BBFC News: 2007

27th November

Update:

Rockstar come out fighting, all guns blazing

Some of the rhetoric sounds a bit strong to me, doesn't sound like it was well pitched to win over the hearts and minds of the VAC.

From Euro Gamer see full article

Rockstar has launched its appeal against the BBFC's decision to refuse Manhunt 2 certification, accusing the board of putting its reputation above the interests of gamers.

Geoffrey Robertson, representing Rockstar, began the proceedings at the Video Appeals Committee hearing by claiming the British Board of Film Classification was a misnomer - suggesting it should instead be referred to as the British Board of Videogame Censors.

There's no evidence that playing interactive videogames leads to a propensity to act them out in real life. We wonder why Manhunt 2 has been singled out for special treatment, he stated.

Robertson went on to accuse the BBFC of being simply ignorant of the gaming experience and throwing adjectives with hyperbolic abandon at the game. Their reputation is not at stake; if it were we could show how, over the last century, they've been derided for some of the most stupid decisions in censorship history, he continued. But we're not going to go down that road.

According to statistics presented by Robertson, there are 26.5 million gamers in the UK. Their average age is 28 and the gender split is 45 per cent female, 55 per cent male.

Addressing the panel from the Video Appeals Committee present to hear Rockstar's appeal Robertson said, There you are, seven of you - not one of you has experienced, I'm told by the chairman, computer games, or are a gamer.

At this point one member of the panel interjected, stating, That's not true. Some of us actually have played computer games. It was also confirmed that the panel did play Manhunt 2 in advance of the hearing.

Robertson described as offensive and outrageous the allegation the board makes against adults in this country that they're somehow going to go and shoot or kill as a result of playing Manhunt 2.

Millions of gamers play videogames and no crime has ever been directly attributed to them, with one exception. And in that case, the murder of British teenager Stefan Pakeerah, it was found that there was no connection.

From Escapist see full article

Tiga CEO Fred Hasson and psychologist Guy Cumberbatch have spoken out in defense of Rockstar at the company's appeal.

Hasson said he stood behind his earlier claims that the BBFC made its decision to ban the game based on articles in the Daily Mail and other publications, saying, I can only come to the conclusion that is the case. Having seen the content of the game, I can't see any other reason why they've done that.

Hasson claimed he was surprised at how tame it is compared to some very graphical scenes I've seen in other games which have received certification. I expected it to be a lot worse... I can't believe this has been singled out as something that is worth banning.

Cumberbatch, who has done extensive research into media violence, said he conducted a survey in which 86 respondents, all of whom had seen at least two 18-rated movies and played two 18-rated videogames, played Manhunt 2 for 15 minutes and also viewed a series of video clips taken from different levels of the game. They were then asked how they felt the game compared to other games and films; 68% said other games on the market were equally violent, while 80% said equally violent films were available. Further, according to Cumberbatch, several respondents indicated that gamers would be "disappointed" with the level of violence in the game.

Certainly no one's going to suggest Manhunt 2 is one of the least violent games around, Cumberbatch said: In my own limited experience of playing Manhunt 2, it's fairly sanitized as a work compared with what you might expect in a film.

The BBFC have their Say

From Euro Gamer see full article

The BBFC has accepted there is no proven link between anti-social behaviour and violent videogames - but said more research is required to conclusively rule any connection out.

Speaking at the appeal hearing yesterday Andrew Caldecott, representing the BBFC, stated: The board's position is that there is insufficient evidence to prove, as a fact, there is a causal connection between violent games and behavioural harm... It's a perfectly fair point, and one which we accept, but it's not by any means a complete answer to the question the [Video Appeals Committee] has to decide.

On the subject of research presented earlier by Rockstar in defence of its argument, Caldecott said: The research certainly achieves the objective of establishing that research does not demonstrate that there is a causal link. But what it certainly does not establish is that there isn't.

He went on to observe that neither side had suggested Manhunt 2 was suitable for people aged under 18 at any point during the hearing. For a young person, this is a disturbing game, it is a shocking game, and there are issues about innocence and matters of that sort in relation to young people. In a Utopian society, you would have effective measures where the over-18s could play what was suitable for them without being cluttered by the fact minors will see them. But you can't make classification decisions without regard to the social prevalence [of games].

Caldecott went on to present the BBFC's response to the argument that videogames should be judged by the same standards as films such as Saw and Hostel. He told the appeals panel, Film is a different medium; it is simply is a different experience. There are ways in which it is perhaps more involving, because you are dealing with absolute reality, with real people, in film. On the other hand, many people watch horror films to some extent from the point of view of the victim, or the point of view of what's going to happen - not with this very distinctive point of view of being the person who's wielding the weapon, and is rewarded for killing in the bloodiest way possible.

Caldecott later suggested that videogames with violent content are more likely to be seen by children than violent films. A videogame is inherently less likely to be strictly supervised, and that is supported by research, he said, adding that violent films are usually watched late at night.

Games and technology develop incrementally� If you take the comparable argument to its extreme, you get a gradual creeping towards ever more graphic violence, but you never draw a line at any particular point.

If you�re not careful you get into a peculiar game of Grandmother�s Footsteps, where everybody�s shuffling forward but Grandma�s never allowed to turn round and say, �Stop�� Is there never a point at which you can say, �This is unacceptable�?

Turning to Manhunt 2 specifically, Caldecott focused on the nature of the game's violent content. In this particular game, the victims are people. They are not aliens or griffins or Daleks... You see lots of human beings quite mercilessly kicking and punching other human beings as you move through the game.

"It's a frequent theme of level one, which is the only one I've actually played right through. Even when you're not killing someone yourself, you're passing someone who's getting a good beating or having an unpleasant time.

He also pointed to the weapons used in the game as a particular area for concern. They're not magic wands or Excalibur; many of them are everyday objects.

Concluding the hearing, the chairman of the Video Appeals Committee said: This is a very important case and there is an awful lot we must consider. We will work hard at it and get you a decision as soon as possible. A date was not set for the announcement of the decision.

