Sen. Clinton, other politicians challenge ESRB concerning Manhunt 2

Just as we thought the Manhunt 2 issue was over, Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) have cooperatively written and sent a letter to the ESRB president, Patricia Vance, on November 21, 2007, concerning the Mature rating assigned to the revised version of Manhunt 2.

No surprise since these four particular politicians have been attacking the videogame industry since 2005. Brownback’s pending legislation to the senate to mandate that the ESRB play the game to its entirety before giving it a rating and Lieberman, Bayh and Clinton’s unsuccessful Family Entertainment Protection Act all sounds like nothing more than drudging up old news, polishing it off and putting a new spin on the sex and violence in videogames issue.

Did I mention this may be a political move on Clinton’s part? She is of course a presidential candidate *shudder in fear* In the letter, the senators basically state that they advise the ESRB to raise the ratings for Manhunt 2 and goes into why the British banned the game. The issue is over the Wii version of the game is the best I can figure out reading the letter.

The letter reads:

Dear Ms. Vance,

We are writing to suggest that it may be desirable to revise or enhance the current ESRB rating system. We continue to believe that the ESRB takes seriously its responsibility with respect to the ratings and their enforcement. However, we believe that a number of issues have been raised regarding the release of Manhunt 2.

As you know, in June 2007 the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) refused to rate Rockstar’s Manhunt 2 video game, effectively banning its sale in British stores, stating that it contains “unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone… which constantly encourages visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing.” The BBFC Director concluded that any other action “would involve a range of unjustifiable harm risks, to both adults and minors.” Consistent with your British counterpart, this version received an “Adults Only” (AO) rating from your Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB).

In October 2007 the BBFC again refused to rate a revised Manhunt 2 stating that “[t]he impact of the revisions on the bleakness and callousness of tone, or the essential nature of the gameplay, is clearly insufficient. There has been a reduction in the visual detail in some of the ‘execution kills’, but in others they retain their original visceral and casually sadistic nature.” Other countries agreed and have also banned the game.

Unlike the British Board, the ESRB reduced the revised version’s rating to “Mature” (M) effectively opening the door to its widespread distribution and its licensing approval by game system manufacturers Sony and Nintendo. And, while significant progress has been made, the FTC reports that 42 percent of unaccompanied children 13 to 16 years of age can still successfully purchase M-rated games meaning that the practical difference between an AO and M rating affects more than simply 17-year-olds. …

Then, near the end of the letter, the foursome chided the ESRB’s capabilities of reviewing a videogame, which is funny since Clinton and Lieberman both congratulated and applauded the ESRB for their rating systems in 2006.

…Further, do the same reviewers view the original and the revised version of a game after an AO rating is received? How frequently do you use more than your minimum of three reviewers when evaluating a game? Are three reviewers adequate for the more violent games? How often do your reviewers disagree in their initial ratings and how frequently is the final rating a majority opinion rather than a consensus?

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” video games and the advances in game controllers. We have consistently urged parents to pay attention to the ESRB rating system. We must ensure that parents can rely on the consistency and accuracy of those ratings.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Joseph I. Lieberman

United States Senator

Sam Brownback

United States Senator

Evan Bayh

United States Senator

Hillary Rodham Clinton

United States Senator

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