| February 06, 2007 - Take-Two formally
announce Manhunt 2 through their official website. It is revealed
that the game will be released for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation
Portable and Nintendo Wii.
The teaser trailer followed shortly thereafter. The teaser
offered the first look at the main character, Daniel Lamb
and two other unnamed characters.
February 07, 2007 - At 2.45am (UK time)
Rockstar launch the official teaser website which included
a video showing someone piercing an eyeball with a needle,
stills of eerie looking hallways and someone hitting another
person on the back of the head with a hand axe.
February 12, 2007 - Rockstar began promoting
Manhunt 2 when they sent out mock up letters from 'Dixmor
Hospital for the Criminally Insane', the letter also included
two ID bracelets for characters from the game.
March 05, 2007 - Word breaks that the Official
PlayStation Magazine (UK) has the first look at the game.
The publication has some images as well as confirming a lot
of rumours, such as gun executions and the ability to crawl.
March 30, 2007 - Additional information
about Manhunt 2 is provided through the Official PlayStation
2 UK Magazine, including some corrections to previously assumed
information and a few other screenshots, as well as the first
look at Leo and some better quality versions of previously
shown images.
April 09, 2007 - Rockstar release the official
game box art and game description to retailers.
April 13, 2007 - Rockstar launch the actual
Manhunt 2 website. It includes the first full trailer, 12
digital screenshots, downloads and patient files.
May 08, 2007 - Rockstar slide the release
date of Manhunt 2 in Europe and America onto the official
Manhunt 2 website.
May 17, 2007 - Kotaku post an eyes-on-preview
of Manhunt 2, it is a recording of someone playing Manhunt
2. It also serves as the first footage of direct game play.
The video is recorded at a SCE event held in North America.
May 22, 2007 - Rockstar post two new news
updates over at the official Manhunt 2 website. One announcing
that Manhunt 2 footage will air on FEARnet through July and
August and the second update announcing that Manhunt 2 will
be sponsoring the Sounds of the Underground tour.
May 24, 2007 - Rockstar send out some new
Manhunt 2 promotional materials, including, patent and doctor
shirts, vinyl stickers and paper binders.
May 25, 2007 - IGN post the first ever impressions
of the Wii build of Manhunt 2, it is unveiled that the game
has improved graphics, interactive executions, blood drenched
characters and three exclusive weapons.
May 30, 2007 - The official Manhunt 2 website
is updated and includes trailer #02 and Leo Kasper patient
audio sessions. Other additions include two new screensavers,
8 new digital images and the front page reorganised .
May 31, 2007 - Rockstar update the official
Manhunt 2 website announcing that Manhunt 2 will sponsor the
Metal Hammer Magazine’s Album of the Year Award.
June 03, 2007 - Details of the Official
Brady Games Manhunt 2 strategy guide appear online.
June 07, 2007 - We break details that Manhunt
2 has been delayed a week in Europe, speculation runs wild.
The general consensus is that it was either to meet the Friday
13th release date or it is tied up in BBFC issues. Rockstar
also release a developers diary titled 'Creating Fear: The
Environments of Manhunt 2' the release also includes concept
art and some new screenshots.
June 14, 2007 - Rockstar release their second
developers diary titled 'Creating Fear: The Gameplay Mechanics
of Manhunt 2', the article again contains some new screenshots
and concept art. NGamer also reveal online that they have
awarded Manhunt 2 on the Nintendo Wii with a 92% rating.
June 19, 2007 - The BBFC refuse to rate
Manhunt 2, as such preventing it from being released. Hours
after the BBFC revealed it had refused Manhunt 2 classification
the ESRB issue Manhunt 2 with an AO rating in America. Rockstar
announce that they are disappointed with the decision made
by the ratings boards but will honour their decision.
June 20, 2007 - Nintendo and Sony issue
statements saying that they do not permit the distribution
of Adult Only titles on their systems. Manhunt 2 is effectively
prohibited from sale.
June 21, 2007 - Take-Two announce that they
are temporarily suspending Manhunt 2 until they assess the
options available to them.
August 01, 2007 - Rockstar confirms that
they have appealed the BBFC over their refusal to classify
Manhunt 2.
August 24, 2007 - Rockstar confirms through
the official Manhunt 2 website that Manhunt 2 has now been
given a 'M' rating and is due for a North American release
on Halloween, October 31st, 2007. There is still no word on
a European release.
September 06 2007 - We inadvertently make
the discovery that Manhunt 2 has leaked onto the Internet.
The leak supposedly originates in Belgium and is of an unfinished,
unmodified PAL build of the game.
September 11, 2007 - IGN Wii is the first
out the door with their updated hands-on with Manhunt 2 since
the game was downgraded from an AO rating to an M. The edits
are said to be the removal of one execution and green and
red blur filters added to the executions themselves.
September 20, 2007 - Rockstar add the Daniel
Lamb patient interviews session to the official Manhunt 2
website as well as adding two new news updates. The news updates
concerned the online previews recently published for the game
while the second update was to inform visitors of the addition
of the Lamb session to the site.
October 02, 2007 - Rockstar post details
of a Manhunt 2 competition where entrants stand the chance
of winning a Manhunt 2 branded Nintendo Wii console and a
50" plasma television.
October 08, 2007 - The BBFC reveal that
they have once again rejected Manhunt 2 from classification.
