Rockstar Games confirmed that the releaseschedules from local distributors are correct. This friday Manhunt 2 will finally be released in liberal Holland and the rest of Europe. Manhunt 2 will be available on Wii, PSP and PS2.

The game was delayed for a long time a caused all kinds of discussion due to its explicit content. The BBFC has been under heavy critique from media and government, and the Byron report - following the Manhunt 2 release - caused lots of discussion once again. What the future holds for the BBFC is yet unknown, but Manhunt 2 will see daylight next friday.

The game will be available for €39,99 on Wii and PS2 and for €29,99 on PSP.
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Matt Wales of IGN writes:

"Via a slip of innocuous paper and a frankly terrifying promotional gimp mask, Rockstar has revealed to IGN that its oft-delayed Manhunt 2 is finally set to release on Wii, PS2 and PSP in the UK on October 31."
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Videogame makers and shops have two years to come up with a widely accepted industry code of conduct to better protect children from violent images, the European Union's executive body said on Tuesday.
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Manhunt 2, which had been banned in the UK last year, has now been given permission for release in June after an appeal by Rockstar Games.

Part of the defence used by Rockstar is that although the game is violent and is about committing murder it is no more violent than a Tarantino film.

If I am watching a film and one character tortures another, it is the writer and director who are choosing to do the maiming. If I am controlling the character, then it's my choice to torture or not. I'm no psychologist, but that has to have a much bigger impact.
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A Kent MP has slammed a decision by the Video Appeals Committee to overturn a ban on the controversial video game Manhunt 2.

It's the latest in a series of setbacks in Canterbury and Whitstable MP Julian Brazier's campaign to overhaul the process for deciding age certificates for films, DVDs and video games.
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MCV reports that whilst Manhunt 2 has finally been cleared for release, its convoluted journey to retail has exposed the inherent problems with the current games classification system, say commentators.

And now, ahead of Dr. Tanya Byron's report on video game classification, the future of the BBFC as a viable option for games classification has been thrown into doubt.
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GamesIndustry.Biz reports that following the earlier news that Video Appeals Committee had reaffirmed its decision regarding the release of Manhunt 2, and the BBFC's admission that further action on its part was likely to yield realistic results, Rockstar is now working towards a new release date for the title in the UK.

The version of the game to be released in the UK has been confirmed as the same one currently available in the US under a Mature rating - the version which was rejected by the BBFC the second time around.

A Rockstar spokesperson told GamesIndustry.biz that due to the news of the VAC's decision only breaking earlier today, no official decision had yet been made on a release date, but discussions were expected to take place shortly.
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GamesIndustry.Biz reports that the UK government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport has told GamesIndustry.biz that it has no plans at the moment to intervene in the planned release of Manhunt 2 in the UK.

"The classification of Manhunt 2 is a matter for the BBFC and the Video Appeals Committee," said a spokesperson, after today's news that the VAC had reaffirmed its decision to back Rockstar in an appeal over the BBFC's refusal to certify the game.

"It is important to note that there is no conclusive evidence of any link between playing computer games and violent behaviour in real life," the spokesperson continued. "Our concern is to make sure that inappropriate material is kept away from children.
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Rockstar's Manhunt 2 has finally been granted a UK release after a lengthy legal battle with the British Board of Film Classification.
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Following news last week that Australian censors have withheld yet another game (Dark Sector) from adult players, most gamers would feel frustration at the inequity of the current classification regime.

But Dr. Brett Hutchins, a passionate gamer and a senior lecturer in Communications and Media Studies at Melbourne's Monash University, believes the lack of an R18+ rating for games in Australia might actually be good for the long-term health and acceptance of interactive entertainment.

The gaming community should be very careful about what games they use to rally around and prosecute the classification system. In much of the public eye, unnecessary and mindless games like Manhunt 2, which rely on extreme violence to shock, titillate and garner attention, are only going to reinforce the stereotypes that gamers are fighting to overcome. Dr. Hutchins points out that "if the wrong games (i.e. extremely violent games) are held up as evidence of unfairness, this may actually be counter-productive."
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Rockstar Games has released an official statement in response to yesterday's High Court decision to rule against the Video Appeals Committee, which had previously given the green light for Manhunt 2 to go on sale in the UK.

