When a violent game is TOO violent

The following is an article from today's Toronto Star:
Mar. 4, 2004. 10:47 AM

Video game slammed with `R' rating

Too violent for children, board says
Minister calls it `disturbing, distasteful'

ROBERT BENZIE AND MURRAY WHYTE
STAFF REPORTERS

Ontario government censors have slapped a "restricted" rating on a video game for the first time ever in a bid to keep children from being exposed to extreme violence.

The Ontario Film Review Board feels Manhunt --- a controversial game banned in New Zealand and touted by its manufacturer as "brutal blood sport" --- should not be played by people younger than 18.

Board chair Bill Moody said yesterday the game features "frequent coarse language and slurs, sexual references ... visually explicit portrayals of violence, including hand-to-hand and weapons violence."

"It was characterized by extreme bloodletting and tissue damage. That's the part that concerned us," said Moody, whose board does not normally censor video games, but was alerted by officials in New Zealand.

Under provincial legislation, retailers who sell or rent the game to minors could face penalties of up to $25,000 and up to one year in jail.

Corporations that distribute the game to youngsters could face penalties of up to $100,000.

Consumer and Business Services Minister Jim Watson praised the board's decision.

"What we're trying to do is set some standards. I don't think it's a question of censorship just as I don't think it's a question of censorship of advising parents that certain films are inappropriate for young people," said Watson.

"If you've seen this video ... it's really disturbing. I'd never seen anything quite like it before. It was quite distasteful."

Manhunt puts the player in the role of criminal James Earl Cash, who is kidnapped from death row and placed in Carcer City as star of a reality show that has him killing gang members.

It is the product of the now-infamous Rockstar Games company, which last year released the best-selling game of all time, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

That game was roundly criticized for its portrayal of prostitution, pimps and drug-dealers, as well as its cartoonish depiction of violence and gunplay.

Manhunt drops the irony, and takes the violence to a new extreme.

At Microplay, a Queen St. W. gaming store, assistant manager Dan Slivinksi said he received notice of the game's rating on Tuesday. "We immediately stapled it on the wall. We're sort of proud of it," he said.

Slivinski said the game's previous "mature" rating, a measure that was left to independent retailers to respect, was enough for his shop to not sell Manhunt to customers under 18.

Compliance was voluntary; with the "R" rating, it is legally required.

The manufacturer, a subsidiary of New York-based Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., said yesterday it is appealing the rating.

I dont know the game but I doubt the actual in game violence was the problem. usually its more in fear of a public uproar. thats what happens when violent games have a lot of publicity. look at kingpin. it was very violent but wasnt hyped up at all and it went straight through the censorship board with not cuts.
Then again if this game does make it through, you can bet that it will attract a hell of a lot of attention from under 18s anyway.

A game is just a game! Nothing more. Every bit of "Hideous Blood Sport" was drawn by some guy on a computer somewhere. They arent real.

[Super_Mario_1987]

They sure complain a lot...

[PS2KH16]

most of the people that write articles like that aren't all against violence alot are against video games themselves so they find something to complain about [img]tongue.gif[/img]

No game is to violent, there was not one game that was violent enough to be banned(to my knowledge)from production or recalled. Not even GTA: VC was violent enough (they thought About it but didn't!)

[DaBob-omb]

I think that anyone over 14 should be able to buy any game they want. Personally, I haven't seen any video game a 14-year-old can't handle.

Its not like they can prevent us from buying it any!

They cant prevent it, but they can make it a pain in the ass to get. Sure, you could just get someone older to purchase it for you, but how many people would go out of their way to do you a favor? For me, my parents ignorance is my bliss. As far as they know, video games havent progressed past Super Mario World. That does initiate the problem with me getting a high-rating game, but nothing a little inginuity cant get past. If I didnt have older friends though, I would be screwed.

[demon340v]

does any1 rememebr when the M rating was set at 13