Yesterday the ESRB's decision regarding the rating of Manhunt 2 was announced. It will be the first AO console game ever released, and many are up in arms about this. It seems the majority of the gaming communityin North America (I wont comment on the ban in the UK because I do feel that is unfair)has taken this as a personal afront to their rights but I urge you realize this is not so.

The ESRB's guideline foran AO game includes and I believe pertains to the game in question;"Prolonged Scenes of Intense Violence". All the information released about Manhunt 2 to date would point to this being true, which would make the ESRB's rating of the game fair don't you think? Now keep in mind that the ratings are meant to be a guideline for parents and not legislation which is true. But this isn't something that is being legislated, its retailers right to refuse to sell a product, just as you feel the right to own the product.

In conclusion if anyone is to blame for the rating it is Rockstar themselves, they are fully aware of the guidelines and they pushed it too far. If the game is not as widely available as would be hoped it is not the fault of angry parents, or the ESRB, it is because they really made a game that is that violent.