The BBFC have published a research report into Audiences and Receptions of Sexual Violence in Contemporary Cinema. The report was commissioned from Professor Martin Barker of the University of Aberystwyth and is based on new and substantive qualitative research.

In performing its duties as a regulator of the moving image, the BBFC is obliged to balance the right of freedom of expression with the need to protect the public from harm. In the case of �video works�, including DVDs, the BBFC has a particular obligation under the Video Recordings Act 1984 (VRA) to have special regard, among other factors, to any harm that may be caused (to viewers or to society) by the manner in which a video work deals with sex, violence, horror, drugs or criminal activity. Scenes of sexual violence inevitably combine two, and sometimes all five, of the potentially harmful elements identified by the VRA and therefore raise particularly difficult issues for the BBFC.

Despite a vast amount of media effects research, absolute �proof� of harm, or of the extent of harm, is elusive, not least because of the ethical and practical difficulties involved. The responsible media regulator must therefore exercise judgement in a manner which takes account of the concerns raised by some research studies, but which also acknowledges the limitations of the research and the rights enshrined in UK law by the Human Rights Acts 1998.

The BBFC�s own large scale public opinion research has consistently shown that a majority of the public believe that adults should be able to choose their own entertainment, within the law. However, this general view often comes with a caveat when sexual violence is considered. In light of this, in 2002, the BBFC commissioned a detailed study of public reaction to six films featuring sexual violence. The results revealed a degree of public concern about adults viewing graphic depictions of sexual violence which contrasted sharply with the attitude to adults viewing graphic depictions of consensual sex or graphic depictions of violence with no sexual context. The 2002 research focussed on the views of a demographically balanced sample in relation to what adults in general should be allowed to view. Respondents were asked to view films which, in normal circumstances, they might never have chosen to view. As such, it revealed the extent of public concern over what impact certain films might have on other people, and relied upon assumptions about how these �other people� might experience or respond to the films. The research did not reveal, or seek to reveal, the actual responses of the people who actively choose to watch such films.

To explore the issue further, the BBFC therefore commissioned qualitative research designed to investigate the ways in which naturally-occurring audiences understand and respond to five films � � Ma Soeur, Baise-Moi, The House on the Edge of the Park, Ichi the Killer, and Irreversible � chosen because the BBFC had been exercised over their inclusion of scenes of sexual violence. The central issues for the project were to find ways to explore: how audiences� understanding and response to the films were affected by the existence of different versions of the films, and the impact of the cuts required for four of the films; how audiences use the idea of �context� as they make sense of the scenes of sexual violence; and how in particular audiences who respond positively to the films are understanding these scenes.

The report published today makes extremely interesting reading and underlines the complexity of the issue. The research was not designed to offer simple policy solutions to the BBFC and has, quite rightly, studiously avoided doing so. Nevertheless, the research offers some clear and valuable insights into the ways in which real audiences understand and respond to scenes of sexual violence in contemporary cinema and the BBFC is currently considering the implications of its findings for future classification decisions.

Key findings from the report

1. In the main, responses to the five films are distinct from each other. There are few overlaps of audiences and judgements. Within our data we can find little evidence of an interest in screened sexual violence per se. There are three exceptions to this: (a) a �bad taste� interest, whose primary drive is towards a very public delight in the offensive and possibly illicit; (b) an anti-censorship interest, whose primary challenge is against anyone taking the right to judgements away from the individual; and (c) a �BDSM� special interest group, whose members seek out materials which may contribute to sexual interests based around consensually enacted fantasies.

2. Other than these, the differences in kinds of attention shown to the five films are to be found in the following main features: (a) into what vernacular genres they are placed, or against which they are measured; (b) where and within what rules of exchange debate tends to take place; (c) how moments of screened sexual violence are viewed, explained and related to contexts

3. A vital factor in determining responses to screened sexual violence is the kinds of context within which it is understood. Our research reveals that �context� has a number of distinct meanings for audiences.

4 For the most positive among our audiences, on all five films (but especially for � Ma Soeur and Baise-Moi), in crucial scenes �seeing� events is not the primary element of their responses. Rather, tensions among and between seeing, hearing, physically responding, knowing and imagining constitute the basis of their understanding and response.

5. There are considerable tensions surrounding the issue of finding screen representations of sexual violence �arousing�. This is understood to be a �forbidden zone�. Yet there is strong evidence within our study (a) that many � both men and women � do find some such scenes arousing, but (b) that this can associate with greater condemnation of the violence because the arousal heightens awareness and involvement, and thus imaginative participation in the implications of the scene.

6. Overwhelmingly, Embracing and Refusing respondents find different kinds of
meanings in the films, as a result of relating to them differently.

[There are then key findings for each of the 5 films]

Whilst avoiding trying to suggest any policy-responses, we draw attention to three issues which have particularly struck us:

the public position of the BBFC, and its perceived membership of a �respectable� class which threatens the legitimate interests of counter-cultural film enthusiasts

the issue of the BBFC�s implicit models of the audience contained within its judgements about different films, whose evidential base may not be available for scrutiny

the problem of the release of versions which do not acknowledge that they have been cut.

13th November		Jolie Well Shocked...

	Supporting the hype for Beowulf
	From the BBC see full article
	Actress Angelina Jolie has said she is surprised her latest movie Beowulf has received a 12A certificate in the UK. It's remarkable it has the rating it has, she told reporters at its British premiere: It's quite an extraordinary film, and some of it shocked me. Jolie said it was not graphic for the sake of being graphic. I think it's beautifully done. It's amazing, and very creative. Jolie said she would not be taking her own children to see the film. The BBFC explained their decision as follows with spoiler warnings. Beowulf is a full length animated feature based on the epic Old English heroic poem. The film was classified �12A� for moderate violence and sex references. The majority of the violence is fantastical, involving Beowulf fighting against various monsters. Although we see the monsters being slain, the violence does not dwell on detail and is firmly set within the narrative context rather than gratuitous. Although blood is sometimes shown, there is no emphasis on injuries or blood and the blood of the monsters in particular is often shown in stylised colours. There is very little human-to-human violence, although at one point a man is torn apart by a monster (shown only in silhouette) and we briefly see his body being flung onto the floor. The fighting and violence is very similar to that found in parts of the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy (the second and third instalments of which were also classified �12A�). The film also contains a number of moderate sex references. These mostly comprise bawdy, good-humoured singing and boasting about 'wenches'. There is also a discreet seduction scene in which a largely naked woman makes gestures that subtly imply the masturbation of a man. Given the discreet and symbolic nature of the scene this was not felt to contravene the BBFC's Guidelines at '12A' which state that 'Sexual activity may be implied Sex references may reflect what is likely to be familiar to most adolescents but must not go beyond what is suitable for them�. Beowulf opens in the UK and US on Friday.

