Manhunt Battered in the US
And at least one analyst thinks the fate of the series is now in question.
Rockstar's controversial Manhunt sequel was rejected this week by the British Board of Film Classification, making it illegal to sell the game in the UK. In the US, prospects for the game are more positive - but only slightly.
The Entertainment Software Ratings Board has given Manhunt 2 an initial AO (adults-only) rating in the US, according to GameSpot.
If the rating is finalized, it will hurt sales of the game, as many of the biggest retailers in the US, including Wal-Mart, have a policy of not selling AO-rated games.
The damage could be severe, suggests industry analyst Michael Pachter, who told GamePolitics.com that Rockstar parent company Take Two has three options: release it as an AO-rated game in the US; cancel it outright; or go back in and get it into a state that could see it released in the UK and at a more permissive rating in the US.
Pachter also speculated that the furore over Manhunt 2 "can't be good for the longevity of the franchise", making a Manhunt 3 unlikely.
Rockstar did not return calls for comment on this story.
Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo
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