Witchhunt. Bring your pitchforks.

[JJ]

Well, I'm sure a lot of you have heard by now that a 17-year old boy battered his friend to death with a claw hammer, and the boys parents have blamed Manhunt, as he was reportedly obsessed with it. It was all over ITV news, and todays Daily Mail.

Manhunt is being pulled from UK shelves as we speak. As of tomorrow, my sixth favourite game of all time will no longer be available to buy in Game, Dixons, PC World and Curry's. Possibly more will follow.

I'm angry and irritated beyond belief. I lent out the game last month to a friend and he gave it back to me yesterday. I have spent today getting reaquainted with its atmospheric genius, and suddenly all this happens. The Daily Mail, ITV and other news channels have covered it, and Rockstar may face legal action.

And what for? A scapegoat, to blame the psychological state of a sick individual on something that is universally enjoyed by others, critically acclaimed by the gaming press. Why are games still being treated like dirt? Why isn't anybody questioning the stores or the parents for allowing this kid to get a hold of the game in the first place?

I don't adore Manhunt for the ultra-violence, believe it or not. I'm not that shallow, but I am open-minded and I will praise a text if it manages to do much more than just stir up controversy. I thought Fight Club was frigging brilliant. I thought A Clockwork Orange was an excellent study of youth and society. I thought that Kill Bill was a filmmaking tour-de-force, and Tarantino's finest yet. And I think that Manhunt is an atmospheric and dramatic masterwork.

Ugh, and it's so frustrating to see another controversial gem being kicked in the nuts by the traditionalist old fuddy-duddies that run this country's media. I hate what this country has become sometimes. My dad believes everything he reads in the paper, as do many - the daily paper is their window to the world. He doesn't know what Manhunt is, all he knows it that it is evil and should be banned from all eyes.

I won't rant anymore. A travesty, and a sad day for the industry, I feel.

[ChaosX3]

Some people just take it to dog goned far. Sonic games don't exactly drive kids to rip sheets of metal from helicopters, jump down a kilometer and streetboard in a city, recking cars and picking up giant, floating rings. Well, most kids.. >.> <.< Mario games don't drive kids to run through surreal worlds, jumping on turtles and growing high from eating unexplained giant mushrooms. Well, most kids.. >.> <.<

Some people just take gaming too seriously. The kid was probably derranged and psychopathic before he bought the game. But the game he was addicted to shouldn't be banned from the rest of the whole country because of a murderer. If I decided to put on spiked gloves and throttle a kid in the face I'm sure they wouldn't ban Sonic games and blame Sega. This is utterly stupid.

[madhair60]

Bleedin' Daily Mail. Their article on Manhunt make me sick to the stomach. This kid was 17, legally he shouldn't even own the friggin game. The parents must have seen him playing it, why didn't they stop him? They knew what the content was.

The Mail have been using gaming, video and most media for years as a scapegoat, you're right. The game is a good one, and it DOES have morals. The violence is presented in a repugnant way and not at all glamourised. The material found ingame is nothing worse than would appear in an equivalent 18 rated video title.

I will now be buying the game from my local Choices, since it will become a collectors item. See the effect this article has had? People will become more and more keen to play it, it's the Video Nasties of the 80's all over again.

If this kid can't distinguish between fantasy and reality, he was sick in the first place.

[JJ]

madhair60 said:

Bleedin' Daily Mail. Their article on Manhunt make me sick to the stomach.

You know what angered me the most? The compositon of the article. Manhunt had three large screenshots dedicated to it, and the top one had SICK as a caption, as though it was the game that was the murderer. By comparison, the picture of the actual boy who did the deed was a tiny picture hidden in the text, with the caption OBSESSED. The article had been composed to suggest that the game is the true evil, and the boy is nothing more than a victim of that evil.

