Ruqayyah Snyder
The horror video game Manhunt, developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games, has been banned in several countries due to its violent content. In 2004, Australia banned the sale, hire, distribution, and promotion of the game, with retailers caught selling it facing hefty fines and even imprisonment. The ban came after the game was linked to the violent murder of a UK teenager, with the Western Australian Minister for Justice requesting a reclassification of the game's MA15+ rating. Despite the ban, some Australian players have found ways to access the game by changing their console region settings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Ban | 29 September 2004 |
| Reason | High levels of violence |
| Countries with Similar Bans | Germany, Malaysia, New Zealand |
| Punishment for Sale/Hire/Promotion | Fines ranging from $4,500 to $24,000, imprisonment up to 24 months, or both |
| Workarounds | Changing console location to US |
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What You'll Learn
Why was Manhunt banned in Australia?
The horror video game Manhunt, developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games, was banned in Australia in 2004. The game revolves around a death row inmate forced to murder other inmates for entertainment.
The game was initially released in North America for the PlayStation 2 on November 19, 2003, and the Xbox and Windows versions were released the following year. Manhunt was banned in several countries due to its violent content. The game's violent nature and high-impact gory violence led to its ban in Australia, Germany, Malaysia, and New Zealand.
In Australia, the decision to ban Manhunt was made by the Federal Office of Film, Literature, and Classification (OFLC). The OFLC refused to classify the game, which meant that it could not be legally sold, hired, displayed for sale or hire, demonstrated, or advertised in Australia. The OFLC instructed retailers to immediately remove the game from their shelves. The ban was enforced due to the game's high levels of violence, with the OFLC stating that the game was "not suitable for anyone to play".
The ban was influenced by reports that the game had been linked to the violent murder of a teenager in the UK. It was alleged that the assailant was obsessed with the game. However, it was later revealed that a copy of Manhunt was found at the victim's house. As a result of the incident, the Western Australian Minister for Justice, Michelle Roberts, requested the OFLC to reclassify the game, which had originally been rated MA15+ in Australia.
The ban on Manhunt in Australia has faced opposition, with some individuals attempting to acquire the game by changing their location settings to the US. However, the ban remains in place, and retailers caught selling or hiring the game face significant fines and even imprisonment in some states.
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Which organisations banned Manhunt in Australia?
The controversial video game Manhunt has been banned in Australia since 2004. The Federal Office of Film, Literature, and Classification (OFLC) refused to classify the game, effectively banning its sale, hire, distribution, and promotion in the country. The OFLC's decision was influenced by pressure from Australian politicians and public outrage following the game's association with a violent murder in the UK. Individuals and retailers who violate the ban face hefty fines and even imprisonment in some states.
The Classification Review Board, which falls under the purview of the federal Attorney General, played a pivotal role in the ban. In a 3-1 ruling, the board determined that the game's high-impact violence and torture themes were unsuitable for Australian audiences. This decision aligned with Australia's classification system, which, until 2013, lacked a designation for content suitable only for those aged 18 or older. The absence of this classification led to the refusal and banning of several other video games in the country.
The Western Australian Minister for Justice, Michelle Roberts, was specifically mentioned as requesting the OFLC to reclassify the game, which had initially been rated MA15+ in Australia. The game's publisher and distributor, Take 2 Interactive, declined to comment on the ban.
The ban on Manhunt in Australia highlights the country's stance on violent video games and their potential impact on players. While some critics argue that countries should not impose blanket bans on video games, Australia's classification system aims to protect younger audiences from inappropriate content.
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What are the penalties for selling Manhunt in Australia?
The controversial video game Manhunt has been refused classification and banned in Australia by the Federal Office of Film, Literature and Classification (OFLC). The game was banned due to its violent content and its link to a violent murder in the UK. The OFLC issued a statement saying that the game "cannot be legally sold, hired, displayed for sale or hire, demonstrated or advertised in Australia and should be immediately removed from the shelves." Retailers that are caught selling or hiring the title face heavy fines and penalties.
In NSW, individuals caught selling Manhunt could face fines of $11,000 or 12 months in jail, while in Victoria, fines are as high as $24,000 or 24 months of imprisonment. These penalties also apply to the distribution and promotion of the game in these states. It is important to note that the laws regarding the sale and possession of refused classification materials may vary between states in Australia. While it may be legal to possess refused classification games for private use in some states, it is illegal to sell or exhibit them in public.
The Australian Classification Board (ACB) rates media according to its appropriateness, and content deemed too inappropriate may be refused classification and banned from retail sales. The maximum penalty for selling banned games in Australia is a fine of up to $275,000 and/or 10 years in jail. These penalties are enforced to prevent the distribution and accessibility of content that has been deemed inappropriate and unsuitable for the Australian market.
It is worth noting that while Manhunt is banned in Australia, individuals may still possess the game for private use in most states. However, selling, distributing, or publicly exhibiting the game is illegal and can result in significant penalties, including fines and imprisonment. These penalties are enforced to uphold the classification system and protect the public from inappropriate content.
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How can Australians access Manhunt?
The controversial video game Manhunt has been refused classification and banned in Australia by the Federal Office of Film, Literature and Classification (OFLC). This means that the game cannot be legally sold, hired, displayed for sale or hire, demonstrated, or advertised in Australia and must be removed from shelves. It is also illegal to import a physical copy of the game.
However, it is not illegal to possess a copy of Manhunt in Australia, except in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Australians have discussed workarounds to access the game, but these may not be legal. Here are some methods that have been suggested:
- Using a VPN to purchase the game from HB and activate it on Steam.
- Purchasing a US Xbox gift card and changing the console location to the US.
- Buying a physical copy from overseas and having it mailed to Australia.
- Purchasing a digital copy from Amazon.com.
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Has Manhunt been banned in other countries?
The horror video game Manhunt, developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games, has been banned in several countries due to its violent content. The game was initially released in North America for the PlayStation 2 in 2003, with Xbox and Windows versions released the following year.
In Australia, Manhunt was banned by the Federal Office of Film, Literature and Classification (OFLC), which stated that the game "cannot be legally sold, hired, displayed for sale or hire, demonstrated or advertised in Australia and should be immediately removed from the shelves." The ban was implemented after the game was linked to the violent murder of a teenager in the UK, with reports that the assailant was obsessed with the game. The game was also initially allowed in Australia under an MA15+ classification, but this decision was later reversed. Individuals in NSW and Victoria who are caught selling or hiring the game face fines and imprisonment.
Manhunt has also been banned in Germany, Malaysia, and New Zealand due to its violent content. In Germany, imported copies of the game were confiscated, and in New Zealand, possession of the game was deemed an offence. Additionally, in Canada, specifically in Ontario, Manhunt became the first video game to be classified as a film and restricted to adults.
While the game has faced significant controversy and bans in several countries, it has also received positive reviews from critics, who have praised its dark tone, technical capabilities, and overall challenge.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the video game Manhunt is still banned in Australia. It was banned in 2004.
Manhunt was banned in Australia due to its violent content. The game was linked to the murder of a British teenager.
Retailers were instructed to remove the game from their shelves immediately. Individuals and corporations that continued to sell, hire, or advertise the game faced heavy fines and even imprisonment.
Some individuals have found ways to play the game by changing their console location settings to a different region. However, it is important to note that doing so may be subject to the penalties mentioned above.
