Rockstar North's Manhunt 2 (PS2, Wii) will finally be released in the UK following a long legal battle to keep the game off of retail shelves, Gamasutra reports.

The UK Video Appeals Committee upheld its rejection of an appeal filed by the British Board of Film Classification, which was passed by the British High Court earlier this year. In a majority decision of four to three, the VAC has ignored the High Court's judgment and granted Rockstar's appeal. Read more »

Rockstar's appeal of the British Board of Film Classification's ban of Manhunt 2 (PS2, Wii, PSP) has been approved by the Video Appeals Committee, passing on a vote of four-to-three.

With Rockstar's appeal successful, the VAC can force the BBFC to rate the game, which would allow it to be released in the UK. The BBFC had twice rejected rating the title due to "its focus on varied and cumulative killings." Read more »

Following the news of an unlockable uncensored version of Rockstar's controversial Manhunt 2 for PSP, advocacy groups like the Parents Television Council and anti-media violence types like Senator Leland Yee called for the game's ESRB-issued rating to be changed from Mature back to its original Adults Only rating. The Entertainment Software Rating Board investigated the situation and has issued a response, defending the game's M rating in light of the hacked versions of Manhunt 2. "We do not believe these modifications fully restore the product to the version that originally received an AO rating, nor is this a matter of unlocking content," the statement reads. "Our investigation indicates that the game's publisher disclosed to the ESRB all pertinent content in the authorized Mature-rated version of Manhunt 2 now available in stores, and complied with our guidelines on full disclosure of content." The statement goes on to further distinguish between this instance and the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2, Xbox) Hot Coffee mod in a number of ways. Whereas the Hot Coffee mod unlocked content Rockstar had knowingly included in the game and hadn't disclosed to the ESRB, Rockstar disclosed the content in question and modified it via censor blurring to be compliant with an M rating. Lastly, the process requires a modded PSP as well as unauthorized copies of the game. It's a much more complicated process than getting Hot Coffee to work on PC or PS2, which only required a cheat device for the console version. The statement uses these same issues to differentiate the Manhunt 2 modifications from the re-rating controversy surrounding Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (PC, PS3, X360), which was changed from T for teen to M for mature for the availability of a partial nudity mod and graphic in-game violence. The ESRB was aware of the content in question in Manhunt 2 because Rockstar disclosed it during the game's initial submission to the rating board--where it received an Adults Only rating and was barred from release. Only after a modified version was resubmitted did the title receive a rating of M for mature. ESRB president Patricia Vance added a comment in the statement addressing the M rating, adding that even without being Adults Only, Manhunt 2 is still clearly for adults. "Manhunt 2's rating makes it unmistakable that the game is intended for an older audience," she said in the statement. "The unauthorized hacking into the code of this game doesn't change that basic fact." The M rating denotes games suitable for an audience of 17 years or older, while titles given an Adults Only rating are intended for gamers at least 18 years of age. However, most retailers won't carry Adults Only titles, effectively making the rating the kiss of death for a developer.

Update: Rockstar has confirmed to GamePolitics that hackers have indeed reversed some, but not all, of the edits made to the PSP edition of Manhunt 2. "It is unfortunately the case that no one in the entertainment software industry is immune from hacking," explained Take-Two chairman Strauss Zelnick. "We hope that consumers will not engage in hacking or download illegally modified copies of our games. We encourage them to enjoy our games as they are meant to be played." "All of the game material, and especially these specific edits, was submitted to and reviewed by the ESRB in accordance with requirements regarding disclosure that were enacted two years ago and any contrary suggestion is inaccurate and irresponsible," reads the company's statement. Original Story: In an unsurprising revelation that is beginning to seem all too familiar, a group of hackers is reported to have once again enabled purposefully disabled content in a title from Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar. This time around, the game is Manhunt 2 (PS2, Wii, PSP), which was just released yesterday. By editing the title's initialization files, players of the PSP edition can supposedly experience the uncensored version of the game that was originally rated Adults Only and denied release. In order to secure a retail release for Manhunt 2, Rockstar "modified" the violent title, resubmitted it to the ESRB, and received a Mature rating. The company's VP of product development Jeronimo Barrera maintains the game was not neutered. The unlocking process is a little more complex than that of the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PC, PS2, Xbox) "Hot Coffee" scandal, which required a cheat device or editing of the game's files to unlock the sex mini-game. In order to play the so-called uncensored version of Manhunt 2, PSP owners must modify their system to play homebrew code, copy the game data from the UMD, edit its configuration files, and then boot the game from the Memory Stick. Whether or not that complicated process will have an effect on the possible repercussions remains to be seen. Though the Hot Coffee scenes of San Andreas were not attainable through regular gameplay, their mere presence on the disc was enough to cause the ESRB to re-rate the game Adults Only and force Rockstar to release a version of the game with said content removed.