5th November		Nunchuka Murder...

	Ferman's "I Told You So"?
	A previous film censor, James Ferman, for many years made a particular point of cutting every sighting of the offending weapon. Will anybody blame films over this case? From the Daily Mail
	An 18-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a 15-year-old boy at a Hallowe'en party in Horsham, West Sussex. The suspected weapon is a set of nunchuks, or two short sticks of wood, metal or fibreglass connected by a chain or rope. Richard McGarvey Martin was charged with one count of murder and one count of causing actual bodily harm by West Sussex police on Sunday night. Nunchucks, or nunchaku, are believed to have been invented on the Japanese island of Okinawa before being adopted in China. They became popular in the West in the 1970s after martial artist Bruce Lee used them in his movies. They are banned in Germany, Belgium and Spain, but not in Britain. It is, however, illegal to carry them in the UK except for transporting them to and from martial arts training.

27th October		The Mild Horror of Dracula...

	Original Hammer Dracula gets 12A certificate
	From the Daily Mail See also Flesh & Blood for general info about the Film
	When it was made in 1958, the censors considered the film Dracula so terrifying they refused to allow adults to watch the full, uncut version. The Hammer film, starring Christopher Lee, was remarkable for its pioneering combination of fantasy, sexuality � and unprecedented gore. But since then, a lot of blood has flowed under the cinematic bridge. So much so that the movie once deemed too scary for grown-ups has now been passed by Britain's film censors as suitable for children. In 1958, after the more shocking scenes were cut, Dracula was approved with an X certificate, restricting it to over-16s. It went on to become a huge hit, revitalising the horror genre. Almost 50 years after the initial controversy it is being re-released in British cinemas with a 12A certificate with an advisory note for parents that it includes "mild" horror. Harry Potter is probably scarier than Dracula, said Sue Clark, BBFC's head of communications. She said times had changed since the original Hammer films came out: Without being disrespectful, because I thoroughly enjoy them, they are not that scary and they are not actually that gory � I suppose you might describe them as camp. From the BBFC see full article Dracula is a classic 1950s British adaptation of Bram Stoker's vampire novel Dracula. It was originally classified 'X' for cinema release in 1958 (meaning that persons under 16 should not be admitted) and was subsequently classified '15' for release on video. In terms of current classification standards it was felt that the film could now be classified at '12A' for cinema re-release for mild bloody horror. BBFC Guidelines at '12A' state that 'Violence must not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood. Sustained moderate threat and menace are permitted'. Although the film contains some sight of blood (most notably when a vampire is killed using a stake), there is no emphasis upon blood and injuries. Furthermore, although the film is atmospheric and generates some sense of threat, this is moderate in nature and distanced by the period setting and by the familiarity of the story, other versions of which have been classified at 'PG'.

24th October		Censor-Sensing...

	BBFC note that Wii's motion sensing hasn't affected censorship so far
	From the develop see full article
	The BBFC has gone on record to say that the Manhunt 2's use of the Wii motion-sensing controller had no impact on its decision to ban the game. Speaking to MCV, the BBFC explained that the use of the Wii's motion-sensing controller - speculated by some to be a reason for encouraging the ban, given that it suggests more interactivity - did not impact the body's decision to stop the game going on sale. Under certain circumstances and in certain contexts it is possible that motion-sensing devices might have an effect on category decisions, explained Gianni Zamo, senior examiner, but added: It is not a prime consideration for at the moment and has not affected any Wii games we have passed so far. On the topic of Manhunt, he explained: We certainly didn't single out the Wii version of Manhunt 2 from the PS2 version on the basis that users could stimulate the delivery of a blow more realistically than the hand-controller of the PS2. Indeed, motion-sensing devices are nothing new. Prior to the release of the Wii nobody had ever expressed concern that one could buy peripherals such as pistols or flight/driving controls to add to the game experience.

25th October	Update:	Playing Contextual Word Games...

	BBFC aren't harder on games than films...but...
	From MCV see full interview
	MCV interviewed Gianni Zamo, a senior examiner at the BBFC MCV: You are are preparing to review your guidelines for games to help differentiate them from how you rate films. Will this be noticeable when it comes to rating games? BBFC: We have not reviewed our guidelines on games yet. This will form part of a review of all of the guidelines over the next year. In any event, we are not harsher on games than we are on films though problems generally arise where it can be difficult to make a contextual defence for a game as opposed to a film. Many game narratives are often fractured and detached from the interactive element of the game, making it difficult to see them as a whole, coherent piece. Trying to understand the context of a 40 plus hour game (even with a storyline) is very different from understanding a 90 minute movie. MCV: Does the interactivity of violent games mean that their influence differs to violent films? BBFC: The Board is narrative/context sensitive in its deliberations. Interactivity may have an influence in certain contexts though our recent research seems to suggest that this is not a key issue for most users. Where �interactivity� can be an issue is the question of who the player identifies with.

BBFC News

2007

Unnecessary...

Brazier's BBFC accountability bill

Serious Misdirection of the Law...

BBFC get their Judicial Review of the Manhunt decision

BBFC an Insult to Freedom of Expression...

Letter Re BBFC censorship of Manhunt 2

Unchanging Advice...

Consumer advice added to R18s

Take Two Responses...

Take Two response to BBFC call for Judicial Review

The Wrong Type of Interpretation...

Game censor asks court to review VAC decision on Manhunt 2

Legal Games...

Game censors considering High Court review

No More Spin...

