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The Media Entertainment Games

Mainstream Coverage of Manhunt 2 39

Posted by Zonk from the always-a-pleasure dept.
Now that Manhunt 2 is out (and garnering little enthusiasm from gamers) the mainstream press is having their say on the title. Joystiq has a look at what ABC and CBS has to say about the latest assault on our nation's children. "'What sets this video game apart is that the player can become physically involved in the acts of violence,' Couric says. 'Rather than just pushing buttons, the player actually wields a knife, an ax, a glass shard -- to stab an opponent.' Ummm, no. Don't know who writes the copy over there at that ratings powerhouse, but that's just plain wrong. Although the PS2 version would be about pushing buttons -- unless CBS has discovered some new feature -- we're currently unaware of the Wiimote's ability to shape-shift into any of those items described allowing a player to "stab an opponent." Couric then says that research shows violent games cause children to accept violence as an every day part of life."
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Mainstream Coverage of Manhunt 2

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  • I'm an expert on neither games nor human nature. It's one thing if a game directs the user to use extreme violence to solve a situation, but it's another if the game gives an objective and leaves the 'how' up to the player.

    • OK, now please enumerate precisely how many solutions Manhunt 2 offers that don't involve maiming, dismemberment and mutilation.

  • The real version was leaked. (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Nursie ( 632944 ) on Wednesday October 31, 2007 @01:59PM (#21187173)

    I don't blame people for not buying the watered down version, the uncensored version is out in the wild anyway.

    After all the hubbub, that's the version people will want.

    OTOH, having played it a bit, it's not much different to manhunt one, or any random horror movie. But then I'm not a tv/radio shock-merchant and I seem to have this rare ability to differentiate games from reality.

    The fact that Miss Couric throws in the bit about children shows how much people are still just *not* getting it. Manhunt 2 is NOT for your children. It is rated as M (or AO for the original), don't damn well give it to them.

    • The only thing I like about Manhunt is that it's really showcasing the difference between a game for kids and a game for adults. Honestly, any adult that lets their child play this deserves to have charges of negligence brought against them. Too many parents bring children into this world without the ability or the desire to do what's necessary to raise them properly, and video games are easy for a bad parent to ignore.

      • Re:The real version was leaked. (Score:4, Funny)

        by rkanodia ( 211354 ) on Wednesday October 31, 2007 @03:56PM (#21188673)
        The funny thing is, there's never really anything 'adult' about games that are rated 'Adults Only', nor is there anything particularly 'Mature' about games labeled such.

        I figure at the rate things are going, there will one day be a game consisting solely of giant-sized genitalia doing battle with machine guns and bodily fluids while healing themselves with crack cocaine. The villain will be an undead mutant urethra, who rapes the players with his radioactive waste-spewing demon gonads and multifarious blood-dripping, sulfurous tube-like appendages, better known as 'Satan-tacles'. At that point, the ESRB will have to add a new category above 'Well-socialized And Upstanding Community Member' (which itself was created to categorize Puppy Molestors 4, probably named something like 'Confucian'. And the whole thing takes place in Hell.
      • The only thing I like about Manhunt is that it's really showcasing the difference between a game for kids and a game for adults.

        The thing I despise most is how games like Manhunt 2 define "adult."

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by Nursie ( 632944 )
          What does that even mean?

          What are you trying to say? That "adult" shouldn't mean violent/depraved?
          Thay're not. The ratings boards are defining what is not suitable for children.

          You would prefer "adult" entertainment to refer to serious, complex drama and art, I suppose? Well that's just fine, however there's little need to stop children from watching/playing that.

          • You would prefer "adult" entertainment to refer to serious, complex drama and art, I suppose?

            Yes, actually I would. That would be a game for "Adults". What constitutes a "Mature" or "Adult" game currently means there is violence, and tits.

            Well that's just fine, however there's little need to stop children from watching/playing that.

            Apparently, the AO rating exists to prevent Adults (those 18 and over) from playing it as well.

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by lluBdeR ( 466879 )

      It is rated as M (or AO for the original), don't damn well give it to them.
      What? Actually pay attention to what my children are doing? Then who would I have to bitch at when the news tells me the goal of a game called "Manhunt"?
      • That's only part of the problem. The other (bigger, IMHO) part is that these people are still equating the phrase 'video game' to the word 'kids'. The possibility that a video game could be made for adults is just as inconceivable as a porno film made for children to these people.

