Is 'Manhunt 2' the Most Violent Video Game Ever?
Rockstar, maker of the ever popular 'Grand Theft Auto' series, got in on the Halloween action yesterday and released its new ultra violent and extremely controversial title 'Manhunt 2.' After being banned in Britain, twice, a greatly toned down version of the game is seeing the light of day in the US.
In the game you play a patient in a mental institution with some, um... violent tendencies. Some are in fact claiming that 'Manhunt 2' is the most violent video game ever. The Wii version might be the most disturbing, requiring you to pantomime the deadly acts with the motion sensing controller.
Feel a need to rip out a skull with a sickle? Beat a cop to death with a his own night stick? Or perhaps caving in a person's head with a fire extinguisher is more your style. If any of these three things sounds exciting to you, then you are a sick person.
The title is rated 'M' for mature audiences, meaning that no one under the age of 17 can purchase it. However, these rules are easy to circumvent and rarely enforced. We normally don't buy into the dangers of video games mumbo-jumbo, but the idea of small children physically acting out acts of such brutal violence is a little shiver-inducing. Parents may want to be extra vigilant and keep their young away from this title.
What do you think? Is this just over-hyped hysteria about what is essentially a fictional game? Or do you think 'Manhunt 2' has gone too far?
From CBS.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 11)
Ramone @ Nov 1st 2007 3:31PM
Terrence O'Brien is a queer.
Jantsen @ Nov 1st 2007 4:12PM
I'm glad Terrence O'Brien has the right to tell someone that if they want to act out violence in a video game that they are a sick person.
It's not like Terrence has never seen an act of violence on the news or television, or god forbid, ever imagined physically harming someone in the back of his oh-so-perfect mind.
It's the ability to differentiate fantasy from reality that makes us who we are. And if playing a violent video game causes you to perform real acts of violence, there was already something wrong with you in the first place.
So no, Terrence, these people that like to play these violent video games aren't sick, you are for judging us as such.
Brian @ Nov 1st 2007 4:29PM
Oh so the first one wasnt just as bad where you could use a garrotte and cut someones head off then use the head as a weapon. They must not have reviewed that one first. Its the parents job to raise a child and teach them from right and wrong. these games to not teach them to make wrong choices. The lack of parental supervision does.
Philip M. @ Nov 1st 2007 6:29PM
Another media group passing judgement on people for something they know nothing about. Anybody with half a brain knows that people who are killers murder because they are psychotic, not because they play a video game.
Jason @ Nov 1st 2007 11:09PM
Oh Terrence O'Brien, You are so stupid its not the game's fault that these kids act out what they see in the game, its their parents fault because they buy them the game and dont control their life. Rockstar is the greatest video game compnay ever they have created the legendary grand theft auto franchise and manhunt is going down in history as the most violent game ever. So I say who cares what you think and you should only talk about what you know.
kudos @ Nov 2nd 2007 12:01AM
"these people that like to play these violent video games aren't sick, you are for judging us as such"
These criticisms are inane. At what point do any of you actually draw a line as to what you would expose yourself (or your children)? What if a friend, or a son of yours, liked to play games that involved raping children? Would enjoying a simulation of that level of violence be okay as well? Since none of you are quite willing to draw ANY line as to what should/should not be considered a perverse level of enjoyment, I think Mr. O'Brien's comments ought to be considered a little more closely.
j @ Nov 2nd 2007 12:28AM
My parents are no t bad people, yet they let me watch movies that showed people getting killed, and let me play 007 Goldeneye, one of the first games i played, which had aton of killing in it, at around the age of 7, then i played all the GTA's, played Manhunt, and a bunch of other games full of violence, but i never got in a car, then ran someone over. and neither has the millions of other kids that played these games. this guy probually dident like the game, then abused his power as a reporter, to say the game is bad, and to call people crazy for playing a VIDEO GAME, its not even real, restart the system, and the person who you killed is alive, i dont know very many gamers who played HALO joined the marines, then went onto the battlefield and walked into the bullets thinking there health would recharge, or if they should die theyll respawn at a waypoint.
the point im trying to make is only a very tiny amount of people actually go out and try this stuff, like probually 1 in a 1000000000
wow @ Nov 2nd 2007 12:29AM
wow!!!!maybe you've never heard of desensitization-to make somebody less responsive to an overwhelming act by repeated exposure to the situation or object, either in natural or artificial circumstances
It doesn't take too much to see that America has been constantly desensitized for the past 60 plus years....that's a fact not an opinion
While there might be a mental disorder for some, that doesn't mean that you can not be influenced by a game like this. Wake up!
paul @ Nov 2nd 2007 12:39AM
I am going to buy a Wii this weekend so I can play this game as soon as I can. Does anyone know how to get the uncensored version?
cathy @ Nov 2nd 2007 12:45AM
I have no problem with this. In order to be good at anything one must practice, practice, practice. I do think they should just come out and call this what it really is - an instructional tool to help interested people become professional at what they really want to do. Why just be an amateur - with this as a guide one could really get killing people down pat. Just what we need - more professional killers.
