BBFC: Politics had nothing to do with Manhunt 2 ban

Earlier, we reported on Manhunt 2 being banned from ever reaching UK shores, and Rockstar’s disappointed reaction to the actual incident. Now the other side strikes back, with a statement of their own – that there was no political influence over the banning of the title that focused on giving you the ability to kill your enemies as brutally and gorily as humanly possible.

If one remembers previous events involving the first Manhunt, the title was unfairly linked to the murder of teenager Stefan Pakeerah by the media – causing a furor that had the UK games industry left to defend itself, while publishing firm Rockstar stood by and watched.

While it doesn’t take much to assume that people are now more wary than ever of a repeat performance, with the sequel bloodier and more violent, the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) stands firm in its statement that it had nothing to do with the banning. BBFC’s own Sue Clark elaborates:

That had nothing to do with this decision, absolutely not. We are independent of government and independent of the industry and we reached this decision based on our guidelines and our concerns and not on any other basis at all.

Besides denying that politics had anything to do with the decision, Sue Clark also reminds players that they’ve banned the game so you can’t legally purchase it in the UK. This means that players bent on playing Manhunt 2 can simply turn to importing the game, as the ban itself can’t stop import purchases.

First, the Church of England and Resistance. Now it’s the BBFC and Manhunt 2. What’s next, we wonder? In any case, let us know what you think by your comments.

Earlier, we reported on Manhunt 2 being banned from ever reaching UK shores, and Rockstar’s disappointed reaction to the actual incident. Now the other side strikes back, with a statement of their own – that there was no political influence over the banning of the title that focused on giving you the ability to kill your enemies as brutally and gorily as humanly possible.

If one remembers previous events involving the first Manhunt, the title was unfairly linked to the murder of teenager Stefan Pakeerah by the media – causing a furor that had the UK games industry left to defend itself, while publishing firm Rockstar stood by and watched.

While it doesn’t take much to assume that people are now more wary than ever of a repeat performance, with the sequel bloodier and more violent, the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) stands firm in its statement that it had nothing to do with the banning. BBFC’s own Sue Clark elaborates:

That had nothing to do with this decision, absolutely not. We are independent of government and independent of the industry and we reached this decision based on our guidelines and our concerns and not on any other basis at all.

Besides denying that politics had anything to do with the decision, Sue Clark also reminds players that they’ve banned the game so you can’t legally purchase it in the UK. This means that players bent on playing Manhunt 2 can simply turn to importing the game, as the ban itself can’t stop import purchases.

First, the Church of England and Resistance. Now it’s the BBFC and Manhunt 2. What’s next, we wonder? In any case, let us know what you think by your comments.