Common Sense Media joins Manhunt 2 protests

Posted Aug 30, 2007 at 7:27PM by QJ Staff Listed in: News, Titles, Games Tags: California, ESRB, Leland Yee, Take-Two Interactive
Ó


Common Sense Media, an organization that reviews games for the benefit of parents and guardians, has joined the protests against the ESRB decision to give Manhunt 2 (PSP, Wii) an M rating. Their protests echoes those of Leland Yee, senator of California who recently demanded that ESRB reveal their reasons for giving the game its new rating.

Manhunt 2 - Image 1 


Common Sense Media CEO and founder James Steyer gave a statement summarizing the already popular issues surrounding the violence of Manhunt 2, then directly threatens to undermine the ESRB if they don't provide the reasons for overturning the rating. Steyer's demands are the same as Yee's:

It is clear that by lowering the rating, the ESRB has all but ensured that the game will be marketed and sold through channels popular with kids and teens – and, despite industry claims to the contrary, kids under 17 can and do purchase M-rated games. Before Manhunt 2 is released for sale, parents deserve an explanation – they need to know the facts about this grossly violent game before it goes on the market.


By failing to explain their decision and, in turn, provide the transparency that consumers need if they are to trust the ESRBÂ’s ratings, the board threatens to undermine a ratings system that has many positive aspects and that could serve as an important tool for parents.


The statement seems to be directly in contrast to the ESRB's previous statement stating their position on the matter, suggesting that it may indeed be a direct challenge:

Publishers submit game content to the ESRB on a confidential basis. It is simply not our place to reveal specific details about the content we have reviewed, particularly when it involves a product yet to be released...


It is a parent's rightful place to make choices for their own children. The ESRB and console manufacturers provide families with the tools and information to help them do so.


Common Sense Media launched a video game education campaign back in May with Best Buy. The campaign's goal is to inform parents about the games they buy for their kids on Best Buy's website. Will the protests present more problems for Manhunt 2 before its release on October 31? Updates as we get them.



Via Common Sense Media

 
 
 

Comments

by GaveUpTomorrow - 2007-08-30 20:01:25
...

I join the protest too...put this game away and never release it!
by - 2007-08-30 20:13:58
these ppl

Ok, the Common Sense Media ppl sounds like a bunch of n00bs not knowing that Rockstar or whoever already modded the game so there's not gonna be much of the crap that they're talking about.
by - 2007-08-30 20:19:30
Just release it already

These god damn idiots need to shut the ***** up and learn what the ESRB rating system is. The game is going to be rated *****ING M. This mean kids younger than 17 should not play the game and cannot purchase it. Why they hell do they always have to attack the god damn game companies who create the games which it is the *****ing dumbass parent who purchase the game for their kind thinking its going to be teletubbiesjumping around teaching the kid their ABC's. Parents these days seem to be *****ing idiots letting their child do what their please without any *****ing supervision. Then they goto the school and yell at the administration as to why their kids are so *****ed up as if the school is the one suppose to be parenting their kids. If they really want to keep these games out of the kids hands store employees should not sell the *****ing game to a parent when a kid which is under 17 is standing next to them yelling I CANNOT WAIT TO SLICE SOME *****ING IDIOTS HEAD OFF. Wait thats a good idea I will try it on tommy tomorrow. They need to *****ing stop with this ***** and leave the ESRB alone and start yelling at the idiots who purchase the god damn games for their kids.
by - 2007-08-30 20:26:35
Bad parents of this world

I'm sick of these people who don't want this game released! I'm 22 and really want to try this game out, I'm an adult and this game is rated M for ADULTS/ Older Teens! If kids are playing it, whose fault is that, ESRB? NO! It's the parents fault, bad parenting skills, why should we have a government that cradles our young, isn't that the parents job. I see that the parents are not being active in their kids lives and thus is the downfall of why our kids now a days don't respect authority plus gain problems down the road because of bad parents. When I was younger, my parnets made us play our games on the main TV in the House and no M games were alowed in the house as well. If my parents found us playing one or was in the house, we would get a spakin, grounded for a week, and the game would be discrded in the trash or returned for credit. That's good parenting skills, maybe overreacting of course but my parents totally were good in my upbringing. As an adult now, I buy M rated games and not allow it to melt through my mind to kill people if the game has violence. I can't wait for this game to come out and for parents to cry and weep that our nation has fallen. Get over it alrady. Games are not always the reason our kids go psycopath, you know that parents. What about dark gothic music, how about R rated films that have people killing each other all day. We aren't crying about "Save the Children" when it comes to those and kids watch movies like that and listen to music that talk about killing ourselves. So don't point the finger at games all the time, kids are influenced by other media, heck even books are demonic sometimes. All I got to say for final words are this: If kids are playing these M rated influencing games, Where the **** are their parents, what are they doing about it? Nothing I say, they'd rather pass on their problems to the government, why not fix problems in the family yourselves. Some parents in this world are horrible and shouldn't bear children if they aren't going to be a part of their lives. It's your fault bad parents why are kids like this... not games, not music, not books, not movies... it's all your fault! Did I forget to mention I can't wait for this game to come out ;)!
by - 2007-08-30 21:39:22
Indeed

