You may remember an article I wrote back in June about the ultra violent video game, Manhunt 2, produced by software company TakeTwo. Britain was one of the first to ban the game from being released in that country. At the time of the original article, it was unclear about what the fate of the game would be in the U.S.
Well, that question has now been answered. A slightly modified version of the game will be released for the Sony Playstation 2, the PSP handheld device and the Nintendo Wii. Analysts predict that this game will take in about 40 million dollars in revenue this year alone.
Previously, the U.S. Entertainment Board gave it an “Adults Only” rating. While this rating had no legal repercussions, Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo do not allow games with this rating to be released for their systems. After some modifications to the game were made, the board gave a new rating of “Mature,” meaning that the game is meant for players who are aged 17 and older.
Critics of the game say that the modifications are minimal and that the game is far too violent for release anywhere. The game features gory and gristly scenes of brutally violent death, and players are rewarded for their gruesome actions. The main charcter, controlled by the player, is an escapee from an insane asylum who kills enemies and anyone in his path.
To read more about Manhunt 2 and the ban in Britain (and now Ireland), you can click here. There is no news about whether or not the modified version will be made available for review in other countries.
The game is scheduled to go on sale on Halloween.
What do you think? Should a game like this be allowed for sale? As someone who values life (okay, don’t we all?), I have a hard time recognizing something this violent as entertainment. It is disturbing. But, I also believe in individual freedoms. I’d love to hear your opinion.
Mary Ann Romans also writes for the Frugal Living Blog here at Families.com, where she shares money saving tips for today’s families.
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