No More Heroes not toned down, just not the strong US version

Download Stunts...

Jackass 2.5 to premier on download

A Manhunt for Success...

Rockstar win Manhunt 2 Appeal

No More Heroes...

BBFC win next censorship round in bloodless coup

Censors Held to Account by Nutters...

Brazier presents his BBFC accountability bill to parliament

Taking Brazier Seriously...

ELSPA requests meeting with Brazier

Brazier Hot Under the Collar...

For the People, our Politicians don't care

21st October		Promises of Controversy...

	Times hypes up Cronenberg's Eastern Promises
	From the Times
	Britain's film censors are facing controversy over their decision to allow one of the most violent movies of recent years to be screened without any cuts. Eastern Promises, directed by David Cronenberg, includes scenes said to be so gruesome that, at its British premiere last week, members of the audience gasped and turned away from the screen. But it was awarded an 18 certificate without any cuts because BBFC has introduced a policy of not removing violence from films, except in a few cases, such as explicit scenes of rape. The board has become so liberal towards violence that some of its former leaders are said to be concerned. It is now out of step with public opinion, said Mike Bor, the BBFC�s chief examiner from 1983 to 2000. The sequences in Eastern Promises, which centres on the Russian mafia in London, include one in which a knife is twisted repeatedly and gleefully into a man�s eye and two showing victims having their throats cut in graphic detail. Andreas Whittam Smith, a former president of the BBFC, said he had not seen Eastern Promises but that when he ran the board, from 1998 to 2002, he had used an �unofficial test� to decide on cuts: If I thought this was the type of film that was likely to make people leave the cinema, or even make them have to look away for quite a while, then I would question why the scene should be left in. This weekend, the BBFC stood by its decision. Scenes that make people turn away are part of the fun of going to movies, a spokesman said. The board added: These days we are not here to cut; we are here to provide information and let people then make up their minds . . . People also have expectations of what a Cronenberg film is. Eastern Promises, starring Viggo Mortensen and Naomi Watts goes on general release next weekend, after its premiere at the London Film Festival. From the BBFC EASTER PROMISES is a mystery thriller set against a backdrop of London�s organised crime fraternity. It was passed �18� for strong bloody violence. The BBFC�s Guidelines at �15� state that �violence may be strong but may not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury�. In EASTERN PROMISES there are three key scenes of extremely visceral violence, two images of throats being slit and one of a man's eye being viciously and repeatedly stabbed. These images focus on the actual process of violence in bloody detail and with a clear element of sadism which goes beyond what is suitable at �15� but is suitable for adults at �18�. EASTERN PROMISES also contains frequent use of strong language, a single sex scene which lacks strong detail and references to the rape of an underage girl. Finally the film makes reference to the forced use of heroin on an underage teenage girl brought into England with others to work as prostitutes for criminal gangs. Review from Amazon US I found A History of Violence to be a good movie, but Eastern Promises is crafted into something even better. The acting by Viggo Mortensen is outstanding, even Oscar worthy, while Naomi Watts and Armin Mueller-Stahl lend good work as well. The movie is just the right length at about 1 hour and 45 minutes. It doesn't feel rushed or too long. The movie is gory and brutal, but not nearly as violent as I expected going in. If you liked A History of Violence or mob films in general, this film should land on your best of 2007 list.

22nd October	Update:	Increasingly Lax and Ineffective...

	Beyer Recommends: Eastern Promises
	To follow up yesterday's ludicrous piece in the Sunday Times, the Daily Mail decided to let John Beyer spout off on the subject of David Cronenberg's Eastern Promises. From the Daily Mail
	John Beyer, of Mediawatch-UK, said the board should be sacked for failing to show leadership at a time when street violence is spiralling. The BBFC has become increasingly lax and ineffective and is completely out of touch with public opinion, he told the Mail. It needs to be replaced with another body which will show more responsibility on the issue of violence. Despite the latest statistics in gun and knife crime showing that the problems of violence are at an all-time high, the BBFC refuses to take action. This culture of violence that the BBFC has engendered has got to come to an end. There is no question that the BBFC has set about changing and lowering standards over time with more violence and sexual content being put out for an ever younger audience. He claimed that in the past three years board members had become a law unto themselves.

10th October	Update: Hunting for Manhunt 2...
	Alternative European Sources The French language release of Manhunt 2 is on 30th November 2007. It is available for pre-order from French Amazon Meanwhile the Belgian release has seemingly been on sale since July rather suggesting that it is the original uncut version.

13th October	Update:	BBFC Playing a Poor Game...

	The BBFC under siege start to sound distinctly bedraggled
	I am still idly speculating that the politicians got at the BBFC...The initial ban was so coincidently close to a meeting when all Euro politicians decided that something had to be done over violent games. From Spong see full article
	The revised, cut-down version of Manhunt 2 that the BBFC banned is now confirmed as the same cut that the ESRB approved for sale in the US. So while US gamers get to finally play Manhunt 2 this Halloween, gamers in the UK and across Europe have to wait until Rockstar goes through the lengthy, tedious process of having to go to the Video Appeals Committee. And while Rockstar in the UK is currently stuck in some kind of Kafka-esque nightmare of appealing to nonsensical committees about a horror game which every right-thinking person assumes should never have been banned in the first place, the BBFC has responded to recent criticism from the publisher that it favours movies over games. A BBFC spokesperson told MCV: We don�t differentiate how harsh we are on DVD or video games � we have a duty to both under the Video Recordings Act. If we were more tough on games than any other medium, don�t you think we�d be banning far more titles? Manhunt 2 is the second game we have rejected in 23 years. I�d hardly call that draconian. [Oooh...it's so unfair] DVD companies don�t complain when we reject their products. The creator of Struggle In Bondage didn�t get up in arms. [Yes but Struggle in Bondage was only missed by a few, Manhunt is anticipated by thousands, it is more akin to banning a Hollywood blockbuster] Manhunt 2 went beyond our guidelines when it came to gross violence and we had a public duty to reject it. [Bollox!]

18th October	Update:	Shock Horror!...

