My friend claims that in the Daily Mail they've blamed this 17-year-old killing this 14-year-old because of Manhunt.

He also says Manhunt is banned, which I didn't know. I don't read the paper and I haven't played the game, but I do play GTA, and no way should games be banned because people may be influenced to go out and do the stuff that fucking characters do on a videogame.

And, you know what? Manhunt is for 18s and over, so to blame parents on THIS particular claim is not only right, it's completely absurd not to, seeing as how the kid got to play it even though he's a year younger than the legal limit.

Just goes to show how quickly people are to blame things other than parenting. Funny, I played GTA when I was 13 or whatever, because my parents brought me up not to be fucking stupid enough to go and replicate the stuff that happened on the game.

Seriously, it bugs me that people won't open their eyes to the fact that if a kid is CAPABLE of doing something as sick as killing other kid, then it has nothing to do with the games they play... it's purely to do with the fact that they're absolutely mental and want locking in a cage or something. Case closed, assholes. Quit blaming the only things that are fun to kids.

Yeah I heard it on the news today. Dixons and Game have taken it off their shelves apparently.

I think anyone who would murder someone must have some intention of doing it first. I don't think you can play a game or watch a film and then say 'the videogame/film made me do it.' Cos I too have played these types of games and I take them as what they are - a game. Maybe some people can't draw the line.

Child's Play (or some other movie) was blamed for being the movie the two boys that killed the toddler Jamie Bulger watched before murdering him.

Parenting etc has to be looked at because no normal person who knows right from wrong and fact from fiction would do something like that.

yeah the gta thing got mentioned in the scuzz thread, where dark star talked about people blaming things they do on marilyn manson... stupid. my brother's been playing gta for a while (and he's 14 now), so since before he was a teenager, and he hasn't killed anyone... yet! hehe. but seriously, it's just a lame excuse. if they were right in the head they wouldn't even use that excuse let alone murder someone. i've never even seen the game but i highly doubt it'll make a sane person go and kill someone because of it.

Ok so it is a violent game. That's why it has the 18 cert. on it. I blame the parents.

We've got Vice City somewhere, and I've played it. So, does playing that mean I'm going to go out, but a shitload of guns, steal a car or six, run over a whole load of people, single-handedly take on a drugs ring and shoot the lot of them, and take a bus hostage? Uhm.... no.

It's older people that don't realise that, yes, violence in games and on tv has escalated, but it doesn't mean that we're all gun-toting nutters bent on attacking anyone who says boo.

amy la calabazita

You can't bana game because some kide was stupid enough to copy it. He was 17 correct? The game is an 18 rated game so he shouldn't have been playing it there for the game is not to blame for his actions. If i was to dress in a blue costume with spikes on my back and run around stealing gold rings from jewellers would tehy ban Sonic? No i think not

If i was to dress in a blue costume with spikes on my back and run around stealing gold rings from jewellers would tehy ban Sonic?

That was just too funny!!!
amy la calabazita

haha yeah true! haha... well even at 17 the murderer should know better! no excuse!

Oh yeah i agree. I'm not excusing what he did he killed someone so should face a life sentance. Just banning the game because of it is a knee jerk reaction thats stupid

I hate it how the news milked this dry yesterday it is stupid that a game has been blamed for a murder. I have played amnhunt and I do no not feel the need to go out and cave somes head in with a baseball bat or suffocate them with a plastic bag! That Kid was under age playing it and must also have been a mental case to do something like that.

Games do not influence, movies do not influence it is what is in your head already...your current state of mind. The game is an 18 rated game for a reason and so it should not be band if any one is to blame its the murderers parents.

I think it is stupid that Manhunt has been taken off the shelves, it said HMV was till selling but more responsibly (e.g. present a valid ID) that is how the others should be doing it. It is very sad that the 14 year old got murdered but they are blaming the wrong thing. If I can remember that petition site we shud start one against banning of these sort of games, let our voice be heard!

Like a lot of you have said, it is stupid to have banned a computer game as a result of a murder. Don't get me wrong, I think that what that kid done was a terrible thing. Killing another person is just wrong, and he should be punished for what he had done, but to ban a videogame?? Where is the logic in that? Are normal people going to play a violent videogame and start killing people? The answer is no, because we're not insane. Obviously this kid is an exception, he must've had a screw loose or something.

The annoying thing is, these pro-game-ban people seem to think the game rating being 18 is our only argument, and it isn't. Even if the 17-year-old was influenced by the game, it obviously wouldn't take anything in life to make him want to kill someone. A videogame is purely fictional, he should have known that.

17 years is a long time, and for the parents of the murderer to not be fully aware that their child is easily influenced by violence is absurd. If it was my child, I'd be watching him every minute of the day, checking that he's not watching anything violent, because he is clearly insane.

If I murdered someone two years ago, I should have been severely punished for my actions. Same goes for this nutcase.

