Video Game Manhunt 2 Gets Adults Only ESRB Rating

The developers of the new video game "Manhunt 2" have received the highest possible rating by the Entertainment Software Rating Board or ESRB. When comparing video game ratings to that of the movies, most of the ratings are similar. The adults only rating is comparable to that of an NC-17 movie. The games maker remains quiet about what exactly earned the title the adults only rating. The debate over whether this is a blessing or a curse has been floating around the company after the rating was given to them. Obviously they will have to make some changes for the game to come out anywhere near its release date of July 10, but chances are they will have to push the game back. The good part about the AO rating is the buzz it will create within the video game community. People say that any news if good news, and this news is juicy, and people will be interested to learn what made the game so over the top. The ESRB is sending a very clear message that they wont accept certain types of game play, and this is good news for parents. In fact, Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony entertainment systems do not approve of AO titles for their systems. Also most large retailers will not stock AO titles at all. Publisher Take-Two Interactive is reviewing their options on how to fix the current situation. The company believes in the freedom of creative expression but also wants to be responsible with its marketing and business.

The idea behind the game is that you are playing an escaped prisoner from an insane asylum who is forced to kill. Manhunt 2 is the sequel to the original Manhunt which was rated Mature, which means 17+, or the equivalent to an R rated movie. Take-Two Interactive wasn't that surprised when the learned they had received the adults only rating. Given some of the ways in which you can torture your opponents, the AO rating is appropriate. You can do everything from ripping off a persons testicles with pliers to sawing into someone's grown. Among the other gross violence is decapitation and electrocution. Ever since developer Rockstar included a secret sex game in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the ESRB has been cracking down on games and making the ratings more strict to protect children from playing inappropriate games. Publishing a game with this level of violence is not going to give a positive image to an industry already getting heat by the media. Reworking the game will cost Take-Two Interactive over one million dollars to fix, or change some aspects of the game. The release delay will most probably cost much more. Hopefully Take-Two can get its act together and put out a more publicly acceptable version soon.