"We believe the VAC decision was correct and do not understand the court's decision to expend further public resources to censor a game that contains content well within the bounds established by the BBFC's 18-plus ratings certification," read the statement in full.

Reported by GamesIndustry.biz on 25/01/2008
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The controversy over Rockstar's Manhunt 2 is raging on in the UK, even though the game has already been granted a release in North America and many other European countries.

First, Manhunt 2 was banned in the UK by the British Board of Film Classification. Then the ban was overturned by appeal by the Video Appeals Committee. Now the appeal itself has been overturned by the High Court.
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And the Manhunt 2 UK ban saga continues, as the British Board of Film Certification today announces that they have be granted permission for a judicial review of the appeal the Video Appeals Committee passed regarding the classification of the game. While Kotaku thinks that no one cares about Manhunt 2 anymore, the unfolding drama could very well have an important effect on future, more interesting violent video games.
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21st Dec, 2007 So, the BBFC has decided to take the Manhunt 2 debacle a step further. You might remember that last week the games UK ban was finally overturned by the Video Appeals Commission. Cue much rejoicing and popping of corks all round at Rockstar. But now things are different. Rather than accepting the decision, the BBFC has decided to take the matter to the High Court for a judicial ... » Read More

Rockstar parent Take-Two has said it's "disappointed" with the BBFC's application for a judicial review of the Video Appeals Committee's decision on Manhunt 2. The decision could have seen the game get a 18 rating in the UK.

Take-Two Interactive's chairman Strauss Zelnick responded to the move today, saying in a statement: "We are disappointed that the BBFC has decided to appeal its own Video Appeals Committee's judgement in favour of an 18-plus certificate for Manhunt 2."

"We believe the VAC decision was correct and do not understand the BBFC's decision to expend further public resources to censor a game that contains content well within the bounds established by the BBFC's 18-plus ratings certification."
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The British Board of Film Classification has applied for a judicial review regarding the successful appeal made by Rockstar Games against the Manhunt 2 ban.

The Video Appeals Committee had previously overturned the BBFC's rejection of Manhunt 2, but now the Board is seeking to overturn that decision, as well as a suspension of the Committee's decision to grant the game a classification.

According to a statement released by the BBFC, the Board believes that if its original decision isn't allowed to stand there could be significant consequences on future classifications.
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Dec 14, 2007 Despite winning an appeal to have Manhunt 2 classified, Rockstar's game won't be making its way to UK retail any time soon if the British Board of Film Classification decides to take the case to the High Court, the ratings body has warned. While the Video Appeals Committee voted in favour of Rockstar's bid to get the controversial Manhunt 2 classified in the UK, the BBFC has told MCV it will need to study the report of the VAC proceedings before deciding whether to grant the game ... » Read More

BBFC warns that it may take legal action to stop Rockstar's game getting to retail

Rockstar is still celebrating its successful appeal to get Manhunt 2 classified ¿ but the British Board of Film Classification has warned that it may go to the most powerful judiciary in the country to ensure the game never hits High Street shelves.
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Rockstar's appeal against the BBFC's decision to reject a modified version of Manhunt 2 has been successful.

The Video Appeals Committee announced its decision to allow the appeal today. Although the final judgement has not yet been released, the organisation says that it decided in favour of Rockstar by four votes to three.

"The BBFC will carefully study the judgement by the Video Appeals Committee when it becomes available," said BBFC director David Cooke, who revealed that the BBFC "played Manhunt 2 for well over 30 hours" before rejecting it.
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Kotaku's Brian Crecente has a leaked copy of the National Institute on Media and the Family's annual Media Wise Video Game Report Card, set to be officially released tomorrow. This year's report card is broken into five parts:

¿ The MediaWise Video Game Report Card
¿ The Buying Guide
¿ The ESRB Rating System and Ratings Education Efforts
¿ The Retailer Ratings Education and Enforcement Surveys
¿ Annual MediaWise-Harris Interactive Poll of Kids and Parents

Kotaku gives a quick summary for each part.
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