Senators urge tougher rating for "Manhunt" game
Reuters
November 20, 2007
WASHINGTON (Hollywood Reporter) - A bipartisan group of
lawmakers including a Democratic presidential hopeful is
calling on the makers of video games to review the
industry's ratings system.
In letter to the Entertainment Software Rating Board,
the lawmakers complained about its decision to give an
"mature" rating Rockstar's "Manhunt 2" game.
Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., Sam Brownback, R-Kan.,
Evan Bayh, D-Ind., and Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.,
said the game's violent content, which includes "many
graphic torture scenes and murders," should have
garnered an "adults only" rating.
Clinton, the front-runner for the Democratic nomination
for president, has long pressed for tougher ratings and
has called for a unified ratings system for movies,
games and TV shows.
"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 'ultraviolent'
video games and the advances in game controllers," the
senators wrote. "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."
Rockstar also makes the controversial "Grand Theft Auto"
series of games.