Though modified, Rockstar Games' brutally violent Manhunt 2 (PS2, Wii, PSP) was not neutered in the company's quest for an M rating, claims Rockstar VP of product development Jeronimo Barrera. "We feel we kept the original vision and the content and we didn't neuter the game as people say we have," Barrera told MTV. The original version of Manhunt 2 received an Adults Only rating from the ESRB and denied a rating by the British Board of Film Classification, causing Nintendo and Sony to deny the game a release on their platforms. Rockstar later submitted a "modified" edition of the game to the ESRB, securing a Mature rating and scheduling the game for an October 31 release in North America. At the time, Rockstar refused to specify what those modifications entailed. It has since been reported that the so-called censored edition adds blur to some of the game's more violent non-interactive scenes, making it more difficult to discern the on-screen actions. Barrera was adamant that no portion of the game's story and cutscenes were removed, though a system that awarded players for repeatedly performing the most violent acts in the game was taken out. "The scoring was a hold-over from the first game, and when we had the opportunity to make edits because of the rating, we decided to remove it," noted Barrera. "We felt it flowed better without a score screen between levels. "You know, a lot of people just believe this is a murder simulator and all you do is kill people," he stated. "But the reality is that there's a really strong narrative. And I think we've built something that's really unique in the sense that it puts the player in a position that you absolutely would never get into in the real world." As for an uncensored PC version of the game, Barrera emphasized that the pays attention to feedback, but did not have any announcements to make at this time. He also hinted that a multiplayer-oriented Manhunt title may be in the works. "I think we all here want to make the best games we can possibly make," Barrera concluded. "We make creative decisions along the way. There are guidelines we adhere to and think we are well within. I don't understand why a game like this got an AO while we were well within the M-rated territories."

Also at GameSpot is this Manhunt 2 preview, taking another look at the action adventure game sequel. There's also a brief writeup at 1UP.

The folks at IGN managed to get their hands on Manhunt 2, checking out the newly censored version of the action game sequel.

Following calls from media watchdog groups for an investigation into the ESRB's recent re-rating of Rockstar Games' Manhunt 2, the board issued a statement today from its president, Patricia Vance. In the statement, Vance defended the ESRB's decision last week to change the Manhunt 2 rating from its previously assigned Adults Only status to a more marketable Mature rating. The change came after Rockstar modified the game and resubmitted it for review by the ESRB. "Publishers submit game content to the ESRB on a confidential basis. It is simply not our place to reveal specific details about the content we have reviewed, particularly when it involves a product yet to be released," Vance said in the statement. "What can be said is that the changes that were made to the game, including the depictions themselves and the context in which those depictions were presented, were sufficient to warrant the assignment of an M (Mature 17+) rating by our raters." Vance also addressed her detractors, anti-violence activist Leland Yee and the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood, in the statment, essentially saying their concerns are unmerited and unnecessary. "The FTC, the national PTA, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and Peter Hart Research have all found that parents are overwhelmingly satisfied with the ESRB rating system," Vance said in the release. "Rather than publicly second-guessing what is unmistakably a strong warning to parents about the suitability of a particular game for children, which presumably neither Senator Yee nor CCFC have personally reviewed, we feel a more productive tack would be to join us in encouraging parents to take the ratings seriously when buying games for their children." Manhunt 2 will retail October 31 for PlayStation 2, Wii, and PSP. The PlayStation 2 version's development was helmed by Rockstar London and Rockstar North. Rockstar Toronto crafted the motion-controlled Wii edition, with Rockstar Leeds taking on the PSP release.