	"Thousands download illegal ultra-violent game"
	The tabloid press are gunning for Manhunt 2 From Sky News see full article
	Manhunt 2 is a video game so violent it was the first in a decade to be banned in Britain. But a Sky News investigation has discovered that anyone, including young children, can still get hold of the game. Thousands of gamers are using the internet to get their hands on a video game banned because of its graphic scenes of torture and murder. Manhunt 2, which features a character who goes on a gruesome killing spree in a mental institution, is the only game to have been banned by British censors in the past 10 years. The BBFC refused to allow it to go on sale because of its "relentless violence" and "casual sadism". But the game was leaked onto the web - and anyone with a little technical knowledge [of Google and the word 'BitTorrent'] can download it and play it on a modified games console. No-one of any age is allowed to play the game, and yet our investigation found thousands of people downloading it. Gaming expert and journalist Rob Fahey told Sky News: What's disturbing about the game is you play a killer. There's no victim to sympathise with, there's no particularly complex storyline; you simply go around killing people in extraordinarily violent ways... there's no moral framework around it.

23rd October	Comment:	Manhunt for Hypocrisy...

	Comparing what the BBFC say about films and games
	I still rather suspect that the difference is something to do with the meeting or European ministers that decided that 'something' should be done about 'killer games'. From Game Politics see full article
	What�s good for the cinematic goose is not, apparently, okay for the video game gander. As reported by the Daily Mail, the BBFC, which assigns both film & game ratings in the UK, has adopted a hands-off approach to movie violence. That�s of interest to GamePolitics readers because it was the same BBFC which banned Manhunt 2 in June. The BBFC on violent games & Manhunt 2: Against this background, the Board�s carefully considered view is that to issue a certificate to Manhunt 2 would involve a range of unjustifiable harm risks, to both adults and minors, within the terms of the Video Recordings Act, and accordingly that its availability, even if statutorily confined to adults, would be unacceptable to the public. The BBFC on violent movies & Eastern Promises: The 18-certificate movie, which is released this week, includes graphic scenes of throatslitting, child prostitution and a man having an eye gouged out. A spokesman for the board said it was up to adults to decide what they wanted to watch and that movie-goers were free to look away from the screen. The BBFC stood by its decision. Scenes that make people turn away are part of the fun of going to movies, a spokesman said. The board added: These days we are not here to cut; we are here to provide information and let people then make up their minds . . . People also have expectations of what a Cronenberg film is. The BBFC provides clear consumer advice. If the board went about cutting out every scene liable to offend then we would be leaving adults without any choice. Who�s to decide what adults can or can�t watch? However, the BBFC can apparently decide what adults can or cannot play�

29th October	Update:	Manhunt vs Hostel...

	BBFC examiner interviewed about Manhunt 2 ban
	From GameSpot see full interview See also Channel M interviews Jim Cliff from youtube.com
	GameSpot interviewed Jim Cliff, a BBFC examiner dealing with video games. It is well worth reading the full interview but here are a couple of relevant questions GameSpot: How do you defend the decision [to ban Manhunt 2] when faced with the fact that movies like Hostel have been released with 18 certificates? BBFC: If the majority of Hostel was the same as some of the most violent scenes in it, it's entirely possible it could have been banned. But it's not. Most of the running time isn't violence, that's mainly crammed into a few short scenes. Also, in Hostel you are very much required to identify with the victims more than in most games. GameSpot: This is only the second game to get banned in the UK and the other one was overturned on appeal. But is this likely? A lot of people are worried that this is kind of a sign of what's to come as games get more realistic, that more and more are going to get banned. Do you think that's going to happen? BBFC: I think the fact that we've only banned two in 21 years of classifying games is a sign that it's not likely to be a problem. You know we very rarely cut games, we extraordinarily rarely ban them, whereas films and videos occasionally get cut--usually to get the specific age category that the company wants. We used to ban and cut a lot more films than we do now. So I don't think there's any worry that we're going to go the other way on games or back the other way on films.

30th October	Update:	Manhunt vs Hostel in the US...

	Films and TV are never described as violent shoot 'em ups
	From the New York Times see full article
	It is clear by now that violence in video games is thought more pernicious than comparable violence in more traditional media. Just look at coverage of Halo, the top-selling science-fiction series that is akin to Star Wars in its level of made-up mayhem. In the mainstream media Halo is often described as a violent space epic or a violent shoot-�em-up game. But when was the last time Star Wars was described as George Lucas�s violent space movie? For that matter, when was the last time anyone referred to The Sopranos as a shoot-�em-up television show, which at some level it was? The answer to both questions is basically never, and that is because American culture has become so inured to violence in linear media that even the most heinous depictions of brutality go almost without comment. Video games don�t get that pass... [see the full article] Nutters Urge Manhunt 2 Boycott From Google News Nutters are urging parents not to buy Manhunt 2. In my opinion, it's the most senselessly violent and offensive thing I've ever watched, said James Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media, a nonprofit group that advises parents about television, movies, Internet sites and video games that may be inappropriate for children. Steyer, who has not seen the version of the game being released this week, was talking about an unrated version that has been circulating free on the Internet since August. It's disgusting, Steyer said. It's so violent, it struck me personally as pornographic violence. Halloween Release The US M Rated censored version is available at US Amazon [who won't deliver to Europe] Manhunt goes on sale in the US over Halloween rated "mature," appropriate for people 17 and up, for about $28. Made for the Nintendo Wii, Sony PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 2. Producers at Rockstar Games submitted a cut version of Manhunt 2 that got the "mature" rating in August. This is a very clear and firm warning to parents that the game is in no way intended for children, the ESRB said in a statement. Other snippets about the release is that the unrated copy floating around the Internet is a European PAL version that does not run on unmodded US PlayStation 2 consoles. Similarly the US M Rated version will only run on suitably modded European consoles. There has been a lot of speculation that Manhunt 2 could be legally sold in the UK via internet download but there is little evidence of any plans to actually do this.

31st October	Update:	Ghastly Nutters...

