Manhunt 2 for the Wii more violent than the PSP and PS2 versions?
By Emilie Branstetter
Despite being the same exact game, Manhunt 2 for the Wii is labeled as being more violent due to the interactive motions of the Wiimote.
Rockstar Games, widely known for its controversial Grand Theft Auto series and Bully, has once again made headlines with Manhunt 2. Containing multiple disturbing themes such as killing with a variety of unusual weapons and the type of gory torture usually only seen in horror flicks, Manhunt 2 has garnered the usual amount of attention. The unusual part is that despite Rockstar cutting some of the gorier scenes; it is still getting attention due to the Wii.
In a letter to the ESRB Senators Hillary Clinton, Evan Bayh, Sam Brownback, and Joe Lieberman say,
"That system [The Wii] permits children to act out each of the many graphic torture scenes and murders in Manhunt 2 rather than simply manipulating a game pad."
The rest of the letter continues in stating that the ESRB isn’t doing their job from the rating they gave the game. That 42% of kids by themselves still manage to purchase games rated M and that the game will damage children who play it.
There is just a slight problem with this. The ESRB is doing their job. Whether or not the store employee sells a game to a child isn’t the direct fault of the ESRB. It is correct that in the judgment of all involved that no one under the age of 17 should play the game, which is not the audience it was made for.
When things settle and the shock of such a video game goes down, what’s left? Rockstar Games isn’t going to complain. Media hype like this is a very good source of free advertising, plus they have weathered stints like this before. As for the ESRB, it has survived similar incidents as well. An ongoing battle whenever there is a charged title going through the works, with politicians questioning ethics if for nothing else than to show they are doing something to "protect the children".
The only possible repercussion left would be for the Wii, due to the fact that it has largely been seen as a family entertainment system since its release. In reality I think it will suffer no damage from this, but will benefit from it instead. In result opening up a new line of ideas for games targeted for older teens and adults. I’m personally hoping for an online multiplayer first person shooter for use with the "Zapper" (hint hint nudge nudge).
The entirety of the letter mentioned above can be found at: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2007/11/hillary-and-man.html
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November 24th, 2007
Makes me want a online version of Manhunt for the Wii!