The worst thing is, I was foolish enough to believe that we had actually moved past this stage. That the days of Carmageddon, or Thrill Kill and the whole 'BAN THIS SICK FILTH' media chaos was just a lingering joke from the nineties, for games magazines to refer to with fondness. The fact that the GTA games are so widely celebrated became a testiment to this, I thought.
It seems as though we are back at square one.

[madhair60]

Jamie J, you are one of the most level-headed, reasonable people on this board, and I salute you. They think Manhunt is sick? They should play Silent Hill. But they didn't. And they didn't play Manhunt, either, judging by the article.

[JJ]

It's not just the playing it, but the understanding it. Every time I play it I remember why I consider it to be one of the true greats. I could write an essay on the fantastic last episode and the climatic denouement of the story, and I could lecture and defend it against any of these sensationalist media gits (haha that was so swear filtered). GTA is a similar thing.

I am so steamed right now.

Well, I'm glad it'll be a publicity push, at least. Enjoy the game, madhair...I hope you understand what I've been ranting about all this time. Wait -- how old are you?

[archangelffx]

Its not just games like Manhunt and the GTA series that are treated as scapegoats.
I was watching a show on controversial music videos when they said that Marilyn Manson was blamed for the massacre of school kids in America. The only link given was that the murderer was a goth, and Manson presented the only known gothic image known to the media, so it had to be his fault.

I'm not the biggest fan of his, but when someone gets linked to a sick murderer like that just because of what someone might like to listen to. I mean, if I sudenly turned into a psycho while posting on here, none of you or Sonic himself would get the blame.

Yeesh, I guess you could say it gets me mad this news.

[ChaosX3]

archangelffx said:

Its not just games like Manhunt and the GTA series that are treated as scapegoats.
I was watching a show on controversial music videos when they said that Marilyn Manson was blamed for the massacre of school kids in America. The only link given was that the murderer was a goth, and Manson presented the only known gothic image known to the media, so it had to be his fault.

I'm a goth, you know me, go out and murder people. That really is the dumbest thing EVER.

[archangelffx]

I hope you know I was being sarcastic there.

[JJ]

Have you guys seen Bowling for Columbine? There's an excellent interview with Marilyn Manson in it about the subject.

[madhair60]

Oh my intercoursing CHRIST. Have you seen the Mail's headline today? Absolute [censored].

The headline is - "BAN THESE SICK GAMES"

...

The examples are Hitman, Doom 3 (Not even released yet), Unreal FREAKING Tournament, Manhunt (Natch), GTA, State of Emergency and one other that's also BS. God, such a badly researched article.

[ChaosX3]

I can't believe them. My brother was on the develoment team for Doom II. They call the game sick, they call him sick. And I don't like people that call my brother sick. Makes me want to play more of these games *Evil grin*

[hyperknucks]

madhair60 said:

Oh my intercoursing CHRIST. Have you seen the Mail's headline today? Absolute [censored].

The headline is - "BAN THESE SICK GAMES"

...

The examples are Hitman, Doom 3 (Not even released yet), Unreal FREAKING Tournament, Manhunt (Natch), GTA, State of Emergency and one other that's also BS. God, such a badly researched article.

How can Hitman be sick Or GTA ARE they MAD

[HyperKnux99]

This is just a case of people trying to find a scapegoat. Instead of pointing the finger at the real causes. That the kid is just screwed up and the parents didn't hug them enough. Stop blaming video games and music I listen to Marylin Manson and play gta3 I don’t want to kill any one.

[Turbocharge]

why don't these dumb-ass morons sit down and actually play the games for once?

It's not just the media, y'know. It's the sick gits that kill someone and the say in their defense "the video game made me do it!". FOR GOD'S SAKE! If you're going to kill someone anyway, they should at least accept full responsability instead of shifting the blame and inevitably screwing all us gamers.

You know when DOOM was released it was slated as a "Mass-Murder simulator"? Sheesh...

