So, despite having twice been banned by the BBFC, Manhunt 2 is finally due for a UK release. Firstly let me just say that I have not played the game, and that I have no basis on which to comment if it should or should not be released/banned/censored or whatever. What concerns me here are the inherent flaws in the UK’s video game rating and censorsing procedures that this whole process has exposed, and which surely must be addressed in view of the fact that the gaming industry is only due to get bigger, (current global net worth is £20bn a year) making similar situations in the future pretty likely.
The history of Manhunt 2 is that, having been banned by the BBFC in both its original version and then also in a less violent edited form, it was then taken to the Video Appeals Committee by Rockstar (the game’s developers) where it won an appeal to over-turn the BBFC’s decision. Now clearly there is something not quite right with the system if the body responsible for ratings and censorship can be bypassed so easily, both by developers and by the VAC, which obviously paid little heed to the BBFC’s advice (who are still unhappy with awarding the game the 18+ certificate which will allow it to be released, though they now have no choice in the matter). After all, this is the first game the BBFC has banned in ten years - they are hardly taking such decisions lightly.
With films the BBFC has a pretty simple job; if a film is deemed unsuitable for release then film’s producers have the choice to remove all the offending scenes marked up by the BBFC in order to gain a certificate for general release, or otherwise accept that the film remains banned. With video games being a lot less linear in their content and user experience, the BBFC has a much trickier job on its hands, and one it is fairly new to. Looking at the range of violent and sexually explicit content that is currently available, it would be unfair to accuse the BBFC of being some ultra-conservative, old fashioned governing body with no idea of the nature of modern gaming. However, perhaps the system of appeals requires some review in order to make financial considerations less able to compromise the VAC’s decisions - imagine for example the consequences if the VAC had backed the BBFC, and Rockstar was left with a game they were unable to release, and which had cost millions to develop - I think more than one lawsuit would probably get filed pretty quickly.
This is a vast area, and one that is only getting bigger; hence it is imperative to ensure that the BBFC is supported both in terms of being given the resources to handle such a large job and more importantly, in the sense of having its authority supported rather than undermined by the appeals system. In the long run, having an effective and respected governing body like this will only enhance the reputability of the gaming industry and gaming in general.
Dejan Levi