Floridian Seeks Ban On Violent Wii Game

June 7, 2007

According to a report on GamePolitics, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum's office has expressed concern over the violent content in Rockstar's Manhunt 2.

The game is scheduled to be released on July 9 as part of Nintendo's Wii console.

Some citizens, including anti-violent games activist Jack Thompson, have complained to McCollum's agency over Manhunt 2's slashing stabbing or clubbing motions that can be simulated by Wii's motion-sensitive controller.

Although there are no Florida statutes specifically prohibiting such statutes, Thompson, an attorney, has previously tried to block distribution of another Rockstar game, Billy. That effort, which sought a ban on the basis that Billy was a "public nuisance," failed.

McCollum replied to GamePolitics:

Attorney General Bill McCollum is concerned about any games which may instill violence in children, particularly games that encourage children to engage in violent behavior, even in simulation. He believes it is important to help protect children from influences which may introduce violence into their lives and stresses the importance of parental involvement in the efforts to keep these influences out of our homes and away from our families