Difference between revisions of "Manhunt"
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==Public Reception and Controversy== | ==Public Reception and Controversy== | ||
Upon its release, Manhunt became known for its brutal and graphic violence, dark tone, and unsettling storyline. The response from critics and the general public was both positive and negative. On the positive side, review aggregate site Metacritic gave it a 75/100<ref>https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/manhunt</ref>. Respected game reviewer Game Informer rated it 9.25/10, citing its nuanced narrative structure and emphasis on realism that defined the early 2000's entertainment culture<ref> https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/03/25/manhunt-is-a-dark-underappreciated-masterpiece.aspx </ref>. Ign awarded Manhunt with an 8.5/10<ref> https://www.ign.com/games/manhunt </ref>, and Eurogamer credited the game as being, "one of the most morally challenging game[s] ever made"<ref> https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_manhunt_ps2 </ref> Due to its generally positive reception as well as its controversy, which will be discussed below, had sold 1.7 million copies as of March 2008 <ref>http://www.vgchartz.com/gamedb/games.php?name=manhunt&keyword=&console=®ion=All&developer=&publisher=&goty_year=&genre=&boxart=Both&banner=Both&ownership=Both&showmultiplat=No&results=50&order=Sales&showtotalsales=0&showtotalsales=1&showpublisher=0&showpublisher=1&showvgchartzscore=0&showvgchartzscore=1&shownasales=0&showdeveloper=0&showcriticscore=0&showcriticscore=1&showpalsales=0&showreleasedate=0&showreleasedate=1&showuserscore=0&showuserscore=1&showjapansales=0&showlastupdate=0&showlastupdate=1&showothersales=0&showshipped=0</ref> | Upon its release, Manhunt became known for its brutal and graphic violence, dark tone, and unsettling storyline. The response from critics and the general public was both positive and negative. On the positive side, review aggregate site Metacritic gave it a 75/100<ref>https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/manhunt</ref>. Respected game reviewer Game Informer rated it 9.25/10, citing its nuanced narrative structure and emphasis on realism that defined the early 2000's entertainment culture<ref> https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/03/25/manhunt-is-a-dark-underappreciated-masterpiece.aspx </ref>. Ign awarded Manhunt with an 8.5/10<ref> https://www.ign.com/games/manhunt </ref>, and Eurogamer credited the game as being, "one of the most morally challenging game[s] ever made"<ref> https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_manhunt_ps2 </ref> Due to its generally positive reception as well as its controversy, which will be discussed below, had sold 1.7 million copies as of March 2008 <ref>http://www.vgchartz.com/gamedb/games.php?name=manhunt&keyword=&console=®ion=All&developer=&publisher=&goty_year=&genre=&boxart=Both&banner=Both&ownership=Both&showmultiplat=No&results=50&order=Sales&showtotalsales=0&showtotalsales=1&showpublisher=0&showpublisher=1&showvgchartzscore=0&showvgchartzscore=1&shownasales=0&showdeveloper=0&showcriticscore=0&showcriticscore=1&showpalsales=0&showreleasedate=0&showreleasedate=1&showuserscore=0&showuserscore=1&showjapansales=0&showlastupdate=0&showlastupdate=1&showothersales=0&showshipped=0</ref> | ||
| − | + | [[File:Dailymail.jpg|thumb|300px|Newspaper released after Stefan's murder]] | |
The negative lashback to Manhunt began at its release, most notably with the advocation of U.S. Representative Joe Baca, who pushed back against the games violent nature and ritualistic portrayal of murder. Controversy with regards to the game peaked in the summer of 2004, with the murder of 14-year-old Stefan Pakeerah. Stefan was murdered by 17-year-old Warren Leblanc, who lured the boy into the woods, beat him with a claw hammer, and stabbed him repeatedly with a knife. Stefan was discovered with 60 separate injuries<ref> https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1470929/Teenager-gets-13-years-for-video-game-murder.html </ref>. Parents of the victim alleged that the murdered owned and was obsessed with the game Manhunt. The father even referred to the game was a "manual for murder", citing a connection between the murder and how the game is set out - killing people with weapons like hammers and knives.<ref> https://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/04/manhunt_murder_claim/ </ref>. While the judge in the found that, "simply being in someone's possession does not and should not lead to the conclusion that a game is responsible for these tragic events,<ref> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/leicestershire/3934277.stm </ref> the game was banned or refused a classification in Russia, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Germany, and South Korea<ref> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_banned_video_games </ref> | The negative lashback to Manhunt began at its release, most notably with the advocation of U.S. Representative Joe Baca, who pushed back against the games violent nature and ritualistic portrayal of murder. Controversy with regards to the game peaked in the summer of 2004, with the murder of 14-year-old Stefan Pakeerah. Stefan was murdered by 17-year-old Warren Leblanc, who lured the boy into the woods, beat him with a claw hammer, and stabbed him repeatedly with a knife. Stefan was discovered with 60 separate injuries<ref> https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1470929/Teenager-gets-13-years-for-video-game-murder.html </ref>. Parents of the victim alleged that the murdered owned and was obsessed with the game Manhunt. The father even referred to the game was a "manual for murder", citing a connection between the murder and how the game is set out - killing people with weapons like hammers and knives.<ref> https://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/04/manhunt_murder_claim/ </ref>. While the judge in the found that, "simply being in someone's possession does not and should not lead to the conclusion that a game is responsible for these tragic events,<ref> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/leicestershire/3934277.stm </ref> the game was banned or refused a classification in Russia, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Germany, and South Korea<ref> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_banned_video_games </ref> | ||
Revision as of 17:38, 7 April 2019
| Genre | Survival, Horror |
| Gamming Style | Third-Person |
| Platform | Playstation 2, XBox, Microsoft Windows, Playstation 3, Playstation 4 |
| Release Date | November 18, 2003 - March 22, 2016[1] |
| Developer | Rockstar North |
| Publisher | Rockstar Games |
| Website | MANHUNT-Rockstar Games |
Manhunt is an action, stealth-based adventure video game developed by Rockstar North, and published by Rockstar games. The game originally released for the Playstation 2 on November 18, 2003, followed by its release for Microsoft Windows and Xbox on April 20, 2004. Manhunt follows the story of James Earl Cash, a criminal who's sentenced to death row. His lethal injection is instead a sedative which allows Lionel Starkweather, a former film director, to leave Cash in Carcer City. There he becomes the star of Starkweather's snuff films. In 2007, Rockstar created its sequel Manhunt 2.