        • The possibility that a video game could be made for adults is just as inconceivable as a porno film made for children to these people.
          When will these people realize that kids have needs too? oh wait, I think I might have missed something...
  • all this hype on how bad this game is! I want to see what everyone is talking about! I want to buy a copy of this game as soon as it comes out! it's such an alluring game being so, bad and all! ooooh it's soooo bad! gimmee gimmmee! Sarcasm turned up to 11. the sad thing is, is this is exactly whats happening. If I didn't know better I'd say Thompsons on Rockstars PR payroll team.

  • Saw CBS (Score:5, Informative)

    by MBCook ( 132727 ) <foobarsoft@foobarsoft.com> on Wednesday October 31, 2007 @02:07PM (#21187265) Homepage

    I saw CBS's piece last night, not knowing it would be on. It was just as fair and balanced as I expected.

    They basically considered it a murder simulator. They pointed out that while violent games existed, this took it to a new level because you act it out. They did the "while there is no evidence yet linking games to causing violence, violent people often like games" kind of thing. They had a few little points that were good (like pointing out the game was rated M/17+, and that the Wii has parental controls).

    But by and large the piece was terrible... as I expected. They talked about the game, but never mentioned that it was a sequel (that was up to you to figure out). They mentioned that it was banned in Britian, but not that many consider it tamer than the previous game. They pointed out it was from Rockstar who made the GTA games. They showed the movements you make with the Wii controller, but it's just flailing like in Twilight Princess... not "murder simulating" like they tried to insinuate (note: not a quote).

    They didn't mention it was toned down. They didn't mention that it just isn't a very good game (have you seen the reviews? 40%-70%). They didn't mention it's a bit of a one trick pony (once the violence stop shocking you, there isn't supposed to be much there). They showed the game to some 20 somethings and said they were all shocked by the violence. They had a clip of someone saying games like this shouldn't be made.

    They said that this would make the Wii more hardcore and less family friendly.

    But they didn't put anyone pro-gaming on. If they interviewed me, I know what I'd say. It's violent. It's disturbing. It's a good thing someone made it. It's interesting. Someone should make something other than the Carnival Games and Wii Play. There is no great reason this shouldn't be available if someone wants to make a game like this. I have no interest in it, maybe if the violence was in another context. But I think this kind of game should be available. There no way kids should get to play it, but if you buy it for your 8 year old that's just you being a terrible parent.

    It could have been worse. They could have shown someone saying WiiSports made their kid violent, and they had to ban their kid from playing Boxing in WiiSports (I've seen that, try telling your kids not to punch other kids... see if that helps).

    Now to put things in context... they fear monger. Other stories included the terrible wild fires, how thousands of Iraqis were terrified about the damn that was in imminent danger of bursting (truth: hardly inspected, not in good shape, but not imminent danger of bursting).

    CBS and the other guys like to fear monger. They have slanted stories with incredibly slanted titles. That's just how they work. It's sad, it's pathetic, it's true. My news comes from NPR, The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and the web. NPR is mostly neutral (slight bent), but don't fear monger much at all compared to the mainstream media. The Daily Show and The Colbert Report are fake... if they have a bent on a story it's obvious and usually funny. The web gives me many viewpoints, on issues that the mainstream media doesn't cover (for various reasons).

    • Re:Saw CBS (Score:4, Interesting)

      by UbuntuDupe ( 970646 ) * on Wednesday October 31, 2007 @02:22PM (#21187425) Journal
      it's just flailing like in Twilight Princess... not "murder simulating" like they tried to insinuate (note: not a quote).

      Well, if you'll recall, USA Today said that Manhunt 2 "literally gives you the hands of a killer", which if they understood how to use "literally" would be a serious accusation.

      (Hey, I'm all for colorful use of terms. But what am I supposed to say when I literally mean literally?)

    • Re: (Score:2, Interesting)

      by clearreality ( 1116627 )
      In my opinion, this game (and other games by Rockstar) include unnecessary violence. Further, I'd say it is too much violence and too graphic, both in depiction and in conception. Should it be illegal to make a game like this? I suppose not. But to use a long-worn phrase, just because you can does not mean you should. (I felt this way within the first few minutes of watching a friend play Grand Theft Auto, and Manhunt is worse, if anything.)

      I believe it is ok for some things to be socially unacceptable

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by dintech ( 998802 )
        Likewise, Starcraft probably does not cross the line (clearly "fake" violence)

        Hey! Some of my best friends are Zergs you insensitive clod!

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by dintech ( 998802 )
      They talked about the game, but never mentioned that it was a sequel (that was up to you to figure out).