	More Manhunt nutters creep out the woodwork on Halloween
	From Game Politics
	Dr Susan Linn of the Campaign for a Commercial-free Childhood has weighed in on the release Manhunt 2. In a press release, Linn said: Tomorrow�s release of Manhunt 2 epitomizes much of what�s wrong with the videogame industry�s current system of self-regulation. Research clearly demonstrates that playing violent videogames can increase the likelihood of aggressive behavior in children and youth. Yet even as the industry claims it wants to keep its most violent games out of the hands of children, it virulently opposes any legislation that would give teeth to its often unenforced guidelines for sales and marketing of M-rated games. California State Sen. Leland Yee (D), architect of his state�s contested video game law, has also issued a press release: Not surprisingly, this game is being released on Halloween. Halloween already presents many safety concerns for parents. With the release of Manhunt 2, parents will now face a new challenge from the purveyors of violence. It is imperative that parents avoid purchasing this game for their children and always review the video games their children are playing. Ultra-violent, interactive video games such as Manhunt 2 can have negative effects on our children. Update: More Nutters 2nd November 2007 TV shrink Dr. Phil McGraw & the Parents Television Council have now also had their say against Manhunt 2. Update: Even More Nutters 3rd November 2007 The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has joined the ranks of the Manhunt 2 critics. Update: Christian Nutters 20th November 2007 Ted Baehr, founder of the Christian Film & Television Commission (CFTC) has joined other critics in calling for Manhunt 2�s Adults Only (AO) rating to be restored.

2nd November	Update:	Hacking out the Cuts...

	Cut restored to PlayStation Portable version of Manhunt 2
	From Game Politics see full article
	A hack has made visible some, but apparently far from all, of the content found in the version of the game rated �Adults Only� by the ESRB. From a statement sent to GamePolitics: Multiple edits were made to revise Manhunt 2 for its M-rated version. Hackers apparently have altered one of those edits to produce an illegally modified version of the game that can only be played on an unauthorized, modified PlayStation Portable handheld system. Take-Two Chairman Strauss Zelnick said, I stand behind the game and the ESRB ratings process. It is unfortunately the case that no one in the entertainment software industry is immune from hacking. We hope that consumers will not engage in hacking or download illegally modified copies of our games. Take Two�s spokesman could not speculate as to whether hackers might be able to unlock AO content on the PS2 or Wii versions of the game.

3rd November	Update:	Manhunt 2 Unblurred...

	ESRB ratings organisation comment on hack
	From Game Politics see full article
	Patricia Vance, president of ratings organisation, ESRB, has commented on the Manhunt 2 hack that removed the special effects blurring on the PSP and PS2 version of the game: Earlier this week we learned about a hack into the code of the PSP and PS2 versions of the game that removes special effects filters that were put in place to obscure certain violent depictions. We have investigated the matter and concluded that unauthorized versions of the game have been released on the Internet along with instructions on how to modify the code to remove the special effects. Once numerous changes to the game�s code have been made and other unauthorized software programs have been downloaded to the hardware device which circumvent security controls that prevent unauthorized games from being played on that hardware, a player can view unobscured versions of certain violent acts in the game. Contrary to some reports, however, we do not believe these modifications fully restore the product to the version that originally received an AO rating, nor is this a matter of unlocking content. Our investigation indicates that the game�s publisher disclosed to the ESRB all pertinent content in the authorized Mature-rated version of Manhunt 2 now available in stores, and complied with our guidelines on full disclosure of content.

6th November	Update:	Target Censors...

	Major US retailer removed Manhunt 2 from its shelves
	From escapist see full article
	Major US retailer Target is reported to have removed copies of Rockstar's Manhunt 2 from the shelves in response to the ongoing negative publicity swirling around the game. Contacts at Target stores have confirmed the circulation of an internal memo calling for the game to be pulled from store shelves. The stores are no longer allowed to sell the game, and managers have been told to refuse to accept shipments of the game if any arrive. Take Two, the game's publisher, has apparently agreed to take back unopened copies of the game. The move comes not as a result of the game's violence, the sources say, but because of the continuing ucontroversy. Despite no longer offering the game in stores, Manhunt 2 is still available for order at Target.com. Immediately following the withdrawal of the game, the company's website was modified to state that the game "is not available in stores."

20th November	Update:	Manhunt for the Appeal...

	Manhunt 2 at the Video Appeals Committee
	From Spong see full article
	Rockstar Games is set to present its plea regarding the ongoing BBFC refusal to classify horror game Manhunt 2 to the Video Appeals Committee next Monday 26th November It is set to take place at London�s The De Vere Hotel. (is that the the Cavendish at St James?) Members of the public may attend.

21st November	Update:	Senators Join the Manhunt...

	Hilary Clinton queries the US ratings board
	The BBFC must be well chuffed to have had so much impact on a US presidential front runner. From Game Politics see full article
	In what appears to be looming political trouble for the video game industry, four United States senators have signed a letter calling for a �thorough review� of the ESRB rating system. Senators Hillary Clinton, Joe Lieberman, Evan Bayh and Sam Brownback sent the letter to ESRB president Patricia Vance yesterday. The move was prompted by the furore surrounding the M rating assigned by the ESRB to a revised version of Manhunt 2. All four senators have been critics of the video game industry in the past. Clinton, of course, is the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination. From the letter: As you know, in June 2007, the British Board of Film Classification refused to rate Rockstar�s Manhunt 2 videogame � stating that it contains �unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone. In October 2007, the BBFC again refused to rate a revised Manhunt 2 stating that �the impact of the revisions on the bleakness and callousness of tone � is clearly insufficient. [The ESRB, however,] reduced the revised version�s rating to �Mature,� effectively opening the door to its widespread distribution and its licensing approval by game system manufacturers Sony and Nintendo. In sum, we ask your consideration of whether it is time to review the robustness, reliability and repeatability of your ratings process, particularly for this genre of �ultra-violent� videogames and advances in game controllers.

27th November	Update:	Manhunt 2 On Appeal...

