Condemned 2 altered to prevent AO rating
by Richard Mitchell 
{ Jul 24th 2007 at 2:00PM }
We haven't really covered it here on Xbox 360 Fanboy (for obvious reasons) but most of our readers are probably aware of the Manhunt 2 AO rating debacle -- the game received the AO rating from the ESRB for both PS2 and Wii. As a result, the game will have to be altered if Rockstar ever wants it to see retail shelves. It looks like this occurrence is already affecting the rest of the industry, as Condemned 2 producer, Constantine Hantzopoulos, reveals to CVG. According to Hantzopoulos, the Condemned 2 team is cutting certain content from the game in order to avoid an AO rating. As examples, he states that the ability to put an enemies head in a vice has been cut, as have several decapitations. Judging from Hantzopoulos' comments, other environmental attacks, like putting someone's head through a TV, may be cut as well. Condemned 2: Bloodshot, whatever its final state may be, is expected to arrive early next year.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DjDATZ @ Jul 24th 2007 2:06PM
Well that's gay. Why does it matter? lol
VeHeMeNcE @ Jul 24th 2007 2:10PM
are you fucking kidding me?
Tony @ Jul 24th 2007 2:09PM
You know, killing is killing. I guess I can understand the whole idea of certain methods being more "malicious", but I have to wonder why there's a group that has to differentiate between stabbing someone in the face or putting their head in a vice. What is really the difference there? The mixed signals created are very confusing.
Really, at the end of the day, I'm an adult. Let me buy what I want.
ccc @ Jul 24th 2007 2:10PM
This has to be stopped here and now.
JeremyK @ Jul 24th 2007 2:15PM
The double standards between movies and games is pretty sad really. Watch some thing like the trailer for the new Rambo and tell me that's not gorier than any game.
Will parents be outraged? No they'll probably be taking there kids with them too it...
Games are clearly the downfall of our society though. :roll:
HallwayGiant @ Jul 24th 2007 2:15PM
Definitely something wrong with that at some level, altering your vision for the game just so its not (basically) banned from retail.
Everdred @ Jul 24th 2007 2:16PM
Wow this sucks, I didn't care about the Manhunt issue, but this, for some strange reason, really pisses me off.
ccc @ Jul 24th 2007 2:19PM
I can only merit an AO rating for sexual content, and by that I mean some hardcore skin slappin penatration action. Not just something that implys the act. As far as killing methods go, we have to do something about this before we cant even aim a gun at an enemy in a game without it getting an AO rating.
ShadowHawk01 @ Jul 24th 2007 2:19PM
This is ridiculous! Now we will never get to play games as the developers intended them to be made.
They can do these things in a movie for an R rating... why not in a game for a M rating? I fear for the future of horror video games. I say if an R rated movie can get away with these things then so should a game with an M rating.
Zant @ Jul 24th 2007 2:27PM
first of all manhunt 2 was given the AO rating so quickly was because of rockstars history. such as having sex in GTA, how fucking stupid is that, in a video game. and how much violence is in it. and other comapies shouldnt worry about it. and manhunt 2 shouldnt even be made its rediculous.
Joshua @ Jul 24th 2007 2:31PM
@ShadowHawk01
The horror games will probably be mostly safe as long as the 'enemy' is a zombie or some other 'not too human' character.
As for the AO issues. I really think it's crap that games cannot hit a store shelf with the rating. I would think an 'M' rating should cover all acts of violence much like 'R' ratings tend to.
thisguyrighthere @ Jul 24th 2007 3:00PM
So what if it got rated AO? Thats the point of the ESRB, isnt it? Rate it AO and put it in the stores. Let people under 18 get a parent to buy it for them and let people 18 and over buy it. Whats the big deal?
I've been waiting ever since the inception of these ratings for developers to make something and sell it as AO. These ratings are supposed to free game makers up to make games exactly how they want to without censorship or other asinine restrictions. Now here it is happening and their marketing segment doesnt want to risk a loss of sales so they sell out and censor themselves?
Thats crap in my book. I want the AO games I've been promised.
MeatPopSci @ Jul 24th 2007 3:03PM
How can movies like SAW and Hostle get 'R' ratings and games that are just as violent get 'AO'?
Nick Less @ Jul 24th 2007 3:48PM
please help us all. Its a dark day when we have to submit to the stupid rating system.
Richard Mitchell @ Jul 24th 2007 3:34PM
thisguyrighthere,
The problem is that stores won't carry AO rated games. In fact, Sony and Nintendo refused to grant a license for Manhunt 2 to even be playable on their systems. I imagine Microsoft would do the same thing.
JeremyK @ Jul 24th 2007 3:37PM
@12
The problem is most stores won't carry AO games so it's sales suicide to try to release a game with that rating.
It doesn't make sense in the first place. AO should akin to xxx in the movie business. Mature games aren't supposed to be sold to minors so it's akin to the R rating.
Would it really make sense for a movie like Saving Private Ryan to be rated xxx? Silly isn't it...
Nelson @ Jul 24th 2007 3:47PM
The whole problem is, both Sony and MS do not allow AO rated games on their consoles. So if these developers want to get a return for their hard work, they need to adjust the game and get the M rating.
carl @ Jul 24th 2007 4:06PM
ALL hail our NAZI censorship overlords .They will be burning books again soon. Adults want adult games with adult themes. This is a dark day for anybody who believes in adult choice and freedom of expression within art. These NAZIS have no right to impose their version of anything upon other adults. We will all be infantilized into playing fucking mario princess barbie bastard toadstool horse teaparty adventure world with added waggle soon.
