In a report commissioned by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, study author and clinical psychologist Tanya Byron has suggested a number of changes to increase the effectiveness of video game violence classifications in Britain, including a more film-like rating system.

"We need to improve on the systems already in place to help parents restrict children's access to games which are not suitable for their age," she wrote.

Chief among Byron's recommendations is that the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) introduce a new 12+ rating for games. Currently, games in the UK are only required to be rated if they contain gross violence. According to Byron, "the threshold for statutory classification [of video games] is quite high and is inconsistent with that for film and DVDs."

While the BBFC would only be required to rate games 12+ or higher, Byron suggested that the Pan European Game Information (PEGI), which voluntarily rates games, focus on titles that would earn a 3+ or 7+ rating, which she claimed is "where the evidence of potential harm is weakest."

To prevent consumer confusion between BBFC and PEGI ratings, Byron recommended that BBFC logos appear on the front of game packages, while PEGI logos... Read more

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.

With no legal recourse, the BBFC has confirmed that it will issue the game an 18 and over age rating, allowing Manhunt 2 to be sold in the UK.

"We twice rejected Manhunt 2...however, the Video Appeals Committee has again exercised its independent scrutiny," said BBFC director David Cooke. "It is now clear, in the light of this decision, and our legal advice, that we have no alternative but to issue an '18' certificate to the game."

BBFC's assignment of a rating brings an end to nearly nine months of legal turmoil over Manhunt 2, which was denied rating by the committee last June and barred from sale in the UK. Rockstar successfully appealed to the Video Appeals Committee late last year, forcing the BBFC to assign a rating to the game.

A High Court judge in London upheld the ban of Rockstar's Manhunt 2 (PS2, PSP, Wii) in the UK, overturning Rockstar's appeal granted last month, according to ITN.

Last June, Manhunt 2 was denied rating by the British Board of Film Classification, barring it from sale in the UK; a modified version of the game was also rejected in August. A month ago, Rockstar successfully appealed to the Video Appeals Committee, forcing the BBFC to assign a rating to the game.

But the decision passed down by the High Court rules that the VAC's decision was flawed by a "clear error of law," questioning the committee's criteria for what constitutes public harm. The judgment reinstates Manhunt 2's ban, and the VAC has stated that it will reconsider its decision in light of the High Court's ruling.

Manhunt 2 was also denied a North American release following an Adults Only rating issued by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board. A modified version of the game was later assigned a Mature rating, and successfully released on October 30, 2007.

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."

The original version of the game was denied a North American release by platform manufacturers following its Adults Only rating by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board. A modified version was later assigned a Mature rating and released on October 30, with the rating upheld after hackers found a technically-demanding way to uncensor certain portions of the PSP version.

"We played Manhunt 2 for well over 30 hours prior to our decision," said BBFC director David Cooke. "The BBFC exercises great vigilance and care in ensuring that all violent games which are submitted to us are correctly classified. Our decisions are based on published guidelines, which are the result of very wide public consultation."

"The BBFC will carefully study the judgement by the Video Appeals Committee when it becomes available," stated Cooke.

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."

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... Read more

It is unfortunate to see the action taken today regarding Manhunt 2 by the BBFC in the UK and the ESRB in North America. As for the ESRB, that kind of action really seems like a vote of no confidence in its own system; after all, if the system is doing its jobs, only people of the appropriate age--or people whose parents have consented to their playing such games--will be playing the game to begin with. Or does that one year of age, from Mature's 17 to Adults Only's 18 really make such a difference?

In the case of the BBFC, whose refusal to rate the game has blocked it from sale entirely, it is even more worrisome--do we really have any evidence that the release of such a game would engender "unjustifiable harm risks, to both adults and minors," as director David Cooke explains? That is a bold claim.

As for today's briefs, we're seeing new maps for Command & Conquer 3 on Xbox Live, a tournament for Resistance: Fall of Man on PS3, the massively multiplayer Saga going into open beta, and Halo 3 achievements revealed.... Read more

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... Read more