UK Moves a Little Closer to China

Today, it was announced that the BBFC was refusing to rate upcoming Wii title Manhunt 2, meaning it has been denied a UK release.

For those not in the know, Manhunt 2 is the story of a guy called Danny. It looks like Danny got rather screwed over in the previous game, and he's being held in an asylum which appears to be a cover up for a much more sinister project. This project would seem to be the very reason he's being held there in the first place.

Now onto the so-called "justification" for the ban.

"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." - David Cooke, BBFC Director

Apparently, Sir Quentin Thomas, Lord Taylor of Warwick and Janet Lewis-Jones think they know me well enough to say that I'd be a danger to the general public simply by playing it. And of course those sound like the names of people from normal, working-class families and obviously represent a fair cross-section of the British public. Right then.

I've not played Manhunt 2. Or Manhunt 1 for that matter. I wasn't even planning on getting it for the Wii. My problem is the fact that it's banned at all. This is the Government telling you that you are not responsible enough to judge for yourself whether this is to e taken seriously or not. That you cannot differentiate games from real life well enough to understand that it's not acceptible outside of the game. That they know better than the people. That sounds a hell of a lot like the Chinese Government's way of thinking to me and is totally unacceptable.
Slap an 18+ certificate on it, add a warning that it does contain potentially offensive content and you're legally covered. Don't ban it, because that not only pisses off the population, it also makes the product more appealing.

It's just a form of oppression and it's a load of bollocks.