Rockstar Leeds boss Gordon Hall has called on the rest of the games industry to support the company in the Manhunt 2 controversy. Speaking to Develop Magazine, Hall defended the Rockstar London-developed game, which has been banned in a number of countries, and had commercially damaging age certifications slapped on it in others.

"I’ve got to say I really feel for the London team - they’ve done a cracking job and made a great game," Hall told Develop when asked about the furore surrounding Manhunt 2. He went on to point out that, while films such as the violent satire Man Bites Dog are readily available to anyone aged 18 or over, videogames that deal with similar issues are not afforded the same amount of artistic freedom.

"I don’t think Rockstar specifically has been picked on, but I do think that the wider issue attacks our entire industry," he said. "We need to teach people that games are an art form - they are more artistic than film."

According to Hall, the situation should jolt the entire games industry into action. "I think the industry should rally behind us, because there will come a time when we’ll all have an idea that’s a little edgy, and we need to have the freedoms to express it," he stated.



"We are an adult entertainment industry - we may have started out with child-like technology making games solely for a younger audience, but it’s just not like that anymore. It might take legislature a little while to catch up, but if the industry sticks together hopefully we can change people’s attitudes quicker."