For once, Grand Theft Auto didn't make it into a list of things not to buy your kids - specifically, the TOADY (Toys Oppressive and Destructive to Young Children). So what did make the list? Lego Batman.

Say what?

After Leland Yee and CCFC's (Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood) demand for an explanation why Manhunt 2 was re-rated to Mature - despite the fact that Manhunt 2 was already modified to fit the standards - ESRB now decided to break its silence and released a statement regarding their decision to take off the Adults Only rating from Rockstar's controversial game.

Here's an excerpt from the statement of ESRB's president Patricia Vance:

Upon reviewing the modified version of Manhunt 2, the ESRB assigned a rating of M (Mature 17+) with content descriptors for Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content and Use of Drugs. This is a very clear and firm warning to parents that the game is in no way intended for children. As always, we urge parents to strongly consider the ESRB rating in their decision about whether a game is appropriate for their children.

Publishers submit game content to the ESRB on a confidential basis. It is simply not our place to reveal specific details about the content we have reviewed, particularly when it involves a product yet to be released...

It is a parent's rightful place to make choices for their own children. The ESRB and console manufacturers provide families with the tools and information to help them do so."

So there you have it, straight from ESRB's Vance herself. She does make a good point in saying that its up to the parents themselves to regulate their children's games, and they are already given sufficient aids to make sure that the kids play with media appropriate for their ages, such as child locks or password protection.

What do you guys think? Do you agree with ESRB's official statement? Hit the comments button below.

Read Vance's entire statement in the Read link!

Manhunt 2 (for the Wii and PSP) may have been granted an M rating by the ESRB, but there's not much reason to relax and celebrate because the people from Campaign For a Commercial-Free Childhood (CFCC) is hot on the heels of the game's rating reversal, despite the explanation that Manhunt 2's level of violence had been watered down to deserve the M rating.

Still holding on to their opinion of M-rated games being marketed to children, the CFCC is expressing their concern that those under 18 years of age will now be able to get hold of Manhunt 2 and possibly have their minds warped into senseless violence. It should be noted at this point that the CCFC are also partially responsible for Manhunt 2 getting an Adults Only rating, so there's no telling what may happen at this point. This is what the CFCC has to say about the issue:

The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood is extremely concerned that the ESRB has downgraded its rating for Manhunt 2 from Adults Only (AO) to Mature (M). Despite industry claims to the contrary, M-rated games continue to be marketed and sold to children under seventeen. The ESRB’s reversal of its earlier decision dramatically increases the likelihood that Manhunt 2 – the most violent game to date produced for the interactive Nintendo Wii platform – will be marketed and sold to children.

Since Rockstar Games is mum about the alterations made in the game, the children's rights watchdog group demanded the gaming publisher to divulge what had been changed in the game that enabled it to escape the clutches of the AO rating.

The Manhunt 2 issue sure doesn't die down. Will Rockstar be able to stand up against this new development? Check this space for more updates.


Check out CFCC's press release in the Read link!

Controversial video game developer Rockstar Games has released an official response to earlier news of Manhunt 2 (PS2, PSP, Wii) being rejected for a rating in the UK by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). This has resulted in the game being effectively banned in the UK. Here's Rockstar's official statement:

We are disappointed with the recent decision by the British Board of Film Classification to refuse classification of Manhunt 2. While we respect the authority of the classification board and will abide by the rules, we emphatically disagree with this particular decision.

Manhunt 2 is an entertainment experience for fans of psychological thrillers and horror. The subject matter of this game is in line with other mainstream entertainment choices for adult consumers. We respect those who have different opinions about the horror genre and video games as a whole, but we hope they will also consider the opinions of the adult gamers for whom this product is intended.

We believe all products should be rated to allow the public to make informed choices about the media and art they wish to consume. The stories in modern video games are as diverse as the stories in books, film and television. The adult consumers who would play this game fully understand that it is fictional interactive entertainment and nothing more.

Manhunt 2 is also under fire in the U.S. Various groups including outspoken anti-violent video games crusader Jack Thompson and the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) have launched campaigns to prevent Manhunt 2 from being sold. The latter has also launched a letter-writing campaign urging parents to express their concerns about the game to the ESRB.

  

It turns that the "horrifically violent video game" being referred to by organization Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) is indeed Manhunt 2. Yesterday, the group claimed that it will be launching various campaigns to stop the said title from being marketed to children.

According to CCFC Co-founder Dr. Susan Linn, their group just sent a letter to Entertainment Software and Rating Board (ESRB) President Patricia Vance urging her to give Manhunt 2 an "Adults Only" rating. Not only that, the organization even launched a letter-writing campaign encouraging parents and "concerned citizens" to express their concerns to ESRB as well.

If you click on our Read link below, you will be directed to CCFC's petition page for the campaign. You will find there a template letter which you can edit that will be sent to ESRB. To authenticate each letter, the page will be asking you for personal information like address, zip code, and full name. A part of the letter reads,

Please give this unprecedented combination of video game violence and the interactive Wii platform your strongest and most unambiguous rating. Anything rating less than AO will signal ESRB's endorsement for marketing Manhunt 2 to children, and pave the way for future brutally violent games designed for Wii to be targeted to children as well.

Earlier today, we learned that authorities in UK just banned Manhunt 2. However, despite all these, Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive as well as Nintendo itself have yet to issue official statements.

Seems like another storm's a-brewing for the already controversial game, Manhunt 2 (Wii and PSP), and this time around it's not Jack Thompson. GamePolitics managed to unearth a short but meaningful post in an obscure blog titled Veggie and Boston Blog authored by Maynard Clark from Harvard Medical School. Here is an excerpt of the post:

CCFC has big plans for the months ahead. In the next few weeks, CCFC will be launching new campaigns to stop a horrifically violent video game from being marketed to children…

It's very likely that the video game being referred to is Manhunt 2, given its July 9 release date. However, it speaks of a "game being marketed to children". With Manhunt's apparent M rating and its graphic cover, its hardly something that spells out "CHILDREN'S GAME" with loopy, colorful font, so it's a bit surprising that Campaign for a Commercial-free Childhood (CCFC) can mistake Manhunt 2 as a game meant for children.

Developer Rockstar Games and publisher Take-Two Interactive may have some cause for worry. CCFC, along with the Parents Television Council (PTC), was able to win in its past case against GTA Vice City Stories being advertised in Massachusetts' buses and trains.

Weeks after the Parents Television Council (PTC) announced its complaints regarding offensive game advertisement s on buses, the Regional Transportation District (RTD) board has replied that it will be taking the PTC's complaints into consideration at its upcoming meeting next week on March 27.

"RTD has some very serious and important issues that it needs to focus on," said John Tayer, Boulder City's RTD representative. "While we need to pay attention to these types of issues, I'd rather see our resources, time and energy focused on implementing FasTracks and addressing other priority transit issues."

Last February, the PTC had filed a joint press release alongside the Commercial Free Childhood (CCFC) organization to prevent advertisements of games of M (Mature) and AO (Adults Only) ratings from being placed on buses on the transit authority's (RTD) jurisdiction. At the moment, the RTD's advertisement standards prohibit deceptive, illegal, or obscene material, ban ads of tobacco (cigarettes), and require ads to be "of a reputable character". It will be remembered that last year, the RTD had entered into a contract with Rockstar Games to post Grand Theft Auto (GTA) ads on its public transport vehicles.