| May 14, 2003 – Manhunt is officially
announced for release on the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment
system. Rockstar North told the world that Manhunt was a game
that explores the depths of human depravity in a vicious, sadistic
tale of urban horror and that details surrounding the game remain
shrouded in secrecy. May, 29th 2003 –
Rockstar launch the official website for the game, it includes
one pop up image and a distorted voice telling visitors to
visit valiant-ent.biz which is now renamed to valiant-ent.tv.
The link had a set of videos to view; the videos had a CCTV
look to them and showed executions taking place. The website
also included a message board complete with fake postings
from people asking about snuff movies and objects.
July 15, 2003 – Rockstar reveal the
official Manhunt box art. It features a hockey mask found
face with television scan lines, it doesn’t reveal a
whole lot about the games plot but completely sets the moon.
August 01, 2003 - Rockstar release the first
set of digital screenshots for Manhunt. These screenshots
provided a first glimpse at some of the hunters in the game
including the Hoods, Skinz and Wardogs. There was also sight
of some of the games weapons such as the machete and a metal
baseball bat. Those with a keen eye also picked up on the
first firearm in the game, a shotgun.
August 22, 2003 – IGN are given the
first ever online hands-on preview of the game. Everything
sounds overtly positive about the title.
September 02, 2003 - Rockstar update the
official Manhunt website, the update includes some new screenshots
added and a new video which really doesn’t show off
much of the game. The games release date is also pushed back
from late October 2003 to mid-November 2003 by parent company
Take-Two Interactive, the delay is said to give developer,
Rockstar North, more time to polish the game.
September 22, 2003 – Rockstar release
the first trailer for Manhunt. IGN also reveal that the character
design for the games lead character, James Earl Cash has changed.
The reason for the change is due to Rockstar North trying
to continually improve on the game design and aesthetic. Some
game play and story details are also provided to IGN by Rockstar
Games.
September 24, 2003 – IGN post some
more Manhunt screenshots, they act as a first glimpse at the
Cerberus guards.
September 29, 2003 – Rockstar North
share details related to the story and environments of Manhunt.
October 13, 2003 – Rockstar release
the second trailer for Manhunt through the games official
website.
October 20, 2003 – IGN are given an
exclusive Manhunt preview titled ‘The Gangs of Carcer
City’.
October 24, 2003 – IGN post the second
part of their exclusive Manhunt preview titled ‘The
Gangs of Carcer City, Part 2’.
November 04, 2003 – Sony prematurely
announces that Manhunt is compatible with their newly shown
of USB headset.
November 05, 2003 – Rockstar announce
that Manhunt is compatible with the recently released USB
headset to highlight the importance of sound in the game.
The Directors voice would only be heard through the headset
and the games environmental sounds would be heard through
your TV sound system. Any noise made through the headsets
microphone would be heard in game by the hunters.
November 13, 2003 – Rockstar release
five new screenshots of Manhunt in motion. IGN also post part
three of their exclusive Manhunt preview titled ‘The
Weapons of Manhunt’.
November 14, 2003 - The third official Manhunt
Trailer is given out by Rockstar Games exclusively to IGN.
November 19, 2003 – Manhunt is officially
released in North America for the PlayStation 2.
November 21, 2003 – Manhunt is officially
released in Europe for the PlayStation 2.
December 12, 2003 – Manhunt is prohibited
from sale in New Zealand after being on sale for almost a
month. The New Zealand Office of Film and Literature Classification
labelled the game as being ‘gruesome’.
December 18, 2003 – Manhunt is inadvertently
confirmed to be coming to the PC and Xbox through Take-Two
Interactive fiscal and financial results.
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