Wii’s motion sensing ‘has not affected’ any BBFC rating decisions

The BBFC has gone on record to say that the Manhunt 2’s use of the Wii motion-sensing controller had no impact on its decision to ban the game.

In the past few months, the Rockstar London horror game has snared headlines in the US and across Europe as publisher Take Two and its development teams were confronted with Adults Only ratings from the ESRB in America and banning by a number of European countries.

The game has since been altered and re-rated by the ESRB, gaining a Mature rating and imminent release in the US – however the British Board of Film Classification has maintained its ban on the Wii, PS2 and PSP game, despite Rockstar making alterations.

Speaking to our sister magazine MCV, the BBFC has today explained that the use of the Wii’s motion-sensing controller – speculated by some to be a reason for encouraging the ban, given that it suggests more interactivity – did not impact the body’s decision to stop the game going on sale.

"Under certain circumstances and in certain contexts it is possible that motion-sensing devices might have an effect on category decisions," explained Gianni Zamo, senior examiner, but added: "It is not a prime consideration for at the moment and has not affected any Wii games we have passed so far."

On the topic of Manhunt, he explained: "We certainly didn’t single out the Wii version of Manhunt 2 from the PS2 version on the basis that users could stimulate the delivery of a blow more realistically than the hand-controller of the PS2. Indeed, motion-sensing devices are nothing new. Prior to the release of the Wii nobody had ever expressed concern that one could buy peripherals such as pistols or flight/driving controls to add to the game experience."