The blocking of Manhunt 2 is proof of ignorance

Whilst I know that the issue of Manhunt 2 has been discussed alot in a short time span I feel the points must be revisited to demonstrate the ignorance shown by the entities and individuals responsible for this farce.

Firstly I have not played Manhunt 2. So my knowledge of the product itself is slightly impaired.  However some key information should be pointed out first as drivers for this discourse:

1. Movies are far more accessible to everyone than Video Games for a number of reasons:
    - Cheaper price
    - Broadcasting methodology e.g. cinemas, dvd, internet etc
    - Viral Viewership

2. Video Games have a far lower effect level of realism than movies due to reasons such as:
    - Graphics have not yet crossed the photo-realistic barrier
    - The development costs of high-end movies outweigh high-end games

Now with the above in mind lets consider some recent comment by the outspoken Jack Thomson which can be found in a Shacknews page regarding Wendy's and Wii:

http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/46861 (Please note there are a multitude of sources available for this story).

To try and suspend Wii - Wendy's relations due to one game shows gross irresponsibility on Mr. Thompsons part.  This would be like trying to shut down an entire Cinema chain due to one "distasteful" movie being released.  As many know Mr. Thompson has a history of controversy when trying to uphold his censorship crusade.

The decision by the BBFC was equally baffling.  They cited various "reasons" as to why the game was banned.

Equally baffling was how Movies like Hostel 1&2, Saw 1,2&3 and The Hills Have Eyes 1&2 could sail through onto the big screen.  For anyone unfamiliar with the above titles here are some of the actions depicted in graphic detail during the films:

- Gunshot wounds
- Dismemberment
- Castration
- Gouging Eyeballs from sockets
- Brain Removal
- Mutant Rape
- Torture & Abduction
- Enjoyment in performing the above acts

Furthermore more often than not the above actions will be directed in real-life detail and are startlingly explicit.

It is ironic that after a brief search, Jack Thompson's name can not be found associate with any of the above movies or his efforts to have them removed from circulation.

So what is the point of this discourse.

I am not a video game crusader.  I am not a junkie for violence.

What I am astonished to see is a severe lack of consistency is how Manhunt 2 has been treated compared to movies that depict similar themes.

So in my opinion the BBFC and Jack Thompson have only two courses of action:

- Allow Manhunt 2 entry to the market
- Ban all media that cover the same topics in the same detail as game and movies like the ones listed above.

Finally, it should be mentioned that when it comes to censorship we, as individuals, should make the final choice as to what media we engage ourselves with.

[techie]

Great. I agree with you completely. Spot on.

[MK_Red]

Great post. I still dont understand how torture movies like Hostel 1&2 and nasty ones like Hills Have Eyes are OK for R rating (M) but less violent games are not.
Hostel 2 even features some really graphic suff that should have earned it an NC-17 but all the 18+ talk in the world is focused on games and in this case, Manhunt2.

And while no movie is banned these days, games are among the most banned products these days. Hope this bannings, attacks, censorship and war on games ends soon or we'll all suffer the consequences.