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Manhunt 2 Rated Adults Only
Fahrenheit 18+
by poduski
Nintendo Nixes AO Manhunt
Okay, lesson number one to everyone on the Internet bemoaning the fact that Nintendo nixed Manhunt 2: The video game industry could care less about gamers whining on the Internet. If they did, then everything on the Xbox Live Marketplace would be free, and Manhunt 2 would have come out on the Wii with the "AO" rating proudly on the cover of the box.
What can we learn from the whole Manhunt ordeal? That the video game industry is "business first," and "creative freedom" second.
Come on guys, what did you expect Nintendo to do? Let an "AO" game that let the player do unspeakable acts on a system that's been heavily marketed to children, parents, and old people?
I've said this months ago (and oddly enough, almost everyone on game sites disagreed with me); releasing Manhunt 2 on the Wii is completely counter-productive to the core Nintendo strategy that has so far, rocketed on the way to #1 this generation: Families, their children, and other non-gamers.
I guarantee you that if an "AO" version of Manhunt 2 was released on the Wii, Mom would think twice about letting their kids own a console that would potentially give kids the ability to slash someones throat with the Wiimote. And for those who say "Kids shouldn't be playing Manhunt 2 anyway, so what's the big deal?" Let me bring you to the real world: It doesn't matter if any kid could get access to such a game, the thought of such a game appearing on the Wii at all is far too risky to Nintendo's strategy of appealing to the group that has so far, brought Nintendo millions: Soccer Mom's, their kids, and non-gamers.
by funnydale
Jack Thompson Says ESRB Ratings Work
Delicious? Delicious? Okay, strike that word from the dictionary because it sounds creepy from this guy.
by KingBroly
ESRB Head Talks AO, Manhunt 2 and Community Standards
The AO rating seems much like the NC-17 rating.
There is little difference in who is allowed access to the first, and no difference in the second.
What these two ratings are, in essence, are a way for the respective ratings boards to pretty much kill a game or movie. The ESRB knows that most retailers will not sell AO games, as the MPAA knows that many theaters will not show NC-17 films.
These ratings give a small number of gatekeepers the ability to kill a project which has already been completed. The fatal flaw in both systems is that neither organization is willing to specify where the line is drawn, and are able to redraw it on a case by case basis because of this.
Television ratings seem to be the most fair. TV producers know that they can say 'shit' after a certain time, and what percentage of a breast or buttock can be shown before they will be shut down. Unfortunately for game and film makers these rules are nowhere near as clear in their mediums.
by ElijahDProphert
PC Mag Editorially Fellates Wii
I read that the Polio vaccine is the greatest product ever. Can anyone confirm this?
by MarkPhoenix
Game Writing Is Like Being An Umpire
My idea of a good narrative within gaming is everything happens iin real time an the story isn't thrust upon you, but you can, if you feel like, explore the world and listen to the people therein to discover what's going on.
Half Life 2 is a perfect example of this. Getting off the train you weren't thrust through an hour long cutscene that set the mood, dialogue trees that go nowhere. You get off and you see the guards. You see the oppression. You hear the people talking about how they've been treated and you know, just by taking in information from your environment, what the story is.
That's good writing for games as far as I'm concerned.
by RJG
Interested in commenting on Kotaku? Here's how. Know: We ban. And better yet, other commenters are encouraged to nominate people for potential banning by sending emails to tips — which not only helps weed out the tools, but raises the tipster's own ban profile.
[IMG]http://feeds.gawker.com/~a/kotaku/full?i=a38pcp[/IMG]
More...
Fahrenheit 18+
Nintendo Nixes AO Manhunt
Okay, lesson number one to everyone on the Internet bemoaning the fact that Nintendo nixed Manhunt 2: The video game industry could care less about gamers whining on the Internet. If they did, then everything on the Xbox Live Marketplace would be free, and Manhunt 2 would have come out on the Wii with the "AO" rating proudly on the cover of the box.
What can we learn from the whole Manhunt ordeal? That the video game industry is "business first," and "creative freedom" second.
Come on guys, what did you expect Nintendo to do? Let an "AO" game that let the player do unspeakable acts on a system that's been heavily marketed to children, parents, and old people?
I've said this months ago (and oddly enough, almost everyone on game sites disagreed with me); releasing Manhunt 2 on the Wii is completely counter-productive to the core Nintendo strategy that has so far, rocketed on the way to #1 this generation: Families, their children, and other non-gamers.
I guarantee you that if an "AO" version of Manhunt 2 was released on the Wii, Mom would think twice about letting their kids own a console that would potentially give kids the ability to slash someones throat with the Wiimote. And for those who say "Kids shouldn't be playing Manhunt 2 anyway, so what's the big deal?" Let me bring you to the real world: It doesn't matter if any kid could get access to such a game, the thought of such a game appearing on the Wii at all is far too risky to Nintendo's strategy of appealing to the group that has so far, brought Nintendo millions: Soccer Mom's, their kids, and non-gamers.
Jack Thompson Says ESRB Ratings Work
Delicious? Delicious? Okay, strike that word from the dictionary because it sounds creepy from this guy.
ESRB Head Talks AO, Manhunt 2 and Community Standards
The AO rating seems much like the NC-17 rating.
There is little difference in who is allowed access to the first, and no difference in the second.
What these two ratings are, in essence, are a way for the respective ratings boards to pretty much kill a game or movie. The ESRB knows that most retailers will not sell AO games, as the MPAA knows that many theaters will not show NC-17 films.
These ratings give a small number of gatekeepers the ability to kill a project which has already been completed. The fatal flaw in both systems is that neither organization is willing to specify where the line is drawn, and are able to redraw it on a case by case basis because of this.
Television ratings seem to be the most fair. TV producers know that they can say 'shit' after a certain time, and what percentage of a breast or buttock can be shown before they will be shut down. Unfortunately for game and film makers these rules are nowhere near as clear in their mediums.
PC Mag Editorially Fellates Wii
I read that the Polio vaccine is the greatest product ever. Can anyone confirm this?
Game Writing Is Like Being An Umpire
My idea of a good narrative within gaming is everything happens iin real time an the story isn't thrust upon you, but you can, if you feel like, explore the world and listen to the people therein to discover what's going on.
Half Life 2 is a perfect example of this. Getting off the train you weren't thrust through an hour long cutscene that set the mood, dialogue trees that go nowhere. You get off and you see the guards. You see the oppression. You hear the people talking about how they've been treated and you know, just by taking in information from your environment, what the story is.
That's good writing for games as far as I'm concerned.
Interested in commenting on Kotaku? Here's how. Know: We ban. And better yet, other commenters are encouraged to nominate people for potential banning by sending emails to tips — which not only helps weed out the tools, but raises the tipster's own ban profile.
[IMG]http://feeds.gawker.com/~a/kotaku/full?i=a38pcp[/IMG]
More...