Krizia @ Nov 2nd 2007 12:47AM
That is ridiculous. The game is violent but nothing compared to Hostel or Saw or any of those gory horror flicks out right now... plus those are real people getting hacked up and tortured and this is basically a cartoon.
This is the dumbest controversy ever. The game is fun. Don't buy it if you can't handle it and stop trying to influence others not to buy it... GET A LIFE!
Val Fitzgerald @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:04AM
No, it's not that it's ultra-violent: it's that little kids will be 'baby-sat' by this game. Sure--if the parent's around, the parent has the say. But if not--then the kid plays by themselves, and I'm sorry, but little kids can't always distinguish a fantasy game from real life. To many of them, it IS real, even though they need the controller to play. And as they grow up, why wouldn't they think to carry out their problems with others, the way that they do in the game?
diana @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:04AM
You all addicted to these games so you defend them as if it were your family.
Curry @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:04AM
You've got some nerve calling the people interested in this game sick. Video games are about getting the chance to see and do things you wouldn't do in real life. With that said, if you don't want some sick twisted (insert four letter word) bashing your head to a pulp in real life then shut up and let him get his jollies off in the video game world. Everyone has odd thoughts and odd things they'd do if society, religion or most importantly our deep moral coding would allow us, but for the most part we don't even come close. The few cases that we do they're merely pranks of sorts and when something major does happen those of you with your uppity personalities choose to make the answer simple. You blame video games and the people who play them.
Charles @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:08AM
Video games are a form of art. Some art is sickening but others find it intriguing. You can't say video games lead to violent children, violent parenting create violent children.... stupid stupid people.
Kurt Pilker @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:10AM
I worked at a video game store for four months. I have been a life-long video game player. What I learned is this:
1. Adults who buy games like this for there 6 yr old child is a sicko.
2. I dont believe video games creates violence in kids but listen to them after they play. They are not interested in the game only the fact that they can kill.
3. After I quit, I changed my degree from programming to networking because I dont believe in blood and gore in video games and thats all people want.
It makes me sick watching parents pick out violent killing games for there kids. Everyday I worked I pushed the non-violent games or the games that had no blood or mutilation in them.
skatone17 @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:13AM
The Bible has inspired more violence and hatred than all forms of entertainment combined. Let's ban the Bible, for the CHILDREN!!! Boo boo bee boo...
Ryan @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:21AM
I haven't had the honor to play part two yet, but I think that its going to be a great game considering all the wrap that its getting. Manhunt is the best game thats out there and now that part 2 is out I'm going to get it as soon as I can. I've been stoked for this game to come out since I found out about in GameInformer Magazine about 3-4 months ago. I'm sure that its going to be more realistic but isn't that what we want in video games....better graphics and for it to not be so fake?? Whats the difference between this game and Mario Brothers??? Your still killing things at least in this one your not eating magical mushrooms!!!
Alberto @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:31AM
It's a damn video game. Get over it. I'm tired of people coercing their stupid beliefs and morals on everyone.
Point is...I'm an adult. I should be able to play a video game that is SPECIFICALLY made for adults in all it's uncensored glory.
If kids are getting their hands on these games, blame the fucking parents.
I mean, are parents really that fucking stupid? The names of these games are a dead give away. "Manhunt" , "Grand Theft Auto" "Killzone" etc.
Parents should stop being parented by their kids and put their foot down before all forms of media are censored because of their carelessness.
You know what...actually games for mature audiences should be in a different area where ADULTS can access them and buy them.
If those actions need to be taken to prevent the original visions of the games creators from being compromised...then I am all for it.
To hell with censorship!
Matt @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:33AM
Ahh the iggnorance of people never seizes to astound me. As I an avid game enthusiast, (which I am sure many of the people posting are) the comment regarding us as being sick if we like to play games like Manhunt 2 is laughable. I still remember being 7 years old and ripping off heads with Sub-Zero. Makes sense that I am now locked up in a.... oh wait I am sorry, I actually attend a Big 10 school and am working on my third degree. So many of us enjoy video games and actually understand them. To the people like Terrence Owen I salute you on your naievty. You are an inspiration to us all. Everyone knows, you don't ever need to actually research before you judge something or make assumptions.