Manhunt 2 Release Suspended Amid Outrage

With a statewide ban in the UK and an Adults Only rating from the US ratings board, Rockstar has temporarily suspended the game from being released anywhere.

Earlier this week, the UK deemed Manhunt 2 was too violent for the public and refused to give its seal of approval, effectively banning the title in Europe. Meanwhile, in the US, it seems the ESRB (Entertainment Software Ratings Board) wanted to give the game an "AO" rating, which means virtually all retailers would not sell it. It’s also believed this would make it the first mainstram US game to be given that rating because of violence.

TG Daily - Rockstar holds off on Manhunt 2 US release

"Take-Two Interactive Software has temporarily suspended plans to distribute Manhunt 2 for the Wii or PlayStation platforms while it reviews its options," the company said in a statement late Thursday.

Disturbing stills on the "Manhunt 2" website show bleak computer-graphic images of blood-spattered people attacking each other with syringes, axes, and knives amid scenes of decapitations and gut-wrenching mutilations. According to the website, the game was due for release in North America on July 10 and had been due to be released across Europe on July 13.

AFP via Yahoo - Release of ‘Manhunt 2′ video game suspended amid outrage

"We continue to stand behind this extraordinary game. We believe in freedom of creative expression, as well as responsible marketing, both of which are essential to our business of making great entertainment," Take-Two said in a statement.

"Manhunt 2" casts the player in the role of a psychotic man who escapes a mental institution and kills enemies with a variety of weapons and objects as he tries to find out what happened to his family. Take-Two’s statement followed comments from Chairman Strauss Zelnick on Wednesday saying he fully backed the game and considered it a work of art.

The company’s options include canceling the game entirely, releasing it unchanged only for personal computers — a move that would drastically limit sales — or altering its content to achieve a less-restrictive rating.

"Manhunt 2" was originally expected to bring in about $40 million in sales for Take-Two, which had just over $1 billion in total revenue last year, according to Wedbush Morgan research.

Reuters - Take-Two delays plans to distribute "Manhunt 2"