ESRB Defends Manhunt 2 Rating After Investigation
The Entertainment Software Rating Board investigated the situation and has issued a response, defending the game's M rating in light of the hacked versions of Manhunt 2. "We do not believe these modifications fully restore the product to the version that originally received an AO rating, nor is this a matter of unlocking content," the statement reads. "Our investigation indicates that the game's publisher disclosed to the ESRB all pertinent content in the authorized Mature-rated version of Manhunt 2 now available in stores, and complied with our guidelines on full disclosure of content."
The statement goes on to further distinguish between this instance and the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2, Xbox) Hot Coffee mod in a number of ways. Whereas the Hot Coffee mod unlocked content Rockstar had knowingly included in the game and hadn't disclosed to the ESRB, Rockstar disclosed the content in question and modified it via censor blurring to be compliant with an M rating.
Lastly, the process requires a modded PSP as well as unauthorized copies of the game. It's a much more complicated process than getting Hot Coffee to work on PC or PS2, which only required a cheat device for the console version. The statement uses these same issues to differentiate the Manhunt 2 modifications from the re-rating controversy surrounding Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (PC, PS3, X360), which was changed from T for teen to M for mature for the availability of a partial nudity mod and graphic in-game violence.
The ESRB was aware of the content in question in Manhunt 2 because Rockstar disclosed it during the game's initial submission to the rating board--where it received an Adults Only rating and was barred from release. Only after a modified version was resubmitted did the title receive a rating of M for mature.
ESRB president Patricia Vance added a comment in the statement addressing the M rating, adding that even without being Adults Only, Manhunt 2 is still clearly for adults. "Manhunt 2's rating makes it unmistakable that the game is intended for an older audience," she said in the statement. "The unauthorized hacking into the code of this game doesn't change that basic fact."
The M rating denotes games suitable for an audience of 17 years or older, while titles given an Adults Only rating are intended for gamers at least 18 years of age. However, most retailers won't carry Adults Only titles, effectively making the rating the kiss of death for a developer.
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replyThis raises two points -
*The ESRB is not as stupid as one would think, and should be applauded for seeing the difference between Hot Coffee and this.
However..
*Didn't Rockstar claim the game wasn't censored, that they made minor changes? Thats kind of funny because it sounds like the ESRB is saying even WITHOUT the blurring/etc it still isn't AO rated. Clearly something was cut, much worse than what gamers have seen.
Not that I care, I'm not into Manhunt. It's just something I noticed.-
It kind of sucks being out the outside of this debate, conjecturing what was or wasn't in the AO title, but I don't understand how what looks like a negative color filter during the execution changes the rating from AO to M.
GameTrailers had a cool comparison video of Manhunt 1, Manhunt 2 Uncut, and Manhunt 2 Retail. The level of violence hasn't changed much since Manhunt 1, according to the comparison videos for the plastic bag executions. It seems more like the moral stance the ESRB has shifted over the years, creating inconsistent ratings for games over the years.
How a game like Conan and God of War only got M ratings while both having nudity and Conan having dismemberments in it, while Manhunt is scrutinized much harder is beyond me.-
It's Rockstar, nuff said. Same way Leisure Suit Larry always got off with major nudity/etc (even the latest one) and never achieved higher than M. The ESRB has to cover their asses on this one, Rockstar is closely watched. The Hot Coffee mod is in no way different than LSL:MCL, in which you could change ONE ini line (and one other thing, I forget) to uncensor the bars on crotches. No one bitched, because no one cared.
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Yeah, but even with that logic, God of War and Manhunt sold a similar amount of units, as told by them both making the Greatest Hits library of games on the PS2, so they both had the same level of market penetration.
I know you're right that the ESRB is just overly scrutinizing Rockstar over SCEA, but its still crazy that they would be so biased against one company which seems to be the focal point of most video game controversy. In fact, and this has been said extensively by other gamers, this kind of press just gives Rockstar free advertising. You can see proof in that by making an analogy with the "Parental Advisory" labels put on albums. Those warnings often sell more records, because the thought of having something 'you shouldn't have' is way more enticing than something that's safe.
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