Rockstar must have surely known that it wouldn't take too long after the announcement of Manhunt 2 before a certain Miami lawyer began sniffing around. After a campaign of negativity bordering on hatred towards Rockstar Games, an "alleged" post on a Manhunt forum from the man himself claims:
"Miami attorney and anti-violent video game activist Jack Thompson has been asked by individuals in the United Kingdom to help stop the distribution of Take-Two / Rockstar's hyperviolent video game Manhunt 2 in that country due out this summer. The game will feature stealth murder and torture. The last version allowed suffocation of victims with plastic bags.
The original Manhunt was responsible for the bludgeoning death of a British youth by his friend who obsessively played the game. The killer used a hammer just as in the game he played. Take-Two / Rockstar, anticipating the firestorm of criticism with the release of the murder simulator sequel, is lying to the public on both sides of the pond in stating this week that the game had nothing to do with the murder.
Take-Two is also stating that the sun does not rise in the east because Take-Two makes no money from its rising in the east. Take-Two has been repeatedly found in the U.S. by the federal government to be guilty of fraud, so what would one expect it to say.
Jack Thompson has agreed to this request from the U.K. Look for this effort to begin shortly given the summer of 2007 release date."
Of course, the original Manhunt was at the centre of a dispute in the UK, linked to the murder of Stefan Pakeerah, by his friend Warren LeBlanc in 2004. Despite calls from conservative media publications and the game being pulled from high street retailers, the police denied that any link existed and it eventually was discovered that the victim was the owner of the game.
Expect further details and controversy to appear shortly.