	Rockstar come out fighting, all guns blazing
	Some of the rhetoric sounds a bit strong to me, doesn't sound like it was well pitched to win over the hearts and minds of the VAC. From Euro Gamer see full article
	Rockstar has launched its appeal against the BBFC's decision to refuse Manhunt 2 certification, accusing the board of putting its reputation above the interests of gamers. Geoffrey Robertson, representing Rockstar, began the proceedings at the Video Appeals Committee hearing by claiming the British Board of Film Classification was a misnomer - suggesting it should instead be referred to as the British Board of Videogame Censors. There's no evidence that playing interactive videogames leads to a propensity to act them out in real life. We wonder why Manhunt 2 has been singled out for special treatment, he stated. Robertson went on to accuse the BBFC of being simply ignorant of the gaming experience and throwing adjectives with hyperbolic abandon at the game. Their reputation is not at stake; if it were we could show how, over the last century, they've been derided for some of the most stupid decisions in censorship history, he continued. But we're not going to go down that road. According to statistics presented by Robertson, there are 26.5 million gamers in the UK. Their average age is 28 and the gender split is 45 per cent female, 55 per cent male. Addressing the panel from the Video Appeals Committee present to hear Rockstar's appeal Robertson said, There you are, seven of you - not one of you has experienced, I'm told by the chairman, computer games, or are a gamer. At this point one member of the panel interjected, stating, That's not true. Some of us actually have played computer games. It was also confirmed that the panel did play Manhunt 2 in advance of the hearing. Robertson described as offensive and outrageous the allegation the board makes against adults in this country that they're somehow going to go and shoot or kill as a result of playing Manhunt 2. Millions of gamers play videogames and no crime has ever been directly attributed to them, with one exception. And in that case, the murder of British teenager Stefan Pakeerah, it was found that there was no connection. From Escapist see full article Tiga CEO Fred Hasson and psychologist Guy Cumberbatch have spoken out in defense of Rockstar at the company's appeal. Hasson said he stood behind his earlier claims that the BBFC made its decision to ban the game based on articles in the Daily Mail and other publications, saying, I can only come to the conclusion that is the case. Having seen the content of the game, I can't see any other reason why they've done that. Hasson claimed he was surprised at how tame it is compared to some very graphical scenes I've seen in other games which have received certification. I expected it to be a lot worse... I can't believe this has been singled out as something that is worth banning. Cumberbatch, who has done extensive research into media violence, said he conducted a survey in which 86 respondents, all of whom had seen at least two 18-rated movies and played two 18-rated videogames, played Manhunt 2 for 15 minutes and also viewed a series of video clips taken from different levels of the game. They were then asked how they felt the game compared to other games and films; 68% said other games on the market were equally violent, while 80% said equally violent films were available. Further, according to Cumberbatch, several respondents indicated that gamers would be "disappointed" with the level of violence in the game. Certainly no one's going to suggest Manhunt 2 is one of the least violent games around, Cumberbatch said: In my own limited experience of playing Manhunt 2, it's fairly sanitized as a work compared with what you might expect in a film. The BBFC have their Say From Euro Gamer see full article The BBFC has accepted there is no proven link between anti-social behaviour and violent videogames - but said more research is required to conclusively rule any connection out. Speaking at the appeal hearing yesterday Andrew Caldecott, representing the BBFC, stated: The board's position is that there is insufficient evidence to prove, as a fact, there is a causal connection between violent games and behavioural harm... It's a perfectly fair point, and one which we accept, but it's not by any means a complete answer to the question the [Video Appeals Committee] has to decide. On the subject of research presented earlier by Rockstar in defence of its argument, Caldecott said: The research certainly achieves the objective of establishing that research does not demonstrate that there is a causal link. But what it certainly does not establish is that there isn't. He went on to observe that neither side had suggested Manhunt 2 was suitable for people aged under 18 at any point during the hearing. For a young person, this is a disturbing game, it is a shocking game, and there are issues about innocence and matters of that sort in relation to young people. In a Utopian society, you would have effective measures where the over-18s could play what was suitable for them without being cluttered by the fact minors will see them. But you can't make classification decisions without regard to the social prevalence [of games]. Caldecott went on to present the BBFC's response to the argument that videogames should be judged by the same standards as films such as Saw and Hostel. He told the appeals panel, Film is a different medium; it is simply is a different experience. There are ways in which it is perhaps more involving, because you are dealing with absolute reality, with real people, in film. On the other hand, many people watch horror films to some extent from the point of view of the victim, or the point of view of what's going to happen - not with this very distinctive point of view of being the person who's wielding the weapon, and is rewarded for killing in the bloodiest way possible. Caldecott later suggested that videogames with violent content are more likely to be seen by children than violent films. A videogame is inherently less likely to be strictly supervised, and that is supported by research, he said, adding that violent films are usually watched late at night. Games and technology develop incrementally� If you take the comparable argument to its extreme, you get a gradual creeping towards ever more graphic violence, but you never draw a line at any particular point. If you�re not careful you get into a peculiar game of Grandmother�s Footsteps, where everybody�s shuffling forward but Grandma�s never allowed to turn round and say, �Stop�� Is there never a point at which you can say, �This is unacceptable�? Turning to Manhunt 2 specifically, Caldecott focused on the nature of the game's violent content. In this particular game, the victims are people. They are not aliens or griffins or Daleks... You see lots of human beings quite mercilessly kicking and punching other human beings as you move through the game. "It's a frequent theme of level one, which is the only one I've actually played right through. Even when you're not killing someone yourself, you're passing someone who's getting a good beating or having an unpleasant time. He also pointed to the weapons used in the game as a particular area for concern. They're not magic wands or Excalibur; many of them are everyday objects. Concluding the hearing, the chairman of the Video Appeals Committee said: This is a very important case and there is an awful lot we must consider. We will work hard at it and get you a decision as soon as possible. A date was not set for the announcement of the decision.

20th October	Update:	Impossible to Generalise...

