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.
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
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