Contents
Storyline
The story follows James Earl Cash, a prisoner on death row in line to receive lethal injection. Due to Darkwood's corrupt penitentiary staff, he instead received a strong sedative.[2] After waking up from the injection, Cash finds himself locked in an empty room. There Liam Starkweather is introduced and instructs Cash through a wireless earpiece, telling him to follow his orders if he wants to be eventually set free. He then abandons Cash in Carcer City which is infested by a gang that Starkweather hired to hunt and kill him.[3] As he fights for his life Cash becomes a one-man star in Starkweather's snuff films. When Cash finds Starkweather, he kills him with a chainsaw while Starkweather pleas for his life. After Starkweather's death, the events in Carcer City are exposed by a reporter and covered up by the state. At the end of the game Cash's whereabouts remain unknown.[4]
Game Play
Manhunt is played in a third person point of view through the character James Earl Cash. Consisting of 20 levels (called scenes) and 4 bonus levels, in every level the player is outnumbered.[5] The map on the lower left hand corner shows the alertness and position of enemies near the player, represented in 3 colors. A yellow enemy icon embodies an enemy that is moving around, an orange enemy icon is an enemy that is alerted by Cash's presence, and a red icon is an enemy which has spotted Cash. Anything from walking or running on gravel, to banging on a wall can alert an enemy. The circle on the lower left hand side of the screen shows emanating circles whenever noise is produced by the player.[5] Avoiding running will preserve and increase the player's stamina shown in the lower right hand corner along side their health bar. You can lose health when attacked by an enemy, and can replenish half with "pain killers" found throughout the level.
The stealth mechanics include hiding in the shadows (called the safe zone), and attacking enemies by sneaking up behind them without catching their sight. An enemy can not spot you in the shadows unless they see you enter. 2 types of weapons can be used for the execution of enemies, one-off weapons and melee weapons; guns can not be used for execution. One-off weapons are those including plastic bags, wire, and glass shards; melee weapons include bats, nightsticks, and a chainsaw.[2] When executing and locking on to an enemy without them being aware there are 3 choices that present themselves: a "hasty", "violent", and "gruesome" kill, yellow, orange, and red respectively.[6] The 3 are presented on the lock-on reticle within 5 seconds of locking onto an enemy, and once one is chosen you can use one of 2 weapons collected throughout the game. A "gruesome" kill leaves cash most vulnerable, and earns the player the highest reward at the end of a level. Movies that earn five star ratings are those with the most brutal kills [2], which unlock bonus levels and concept art. The game can be replayed in 2 different levels ranging in difficulty, fetish being normal and hardcore being most challenging.