Oh wow. I have to get this game now. Playing banned games = coolness.
This is a serious logical fallacy being committed here. If a game made someone commit a murder, then everyone else who played the game would have to do so as well. Seeing that this is not the case, there are obviously many other factors involved in causing this guy to decide to commit murder.
This Joe Lieberman ban-all-non-Barney-and-friends-video-games bullcrap is spreading too far.
They're already trying to ban Doom 3:D .http://www.evboard.com/showthread.php?t=16768 (http://www.evboard.com/showthread.php?t=16768&highlight=doom)

ive never played this game.. im not into video games but i think it is rediculous banning it! the boy who murded that kid was under age to be playing it so it's the fault of the people who let him play it not the company who made it! it's one case out of 1,000's of people who play it! if it happens any more then my opinion may change a bit, but the company did all they could to protect people with the age limit! the accusations are terrible!!!!!

The people calling to ban these games are people who think all youths are destructive. They can't see that most of us are normal enough not to be affected by these games. It's just the odd few! They are trying to censor us the same way they dumped on youths who protested against the Iraq war, saying we didn't really know what we were talking about. But they missed the point that 18 years is a long time and it's long enough to form an opinion. We are shaped as human beings already! Old enough to make our own decisions. Just lock up the lunatics and let the rest of us live, please!!!!!

amy la calabazita

As someone above said banning the game will only make it more popular and it will apeal to people who wouldn't have bothered getting it before. Ive played it and it is a good game. I was playing for well over an hour killing in the goriest fashion and i didn't have the slightest urge to do it to somone in real life. The guy did so because he obviously isn't right in the head in some way. Basically Do Not Ban The Game!

its the most stupidist thing ever. i read the article about it in the daily mail and it was complete tripe, just an excuse to slate games. they cant even get there facts right. they complained how some kids were able to get games from virgin and place that they shouldnt but failed to notice that unless its an engraved certificate eg. like ones you get for films then its certification is simply advisory.

Not only that but they were going on about how man hunt is just about killing people for no reason in the game. clear sign they aint played it as there is purpose. kill or be killed its got a good story based seemly on the running man. Hate the way they blame games i ve been playing games like gta and man hunt since i was way younger than 18 and it hasnt bothered me cause im not sick enough in the head to go out and react them or stupid enough.

they also went on this whole thing where they said "oh the 17yr old seemed really normal wen we spoke to him CLEARLY A SIGN MAN HUNT WAS TO BLAME" i mean what bull. Some of the most violent criminals in the world probably would seem pretty normal until it comes to performing the act

Ok, I played the game and found out that I don't like it. I find it a little on the sick side. I mean, I'm in no way opposed to video game violence, but this game revels in it and rewards you for making the kills extra gory. Plus, you're making a snuff-film. However, I still don't find that as a sufficient reason to ban the game. Since when does the government have the right to censor what virtual games people play? If Rockstar wants to stop production, then that's their right to do so, but not the gov's right to force them.

I think the banning of this game is stupid. It's a game for gods sake. It's censorship gone mad, what's next, horror DVDs? Marilyn Manson CDs? Where will the line be drawn? It's becoming the norm these days to blame a murder on a certain person or game. Marilyn Manson was blamed for the Columbine Massacre and the killing of an Italian nun. Doom has been blamed many times for violence, and Halo was mentioned as a reason the Washington Sniper killed. It's stupidy, pure stupidity.

Well i spent over 3 hours straight playing it earlier and i have absolutely no feelings to go out and kill someone using the game as an excuse is bullshit. And seeing as ive posted lots in this topic already i'll stop now :p

Instead of banning video games- ban parents who allow this crap to happen.

I hate when this happens and it ruins stuff for everyone. Im not in the UK, but this caught my attention.

Stupid ass parents cant blame themselves for letting something so horrible happen so they just say a game must have possessed the kid.

So I suppose if everyone who carjacks says they were influenced by GTA (the games) it will be Rockstar (Manhunt's developer, also) that will be in trouble?... Ugh, I dont even have the right words to show how disgusted I am with this sorta stuff. *blows fire*.

Manhunt is by far the strangest game I have ever played. I've never been one to have problems stomaching something that I know is fictional, but it took me a good 45 minutes to get used to the imagery in that game. Then another 30 minutes every time a new ultra graphic kill style would come around.

That said, it was hardly anything the government should be able to ban. Its the parents job to make sure their kids are playing appropriate things, not the government's, and I'm sick of hearing parents complain about the content of games. If you don't want them playing those games, fine, don't buy them. If you don't want them playing games at all, don't buy the console. There, problem solved.

My main problem with the game, though, was that it wasn't all that good. All this attention and it was merely a mediocre action game. Manhunt was just boring, yet it sold so much based on hype. The thing is, if people stopped complaining about the content of these games, they wouldn't sell so much. If only people would see that.

Well, I'm pretty sure anyone who buys Manhunt knows it's a pretty screwed up game, otherwise they aren't going to waste money buying or renting it. I mean, now it's banned people will probably want to play it even more, because they've been told they can't. It's just the way it works, sometimes, and so it kind of helps Manhunt gain popularity, although it probably won't help sales much, if anything they may even decrease.

