Rockstar wins appeal against BBFC
- Posted December 11th, 2007 at 04:58 EDT by
- 2,105 views
- 15 Comments
For weeks now developer Rockstar Games has been in a heated dispute with the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) over the release of Manhunt 2 in the UK.
However, we can now reveal that the company has won its appeal against the BBFC, which had banned the title in the UK in June 2007. In a four votes to three, favoring Rockstar, the Video Appeals Committee decided that Manhunt 2 should be granted an 18+ rating, thus allowing it into UK retail.
Despite this, the BBFC are still pondering on the possibility of taking the matter even further:
"We won't make a decision until we've seen the full printed judgment, which we're expecting this week," said BBFC spokesperson, Sue Clark, "There are few options open to us - we can go to the High Court to appeal the decision - but we'll be making a further statement when we've seen the full report."
As for Rockstar Games themselves, well it appears that they are pleased with the decision and is now focusing to move on.
"We are committed to making great interactive entertainment, while also marketing our products responsibly and supporting an effective rating system."
"We are pleased that the decision of the VAC has recognized that Manhunt 2 is well within the bounds established by other 18+ rated entertainment."
Rockstar later went on to mention that it is in no rush to release Manhunt 2 in the UK as they see initial rejection as a huge step to overcome. In a sense, even though Rockstar won their appeal, the BBFC still left a sour taste in their mouth, thus making them contemplate further about their ideas of releasing such content in the region. Hopefully this holds no bearing on upcoming titles such as Midnight Club: Los Angeles and Grand Theft Auto IV.
Comments
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Sniperwithacause |
Sniperwithacause- 5:33am GMT - December 11th, 2007
- 2
its going 2 sell well just because of the hype
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zarajoe
- 6:08am GMT - December 11th, 2007
- 4
I hope that Grand Theft Auto IV will be released without having to go through this crap. Its time the classification departments realise that they are only computer games. Even little kids can tell the difference with computer game violence and whats acceptable in the reel world.
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Paranoimia |
Paranoimia- 8:06am GMT - December 11th, 2007
- 6
Good for Rockstar! Now BBFC - accept your defeat, and go quietly.
@MrAce - Whether the game is any good or not is beside the point. (And for the record, I don't plan to buy it either, since the first game bored me.) This is about the right of adults to decide for themselves, and not be dictated to by some un-elected body of do-gooders, who for some reason think they have better moral judgement than everyone else.
With films like Saw and Hostel freely available with an 18 certificate, there's no reason at all that this game should be banned.
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Morganator |
Hero_Nakamoura- 9:08am GMT - December 11th, 2007
- 7
I have to agree with Paramoimia. I see this as nothing more than a save face issue by the BBFC.
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CONFLICT__01 |
conflict01- 10:42am GMT - December 11th, 2007
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Sorry "mr ace" but it will do well thanks to the publicity this has given it. And i also hope this doesnt happen with gta, weve waited long enougth for it already, dont need or want any mre delays !!
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funItalian
- 1:08pm GMT - December 11th, 2007
- 10
I'm sorry here, but is England the ONLY European country? Forget England, sell your games to other countries who want to play your games and let BBFC, other politicians and the gaming community sort this out. There will be a revolution between the gaming community and BBFC and eventually the gamers will/might win!! of course this is all speculation.
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Paranoimia |
Paranoimia- 3:42pm GMT - December 11th, 2007
- 12
Following on from my earlier comment, I should add that even with this ruling, many UK shops will refuse to stock the game because of its content. GAME, for instance, stocked the original until the tabloid "Outrage!" headlines - at which point they withdrew it from sale as "unuitable"!
Hypocritical to say the least, especially when they'll still sell GTA games to my cousin's wife for her 15-year-old son, who was with her when she bought it.
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rob91883 |
rockfunployee- 10:31pm GMT - December 11th, 2007
- 13
Any time a government agency bans a form of media for the good of the people, it makes me feel uncomfortable. Not saying any self respecting bad food eater would play this crap, but makes me thankful that at least my freedom to see digital blood over here in Obese Burger land has not been undermined by any jerk off. Oh wait...oops http://gamepolitics.com/2007/12/10/where-the-presidential-candidates-stand-on-video-game-legislation/
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princevegeta1980
- 10:02am GMT - December 12th, 2007
- 15
well with all this yelling for a little game everyone now knows that this game is coming out and rockstar didn't spend a penny on advertising, i think they can thank the bbfc, lol! games devs should be like film makers and have the right to be violant, i've loved violance in games for years but i don't go killing people, it's the parents that are responsable for their kids, they should be educating them.
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