Public Reception and Controversy
Upon its release, Manhunt became known for its brutal and graphic violence, dark tone, and unsettling storyline. The response from critics and the general public was both positive and negative. On the positive side, review aggregate site Metacritic gave it a 75/100[7]. Respected game reviewer Game Informer rated it 9.25/10, citing its nuanced narrative structure and emphasis on realism that defined the early 2000's entertainment culture[8]. Ign awarded Manhunt with an 8.5/10[9], and Eurogamer credited the game as being, "one of the most morally challenging game[s] ever made"[10] Due to its generally positive reception as well as its controversy, which will be discussed below, had sold 1.7 million copies as of March 2008 [11]
The negative lashback to Manhunt began at its release, most notably with the advocation of U.S. Representative Joe Baca, who pushed back against the games violent nature and ritualistic portrayal of murder. Controversy with regards to the game peaked in the summer of 2004, with the murder of 14-year-old Stefan Pakeerah. Stefan was murdered by 17-year-old Warren Leblanc, who lured the boy into the woods, beat him with a claw hammer, and stabbed him repeatedly with a knife. Stefan was discovered with 60 separate injuries[12]. Parents of the victim alleged that the murdered owned and was obsessed with the game Manhunt. The father even referred to the game was a "manual for murder", citing a connection between the murder and how the game is set out - killing people with weapons like hammers and knives.[13]. While the judge in the found that, "simply being in someone's possession does not and should not lead to the conclusion that a game is responsible for these tragic events,[14] the game was banned or refused a classification in Russia, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Germany, and South Korea[15]
Ethical Implications
Manhunt released rated M 17+ for mature due to its blood, gore, intense violence, and strong language. Critics have argued its violent content to be problematic, and was once banned in New Zeland from being purchased by anyone.[16]
Violence
The ethical concern and controversy focused on its impression upon children. Its rating did not stop kids from playing since their guardians could buy it for them, either aware or unaware of its contents. When playing, children become the character Cash. Through the entire game they listen to Lionel Starkweather's whispers guiding acts of violence that show how to kill in various methods. The ethical dilemma occurs when impressionable kids are influenced in negative ways by such violence, U.S Representative Joe Baca states, "It's telling kids how to kill someone, and it uses vicious, sadistic and cruel methods to kill,"[17] The game is psychological and introduces players to the choice of kill or be killed; encouraging players to kill since the characters life is on the line.[18] By killing in gruesome ways, you are rewarded with stars at the end of each level. The player is encouraged to execute in an increasingly brutal way. [19] In an experiment searching for the effects of rewarding violent actions in video games, Nicholas Carnagey and Craig Anderson, concluded that playing a violent video game, regardless of whether the game rewards or punishes violence, increases violence and aggression as opposed to playing a nonviolent video game.[20] Children are not able to distinguish that these choices are not ethical in the real world, and only apply in Manhunt's virtual world.[21]
Voyeurism/Surveillance
The ethical implication of voyeurism and surveillance is introduced in the storyline. Lionel Starkweather, director of the snuff films, displays voyeuristic tendencies as he watches Cash execute gang members through hidden cameras for his pleasure.[22] Starkweather talks to his victim and affects his actions on occasion; he is not the perfect voyeur.[23] Starkweather's surveillance of Cash holds qualities of Bentham's panopticon, where prisoners are always under the impression that they are being watched.[24] As he watches, Cash is unaware of what will happen to him next and where Starkweather is watching from. Cash is Starkweather's prisoner through constant voyeuristic supervision, and exploited to those looking for snuff films.[2]
References
- ↑ https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP1004-CUSA03512_00-SLUS208270000001?smcid=pdc%3Aus-en%3Aweb-pdc-games-manhunt-ps3%3Awaystobuy-buy-download%3Anull%3A
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 https://www.gamesdatabase.org/Media/SYSTEM/Sony_Playstation_2/Manual/formated/Manhunt_-_2003_-_Rockstar_Games.pdf.
- ↑ https://www.rockstargames.com/games/info/manhunt
- ↑ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386616/plotsummary
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/11/18/manhunt-2?page=3
- ↑ https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/03/25/manhunt-is-a-dark-underappreciated-masterpiece.aspx
- ↑ https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/manhunt
- ↑ https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/03/25/manhunt-is-a-dark-underappreciated-masterpiece.aspx
- ↑ https://www.ign.com/games/manhunt
- ↑ https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_manhunt_ps2
- ↑ http://www.vgchartz.com/gamedb/games.php?name=manhunt&keyword=&console=®ion=All&developer=&publisher=&goty_year=&genre=&boxart=Both&banner=Both&ownership=Both&showmultiplat=No&results=50&order=Sales&showtotalsales=0&showtotalsales=1&showpublisher=0&showpublisher=1&showvgchartzscore=0&showvgchartzscore=1&shownasales=0&showdeveloper=0&showcriticscore=0&showcriticscore=1&showpalsales=0&showreleasedate=0&showreleasedate=1&showuserscore=0&showuserscore=1&showjapansales=0&showlastupdate=0&showlastupdate=1&showothersales=0&showshipped=0
- ↑ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1470929/Teenager-gets-13-years-for-video-game-murder.html
- ↑ https://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/04/manhunt_murder_claim/
- ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/leicestershire/3934277.stm
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_banned_video_games
- ↑ https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/mvxzyn/why-i-adore-manhunt-the-quintessential-video-game-nasty-210
- ↑ https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2003-11-24-0311240176-story.html
- ↑ https://www.wired.com/2016/03/manhunt-ps4/
- ↑ https://pubweb.eng.utah.edu/~zagal/Papers/Zagal_Manhunt.pdf
- ↑ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2005.01632.x
- ↑ https://www.igi-global.com/chapter/designing-games-ethics/50729
- ↑ https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/09/30/manhunt-the-story?page=2
- ↑ https://umich.instructure.com/courses/273552/files/9617495/download?download_frd=1
- ↑ https://umich.instructure.com/courses/273552/files/folder/Class%20PowerPoint%20Presentations?preview=10583067