But, it's like selling boxes of matches, an arsenist starts a fire with them and then people blaming the match-makers (no, not that kind). The creators cannot control how people use their products, it should be up to responsible people to stop nutcases such as the subject of this topic from getting their hands on a game which could potentially influence them into doing something idiotic and/or crazy.

Of course, all I've just said could mean diddly squat when, if you think about it, the 17-year-old kid was a nutcase, and he may have just disliked the kid he killed... which, of course, is wrong, but has nothing to do with why this game should be banned if that is the case.

Well, I did play Manhunt- and I have nothing against it like it'll turn people into monsters, but personally, I couldnt take it. Not just the violence, but the game was SO suspenseful with its stealthy-ness and hiding in shadows. Stupid enemy AI. =P

And yeah, 17 year old kid- you'd think by now the parents or anyone woulda noticed something sorta odd about him when a video game takes control of him? Or, the parents claim so.

It's all bullshit, you kill thugs and drug dealers on manhunt, nott innocent people, yeah it is graphicly viloent, but isent most T.V these days?

It's all bullshit, you kill thugs and drug dealers on manhunt, nott innocent people, yeah it is graphicly viloent, but isent most T.V these days?

well not intially true. in the latter levels to get to the director you have to kill police. but still there is a good story line behind it all and reason why you kill not just meaningless violence. people blame games and movies to take the blame off themselves.

if anything most people find violent games relaxing as allows you to get out any pent up aggression safely. games dont posess people and make them go out and kill. and someone would have to be seriously disturbed already to think its ok to kill someone else for the sake of it or for fun in the real world

I mean, now it's banned people will probably want to play it even more, because they've been told they can't.

hehe it's true!!!! the forbidden friut!

i've got a friend who's got the game and they don't go around killing people in real life!!! it's complete bullshit!

Manhunt is violent, but it is un-realistic, games like grand theft auto is more realistic kinda ( I love GTA aswell)

they're trying to get grand theft auto banned too!!!!! what is the gaming world coming to?!

Thats pathetic now trying to ban GTA as well the people in charge of things liek this are such prunes its unbelievible. I was playing Manhunt agin rond my friend recently andhe is on the level that is supposedly teh worst the one in the mental hospital bit. It isn't bad its comical any one with half a brain will just laugh at it and play not go out and do crazy shit they've seen from it. Whats their excuse for banning GTA? Has some kid gone and taken over a city somewhere and sold drugs out of an ice cream truck?

Thats pathetic now trying to ban GTA as well the people in charge of things liek this are such prunes its unbelievible. I was playing Manhunt agin rond my friend recently andhe is on the level that is supposedly teh worst the one in the mental hospital bit. It isn't bad its comical any one with half a brain will just laugh at it and play not go out and do crazy shit they've seen from it. Whats their excuse for banning GTA? Has some kid gone and taken over a city somewhere and sold drugs out of an ice cream truck?

No, no. It's not that bad. However, my friend recently stole a police car and did vigilante missions. Oh, and my dad was about to be caught by the police when he saw this floating star in the street, so he walked into it and suddenly the police didn't care about him!

And GTA IS realistic. I mean, you always get gangsters coming back to life from a hospital visit, taking numerous shot wounds to the head and picking up hoes off the street. Actually, I was being sarcastic except the last one. :(

LOL :D Have they actually banned Manhunt completely now? This will all start up again soon when GTA San Andreas is released no doubt some idiot will decide its not politically correct :rolleyes:

ahaha, my brother's friend got him a copy of manhunt! he's 14! and it hasn't done him any harm... yet! :p

i can't see why it should be banned. it's not going to harm a fly! well, maybe the spider, but erm, manhunt isn't as bad as they say!

ok it's not often I agree with the US national rifles association but on one thing they are right. 'Guns don't kill people, people kill people'.

Same with manhunt, computer games don't kill people, people kill people. If someone is sick enough to go and mutilate and kill someone else, don't blame the games they play, the video's they watch or even the TV. The eviliness required to do something like that is present in them way before they start playing the game! Did Jack the Ripper play computer games? No. Point made I think!

ok it's not often I agree with the US national rifles association but on one thing they are right. 'Guns don't kill people, people kill people'.

Same with manhunt, computer games don't kill people, people kill people. If someone is sick enough to go and mutilate and kill someone else, don't blame the games they play, the video's they watch or even the TV. The eviliness required to do something like that is present in them way before they start playing the game! Did Jack the Ripper play computer games? No. Point made I think!

damn true statement. did hitler have at his heart a supercomputer complete with violent video games that told him to butcher people, ah dont think so. brutal killing have gone on throughout history way before games came out, there cause is humans as a species by natural are cruel and enjoy suffering (you can see this most planly in children who bully, beat and torement each other for fun) just no one can accept this and they have to blame someone else