Senators question Mature rating of Manhunt 2 videogame
By Paul Sweeting -- Video Business, 11/19/2007
NOV. 19 | WASHINGTON—Four U.S. senators released a letter they sent Monday to the president of the videogame ratings board calling for a “thorough review” of the system in the wake of Rockstar Games’ Manhunt 2 receiving a “Mature” rating, rather than the more restrictive “Adults Only” designation, after the publisher made some minor revisions to the game.
“As you know, in June 2007, the British Board of Film Classification refused to rate Rockstar’s Manhunt 2 videogame … stating that it contains ‘unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone,” the letter said. “In October 2007, the BBFC again refused to rate a revised Manhunt 2 stating that ‘the impact of the revisions on the bleakness and callousness of tone … is clearly insufficient.’”
In contrast, the lawmakers note, the U.S. Entertainment Software Ratings Board, “reduced the revised version’s rating to “Mature,” effectively opening the door to its widespread distribution and its licensing approval by game system manufacturers Sony and Nintendo.”
The letter, addressed to ESRB president Patricia Vance, also claims that the motion-sensitive controller used with Nintendo’s Wii system “permits children to act out each of the many graphic torture scenes and murders” in the game and suggests that ESRB take the controller’s advanced capabilities “into consideration” in rating future games.
The letter is signed by Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) and Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), all long-time critics of the graphic sex and violence found in some videogames.
“In sum, we ask your consideration of whether it is time to review the robustness, reliability and repeatability of your ratings process, particularly for this genre of ‘ultra-violent’ videogames and advances in game controllers,” the letter concludes.
ESRB representatives were not immediately available for comment.
