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Take Two Vows To Publish Manhunt 2
Despite Manhunt 2's bad reception in both UK and US, Take Two has publicly announced that it will publish the game at some point. Backing the title as art, once again, the company vowed to see the game released in some capacity or another. "The chairman added that Take-Two subsidiary Rockstar Games, which publishes Manhunt and the Grand Theft Auto series, sees itself as a producer of games rated M for Mature. However, Zelman did say Take-Two would stand by its game, even if it bore the dreaded AO for Adults Only rating. 'We don't see ourselves in the Adults Only business,' he told analysts listening to the call. 'Having said that, if we find ourselves in the Adults Only business, it would be because we have a title that we consider art and entertainment, that we consider if appropriately labeled AO, and that we would like to bring to market.'"
They're allowed, just like the MPAA ratings. The article doesn't say though if Take Two is going to also resubmit a censored edition to get an M rating at the same time... but if they're calling it art they probably shouldn't to that to keep any face at all.
More Twoson than Cupertino
It's nice that they're determined to get the game out, but how is this going to happen if the Sony and Nintendo won't approve the game for their consoles? And I don't recall there being a PC version of the game. Of course they could port it to the PC and then just sell it online, maybe even with Steam. But unless they were planning this contingency all along, it will take time to port the game. Another question is whether Microsoft would allow the game on the 360. If they have to take the time to do a PC port, then a 360 port almost comes for free. Manhunt 2 as an Xbox 360/Windows Vista exclusive might actually make sense. Not only that, if they're successful, it could put a whole new spin on the AO rating issue. It might just remove the curse.
To the making of books there is no end, so let's get started
AO is more like the NC-17 rating. ESRB's M is equivalent, in theory, to MPAA's R even though they're not enforced the same.
I'd like to see whoever it was that ran a sting operation and saw 69% of kids under 17 could buy M rated games do the same for R rated films like Hostel, Saving Private Ryan and Pulp Fiction. (Yes, I picked those films on purpose as examples)
Take 2 vows to try and eke some income out of a product they've already spent money on!
Reality has a conservative bias: it conserves mass, energy, momentum...
Think of it....
I think I speak for a lot of people that would _love_ to see the AO rating go from "the dreaded" to the "hells yeah!" rating. I mean we all want these kinds of titles - we are growing up but dammit as much as I love nintendo I want my games to grow up with me. Honestly I cant figure out where the real problem is. Distributors refuse to carry it - why? I know the fact that Wal-Mart wont carry it is a real problem when you are looking at your bottom line - but thankfully they looked at a bottom line of zero and are deciding to go ahead.
What I could see this as doing for the future is this being remembered as that first title that said 'the hell with it' and went through with the AO rating and made the Nintendo/Sony/Microsoft's realize that there is a market here and it is worth expanding our definition of games. Take Two is an utter mess at this point - but that desperation is great for doing something crazy that just might work. Dont tone down the game - throw in those few bits you were scared would originally garner an AO rating and just sell the damn thing.
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Modded as Troll, but I think you bring up a good point. If it was "Manhunt 2: Search for Bin Laden" or "Manhunt 2: Kill All Terrorists" it would probably be lauded as a patriotic masterpiece no matter how violent it is.
I wasn't aware that graphic murder was an art form. I'm curious as to who they believe will buy this? Usually over the top violent games appeal to angst ridden teens more than any other segment and removing that from the equation leaves either the fractional market that is "hardcore" buy anything controversial adults, the overly curious (who will most likely rent) and maybe the already psychologically disturbed (which will just lead to the next Jack Thompson lawsuit). I could be wrong but I would guess that most "grown-ups" wont buy this game.
AO does not mean the game is banned, it means that it has to carry an Adults Only rating. Several businesses such as Wal-Mart and Target refuse to carry AO titles, they also refuse to carry Adult Films and Porno Mags as well but those genres continue to thrive. If the game is good enough to stand on its own merit then it should be able to find an audience even if it ended up as a Gamestop exclusive. The bigger hurdle is that Sony and Nintendo refuse to carry AO titles, they are the ones being the nanny here not the ESRB.
The sad thing is that Rockstar and Take Two knew this from the beginning and set out to make a game as over the top as possible. They seem to relish in their position as the bad boys of gaming seeing that the only game they have published that was not mired in controversy was that Table Tennis game that completely flopped. This is another way to grab headlines and get some press, don't feel sorry for them. In the end the game will probably have a few cut scenes removed that they never intended to publish anyway and the game will get an "M".
Exactly. Wolfenstein and Doom both got off easy because of a demonized enemy (nazis and, well, demons). Plus it's very easy to post a comment with baseless accusations of hate and wrongdoing against a segment of the population with an image of baseless hate and wrongdoing. What an utterly intelligent post you have, Mr. Troll.