RSSTarget Removes 'Manhunt 2' From Stores
By the Betanews Staff | Published November 8, 2007, 11:37 AM
Retail giant Target has pulled Rockstar Games' Manhunt 2 from its shelves following the publicity of a violence-increasing hack discovered just one day after the game's release. The hack, which only works for illegally modified PSPs, essentially rolls back superficial changes made to the game to fit ratings criteria. The result is a clearer view of killings that already take place in the game, without unlocking any deleted or hidden scenes.
ESRB President Patricia Vance feels that the existence of this hack does not alter the "M" rating given to the game. However, Target wishes to keep its customers "comfortable with the purchasing decisions they make." Given the nature of the hack, it is safe to say that PSP users will not accidentally unlock the censored content, and purchasers of the game can feel comfortable that they got all the feces flinging, neck stabbing, and sledgehammer assailing that they expected and were more than adequately warned about.
You don't accidentally unlock the censored content. Freaking Target....
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|Maybe the EU will get them to sell it
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|I never would have considered this game if it weren't for the press on it. Now I want it. Marketers 1
Politicians -1!
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|IMO, these game developers are "pushing the envelope" in the wrong direction. better gore and killing in place of great game design and play ability is a mistake. a story and a plot are so much better than just violence. Gore is not equal to horror. Draw us in like Max Pain and F.E.A.R., halo 1, etc.
Unforunately, we consumers are idiots and can't think for ourselves. tolerance gives way to time. I know since rockstar released GTA SA it was so bad, then a year later I saw a Mom buy it for her 8-9 year old (at Target-funny enough). her comment was "He's played worse".
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|Funny you say F.E.A.R., that game had little plot other than kill kill kill or watch death death death. I like FPS's, but that was a POS game (although pretty for it's time)
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|Let the CONSUMER decide what to buy, not the Government Body or Retail President.
Pulling it from the Shelves will just make people want it more!
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|actually, it makes sense for consumers and retail companies to decide. Just as consumers will buy X from X, so should stores decide if they want to cary X.
Now would be up to the publisher to try and sell it's product. Some of these devs need better QA so as not to allow such "slips" to occur. More a publicity stunt for them anyhow...less accident and more "rigged".
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|It goes all around on this one - consumers decide what to buy, but stores have a right to determine if they want to carry a product or not. The government has some responsibility to ensure that stores aren't selling something dangerous (toy recalls anyone?). I'll admit that the government doesn't fit well in this particular category, but the stores most definitely have a right to determine whether or not to carry a product. If the people really want to buy something, then the stores will lose out on that money and any related purchases. That will either cause the store to change its policies or they'll just let people buy elsewhere and take the potential loss.
I'd argue the same thing about a Disney kids' game in this case. Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, etc - all have a right to say that they will or won't carry a game for whatever reason they choose. If it doesn't violate a contract already signed, they can make choices.
Why do people always get confused about this? The consumer still has a right to buy the game - just not at Target. Kind of like walking into a vegetarian restaurant and demanding a 100% beef hamburger - what's the point? Go to a burger joint.
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|Finally, someone who understands capitalism. Where have they all gone???
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|Lets see. I am a retail chain store owner.. I have to decide whether I want to sell this "hot" and in-demand product and make some money, or not to sell it and loose revenues...
Thats a no brainer for sure. reguardless of what they say to the media, stores are there to make money, not moral decisions :)
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|"accidentally unlock"? }:oP
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