Rockstar Games today announced that Manhunt 2, the much-maligned game that was put on indefinite hold after receiving an Adults Only rating from the ESRB, has now been "modified" and assigned a Mature rating. The brutal horror title is now coming to stores this Halloween--Wednesday, October 31--on the PlayStation 2, Wii, and PSP. Rockstar London and Rockstar North handled the PS2 version, with Rockstar Toronto responsible for the motion-controlled Wii edition and Rockstar Leeds on the PSP iteration. "Manhunt 2 is important to us, and we're glad it can finally be appreciated as a gaming experience," said Rockstar executive producer Sam Houser. "We love the horror genre. Manhunt 2 is a powerful piece of interactive story telling that is a unique video game experience. We think horror fans will love it." Manhunt 2 publisher Take-Two was left without a strong seasonal release following the delay of Rockstar North's Grand Theft Auto into 2008. It had previously planned to release the highly anticipated entry in its popular franchise this October, with many expecting the game to be among the year's top-selling titles. Originally planned for a July release, Manhunt 2 was "temporarily suspended" following the ESRB's AO rating of the uncensored game. The British Board of Film Classification refused to rate the original PS2 and Wii versions, preventing them from being sold within the United Kingdom. Console manufacturers Sony and Nintendo subsequently refused release of the game on their platforms on the basis of the ESRB's rating. Update: When questioned about the changes made to Manhunt 2 that resulted in the lower M rating, a Take-Two representative responded, " At this point we have no further comment beyond what we said in our press release this morning."

Exactly six weeks after Rockstar Games' Manhunt 2 (PS2, Wii, PSP) was refused British Board of Film Classification rating and thus blocked from sale in the UK, parent company Take-Two Interactive has appealed the board's decision. The company filed the appeal with the Video Game Appeals Committee yesterday, the deadline to take such action. The VAC will appoint an appeal date and a panel to judge the appeal. If the appeal is upheld, the game will be given a rating and permitted to be sold on store shelves. "Rejecting a work is a very serious action and one which we do not take lightly," said BBFC director David Cooke when the board's decision was announced. "To issue a certificate to Manhunt 2, on either platform, would involve a range of unjustifiable harm risks, to both adults and minors." News of the appeal was first reported by UK publication MCV. Update: Take-Two released the following statement to Shacknews: "Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. confirmed today that Rockstar Games has appealed the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) decision that prohibited the release of any version of Manhunt 2 in Britain."

It remains to be seen how much the build these sites played will be like what ends up in stores (story), but GameSpot and Pro-G have hands-on Manhunt 2 previews posted.

Rockstar Games parent company Take-Two Interactive has "temporarily suspended" the release of its controversial game Manhunt 2 (PS2, Wii, PSP), which this week was Rated "Adults Only" by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board. The game will no longer ship July 10 as originally planned; a new release projection has not been given. In a statement issued today, Take-Two expressed its confidence in the game, which but did not give any indication as to its planned course of action. "We continue to stand behind this extraordinary game," reads the statement. "We believe in freedom of creative expression, as well as responsible marketing, both of which are essential to our business of making great entertainment." The rating refusal on the part of the BBFC effectively bans Manhunt 2 from sale entirely in the UK. The ESRB's AO rating does not legally preclude the game from being sold, but serves as de facto retail death, with console companies Sony and Nintendo forbidding AO-rated games on their systems and major retailers refusing to sell AO-rated products. Take-Two is expected to appeal the ESRB's decision or resubmit a modified version of the game for reclassification.

