The better way to ban Manhunt 2?

In the wake of the BBFC rejecting a revised version of Manhunt 2 across every format in the UK (including the Wii), we ask if the decision was a fair one, and what it represents.  Already an appeal is in place, and that will now roll forward in the wake of this second rejection.

The Director of the BBFC said:
"We recognise that the distributor has made changes to the game, but we do not consider that these go far enough to address our concerns about the original version. The impact of the revisions on the bleakness and callousness of tone, or the essential nature of the gameplay, is clearly insufficient ... we did make suggestions for further changes to the game, but the distributor has chosen not to make them..."

Interestingly, it was not the sight of literal gore or even in game killing that appears to have got this notorious sequel banned for a UK release.  The BBFC are making an interesting and quite modern, robust stand about the overall theme and tone of a video game; about what it stands for and what overall sensation it brings to the player.  This is a modern take on censorship, a welcome step away from knee-jerk pigeonholing of games for the inclusion of blood or violence (remember SNES Mortal Kombat with the 'grey sweat' to replace blood?).

We welcome a much more mature and scientific take on game censorship.  If a game is so morbid in theme and aim that it cannot even attain an 18 certificate, one has to ask themselves if they would like such a title available on the shelves with an 18 brand, which we all know is very easy to come by for children as young as 5 (parents and siblings often openly admit purchasing 18 rated games for their children).

I would rather see games with themes this dark and inhumane banned, than continue down the pathway of 'remove anyone breaking necks or hitting with poles, and then your game full of violence will be ok'.  It seems far more realistic and consistent to judge the game's overall theme and tone than to cherry pick attacking moves out of a game, then release it rated 12 when it's still full of violence.  This way games designers will be forced to think about the sorts of games they are making, and if it's really worth designing a game with a tone so sick that it won't get past the ratings board.