MYPS3KilledMy360 @ Jul 24th 2007 4:40PM
I dont get it? why the hell hasent anybody anounced that this game is not gonna be 360 exclusive, at best a timed exclusive? Unreal was anounced when? and it immediatly got taken down the PS3 exclusive list i meen come on it doesnt even come out for the 360 till march while ace combat 6(http://kotaku.com/gaming/ace-combat-6/oxm-says-ace-combat-6-is-360-timed-exclusive-250945.php) is really a timed exclusive and condemned 2(http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/10/condemned-2-bloodshot-announced-with-multiplayer-for-ps3-and/) is going multiplat(but the developer never said it was a 360 exclusive). does MS pay to keep that info a off the below the radar and wtf does sony do let this happen when the know its not true? i think this is all a big show and in 10 yrs we are gonna see the MS and Sony team up and make the PS720 lol :).
fyreblazer @ Jul 24th 2007 5:13PM
While they're at it, why not replace the blood with sweat?
JimyD @ Jul 24th 2007 6:02PM
There is a simple solution to this. The console companies should allow AO rated games as long as the game publisher releases a cut version of the same game (M rated or less).
This would be similar to DVDs, where there is an unrated director’s cut that never made it into the theaters because it would have garnered an NC-17 rating. An AO rated game would be similar to the NC-17 rated movie. This would address the concerns of critics of video game content as the game publishers can say they have a cut version of the game for consumers under the age of 18. As an adult, I should be able to play whatever type of game I want and not have to be spoon-fed video game content that “someone” else says is okay for me to experience.
ejunk81 @ Jul 24th 2007 5:49PM
LOL #20
They've done that already...MORTAL KOMBAT for SNES ring a bell? That's really weak. I totally agree with the statment made about "freedom of speech" in art.
GamerGuyX @ Jul 24th 2007 7:52PM
This is bullshit.
David @ Jul 24th 2007 8:08PM
Tired of this. It's about time someone just released a AAA title with an AO rating and sold it themselves mail order. Have an M rated version for WalMart.
Milly @ Jul 24th 2007 10:37PM
Cenorship plain and simple. Special interest groups speaking pushing an agenda for the majority. This is crap. Tell people it's really gory and crazy. But give them the option to buy it. And if it's the kids you're trying to protect, god forbid parents take responsibility and are involved in raising and educating their own children.
NuAngel @ Jul 24th 2007 11:47PM
The Punisher (the game based on the Marvel Comics movie) had all kinds of violece - faces eaten off by sharks, eyes drilled out, head cut off by a table saw... what's so wrong with crushing a head in a vice? *sigh*
Zeus the God @ Jul 25th 2007 2:46AM
Fuck that. If I want to put someone's head in a vice, I better be able to fucking do it...
Or someone else's "head" will be in one!
(jokes)
Boff @ Jul 25th 2007 6:30AM
There are probably just as many (if not more) adults on Live than kids. Make it an 18/AO or whatever and leave it up to the customer! I totally agree with all the comments regarding the differences between movie and game ratings. I put it down to all the mis-informed, completely out of touch, conservative parents and pressure groups who believe anything that's written in the papers (GTA made my son a murderer!) and probably have no personal experience of videogames (adult themed or otherwise) to base an opinion on.
The market is catering to them, not the audience - the people who actually purchase and play the games! Doesn't make sense!
fyreblazer @ Jul 25th 2007 9:29AM
#21
"MORTAL KOMBAT for SNES ring a bell?"
Yes, that's the basis of the joke.
Boff @ Jul 25th 2007 11:37AM
Don't worry Fyreblazer some of us got the joke!!
Slestak @ Jul 25th 2007 12:45PM
It's a "vise", not a "vice".
Richard Mitchell @ Jul 25th 2007 12:49PM
"It's a "vise", not a "vice"."
It can be spelled either way.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/vice
MisterL @ Jul 25th 2007 4:04PM
This is madness and we're not even in Sparta. Who's with me for taking names and kicking arse; this is bull shit and we need to take matters into our hands before these rating nazis start killing off these games.
Chrizell @ Sep 24th 2007 11:40PM
Bah!! AO games can be sell it over the internet. It's so... simple: like Larry Magna Cum Laude Mature version of PS2 for the kids and the Adult version on internet for us.
Men!!... what is the pain in the #*! ? anyway
Rockstar and Hantzopoulos don't try to fight both needs?!
Brandon @ Oct 7th 2007 9:36PM
I do agree that blood and violence in video games shouldn't call for an adult rating. Even when it comes to sexual themes, still, a Mature "R" rating should cover those aspects, just as they do in movies. What about movies with rape scenes, murder scenes, torture scenes that all get away with a simple "R" rating...and then you take the same scenes, put them in a game, and it becomes Adult Only. An "AO" rating equals death, and it's not even because of sales. It's parents. They hear "ADULT ONLY" and think that it's a smut game filled with nothing BUT sex and murder and then the devil's gonna hop through their TV and eat their souls or something. Microsoft doesn't allow "AO" games? Yeah...what about all of the Virtual Sex games that come out for computers? It's gaming systems that don't allow "AO" games because they fear being burned and burried by all of these religious over protective pricks who want to tell YOU what's good for you.