	Audiences and Receptions of Sexual Violence in Contemporary Cinema
	I loved the line that the BBFC is perceived as a member of a �respectable� class which threatens the legitimate interests of counter-cultural film enthusiasts. Spot on. From the BBFC see Research Report
	The BBFC have published a research report into Audiences and Receptions of Sexual Violence in Contemporary Cinema. The report was commissioned from Professor Martin Barker of the University of Aberystwyth and is based on new and substantive qualitative research. In performing its duties as a regulator of the moving image, the BBFC is obliged to balance the right of freedom of expression with the need to protect the public from harm. In the case of �video works�, including DVDs, the BBFC has a particular obligation under the Video Recordings Act 1984 (VRA) to have special regard, among other factors, to any harm that may be caused (to viewers or to society) by the manner in which a video work deals with sex, violence, horror, drugs or criminal activity. Scenes of sexual violence inevitably combine two, and sometimes all five, of the potentially harmful elements identified by the VRA and therefore raise particularly difficult issues for the BBFC. Despite a vast amount of media effects research, absolute �proof� of harm, or of the extent of harm, is elusive, not least because of the ethical and practical difficulties involved. The responsible media regulator must therefore exercise judgement in a manner which takes account of the concerns raised by some research studies, but which also acknowledges the limitations of the research and the rights enshrined in UK law by the Human Rights Acts 1998. The BBFC�s own large scale public opinion research has consistently shown that a majority of the public believe that adults should be able to choose their own entertainment, within the law. However, this general view often comes with a caveat when sexual violence is considered. In light of this, in 2002, the BBFC commissioned a detailed study of public reaction to six films featuring sexual violence. The results revealed a degree of public concern about adults viewing graphic depictions of sexual violence which contrasted sharply with the attitude to adults viewing graphic depictions of consensual sex or graphic depictions of violence with no sexual context. The 2002 research focussed on the views of a demographically balanced sample in relation to what adults in general should be allowed to view. Respondents were asked to view films which, in normal circumstances, they might never have chosen to view. As such, it revealed the extent of public concern over what impact certain films might have on other people, and relied upon assumptions about how these �other people� might experience or respond to the films. The research did not reveal, or seek to reveal, the actual responses of the people who actively choose to watch such films. To explore the issue further, the BBFC therefore commissioned qualitative research designed to investigate the ways in which naturally-occurring audiences understand and respond to five films � � Ma Soeur, Baise-Moi, The House on the Edge of the Park, Ichi the Killer, and Irreversible � chosen because the BBFC had been exercised over their inclusion of scenes of sexual violence. The central issues for the project were to find ways to explore: how audiences� understanding and response to the films were affected by the existence of different versions of the films, and the impact of the cuts required for four of the films; how audiences use the idea of �context� as they make sense of the scenes of sexual violence; and how in particular audiences who respond positively to the films are understanding these scenes. The report published today makes extremely interesting reading and underlines the complexity of the issue. The research was not designed to offer simple policy solutions to the BBFC and has, quite rightly, studiously avoided doing so. Nevertheless, the research offers some clear and valuable insights into the ways in which real audiences understand and respond to scenes of sexual violence in contemporary cinema and the BBFC is currently considering the implications of its findings for future classification decisions. Key findings from the report 1. In the main, responses to the five films are distinct from each other. There are few overlaps of audiences and judgements. Within our data we can find little evidence of an interest in screened sexual violence per se. There are three exceptions to this: (a) a �bad taste� interest, whose primary drive is towards a very public delight in the offensive and possibly illicit; (b) an anti-censorship interest, whose primary challenge is against anyone taking the right to judgements away from the individual; and (c) a �BDSM� special interest group, whose members seek out materials which may contribute to sexual interests based around consensually enacted fantasies. 2. Other than these, the differences in kinds of attention shown to the five films are to be found in the following main features: (a) into what vernacular genres they are placed, or against which they are measured; (b) where and within what rules of exchange debate tends to take place; (c) how moments of screened sexual violence are viewed, explained and related to contexts 3. A vital factor in determining responses to screened sexual violence is the kinds of context within which it is understood. Our research reveals that �context� has a number of distinct meanings for audiences. 4 For the most positive among our audiences, on all five films (but especially for � Ma Soeur and Baise-Moi), in crucial scenes �seeing� events is not the primary element of their responses. Rather, tensions among and between seeing, hearing, physically responding, knowing and imagining constitute the basis of their understanding and response. 5. There are considerable tensions surrounding the issue of finding screen representations of sexual violence �arousing�. This is understood to be a �forbidden zone�. Yet there is strong evidence within our study (a) that many � both men and women � do find some such scenes arousing, but (b) that this can associate with greater condemnation of the violence because the arousal heightens awareness and involvement, and thus imaginative participation in the implications of the scene. 6. Overwhelmingly, Embracing and Refusing respondents find different kinds of meanings in the films, as a result of relating to them differently. [There are then key findings for each of the 5 films] Whilst avoiding trying to suggest any policy-responses, we draw attention to three issues which have particularly struck us: the public position of the BBFC, and its perceived membership of a �respectable� class which threatens the legitimate interests of counter-cultural film enthusiasts the issue of the BBFC�s implicit models of the audience contained within its judgements about different films, whose evidential base may not be available for scrutiny the problem of the release of versions which do not acknowledge that they have been cut.

13th October	Update:	No Lust for Cuts...

	BBFC pass Lust, Caution uncut 18 for a cinema release
	From the BBFC
	The UK's BBFC have now passed the cinema release 18 uncut with the following comment: Lust, Caution is a subtitled period drama in Mandarin, set in Japanese-occupied China, about a young woman who works with the resistance to help assassinate a top collaborator with the Japanese. It was classified '18' for three scenes of strong sex, in which we see considerable detail, including various sexual positions and some crotch detail. Furthermore, in the first scene, it is not made clear whether the woman is consenting to sex or not. The film also contains a lengthy scene in which a group of students kill a collaborator. He is repeatedly stabbed with a knife but does not die, and his shirt becomes increasingly blood-stained. He is eventually killed by one of the students who breaks his neck.

19th February	Sitting Pretty...
	Pretty Baby passed uncut Good to see that Pretty Baby has been passed uncut again for today's DVD release. Given the current hyper-sensitivity with anything connecting children and sexuality, it is good that the the naked 12 year old Brooke Shields hasn't become another worrying trigger for a 4am police visit.