[cbrotherson]

So I was watching some Heroes and this pops into my inbox:

Rockstar Games announces Manhunt 2 for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, and the Wii™


New York, NY – February 6, 2007 – Rockstar Games, the world-renowned publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), is proud to announce Manhunt 2 for the PlayStation 2 system, PSP system, and Nintendo’s Wii™. Manhunt 2 is the debut title from the newly formed Rockstar London studio, which is developing the game in conjunction with series creator Rockstar North. The Wii™ version is being developed by Rockstar Toronto. Manhunt 2 will be available this summer.

"With Manhunt 2 we have tried to create a game that stays close to the original concept of chilling suspense and stealth, whilst pushing the game design and storytelling forward," said Sam Houser, founder and executive producer of Rockstar Games. "We are also excited to have our newest development team, Rockstar London, working on the title alongside our two established UK studios, Rockstar North and Leeds."

This is pretty interesting on several levels, but Rockstar to start making these type of titles on Wii... hmmm...

EDIT: Sorry The Jack, it was a matter of a mere single minute

[Maridia]

The ESRB is going to shit.

[Ike]

Wow, Nintendo really is trying to get the third-party crowd and its "mature" games.

[Mato]

Probably testing the waters. If it does well, GTA4 will be Wii exclusive, it's all set now.

[argon]

Wow, what's the last Rockstar game on a Nintendo console? I can't think of any...

[PjotrStroganov]

Killing on the Wii. Killing on a whole new level.

[Haunted]

whatdog.gif

I don't approve of this idea.

[jett]

Sweet, PS2 will live on forever.

[jj984jj]

Looks like Reggie's "meetings" worked.

[FrenchMovieTheme]

i wonder if they got my email about jgar being a hidden character this time

[blame space]

Wow, what's the last Rockstar game on a Nintendo console? I can't think of any...

I think Smuggler's Run. Unless you count GTA GBA.

[Tiktaalik]

I bet there will be a move where you hold the cord between the wiimote and the nunchuk and use it to strangle some guy.

also:

Wii gets it's first murder simulator. Awesome.

[PiccoloCube]

last i checked, april is in 2 more months...

or it could be.... real?

[Sho_Nuff82]

What the hell? Wiimote stabbing/disembowling/breaking = The Terrorists Win, right?

Oh, and why doesn't Rockstar just go ahead and port GTA LCS and VCS while they're at it? The Wii is looking like the viable port machine the GCN never was.

[EmCeeGramr]

Thats genuinely surprising. Still think manhunt is gratuitious shit. Was this the end result of reggie effectively begging rockstar for support?

[the year 20XX]

Wow, what's the last Rockstar game on a Nintendo console? I can't think of any...

Smuggler's Run on GC and GTA Advance on the GBA.

[worldrunover]

Have you thought of the possibilities that the Wiimote gives to killing people in unique and engaging ways? I don't see how Rockstar could NOT do this :p

[cbrotherson]

last i checked, april is in 2 more months... or it could be.... real?

April seems a bit soon, but I assure you - as a person who works in the industry and has the email sitting right here in front of him, it's a very real announcement.

[Aristotlekh]

Holy ****ing shit at the Wii announcement.

But the first one was flat mediocre and basically nothing but Jack Thompson fodder so I'm indifferent to the announcement aside from curiosity. Can you imagine how apeshit cable news is going to go over this?

"New game for Nintendo's family Wii console targeted at families from Satanic leftist game development studio is a kid game for children where you use a simulated knife to slit peoples' necks and dismember them and beat them with lead pipes until their guts hit the screen and it glorifies violence and defies Jesus Christ.

Back to you, Brit Hume, in the studio."

[Razoric]

HOLY SHIT YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!

[MrPing1000]

I for one am looking forward to sufficating people with a plasric bag through dimple hand gestures

[Second]

I guess porting Ps2/PSP games to Wii really isn't that hard...

[flipping_heck]

Alright... i guess.. Wii for the mature ftw!

[Magicpaint]

I guess porting Ps2/PSP games to Wii really isn't that hard...

Well, that goes without saying.

[Mason]

Holy shit. I played the first one a bit on PC and liked it but with the Wii controls, I'm so in. That will be awesome.

[Ike]

The media and Jack Thopmson will have a field day with this. I can see headlines right now, "Rockstar releases a murder game that trains killers."

[Andokuky]

Yes! I loved the first Manhunt. Did the whole stealth action thing better than other games like Splinter Cell.

[DarienA]

Holy ****ing shit at the Wii announcement. But the first one was flat mediocre and basically nothing but Jack Thompson fodder so I'm indifferent to the announcement aside from curiosity. Can you imagine how apeshit cable news is going to go over this? "New game for Nintendo's family Wii console targeted at families from Satanic leftist game development studio is a kid game for children where you use a simulated knife to slit peoples' necks and dismember them and beat them with lead pipes until their guts hit the screen and it glorifies violence and defies Jesus Christ. Back to you, Brit Hume, in the studio."