Console manufacturers Sony and Nintendo have stated their intention not to allow publication of Manhunt 2 on their systems in its current state, following the "Adults Only" rating assigned to the game yesterday by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board. Refusal to certify AO-rated games is standard policy for both manufacturers; though the game was not developed for Xbox or Xbox 360, Microsoft has similar guidelines. Manhunt 2 was developed by Rockstar Toronto for Wii, Rockstar London for PlayStation 2, and Rockstar Leeds for PSP. It was originally scheduled for a July 10 release in North America. In a statement issued to GameSpot, a Sony representative said, "It's currently our policy not to allow the playback of AO-rated content on our systems." "Games made for Nintendo systems enjoy a broad variety of styles, genres and ratings... As with books, television and movies, different content is meant for different audiences," said a Nintendo representative in a statement. "As stated on Nintendo.com, Nintendo does not allow any AO-rated content on its systems." When contacted by Shacknews, Nintendo offered the same response. The ESRB rating came on the heels of the British Board of Film Classification denying a rating to Manhunt 2 in the UK, blocking the game from sale. While ESRB ratings have no legal authority, major retailers generally do not stock AO-rated products. It is likely Rockstar will appeal the ESRB's decision, or modify the game and submit it for reclassification.

The Entertainment Software Ratings board, which assigns content ratings to games in North America, has rated the brutal horror sequel Manhunt 2 "Adults Only." Though there are no legal ramifications involved with such a move, most brick-and-mortar retailers voluntarily refuse to stock AO-rated products. Today's announcement comes just hours after the British Board of Film Classification refused to rate Manhunt 2, barring the game from sale in the UK. Manhunt 2 is being developed by Rockstar Toronto for Wii, Rockstar London for PlayStation 2, and Rockstar Leeds for PSP. It has been announced as launching in North America on July 10, though the AO rating may affect release plans. Take-Two Interactive, parent of Rockstar Games, has expressed its dismay at the news. "We believe the process of rating videogames is to help people make informed entertainment choices and not to limit them," the company said in a statement. It is currently considering its options in the matter. The ESRB makes Manhunt 2 the second game from publisher Rockstar Games to be deemed suitable only for adults by the ESRB, after the organization reclassified the "Mature"-rated Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2, Xbox, PC) to AO following the discovery of its "Hot Coffee" sex-oriented minigame. Rockstar reissued the game with the offending material removed, at which point the game regained its M rating.

The British Board of Film Classification has refused to rate the upcoming horror sequel Manhunt 2, in development by Rockstar Toronto for Wii, Rockstar London for PlayStation 2, and Rockstar Leeds for PSP. Without a BBFC rating, the game may not be sold within the United Kingdom. Today's ruling applies to the Wii and PlayStation 2 versions; the PSP version has not yet been submitted for classification. "Rejecting a work is a very serious action and one which we do not take lightly," said BBFC director David Cooke. "Manhunt 2 is distinguishable from recent high-end video games by its unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone in an overall game context which constantly encourages visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing. There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed, and encouraged, in the game." Manhunt 2 has generated a considerable amount of controvery for its level of violence. Among the game's detractors is ever-present gaming crusader Jack Thompson. Rockstar North's original Manhunt (PS2, Xbox, PC) saw similar criticisms, though the Wii version of the followup has taken heavier fire for its control methods; it uses the motion-sensing Wii remote to simulate the wielding of physical weapons. The game has been received favorably by the gaming press in pre-release play sessions. Manhunt was rated "18" by the BBFC, though in his statements today Cooke noted that it was "already at the very top end" of that category's acceptable violence levels. He explained that Manhunt 2 crosses the line into unrated territory for its sheer uncompromising attitude towards violence and brutality as well as its unwillingness to allow the player not to participate in its virtual violent acts. "The Board's carefully considered view is that to issue a certificate to Manhunt 2, on either platform, would involve a range of unjustifiable harm risks, to both adults and minors," Cooke continued, "and accordingly that its availability, even if statutorily confined to adults, would be unacceptable to the public." The rejection of Manhunt 2 marks the first time the BBFC has refused to rate a game since Stainless Games' kill-happy 1997 PC racer Carmageddon. That decision was appealed after publisher SCi issued a patch modifying certain aspects of the game, such as the color of its in-game blood, and adding a parental age lock. Wii features its own system-wide parental controls. Publisher Rockstar Games has six weeks to appeal the decision, or it may resubmit an altered version of the game for reclassification. Manhunt 2 is due for release in North America next month. The Entertainment Software Ratings Board has not yet released its content rating for the game. Update: The ESRB has announced that Manhunt 2 has been rated "Adults Only" in North America.