ESRB defends Manhunt 2 PSP rating

via Games Industry


Following reports that hackers were able to reinstate violence censored from the PSP version of Manhunt 2, the ESRB issued a statement defending its "M" rating.

"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 read.

While noting that unauthorised versions of the game have been released on the Internet along with instructions on how to modify the code to remove the special effects filters that obscured certain violent depictions, the ESRB stated that it did not believe such modifications "fully restore the product to the version that originally received an AO rating, nor is this a matter of unlocking content."

"Manhunt 2's rating makes it unmistakable that the game is intended for an older audience. The unauthorized hacking into the code of this game doesn’t change that basic fact," said ESRB president Patricia Vance.

The ratings bureau made it clear that computer software and hardware devices are susceptible to unauthorised modification, and therefore game content could be changed in ways inconsistent with the assigned ESRB rating. Vance urged parents to monitor what their children are downloading to ensure that they are not removing the controls "put in place for their own protection."

In a conference call, Vance was asked how the latest situation differed from the "Hot Coffee" incident, in which hackers were able to unlock adult content on the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas game. In that case, the ESRB re-rated the game AO (Adults Only), causing retailers to pull it from the shelves before Rockstar released a cleaned-up version.

Vance indicated that the "Hot Coffee" incident differed in that the GTA: San Andreas content was unmodified and merely unlocked, was not disclosed to the ESRB during the ratings process, and was easily accessible to owners of the PC version.

She was also asked about a situation involving The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, in which the ESRB re-rated the game after discovering previously undisclosed blood and gore in the game, not to mention topless art present on the disc that was not disclosed during the rating process.

In the case of Manhunt 2, the content in question had previously been disclosed to the ESRB, the content is being modified rather than being unlocked, and it requires unauthorised versions of software and/or hardware to play the modified content.

The ESRB is therefore standing by its M rating.

I find it disgusting that such a big deal is made over a violent video game. There is an actual WAR for profit going on conducted by governments. In Iraq children are getting melted with phosphorus grenades and depleeted uranium rounds. Where is the outrage????????

Where is the outrage for the real horror and murder that is going on? I have nothing but contempt for hypocrites especially on the subject of violence(real or game).

Children are not as stupid as adults(at least until their genitals become active). They know this is a game and they know adults are REALLY killing people for oil wars.

People need to be more responsible. Instead we have a situation where everyone is trying to be the victim because they have dollar signs$$ in their eyes. And you have pre-teen PTA parents that dropped out of shool because they were pregnant now on a crusade of ignorance with intent to destroy anything artistic or creative(simply because "different" is scary to them).

Don't you think a President that kills innocent families overseas sends more of a violent message than any video game? After all, one is real and one is something we buy to escape the craziness of everyday "good" society.

And I for one think society is so sick and twisted Manhunt 2 and gta seem like a vacation from the madness.


lessons learned from american culture:
Kill Iraqis and Iranians in real life = good
Kill in video game(not real) = bad
sell out for $$ (whorism) = good
make good art = bad

^ anyone else think this is really f*@#ed up?

very well put John,
I couldn't have put it a better way