Hacking through Manhunt 2, Germans censor corpse desecration and Maniac Mansion censorship revisited – Welcome to the column that is unedited and contains plenty of swear words like *£ïΘ, &$%*, & *$&# known as Dare to Play the Game.
Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. Nope, still didn’t get to Half Life Orange. *sigh* The girlfriend and I played a whole lot of Guitar Hero 3 which is why you got a handy dandy review so quick. That and I couldn’t break my Guitar Hero streak on this site. No sireee bob. A lot of Puzzle Quest was also digested as my character has entered the mid 20’s and the girlfriend is in her 30’s. Just like our ages except in reverse. Damn, I’m old; but my girlfriend did turn 24 yesterday. Muhahahaa, perhaps it isn’t nice to point and stare. But heck I do that anywhere on a daily basis. She also reads this column, I worry for her sanity. I also played Guitar Hero 3 with a close friend of mine, it is really a great game with a friend or loved one. However, the single player I still think has taken a step back, especially with those lame boss battles. I’m having such a problem with Slash, it all starts with him beating me in Guitar Hero, before you know it he’ll be taking my girlfriend, my job, and my rabbit. I hope I get my job back. (Just kidding Hominy…and Sarah)
“I’m mad at you Kedrix” “Why is that Morgan?” “I think you are neglecting me” “I’m sorry you feel that way, so anything I can do to make it up to you?” “Would you have fantasies about me like you used to?” “Of course, of course.” “Thank you my dear michael, let’s go play Halo.” We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.
PSP
Since late yesterday GamePolitics has been following a rumor that hackers had discovered a means to reveal the original, unedited content of Manhunt 2.
Now we’ve had confirmation from a Take Two representative that it’s not a rumor.
It’s true.
In other words, the apparent hack made visible some – but apparently far from all – of the content found in the version of the game rated “Adults Only” by the ESRB.
Here is the statement just sent to GamePolitics:
Multiple edits were made to revise Manhunt 2 for its M-rated version.
Hackers apparently have altered one of those edits to produce an illegally modified version of the game that can only be played on an unauthorized, modified PlayStation Portable handheld system.
All of the game material, and especially these specific edits, was submitted to and reviewed by the ESRB in accordance with requirements regarding disclosure that were enacted two years ago and any contrary suggestion is inaccurate and irresponsible.
Take-Two Chairman Strauss Zelnick said, “I stand behind the game and the ESRB ratings process. It is unfortunately the case that no one in the entertainment software industry is immune from hacking. We hope that consumers will not engage in hacking or download illegally modified copies of our games. We encourage them to enjoy our games as they are meant to be played. We would also like to emphasize that Manhunt 2 is intended for an audience aged 17 and above.”
I told you folks last week! Mark my words, Manhunt 2 will be part of the news section next week. Like a freaking Nostradamus over here. So some hackers got a hold of the PSP copy of Manhunt 2 and removed the filter or the blurring from the gory parts and re-released it as a hacked and unedited copy of the game. I wouldn’t be surprised if something for PS2 also shows up but it might be more unlikely. Homebrew PSP discs are a little easier to come by. I stand behind the free speech and rating of Manhunt 2. I could care less about the game, it’s not my thing. It’s what it stands for. It deserves the M rating it received. Just because somebody hacked the crap out of it and released without the gory parts blurred does not change the original game. I sincerely think the Hot Coffee incident wasn’t as bad as it was made out to be. You had to use a third party device and a code to access a hidden part of the game that was tucked away. That still sounds like hacking to me. So hopefully the rating stands and the bull settles down. Doubtful, but hopefully parents just use common sense instead of complaining straight to congress.
PC
With Germany keeping a close eye on violent video games, Midway Germany had to make a few small modifications to the country’s version of Unreal Tournament 3 to obtain a 16+ rating and avoid the mighty Deutschland banhammer. While the majority of the game remains intact, a few choice changes involving dead people had to be made.
We had to make some minor changes to the game to get an age rating at all. […] The biggest change is that you can’t shoot already dead people (and they won’t explode into thousand parts) and that ragdoll is disabled for dead people as well.
So no mashing corpses into a fine paste or bouncing them around the map with shock waves after they’re dead. Could have sworn the actual killing people was what Germany had a problem with. Go figure.
Today’s word is censorship, say it with me… *sigh* Well it is Germany, and they never exactly inspired freedom of speech. Seeing games changed just to satisfy some country usually does more harm than good. Sometimes it is funny though, like when they replace curse words with words like fandango and funk. Personally, I think Germany is just bitter about all of the skinhead and Nazi jokes I run from week to week and wanted to get back at me in some small way that I would think unnoticeable. Ha, I found it anyway. Sucks to be you!
NES
The bad words we removed, meaning that “The meteor is going to be pissed” was changed to “The meteor is going to be mad.” Howie Rubin of Jaleco (the company that was going to publish the game under license) advised us the that the baddest bad word is Kill. The central activity in most Nintendo games is killing things. The image and the act are good, but the word is bad, even if the word does not suggest the image or the act.
The mansion contains a number of arcade video games. One was called KILL THRILL. The name had to be changed. Doug Glen, our Director of Marketing, suggested that we change it to MUFF DIVER, which I thought was a pretty good idea. Unfortunately, I later became aware of the NES Game Standards Policy, which stated in part:
Nintendo will not approve NES cartridges…with sexually suggestive or explicit content
Yikes, MUFF DIVER had to be changed again. In order to minimize the impact on the artwork, I needed to substitute MUFF with another four letter word that was less suggestive that could make sense with DIVER. We settled on the word TUNA.