This time however Rockstar submitted the now M rated version
for the board to review, the BBFC say that they acknowledge
the changes that Rockstar have made but go on to say that
they are not enough to warrant the game rating and give Rockstar
suggestion for further alterations. The BBFC also reveal that
the appeal Rockstar had in place was temporarily put on hold
until the BBFC was able to review the new build. Within hours
of the news being released Rockstar respond by saying that
the BBFC’s suggestions were 'unacceptable' and that
the BBFC are treating videogames differently to how they issue
movie ratings.
October 02, 2007 - BBFC spokesperson Sue
Clark responds to Rockstar saying that they do not treat videogame
ratings differently from other entertainment mediums and that
Manhunt 2 had gone 'beyond our guidelines'.
October 15, 2007 - The news section of the
Manhunt 2 website is updated saying that fans can get some
hands-on time with the game at Screamfest horror convention.
The convention ran from Friday October 19th through Sunday
October the 21st at the Wyndham Orlando Resort.
October 17, 2007 - UK news show Channel
5 News and Sky News report on the leak of the Manhunt 2 code
onto the internet some 42 days prior. In the process they
show un-rated footage from the title.
October 19, 2007 - Previews appear online
of Manhunt 2 from a Holiday event held by Sony Computer Entertainment
Canada. IGN also post a new piece titled 'The Hunters of Manhunt
2' which breaks down as mini bios for 3 of the packs of hunter
in Manhunt 2 as well as a video for each of the three gangs.
October 22, 2007 - Manhunt 2 previews from
the Screamfest convention appear online. Rockstar also reveal
that an employee of Sony Computer Entertainment has taken
responsibility for leaking the Manhunt 2 code onto the Internet.
Meanwhile Kotaku reveal a new piece of Manhunt 2 memorabilia,
it is none other than a Dixmor Hospital straight jacket.
October 24, 2007 - Rockstar release the
fourth (or third, depending on how you view the teaser) and
final trailer for Manhunt 2. The news section of the official
Manhunt 2 website is also updated to reflect this.
October 26, 2007 - IGN post another Rockstar
released feature titled 'The Executions of Manhunt 2' which
is basically six videos showing the new modified filter for
the executions. Three are from the PlayStation 2/PlayStation
Portable version of the game while the other three are taken
from the Nintendo Wii build.
October 27, 2007 - Gamespot post an interview
with Rockstar Games producer Jeronimo Barrera, in the interview
Barrara says that they enjoy making the Manhunt titles and
will make another if they feel they can make a compelling
stealth game.
October 29, 2007 - The NY Times publish
a preview of Manhunt 2.
October 30, 2007 - Most major online videogame
outlets post their reviews of Manhunt 2. Most rate the game
in the region of average or above. MTV Games also post an
interview with Rockstar Games producer Jeronimo Barrera, in
the interview Barrara once again hints at the future of the
franchise and also addresses some of the changes made to Manhunt
2.
October 31, 2007 - Manhunt 2 is officially
released in North America. California State Senator Leland
Yee releases a press statement warning parents of Manhunt
2.
November 01, 2007 - Word surfaces that modifications
have been made to Manhunt 2 on the PSP and PS2 to remove the
filter that was put in place to comply with the ESRB. Former
Rockstar Vienna developer Jurie Horneman posts a list of potentially
unaccredited people on his blog.
November 02, 2007 - Take-Two respond to
the illegal modifications that have been made to Manhunt 2.
Take-Two Chairman Strauss Zelnick says that he stands behind
the game and the ESRB system. Leland Yee responds by saying
the rating system has failed and Manhunt 2 should once again
be rated AO. The Parents Television Council also releases
a press release that favours Lee. The ESRB announce that they
will be holding a conference call to address the situation,
within hours the ESRB give their response in favour of Manhunt
2. Rockstar also finally update the Manhunt 2 news section
to announce the release of the game.
November 04, 2007 - Rumbles begin to suggest
that US retailer Target is removing Manhunt 2 from store shelves.
November 06, 2007 - IGN post an article
reflecting on the backlash of Manhunt 2.
November 07, 2007 - Target confirm that
they have ceased to carry Manhunt 2.
November 14, 2007 - The Christian Film and
Television Commission call for Manhunt 2 to be re-rated.
November 19, 2007 - MCV reveal that the
Manhunt 2 BBFC appeal will be held in London on Monday, the
26th of November. Hours later they remove the news piece without
specifying why.
November 20, 2007 - US senators Joe Lieberman
, Evan Bayh, Sam Brownback, and Hillary Clinton issue a press
release calling for Manhunt 2 to be re-rated by the ESRB.
November 22, 2007 - The first batch of American
print publication reviews of Manhunt 2 begin to come in, reviews
are for the most part favourable.
November 26, 2007 - Rockstar Games and the
BBFC plea their case to the Video Appeals Committee over the
rating of Manhunt 2, all looks to be in Rockstars favour.
November 28, 2007 - It is revealed that
Future Publishing has attempted to publish un-rated footage
of Manhunt 2.
December 10, 2007 - It is revealed that
Rockstar have won their appeal to the VAC and Manhunt 2 is
seemingly set to finally be released in Britain.
December 14, 2007 - Reports come in that
the BBFC may take the Manhunt 2 appeal to the High Court.
December 17, 2007 - The BBFC reveal that
they are indeed taking the Manhunt 2 appeal to the High Court,
requesting a judicial review of the appeal.
December 18, 2007 - Rockstar reveal that
they are disappointed at the BBFC over them deciding to appeal
their own Video Appeals Committee's judgment.
December 21, 2007 - The BBFC are granted
a judicial review of Manhunt 2 with the case expected to be
heard in January 2008. Things begin to once again look bleak. |
