Earlier this week some execution sound effects from Manhunt 2 hit the internet, one of our staff members have uploaded them to YouTube and the sounds can be heard in the flash video below; a warning that they are quiet graphic and we only recommend it for people over the age of 15, the video contains no violence or gore, just the sounds and the Manhunt 2 logo in the background.

We cannot speculate on the sounds, as nobody really knows if they are real or not. Due to the game not being past Rockstar's, rating station's and reviewers eye's yet, it would be believed they are not real. However in a recent review by UK magazine GameMasters they had this too say:

GM Loves	GM Hates
+ The clever pacing and ghost-train shocks + The sound design and bad guy dialogue	- The 'splash!' noises when you... actually, let's not go there - Getting spotted. Terrifying - The sometimes brutal checkpoint placing

What interests me the most is the bolded text..."The 'splash!' noises when you... actually, let's not go there". They are of course talking about killing the bad guys, and relate that to the video above, the sounds are rather "splashy!" aren't they? I'm still not 100 per cent sure, but it is an interesting discovering never the less. Most say it's just Manhunt 1, and since the music at the start of the video is from Manhunt 1 it could be the case. What do you think?

Take-Two Chairman, Strauss Zelnick, was interviewed by MercuryNews recently discussing Take-Two and Rockstar Games. Brought up was Grand Theft Auto IV and Manhunt 2, no new information on the games though, however a discussion of the Manhunt 2 ban and their stance on the ban, the game and the rating system. A very interesting read, check it out at MercuryNews.com.

Rockstar has just confirmed that they will appeal in an attempt to overturn the BBFC's decision to ban Manhunt 2 in the United Kingdom. A date is still yet to be decided for the case to be heard, but hopefully, Rockstar will be successful and we may finally be able to play the most controversial game ever!

“Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. confirmed today that Rockstar Games has appealed the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) decision that prohibited the release of any version of Manhunt 2 in Britain.”

Finally, some uplifting news regarding Manhunt 2 :). Good luck Rockstar!

On June 22nd regular contributor, Rob Fahey, of GamesIndustry.biz published an article entitled Sick Filth? which was rather one sided. The article discussed that Manhunt 2 should not be played by anybody, regardless of their age or personal right and/or opinion. It suggested that Rockstar should learn it's lesson. The article was similar to that of Victor Godinez's earlier this month, one sides and personal opinionated with no first-hand knowledge of what exactly Manhunt 2's gameplay or storyline is about. Rockstar's letter in reply to the article is included in full below.

Dear Mr. Fahey,

We are responding to the article Sick Filth?, in which you expressed support for the ban of Manhunt 2.

Although censorship makes you "deeply uncomfortable" and you found the ban's rationale "a less comfortable topic", you agreed with the judgment of the British Board of Film Classification that no one - regardless of age or personal opinion - should be allowed to consider playing Manhunt 2.

We are still exploring our options for Manhunt 2, but how does banning our game support the industry or further the development of the medium? Unlike a heavy-handed editor or a critical review of a game, a ban is punishment for deviating from tradition.

A ban denies everyone the chance to consider, experience, or discuss the actual game. The only obvious victor is the status quo.

You seem to view banning Manhunt 2 as a way to protect the industry from scrutiny and unfair attacks. In fact, a ban is a triumph for the industry's harshest critics, not an act of diplomacy.

A ban is only likely to encourage those who believe video games, already the most regulated medium in entertainment history, should be further restricted.

What about games make them deserve special treatment from the authorities? According to industry groups, the average games player is in his or her 30s, yet you support the widely held view that games are somehow a less sophisticated medium than cinema, only suitable for immature audiences.

In other words, although gamers can negotiate the boundaries between reality and fiction in other media, you believe we are incapable of navigating the same boundaries in videogames.

Yes, we have responsibilities as an industry, but as a creative industry, not as a pharmaceutical or weapons industry. Creative industries have always faced harsh political and legal criticism, and we know some of the movie industry's more reactionary responses to scrutiny actually backfired.

We believe in a well-run ratings system. With the best rating system in history and the future of the industry and medium at stake, we don't understand why it is necessary to effectively ban all games intended for players 18 and older.

Sincerely, Rockstar Games

Check GamesIndustry.biz's article for further details.

Apparently the Sony Conference at E3 today revealed nothing about Grand Theft Auto IV, which is a shame. But don't fret, tomorrow is Take-Two's conference, which will hopefully hold some new information, maybe a demo or some new media even on Grand Theft Auto IV. Rumored is the possible showing of Manhunt 2, Red Dead Revolver 2, L.A. Noire and Midnight Club: Los Angeles. Be sure to stay tuned for any updates here.

Good news Manhunt fans, finally we have an update on what will become of Manhunt 2. Take-Two chairman Strauss Zelman has said the company took it's social responsibility very seriously.

"We also have hundreds of extraordinarily talented people who have worked on this title for three years, and supporting their creative vision and bringing it to consumers as unvarnished and unchanged as possible is crucial to us"

He added that Rockstar Games sees itself as a producer of Mature (M rated) games. Take-Two will be standing by the game even if it has to keep it's dreaded Adults Only (AO) rating.

"We don't see ourselves in the Adults Only business, having said that, if we find ourselves in the Adults Only business, it would be because we have a title that we consider art and entertainment, that we consider if appropriately labeled AO, and that we would like to bring to market."

Mr. Zelnick also said he was critical of the American Rating system, where games rated for Adults Only are deemed inappropriate, wrong and useless as Sony and Nintendo both refuse to release AO games and most AO games are not stocked by game sellers:

"What is the purpose of a rating if it means effectively that a title cannot be released?...Having a rating that we don't think is appropriate is one issue, obviously, and a separate issue would be if we feel the rating is appropriate and we can't bring it to market…that seems somewhat nonsensical."

We sure hope this works out soon, once again we'd like to show our support for Take-Two, Rockstar Games and the Manhunt 2 game itself. It is good to see the company standing up for their rights and their belief's. Thousands of hard-working developers have put 3 years into this game, this outcome is a major slap in the face, and quiet frankly very disrespectful.

Unhappy with the recent banning of Manhunt 2? Well now you can have your say and have your opinion count. An official petition has been started on the UK Governments website and does already booming with comments and signatures from people who disagree with the banning. The petition is currently only open to UK residents, so if you're currently living in the UK be sure to sign the petition at petitions.pm.gov.uk/Manhunt2/ and post your opinions.

It's good to have some new information to write about after a 3 week long landslide of nothing but news on the Manhunt 2 banning. According to UK magazine which this week was released with an exclusive look at Manhunt 2 for the Nintendo Wii has shed some light on an interesting feature, alternate endings.

Depending on how you play your game will change the final outcome of the game. Playing your game violently using every weapon at your disposal making an absolute mess of your victims will result in a more dark ending, whereas using your stealth and an 'only kill when absolutely necessary' approach will lead to a more positive, and generally “nicer” ending. On top of this your killing methods and how you navigate yourself will also change the final stage of the game, the more violent you play the darker and more difficult the final stage will be. Thus the less blood you spill the easier the final stage. Only time will tell if we ever get to see this new feature in action.

Thanks to QJ.net for the tip.