video game banned

[egb_hibs]

creeping censoriousness?


"British censors have banned a violent video game from the UK for the first time in a decade.

The video game Manhunt 2 was banned for its "unrelenting focus on stalking and brutal slaying", the British Board of Film Classification said.

It means the Manhunt sequel cannot be legally supplied anywhere in the UK.

The parents of a Leicester schoolboy who blamed the original game for the murder of their 14-year-old son said they were "absolutely elated".

There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/l...re/6767623.stm

[wee 162]

Originally Posted by egb_hibs

creeping censoriousness?


"British censors have banned a violent video game from the UK for the first time in a decade.

The video game Manhunt 2 was banned for its "unrelenting focus on stalking and brutal slaying", the British Board of Film Classification said.

It means the Manhunt sequel cannot be legally supplied anywhere in the UK.

The parents of a Leicester schoolboy who blamed the original game for the murder of their 14-year-old son said they were "absolutely elated".

There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/l...re/6767623.stm

And people on e-Bay rub their hands in glee as they prepare to start importing it from Europe or America at wildly inflated prices. Meanwhile Rockstar North rub their hands in glee at the publicity they'll get. The BBFC rub their hands in glee at being shown to be good guys standing up for good people in society against this menace.

Sounds remarkably like Hitman to me. Played that. Haven't killed anyone. Not even been tempted tbh. Watched The Godfather recently and wasn't tempted to start an Olive Oil Import Business as cover for a widespread organised crime syndicate. Watched Apocalypto. Wasn't even remotely tempted to either kill or enslave everyone in a remote Amerindian village hundreds of years ago. Watched The Wire and I'm not setting up on the corner selling crack and smack.

So why exactly do the BBFC feel the need to protect my fragile little mind?

ps Carmageddon was banned 10 years ago. Think it is available as a free download on a site I know of (links at home). If it's still available, it's well worth downloading to see how absurd the game being banned was (it's also a fecking quality game!).

[egb_hibs]

do you think the games industry is seen as a soft touch here? for example, why ban this and not 'hostel 2'? is the machinery of the film industry more fearful to the censors?

otoh the games industry now makes more dosh than hollywood so if this is the case maybe it won't last.

there again, perhaps the participatory nature of games is felt to be 'worse'. the other thing is Al, your a mature adult, not sure i'd want a 12 yo playing manhunt 2 repeatedly.

[wee 162]

Originally Posted by egb_hibs

do you think the games industry is seen as a soft touch here? for example, why ban this and not 'hostel 2'? is the machinery of the film industry more fearful to the censors?

otoh the games industry now makes more dosh than hollywood so if this is the case maybe it won't last.

there again, perhaps the participatory nature of games is felt to be 'worse'. the other thing is Al, your a mature adult, not sure i'd want a 12 yo playing manhunt 2 repeatedly.

Or watching Hostel 2 presumably. That's why they give out age appropriate certificates.

Carmageddon link
Some fecker is selling it so it's not available for dowload. Check back in a month or two and it might be back up.