Manhunt 2 banned in the United Kingdom

The Rockstar's upcoming video game Manhunt-2 has been banned in Britain, meaning it can't be legally supplied anywhere in the UK.

Manhunt 2 banned in the United Kingdom The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) said yesterday that Manhunt 2, sequel to the controversial Manhunt, will not be allowed in the U.K. due to sadism, unrelenting focus on stalking and brutal slaying and "constantly encourages visceral killing".

In 1997 Carmageddon was the last game to be banned in the U.K., although that ruling was later overturned.

A statement from David Cooke, director of BBFC, read:

"Manhunt 2 is distinguishable from recent high-end video games by its unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone in an overall game context which constantly encourages visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing. There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed, and encouraged, in the game."

“Against this background, the Board’s carefully considered view is that to issue a certificate to Manhunt 2, on either platform, would involve a range of unjustifiable harm risks, to both adults and minors, within the terms of the Video Recordings Act, and accordingly that its availability, even if statutorily confined to adults, would be unacceptable to the public.”

The original Manhunt was given an 18 classification in 2003 and was blamed for the murder of 14-year-old Stefan Pakeerah, who was stabbed and beaten to death in 2004. His parents believe the killer, Warren LeBlanc, 17, was inspired by the game although police and lawyers in the trial said there was no evidence that it had played a part.

Rockstar has six weeks to appeal the board's decision.

Published on 06/20/2007