Yes I agree to everything you had just said. Parents are the ones at fault here but then they always try to blame it on other things. And also part of your speech reminded me of this clip http://youtube.com/watch?v+aHF_VMd0jBI
by - 2007-08-30 21:59:37
Spanking

The problem in the US today is that if you spank your kid and the kid says something to someone at the school or has marks. Or even if you smack the kid in a store for misbehaving you will have the police and some government agency on you ass trying to take your kid away as if you are beating the kid to death for doing nothing. People today are too sensitive and kids sometimes need to be beaten to learn a lesson.
by - 2007-08-30 23:03:19
stupid soccer moms...

Stupid soccer moms really piss me off! Why can't they *****ing take care of their children instead of expecting organizations and the government to do it?!
by - 2007-08-30 23:10:15
oh... wtf...

Oh and wtf? "Common Sense Media" How *****ing ridiculous! More like "Dumbass Bandwagon Media" Some politician said something, so now a bunch of *****s are stepping up! Really, I doubt they'd care if a game worth of a T rating was given an M rating, so they should shut their damn mouths!
by - 2007-08-31 01:06:10
...

Of course you do because you're a vagina. But who cares what these people think? I mean what do they even do? Never even heard of them.
by - 2007-08-31 01:18:51
doh

if youre 22 you would be able to buy it anyway. the matter is if dumb stupids under 18 (before the damn M rating) would play and sick as most of them really are, i reckon banning it would be just great. i wonder how many ppl over 21 actually want that game so badly, and how many underage fools are after it. can someone do that research for me please?
by - 2007-08-31 04:59:30
Hypocrites

Here's the funny part: These people have never played the game, but they're "sure" the rating is wrong. These same people didn't give a *damn* how the ESRB came up with its ratings when the game was given an 'M' rating. This makes them hypocrites.
by - 2007-08-31 05:47:18
idiotosm

***** u bichtes! i want to kill some virtual jerks, or i will kill some real jerks!
by - 2007-08-31 07:43:40
Hey now...

GaveUp's not a vagina...they just have sand in their vagina. Big difference. WTF is the point of common sense anyway? They take games already rated by ESRB, play them, and give them the same damn rating. Wow, thanks for your help.
by - 2007-08-31 09:16:38
well..

If history has shown us anything it is that even negative publicity is good. So these people that keep kicking and screaming about violent games are actually making people like me who never even gave two shakes about Manhunt take interest. This is what happens when you have a nanny state. IE people trying to force their moral conscience on everyone and the government is aiding them. In the 80's it was lyrics to music that they targeted. Then the crazy christians tried to get ceratin movies banned and now its rap and videogame violence. Though this facination with prison culture has got me stumped I could care less about it though. I just turn off the radio/tv if I do not want. Parents are the ones to blame at this point. If little Billy has gotten GTA and then the hot coffee mod then someone at home is not paying attention. Problem is that it is personal responsiblity that has gone away. It used to be that if you made a mistake you ponied up and made it right. Now people just point fingers. It happens everywhere now just not in the media. Instead of finding out what the root cause is they just blame it on someone else. Also kids need to be realistic, just because it exsists does not mean that it is for you. Adults need to be entertained too and if we have to cater to youngins because we cannot pay attention to what they are doing then we have failed as a society.
by - 2007-08-31 09:41:34
I like to add

Violent Video Games: Moral Outrage or Moral Panic? http://youtube.com/watch?v+xCT7-ZMpxKE
by - 2007-08-31 09:54:18
Wingy bastards

I wish all these people moaning would just ***** off!!! If you dont like it dont buy it, if u dont want your kids playing it, dont buy them it. How simple is that

Add New Comment




You must be logged in to post comments




Add QJ.NET
Add to My Yahoo!
Google Reader Subscribe with Bloglines
Add  to your Kinja digest Subscribe in NewsGator Online
Subscribe with Pluck RSS reader Add 'www.qj.net' to Newsburst from CNET News.com
Subscribe with SearchFox RSS del.icio.us www.qj.net
Add to Technorati Favorite! Add to My AOL
furl! it Stumble for Treehugger!