So, child advocates are warning parents not to buy the violent video game Manhunt 2 for their underaged children. Why is this news? 

   A scene from “Manhunt 2.” (Rockstar Games)

There is no doubt that Manhunt 2, set for release Wednesday, is a blood- fest involving torture, assault and a whole host of other mayem. In fact, the Entertainment Software Ratings Board initially rated the game as being for Adults Only–the dreaded AO rating that instantly blocks a game from being carried by many retailers. The game’s worst scenes were later toned down by developer Rockstar Games and the game was recertified with an M for Mature rating, meaning it is for players 17 and older–the video-game equivalent of an R-rated movie.

So why would child advocates warn parents about buying a game for their kids that’s not even intended for them? The new film Saw IV, last weekend’s top box-office draw, also features torture scenes and is not far removed from the revised Manhunt 2. That film is rated R, which means it’s for viewers 17 and older. Did child advocates urge parents not to take their underage kids to Saw IV? (Ironically, when Saw IV comes to DVD, it will surely be available, like its predecessors, in a more-violent, gorier version that stores will gladly stock and rent.)

I’m not defending Manhunt 2. The gamers who are old enough to play it can decide the morality of whether they want to support it. But today’s news is merely another example of video-game McCarthyism. Manhunt 2 is a sensational title, and even though it is not in any way aimed at kids, child advocates can get more publicity for themselves by making an alarmist point that parents must keep their kids away from it. They are right: Manhunt 2 is not for kids–but that’s not news. Ironically, their actions are probably doing more to publicize a game that many people would have never known about. Talk about illogical.

So, what do you think?Â

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 30th, 2007 at 10:11 am and is filed under Video games. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.