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Manhunt 2

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Template:Future game

Manhunt 2
Developer(s)Rockstar London
Rockstar North
Rockstar Toronto (Wii)
Rockstar Leeds (PSP)
Rockstar Vienna (Former developer)
Publisher(s)Rockstar Games
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii
ReleaseTemporarily suspended
Genre(s)Action, Survival horror, Psych. Horror
Mode(s)Single player

Manhunt 2 is a video game developed by Rockstar Games and the sequel to 2003's Manhunt. The game was scheduled for release for the Wii, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable in July of 2007,[1] but has been temporarily suspended by Take-Two due to a rating rejection in the United Kingdom and an AO rating in the United States.[2]

Characters

File:Daniel Lamb.jpg
Daniel Lamb
  • Daniel Lamb - The playable protagonist. He was a former scientist with "The Pickman Project" but ended up locked away in the Dixmor Institute for the Criminally Insane for six years. Apparently he has no recollection of who he was before the Project started. Danny was born on May 29, 1963.
  • Leo Kasper - The second playable character. Psychotic inmate who was also put in the asylum by the Project. According to Rockstar's official Manhunt 2 website, he appears to be a former government agent. That might explain his expertise in combat, evasion, infiltration, and assassination techniques. He helps Lamb escape and teaches him his own well-honed tricks of the trade. Leo was born on June 19, 1972.
  • Dr. Laura Whyte - Head of "The Pickman Project.".
  • Dr. Pickman - High ranking medical practitioner within "The Pickman Project." The project seems to be named after him.
  • Judy - Works at a brothel (Honey Pot) and holds information valuable to Daniel. An OPSM preview indicates that Judy used to work with Lamb.

Controversy

Jack Thompson

Following Manhunt 2's announcement, attorney Jack Thompson promised to file suit to block the sale of Manhunt 2 and Rockstar's upcoming Grand Theft Auto IV. Take-Two petitioned U.S. District Court, FLSD to block Thompson's pending lawsuit.[3] Thompson immediately filed a counter-suit, accusing Take-Two and various other prominent game media outlets of racketeering.[4] The dispute was later settled: Thompson agreed to not sue or threaten to sue to block sale or distribution of any game published by Take-Two. In turn, Take-Two agreed to drop a prior suit accusing Thompson of contempt-of-court in a previous suit over Take-Two's Bully.[5]

In a letter to Wendy's CEO Kerrii Anderson, Thompson demanded that the restaurant drop an upcoming promotion featuring children's toys designed after the Wii games Excite Truck, Wii Sports and Super Mario Galaxy because Manhunt 2 was scheduled for release on the console. An excerpt from Thompson's letter states: "Dave Thomas never would have tolerated the use of Wendy’s good name to promote Nintendo’s Wii, not with this game available on the Wii platform."[6]

Bans and certification difficulties

The BBFC has refused to certify the PlayStation 2 and Wii editions of Manhunt 2, meaning that it will be illegal to sell the game in the United Kingdom[7] in its current state.[8]

The Irish Film Censor's Office announced that the game would also not be available for sale in the Republic of Ireland.[9] This is the first time a video game has been refused certification by the IFCO.[10] Italian Communications Minister Paolo Gentiloni described it as, "cruel and sadistic, with a squalid environment and a continuous, insistent encouragement to violence and murder."[11]

Manhunt 2 would have been released uncut in Scandinavia with an 18+ PEGI certificate if not for Take-Two's suspension.[12][13]

In the United States the game has received an Adults Only rating from the ESRB. Many American retailers will not carry AO rated titles[14] and both Nintendo and Sony have policies prohibiting third-party AO rated titles from appearing on their consoles.[15][16]

In response to the BBFC and ESRB's decisions, Take-Two has temporarily suspended the release of Manhunt 2 while they evaluate their options.[17]

References

  1. ^ http://www.rockstargames.com/manhunt2/information/
  2. ^ Take Two Shelves Manhunt 2
  3. ^ BREAKING: Take Two Sues Jack Thompson over Manhunt 2, GTA4, Gamepolitics.com, March 16th, 2007
  4. ^ GTA Publisher, Jack Thompson Settle Lawsuit, Gamepolitics.com, April 19th, 2007
  5. ^ Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. v. John B. Thompson
  6. ^ Thompson Demands Wendy's Cut Wii Promotion, Shacknews.com, May 8, 2007
  7. ^ http://www.bbfc.co.uk/faq/docs/10601.html
  8. ^ Richardson, Ben (2007-06-19). ""Unremitting bleakness" means Rockstar's game is rejected. However the BBFC in a statement said that they cannot see any way of censoring or cutting the game to make it less violent, as the very core of the game is violent murders". Games Radar. Retrieved 2007-06-19. The British Board of Film Classification has rejected Manhunt 2 for its "unremitting bleakness" and "casual sadism". {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  9. ^ "MANHUNT 2 VIDEO GAME PROHIBITED". IFCO. 2007-06-18. Retrieved 2007-06-19. A prohibition order has been made by IFCO in relation to the video game Manhunt 2. The Order was made on 18th June 2007 under Sec 7 (1) (b) of the Video Recordings Act 1989 which refers to 'acts of gross violence or cruelty (including mutilation and torture)'. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "RTE News". Retrieved 2007-06-20.
  11. ^ Bellinger, Hassan (2007-06-22). ""Italian official seeking ban of Manhunt 2". The Super Soldiers. Retrieved 2007-06-22. cruel and sadistic, with a squalid environment and a continuous, insistent encouragement to violence and murder. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  12. ^ Spillforbud uaktuelt i Norge
  13. ^ Utsetter «Manhunt 2» (VG Nett) Etter stormen rundt «Manhunt 2», er nå utgivelsen av spillet utsatt på ubestemt tid, June 22, 2007
  14. ^ "Though not a policy, [[IEMA|IEMA]] members generally do not carry AO-rated games any differently than we do not carry X-rated videos or DVDs". {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  15. ^ "Sony, Nintendo forbid AO-rated Manhunt 2".
  16. ^ "Manhunt 2 dead and buried in the US". ComputerAndVideoGames.com. 2007-06-20. Retrieved 2007-06-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ Bellinger, Hassan (2007-06-22). ""Take Two Suspends Release". The Super Soldiers. Retrieved 2007-06-22. Take-Two Interactive Software has temporarily suspended plans to distribute Manhunt 2 for the Wii or PlayStation platforms while it reviews its options with regard to the recent decisions made by the BBFC and ESRB.. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
Official sites
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