In PC Gamer's latest issue, they printed a letter from someone who said he found his nephew's copy of their magazine in which they had a review of World of Warcraft, and he made the boy's parents cancell his subscription. It was ridiculous... Gimme a minute and i'll type the whole thing up... ahah! here we go:

"I recently picked up a copy of my nephew's edition of your magazine, and I am greatly distressed by what I saw. I doubt very much that an organ of this nature will take the slightest bit of notice of what I have to say, but I still feel obliged to raise my concers I the strongest possible terms.

Reality is a precious commodity, and your magazine's wanton disregard for any notion of the universe in which we live turns my stomach. Page after page is dedicated to the celebration of "fantasy worlds", featuring all manner of abominations, defying the world I recognise about myself. I presume you beleive discussion of "orcs" or "monsters" to be clever. Perhaps - and I am loathed to credit you with the intelligence this would require - you consider it satirical. However, it is nothing but the blatant spreading of ignorance and lies.

I think specifically of the many pages dedicated to something called "Land of Warcraft". What a mindless and dangerous peice of work that was. This entire work of fiction portrayed as a "real world", one from which even postcards could be sent is a despicable deception.

I do not kow your twisted motivation, but I hope it is known that at least one individual is raising strong concerns about your actions. I have spoken with my brother and his wife, and I am pleased to report that his subscription has been immediately cancelled. Goodness knows what you have put into the boy's head, but I at least take some comfort in knowing that it will not be allowed to carry on a moment longer."

PC Gamer's reply was:

"What do you mean "fantasy worlds"? We sent Tim Edwards and Al Bickham all the way to the world of Azeroth to send us that report, and we thought the postcard the sent was very thoughtful. Since they've been back, they've been buzzing with excitement about all the interesting characters they've met. And you try to tell them it didn't happen!"



What kind of world are we living in where people are so quick to blame games for all the worlds problems? Why not the books? The movies? Or even - dare I suggest - the real world?

[madhair60]

...that's a reader having a laugh. It reads like a hoax.

[Turbocharge]

i sure as shoot (family guy quote, leave me alone) hope so. I was beginning to worry that people really were that stupid.

[Matt]

unfortunatly there not I have seen many more such cases in other magazines please allow me to quote
ps1 magazine
i have resantly found a picture drawn dy my 5 year old son which I have enclosed if you notice most the images on the paper appear to be crosses squares triangles and circles. from your games sticks
(note: the picture was off a house a bird and two people)
i hope you see and share my concern on this matter
the repley
after viewing your sons picture and having children of our own we know that the images of our children
but the reasonsony chose this images was beacuse they a popular and therefore was nothing to do with playsation exposure
a pc magazine can't rember which the letter was similar to this.
after viewing your magzine for the first and hopefully last time I was horrified to find game in which villance I encoraged and blood spill is all to common maybe you should consider removing or cleaning up your magazine
children can be hurt by these ideas
repley
i am sorry you have such view but have you have to realise that is why no one under 15 can buy the magazine from a shop also the level of violence shown in the magazine is only equal to a 12a or at the ,mosta 15 movie.
ps2 magazine online reply only
after reading about the game killzone. I am apualed this game should be banned. it is horific and so was your portrail of it. I look foward to a return to wholesome games such as tennis and mario.
reply
there has alway been and always will be blood and gut video games and there are still games like pro tennies tournament and even mario tennis for you now please relise that gaming is rated like film are so plaese treat it that way.
i could go on
articles about games slipknot linkin park
that I have happen to see there was even talk of boucoting gta vice city untill the shops relised how much money they would lose.
games are some some reason difficult for some older people to understand

[Nemesis]

"Earlier today a plumber from Manchester was arrested after jumping out of the cupboard of pipes he was fixing and landing upon the head of his current client instantly fracturing his spinal colomb and paralysing him for life.
But it would be unjust to lay the blame upon the arrested Mr Johnson as he has been shown through intense testing to suffer from mental lapses when he is 'not quite himself'. Police reports have given us their assurance that the real criminal here is Super Mario who is the star of numerous unessecerily violent videogames that promote cruelty to animals along with heavy drug abuse.
All copies of his recent psychedelic holiday outing 'Super Mario Sunshine' will be withrdrawn from shelves as of next tuesday."

