Andy Rimmer (6/25/2007)

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I think you'll find that we have limited freedom of expression- otherwise child porn and snuff movies would be legal.

Flannel (6/25/2007)

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Many people seem to think the BBFC has a 'good' record. I renmind commentators these are the same people who banned Life of Brian (correct me if Im wrong.)

They seem quite swayed by the religious..... I wonder if its more to do with the Manchester Cathedral complaints about the game rather than the content. Cos they didnt ban Hitman did they. Or that jolly game where you control crowds of rioting football fans.

“Rejecting a work is a very serious action and one which we do not take lightly. Where possible we try to consider cuts or, in the case of games, modifications which remove the material which contravenes the Board’s published Guidelines. In the case of Manhunt 2 this has not been possible. Manhunt 2 is distinguishable from recent high-end video games by its unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone in an overall game context which constantly encourages visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing. There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed, and encouraged, in the game.

“Although the difference should not be exaggerated the fact of the game’s unrelenting focus on stalking and brutal slaying and the sheer lack of alternative pleasures on offer to the gamer, together with the different overall narrative context, contribute towards differentiating this submission from the original Manhunt game. That work was classified ‘18’ in 2003, before the BBFC’s recent games research had been undertaken, but was already at the very top end of what the Board judged to be acceptable at that category.”

“Against this background, the Board’s carefully considered view is that to issue a certificate to Manhunt 2, on either platform, would involve a range of unjustifiable harm risks, to both adults and minors, within the terms of the Video Recordings Act, and accordingly that its availability, even if statutorily confined to adults, would be unacceptable to the public.” Under the terms of the Video Recordings Act distributors have the right to appeal the Board’s decision.

Andy Rimmer (6/25/2007)

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[quote]We can't set decency as a line- it varies from person to person, but we can use "causing offence", so long as it would offend an average person and in fairness this game probably would offend the average person.