Take-Two calls Manhunt 2 “fine piece of art”

Despite getting banned in some European countries and earning an “Adults Only” rating in the U.S., Take-Two Interactive chairman Strauss Zelnick stated that all that Rockstar Games did with Manhunt 2 was make a horror game that “fits squarely within the horror genre” as it was intended to, and added that “it brings a unique, formerly unheard of cinematic quality to interactive entertainment, and is also a fine piece of art.”

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter wants to remind Strauss and Take-Two that “art” is not everything when it comes to making games.

This is one of the tasks ahead of new management, to rein in that creative talent and tell those guys we are in the business of making money and you should make games that will sell, not games that are artistically beautiful but not available at Wal-Mart.

Indeed, financial troubles may very well aggravate Take-Two’s already precarious monetary standing. The company’s revenue last year amounted to US$ 1 billion, and Manhunt 2 is expected to net about US$ 40 million, which will be cut in half should Manhunt 2 sustain its “Adults Only” rating. If it did get a “Mature” rating after they censor the game, then the revenue will be lessened to about US$ 35 billion.

An “Adults Only” rating will mean that most major retail stores will not have Manhunt 2 in their shelves, including Wal-Mart. ESRB said that the rating can be appealed or the game modified to earn a “Mature” rating. However, Rockstar did not release any statements whether it will do anything in regard to the rating the ESRB issued the game.

The speculation that video games cause violent behavior has not been proven, but the fact that it will hurt Manhunt 2′s sales cannot be denied. Despite the supposed July 10 release date, both Sony and Nintendo have announced that they will not support the game if it will keep its newly-earned “AO” rating.

Despite getting banned in some European countries and earning an “Adults Only” rating in the U.S., Take-Two Interactive chairman Strauss Zelnick stated that all that Rockstar Games did with Manhunt 2 was make a horror game that “fits squarely within the horror genre” as it was intended to, and added that “it brings a unique, formerly unheard of cinematic quality to interactive entertainment, and is also a fine piece of art.”

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter wants to remind Strauss and Take-Two that “art” is not everything when it comes to making games.

This is one of the tasks ahead of new management, to rein in that creative talent and tell those guys we are in the business of making money and you should make games that will sell, not games that are artistically beautiful but not available at Wal-Mart.

Indeed, financial troubles may very well aggravate Take-Two’s already precarious monetary standing. The company’s revenue last year amounted to US$ 1 billion, and Manhunt 2 is expected to net about US$ 40 million, which will be cut in half should Manhunt 2 sustain its “Adults Only” rating. If it did get a “Mature” rating after they censor the game, then the revenue will be lessened to about US$ 35 billion.

An “Adults Only” rating will mean that most major retail stores will not have Manhunt 2 in their shelves, including Wal-Mart. ESRB said that the rating can be appealed or the game modified to earn a “Mature” rating. However, Rockstar did not release any statements whether it will do anything in regard to the rating the ESRB issued the game.

The speculation that video games cause violent behavior has not been proven, but the fact that it will hurt Manhunt 2′s sales cannot be denied. Despite the supposed July 10 release date, both Sony and Nintendo have announced that they will not support the game if it will keep its newly-earned “AO” rating.