      Manhunt 2. Wow, really tough. What a conundrum. :)
  • As usual, in an effort to shift the blame from the parents to the game designer, the major new outlets get to spread misconception to the everyday citizen. I am only 19, but, my parents have been allowing me to play violent video games since i was 10. I'm not killing people, nor do i intend to kill people. It has always been the game designers, musicians, directors that are bad people. How about parents try and be there for their kids, talk to them, tell them that games aren't real. I know that i will

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by dintech ( 998802 )
      I am only 19, but, my parents have been allowing me to play violent video games since i was 10. I'm not killing people, nor do i intend to kill people.

      Let's wait until you get a real job before we discount your gun totting maniac credentials, hmm?
      • I have a real job working in Tech Support for all the rich kids at Boston University...if imma go crazy, this is the place that will cause it...my computer wont turn on right...is it plugged in...ohhhhhhhh, now it works....or my favorite, "its ok if you dont have time to fix it, my daddy will just by me a new mac book pro..."haha
  • Manhunt is getting all the attention. It's getting people freaked out about a game training our future killers. I've yet to play it, though I would love to get a copy to try.

    We have Clive Barker's Jericho that was released a week earlier. This game should have every group out there in an outrage.

    It's violent and gory to an extreme. you wade through pools of blood and body parts in some scenes.
    It deals with the premise "God" created something "before" humans. That alone should be enough to throw relihous gro

  • Mmmm, violence... (Score:2, Insightful)

    by Krinsath ( 1048838 )
    "It's bad because it encourages people to act out violence!"

    Ok, as a kid I remember playing Cowboys and Indians, "sword fighting" with wooden swords or sometimes just plain old sticks and having full-contact water gun fights...sometimes conducted while riding a bike in a sort of "drive-by" fashion...not so much because we were trying to be cool and emulate gangsters, but for the simple fact that you could shoot them and they couldn't hit you very effectively.

    These things all strike me as things that lead to
    • Ok, as a kid I remember playing Cowboys and Indians, "sword fighting" with wooden swords or sometimes just plain old sticks and having full-contact water gun fights..

      And did you routinely decapitate your opponent in these play fights?

      I see this argument a lot and while I'm usually on the libertarian side of things, I think most of the arguments in favor of games like Manhunt are disingenuous at best. You're not stabbing with an actual knife? That's semantics - the fact is you're taking an object and perfo
      • Didn't see blood spurting anywhere? While not something that happened every time, injuries did often happen resulting in a goodly amount of shed blood. I see what you're getting at though...were we trying to kill each other? Not exactly, but the unspoken intent to harm each other was certainly there. We weren't using swords (albeit wooden and blunted) because we wanted a tickle fight after all. As I said, many of us did get injured at various times and to varying levels of severity in our rough-housing. No

  • Manhunt 2 matters not. (Score:3, Insightful)

    by ObiWanStevobi ( 1030352 ) on Wednesday October 31, 2007 @02:42PM (#21187689) Journal

    The game title doesn't matter. Could have been a care bears game and the media will find some way of convincing you it is deadly. If it isn't a murder sim, it's soo addictive that you'll forget to eat or sleep for three days and die. If it gets any coverage from the media, you can be sure that it will be something that can kill you.

    The problem in question here is not censorship. It's media.

    They have free reign to be completely wrong without any adverse reaction from the masses. One of the first news stories I remember was that killer African bees were coming and America was in danger. Never happened. Exploding school buses, nevcer happened. How many looming epidemics that never happened? I would have never guessed SARS killed less than 1% of infected people if it wasn't for South Park. Shooting at police helicopters during Katrina? Nope. Iraq WMDs, nada. Do they tell you what kind of missions shuttle crews are going on? No, but they will replay the challenger explosion and talk about the dangers of foam and heat shielding damage for hours.

    I could go on for hours here, but I'm sure you get the point. Media doesn't care if they get anything right, they only care about it scaring you in to staying tuned until after the next commercial break.

  • Last I checked, violence WAS an every day part of life. You can't watch the news without hearing about a soldier getting blown up or a local murder.

    Even before video games, we had cops and robbers, coyboys and indians, eskimos and seals... whatever. After that we play organized sports. Anybody here who played football knows what I mean.
  • 'Rather than just pushing buttons, the player actually wields a knife, an ax, a glass shard -- to stab an opponent.' Ummm, no. Don't know who writes the copy over there at that ratings powerhouse, but that's just plain wrong...unless CBS has discovered some new feature -- we're currently unaware of the Wiimote's ability to shape-shift into any of those items described allowing a player to "stab an opponent."

    Let's be honest here.

    The player uses the Wii controller to physically mime the slashing - the gutti

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