Ireland ban adds to Rockstar's Manhunt 2 woes

Stephen Withers
Thursday, 21 June 2007 13:04

Your IT - Entertainment

Ireland has banned a video game for the first time. The Irish Film Censor's Office has decided to join the UK in banning Manhunt 2.

In a brief statement, the IFCO said a prohibition order had been made under a section of Video Recordings Act 1989 which refers to "acts of gross violence or cruelty (including mutilation and torture)".

"IFCO recognizes that in certain films, DVDs and video games, strong graphic violence may be a justifiable element within the overall context of the work. However, in the case of Manhunt 2, IFCO believes that there is no such context, and the level of gross, unrelenting and gratuitous violence is unacceptable."

Manhunt 2 has already been banned in the UK. Like his Irish counterpart, the director of the British Board of Film Classification referred to "unremitting bleakness and callousness" and "sustained and cumulative casual sadism."

In the US, the non-government Entertainment Software Ratings Board has given the game a preliminary rating of Adults Only. While that has no legal effect, several major retailers will not stock games with that rating.

The original Manhunt was refused classification by Australia's Office of Film and Literature Classification, which suggests its sequel will meet the same fate. It is illegal to sell, hire, advertise or exhibit a product that has been refused classification. An initial MA15+ classification was overturned on review.

Manhunt 2 will be released on July 10 for Wii and PlayStation 2.