[Turbocharge]

kintobor said:

unfortunatly there not I have seen many more such cases in other magazines please allow me to quote
ps1 magazine
i have resantly found a picture drawn dy my 5 year old son which I have enclosed if you notice most the images on the paper appear to be crosses squares triangles and circles. from your games sticks
(note: the picture was off a house a bird and two people)
i hope you see and share my concern on this matter
the repley
after viewing your sons picture and having children of our own we know that the images of our children
but the reasonsony chose this images was beacuse they a popular and therefore was nothing to do with playsation exposure
a pc magazine can't rember which the letter was similar to this.
after viewing your magzine for the first and hopefully last time I was horrified to find game in which villance I encoraged and blood spill is all to common maybe you should consider removing or cleaning up your magazine
children can be hurt by these ideas
repley
i am sorry you have such view but have you have to realise that is why no one under 15 can buy the magazine from a shop also the level of violence shown in the magazine is only equal to a 12a or at the ,mosta 15 movie.
ps2 magazine online reply only
after reading about the game killzone. I am apualed this game should be banned. it is horific and so was your portrail of it. I look foward to a return to wholesome games such as tennis and mario.
reply
there has alway been and always will be blood and gut video games and there are still games like pro tennies tournament and even mario tennis for you now please relise that gaming is rated like film are so plaese treat it that way.
i could go on
articles about games slipknot linkin park
that I have happen to see there was even talk of boucoting gta vice city untill the shops relised how much money they would lose.
games are some some reason difficult for some older people to understand

woah, woah! what's that about Linkin Park? there's nothing wrong with their lyrics. I hope you mean Limp Bizcit (sp?).

and Nemesis... genious. i'm going to have to send that to a newspaper the next time they blame a death on a video game.

[Matt]

no I mean linkin park and two diffreant videos the newest breaking the habit and another for crawling there are afew other dig at them over connduct on tour I can't rember so no not limp bizkit linkin park

[archangelffx]

Nemesis said:

"Earlier today a plumber from Manchester was arrested after jumping out of the cupboard of pipes he was fixing and landing upon the head of his current client instantly fracturing his spinal colomb and paralysing him for life.
But it would be unjust to lay the blame upon the arrested Mr Johnson as he has been shown through intense testing to suffer from mental lapses when he is 'not quite himself'. Police reports have given us their assurance that the real criminal here is Super Mario who is the star of numerous unessecerily violent videogames that promote cruelty to animals along with heavy drug abuse.
All copies of his recent psychedelic holiday outing 'Super Mario Sunshine' will be withrdrawn from shelves as of next tuesday."

A slight sense of sarcasm hinted there.
Just a slight one.

[Turbocharge]

oh yeah. the videos. my bad. I thought you were referring to the lyrics.

[ChaosX3]

Nemesis said:

"Earlier today a plumber from Manchester was arrested after jumping out of the cupboard of pipes he was fixing and landing upon the head of his current client instantly fracturing his spinal colomb and paralysing him for life.
But it would be unjust to lay the blame upon the arrested Mr Johnson as he has been shown through intense testing to suffer from mental lapses when he is 'not quite himself'. Police reports have given us their assurance that the real criminal here is Super Mario who is the star of numerous unessecerily violent videogames that promote cruelty to animals along with heavy drug abuse.
All copies of his recent psychedelic holiday outing 'Super Mario Sunshine' will be withrdrawn from shelves as of next tuesday."

Make it true! Make it true!

As for the Linkin Park matter, I see no wrong with their videos. I see them all the time on Kerrang. Hell, one of em's a freakin anime. How could they promote violance? They're lyrics rock. The band rocks. In fact, they made a special effort to sign every wanted autograph a few concerts of theirs ago.

[madhair60]

I play Mario all the time, and all I send my weekends doing is eating mushrooms and jumping on tortoises. Ban the sick filth.