MANHUNT 2 GETS SHANKED AND YANKED

I’d love to go into detail on my thoughts regarding the whole Manhunt 2 rating issue right now, but unfortunately, time is working against me right now – hopefully I’ll get to talk at length about the situation over the weekend. What I will talk about right now is that Gamespot is reporting that Take-Two Interactive has decided to "temporarily suspend" the release of the now embattled Manhunt 2 while the company takes a long look at what it’s options are as far as the game is concerned;

"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 British Board of Film Classification and Entertainment Software Rating Board. We continue to stand behind this extraordinary game. We believe in freedom of creative expression, as well as responsible marketing, both of which are essential to our business of making great entertainment.” -Take-Two Interactive (as reported by Gamespot)

The big decision here is whether Take-Two will attempt to change the game enough for the ESRB to drop it’s rating to "Mature" or shelve the title entirely. There’s no middle ground on this one as both Nintendo and Sony have already stated they will not certify Adults Only rated games for play on their consoles, which means the rating no longer just makes the game a pariah to most retailers, but now makes the game (which was scheduled to release on the PS2, PSP and Wii) completely unsellable.

So there you have it – Manhunt 2 will not be making it’s scheduled July 10th release date or quite possibly any other release date. Sounds like Thrill Kill all over again.

• Take-Two shelves Manhunt 2 – Gamespot
• Manhunt 2 – Official website
• Take-Two Interactive – Company website
• Entertainment Software Ratings Board – Official website

UPDATE TO THE OBLIVION SITUATION

So I decided to do some research myself as I felt that the statements by the ESRB and Bethesda seemed a bit vague and contradictory. From what I can determine, the “problem file” is the upper half of a female body that is fully detailed. Apparently the file itself has a clothing mesh on it, which is what the modders are removing, showing the fully detailed model underneath. That file is now being further modified to make it more visually appealing, which is probably what is leading to the statements about the file being completely created by modders. Keep in mind, this is all based on internet discussions of the mod(s), so take the whole bit for what it’s worth. From what I saw, if you want to use the “Bethesda created” topless model, all I can say is you’d have to be pretty ill to want to play with it – pretty it ain’t. Think grandma and you’re on the right track.

ESRB CHANGES ELDER SCROLLS IV: OBLIVION RATING

The ESRB today announced that they are re-rating Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

According to the ESRB press release, due to higher levels of violence being in the game than what was originally reported by Bethesda and an unused file in the PC version that could be accessed by a third party mod which would allow a player to use topless female models, the games rating was being changed from “T – Teen” to “M – Mature”. See the ESRB Press release here (.PDF File) and the breakdown of the ESRB ratings system here.

Bethesda responded to the report with their own press release stating that while they did not misrepresent the game to the ESRB, they will not challenge the ruling regarding the change, nor will they edit the game to bring it back down to a Teen rating. It seems Bethesda is a bit upset at the implication that they were less than forthcoming with the ESRB when the game was originally submitted for rating, as indicated by this quote from the press release.

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“Bethesda Softworks made what it believes was a full, accurate, and comprehensive submission on Oblivion to the ESRB months before the game’s release. Bethesda used the ESRB’s application forms and believes it adhered closely to their requirements. Nothing was hidden from the ratings agency. No effort was made by Bethesda to lobby or influence the agency for any particular rating.” – Bethesda press release
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My guess is the rating isn’t about the violence in the game at all, but rather about simplifying things so there isn’t any confusion due to the Xbox 360 and PC versions carrying different ratings.

While I don’t think this is going to become as much of a lightning rod for criticism as the “Hot Coffee” incident, I’m sure the Jack Thompsons of the world are going to jump all over it.