British Government Deems Citizens Not Responsible Enough to Play Manhunt 2

Wow, that was a doozy of a title, I feel a bit like a conservative AM radio host.

Hyperbole aside, the new and dis-improved Manhunt 2 (toned down to suit censors) is still too violent for British regulators. Apparently Rockstar did not go far enough in editing the "bleakness and callousness of tone" in Manhunt 2.

For all of you out there who are sick of the "videogames as art" debates, this is why it matters.

If something is considered ART, then no matter how obscene, it is left for the general population to determine whether or not to engage it, not for censors to decide. Art is a designation of power, which is why the most offensive books or violent films (the Hills Have Eyes anyone?, how about SAW?) may face hurdles, but ultimately are still distributed.

Crazy headlines aside, why is it that the government feels that British residents can't decide for themselves whether or not to play Manhunt 2? Please don't say the children, there is a rating system for that, if you have a problem with it, then revise it, don't ban games.

I suggest tea party 2.0, avoid British products for the rest of the month until Big Brother (a.k.a. the British Board of Film Classification) lays off.

[Source: Associated Press]