I had covered Maniac Mansion in a previous column quite a few weeks back. I lightly touched on the difference between NES and the computer version. This is begging for an unedited release in the XBLA market. You sooooo want an achievement based on the hamster in the microwave and you know it. That’s worth at least 20 GS. But that was the mentality then (and to some extent even today). We must protect the children or else they might become politicians. Or lawyers, or that little person in your well who complains about lotion and baskets. I still find it funny that the version of Maniac Mansion that made it to the NES was coded in NES Scumm language. Gold I tell ya.
The second coming of Marble Madness is hitting XBLA or a vague interpretation of it. You are maneuvering your metal ball through a 3-d landscape around various traps and other nasty things. There will be beautiful landscapes and multiplayer and 12 mindless achievements that will have you playing the game for hours on end. I think I’ll pass, I couldn’t stand pushing a marble any length of distance and bullies always took my stash in school. I’m bitter, sue me.
Basically it is Word Search meets Puzzle Games and makes for an unique combination. One of those casual games that most puzzle nerds will go ooo ooo and aaaa ahhhh. Then they will orgasm and go back to Bejeweled 2 or Tetris Splash. It makes for a good parlor game but I have a feeling that this game will be one of those that will half price in 6 months to a year. Unless one of the words that you can actually spell is Orgasm. Then it might have a chance.
Finally what most people consider to be the best Super Mario game (I was kinda attached to 2, I know I’m weird), it was raccoon flying time. The neat thing about this game was all of the costumes you could find as you traveled from world to world on the map. It also supported a little bit of decision making and didn’t force you to go through everything (though it was pretty smart if you did). This might very well qualify as one of the last must gets on the VC system. There will surely be more but this is probably the peak in most eyes view.
It’s Golf. With a Powerful stroke. I wish I had more information to provide. You have 18 holes, you swing a club. I think this ranks right up there with World Class Baseball as a completely useless download. I love Turbo games but come on folks! They have that entire catalog of TG16 cds and supercds and they are wasting their time with Power Golf. *sigh*
Alien Soldier was a pretty good side scroller with a heavy dose of action. There was very few enemies and you spent most of your time fighting bosses. Well over 20 stages and 30+ bosses made for a great time. It had very pretty graphics for it’s time and showed off Genesis quite well. Unfortunately it stayed hidden and most people won’t discover it. Of course SMB3 is the easiest recommendation this week but Alien Soldier deserves a look by those who are willing to take a little chance.
PS2
Power Rangers Super Legends
Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Zombie Ninja Pro-Am
Cabela’s Big Game Hunter
PSP
The Simpsons Game
Silent Hill: Origins
World Series of Poker 2008: Battle for the Bracelets
PS3
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Cars: Mater-National
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Bladestorm: Hundred Years War
Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions
Xbox 360
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Bladestorm: Hundred Years War
FEAR Files
Scene-It With 4 Controllers
Cabela’s Big Game Hunter
Wii
Hannah Montana: Spotlight World Tour
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Bee Movie
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
Mario and Sonic: Olympic Games
My Word Coach
DS
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Lifesigns: Surgical Unit
Bratz: 4 Real
Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves Mermaid
Build a Bear Workshop
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Go Diego Go: Safari Adventure
Shrek the 3rd: Ogres and Donkeys
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker with Bonus
Enchanted
Horse Life
Hot Wheels Beat That
My French Coach
My Spanish Coach
My Word Coach
Ontamarama
Panzer Tactics
Puzzle de Harvest Moon
Spectrobes Collectors Edition
World Series of Poker 2008: Battle for the Bracelets
Hannah Montana: Music Jam
Dr Seuss: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
No, I’m not counting the number of DS games released this week. 22 fine, let’s move on. The biggest release this week would probably be the complete saga of Lego Star Wars. I will certainly pick up a copy but probably not right now. I still have so much to play and finish up, this one would probably be on the christmas list as one of those easy to get gifts. At the $50 price tag for all systems including the PS3 and Xbox 360, it isn’t that hard of a purchase. The sleeper of the season just might be the Scene It game. 360 gets this exclusively and gets 4 controllers for the regular price to boot. With the advent of DLC, this could keep interest for quite sometime and a fantastic party game for those with enough friends. I might just pick it up if the girlfriend and me could actually get some friends to come down once in a while. Without offering cookies (inside joke).
Well, I’m nearly caught up on DVD reviews if you have been watching my posts. I essentially have the Tripper left and then I’m kinda forced myself into finally playing Half Life Orange. Not that I don’t want to, its more the opposite. I really really want to, but I know I want to dedicate a good amount of time to it. But we still have Puzzle Quest and of course Guitar Hero 3. I’m confident Sarah and me will make it through the co-op career. I’m confident I will eventually beat Slash by some stroke of luck. The battle with Lou from what I’ve heard is cause for concern. I really want to be able to unlock all songs to play (without using a cheat code) even if I can’t actually master them. We’ll see. In the meantime, keep jammin kiddoes and always remember to have fun.
As Always,
Kedrix of Aldrianian
(*The Forgotten One*)
