure out of copying any of the themes and plots in this game, would be deemed insane and would find themselves on death row. Its an absolutlely discusting game, and I can't see how anyone can defend it on any grounds. My hope would be that if this game does makes its way onto the shelves, we would all be decent enough not to want to buy it anyway . If anyone can try and justify this game and its themes, please educate me.

AO rating means you have to be 18 to play the game, a rating of M means you have to be 17. All this controversey over a one year separation period? Anyone else say WTF!?

If this game hits XBOX360 and PC then Nintendo would have repeated an early 90s mistake (censoring SNES Mortal Kombat) they made during their war with Sega.

i say they should bann the news because there is far more real violance on there then there is fake violance in a game like this and real violance is far worse

Has anyone even considered the other side on this issue? Maybe we shouldn’t be selling murdergames? At what point will we have gone too far? At the moment, people wouldn't make a game about raping infants, but at this rate in 10 years that might be considered acceptable.

So, movies like Hills Have Eyes, Hostel and Turista are acceptable fare for the 17+ crowd, but this isn't? I smell some double standards in our measurment of media. Does the aspect of making the route to the violence interactive (even though the violence itself is simply viewed-- save on Wii, that console really changes the dynamic) raise the bar by which it should be measured? I for one don't think it should, but what do I know. I'm not an "expert." Unless my character is naked and torturing babies with a blowtorch and a bucket of lye in-game, I really don't think this game could possibly cross lines that aren't acceptable in any other form of media.

I say sell the game directly from the company. I mean that should pretty much prevent any minors from buying it. Also adults that arent sure can be told right from them about what this game is about.

"Games can provide an outlet where potential criminals can simulate their deepest desires without doing so in a real environment. In this way, gaming may or may not be a deterrent. The moment a potential criminal is playing a game is a moment not spent doing something else. Media such as movies or tv are the same but without control of choice--you view until the end of the show." --tpool01eb Are you mad?! Are you actually suggesting that giving deviants a more interactive way to fantasize would deter the behavior?? If that's the case, why don't correctional facilities provide crime simulators?? By your argument, shouldn't that quell their criminalistic desires? And as for "Media such as movies or tv are the same but without control of choice--you view until the end of the show", do you really have so little self control that once a movie or program begins that you have no ability to turn it off, change the channel, or walk out on it? Ending the exposure to the media is exactly the same as ending the exposure to the game...the only difference is that in the game you're an active participant, rather than a passive observer.

This is just a good example of what happens when game makers go too fare. I mean These guys know what they are talking about when it comes to violent games. If they ban a game it's beacuse it needs to be banned. There was a online only FPS back in 99 that was even worse than Manhunt2 is. IE pissing on dead bodies got you extra points, as well as sticking your crotch down their throught. The line has to be drawen some where. I guss they felt that Manhunt2 is the line to draw it at. It's way to close to reality and has a constent be bad tone through out the whole game. IE they make a point of haveing the player saw heads off and hack people as they screem for mercy. Thats inocent people and thats just in the traning part of the game. If you were doing that to people that were trying to kill you it would of been different. But thats not a good thing to have in any game.

"THERE IS NO LEGAL AGE FOR PURCHASING AN AO RATED CONSOLE GAME" Uhh... yes there is. It's called 18! Wake up!

CardDude, you're thinking of the M rating. THERE IS NO LEGAL AGE FOR PURCHASING AN AO RATED CONSOLE GAME. Rating a game AO guarantees that it will not be published. That's the problem. These "advocates" don't want the game restricted to adults. They want it banned altogether. Just watch. When GTA4 is submitted to the ESRB, These same people will do whatever they can to deny it an M rating.

its a disaster, i will stand with rockstar and give the game the tumbs up, i think it is stupid, the game is going to be a classic,people are so narrow minded in the sense that it makes people go over the edge its a game for god sake if someone goes over the edge its not the games fault. its like kids getting there hands on a porn film its AO rated but we all know kids have seen them, so why not ban them?,iv seen worse thing on the net and thats not been band either, so i think its all a load of nonsense,im Irish ill never get the game now probley only online,i reckon it will be released rockstar and take two will stand firm and will bring the fans (US)the game oh yes MANHUNT 2 will be back

Well this game looks great for my son! He can get the advantage of being someone who rapes and kills innocent people without leaving the house! Thank god that I'm the messiah of letting kids get overexposed to crap that shouldn't be in their hands! I give the gift of fun in the place of my children doing this in the real world and being put on death row! (lets just say, thank god its rated AO! If you having a fit, your parents are horrible. If you are still having a fit, you are the most retarded college guy ever! If you want it, buy it at legal age!)

Games can provide an outlet where potential criminals can simulate their deepest desires without doing so in a real environment. In this way, gaming may or may not be a deterrent. The moment a potential criminal is playing a game is a moment not spent doing something else. Media such as movies or tv are the same but without control of choice--you view until the end of the show. Now with the Wii remote, people can simulate actions they might not perform in a real setting. It's terrible that some people become criminals by carrying out their own actions in real life. I don't think we should be providing ideas though. In deciding to release games or movies of such content, perhaps the justification for the fun of many (gamers and media viewers who are not potential criminals) could be set aside for the lawfulness and inaction of the few (potential criminals). Hopefully by not making it into the mainstream distribution channels, there won't be enough profit potential to distribute it at all.