Did we play the same Manhunt? Wii controls with Manhunt... count me as one of the interested...

This PR hasn't hit the usual Yahoo place news spot I check....

[sphinx]

where does these news come from???

Manhunt, one of the (if not the) most aggresive and gory game ever appearing ON WII???

[Moderation Unlimited]

Probably testing the waters. If it does well, GTA4 will be Wii exclusive, it's all set now.

Haha hahaha hahahahah hah aahhahhahah!!!11!!1!

[Gattsu25]

PSP version will be mine

a (at times) frightning, gory, competent stealth title for a handheld? I'm there

[PjotrStroganov]

April seems a bit soon, but I assure you - as a person who works in the industry and has the email sitting right here in front of him, it's a very real announcement.

Rockstar frequently anounces games close before the release. I presume that they only anounce dates when they are sure of them.

[EmCeeGramr]

By the by, is gta gba any good?

[Smiles and Cries]

so it begins... Wii to get all PS2 left overs :)

it seems if a dev still wants to put something on PS2 they also consider PSP and the Wii

[donny2112]

If Rockstar does this "right," the Wii version might get an AO rating.

[wsippel]

last i checked, april is in 2 more months... or it could be.... real?

You doubt this is real?

Believe me, it is: http://ir.take2games.com/ReleaseDeta...leaseID=228854

[Razoric]

[cbrotherson]

Rockstar frequently anounces games close before the release. I presume that they only anounce dates when they are sure of them.

It would make sense. I remember when Rare did as much... once?

In truth, I personally think it's to avoid a similar fate that Bully suffered. There was far too long for the 'moral majority' to hang the game before anything concrete showed otherwise. Despite the fact the very first press release said there was no promotion of bullying in the actual game itself.

[chriskzoo]

I'm so interested to see how freaked (or actually excited, deep down) Nintendo gets once one of these games starts using the Wii-mote like you are swinging an actual bat to beat on someone or jabbing it like a knife in a gruesome fashion. Suddenly you are no longer just pressing the X button, you are literally giving someone a virtual beating.

Then again, that's the beauty of the Wii-mote - I just think they will have to drop the "family friendly" campaign.

Jack Thompson disbarred yet?

[Dascu]

Hahaha, excellent! I do hope the Wii version has somewhat better graphics than the PS2 one. As it's apparently developed in a different studio, it hopefully won't be a mere port with Wiimote actions tacked on.

[KTallguy]

This is ... interesting :P

[Cosmonaut X]

Wow. Well that was unexpected...

Not entirely sure what I think of this yet - good to see more support for the system, even if it is likely to just be a port across & control tweak, but I thought the original Manhunt was pretty bland, gameplay-wise, and the content - or rather, the way it was presented - was pretty much on the edge of what I was comfortable with.

Interesting days!

[speculawyer]

Manhunt on the Wii?

That could be pretty amusing . . . do you get to beat people to death with the Wii-mote?

[Krowley]

Holy ****ing shit at the Wii announcement. But the first one was flat mediocre and basically nothing but Jack Thompson fodder so I'm indifferent to the announcement aside from curiosity. Can you imagine how apeshit cable news is going to go over this? "New game for Nintendo's family Wii console targeted at families from Satanic leftist game development studio is a kid game for children where you use a simulated knife to slit peoples' necks and dismember them and beat them with lead pipes until their guts hit the screen and it glorifies violence and defies Jesus Christ. Back to you, Brit Hume, in the studio."

... Pretty much spot on. I'm guessing the actual report won't sound much different.

But actually i'm not really surprised by this. The system is off to a good start in terms of sales, and you can probably expect it's library to start getting more diverse if it continues to show promise. Mature games/kid games/ quirky games. A mainstream system has all kinds of support.. doesn't matter if it's a nintendo or a sony platform.

[the year 20XX]

it hopefully won't be a mere port with Wiimote actions tacked on.

...good luck with that.

[Smiles and Cries]

can't wait for pics

[speculawyer]

Hey Rockstar . . . did you know there are these new consoles called PS3 and xbox 360?

How about some games for those consoles? Sheesh.

(OK, you did make Table Tennis for the 360 . . . but that was little more than a tech demo.)

[Aristotlekh]

Did we play the same Manhunt? Wii controls with Manhunt... count me as one of the interested... This PR hasn't hit the usual Yahoo place news spot I check....

Actually, I could see it working on the Wii if they actually care about the project. But I think this is sort of the token "let's throw a PS2 game on there because Reggie shoved money at us" game more than one they have any creative interest in. I'm skeptical.

[John Harker]

The Godfather and Scarface paved the way for this.

Which I'm sure Splinter Cell and Far Cry helped those.

It's funny, you can almost trace a line of Mature titles and their improvment on the system, as each tries to build up a mature base on the Wii.

(Of course, this is contingent on Godfather and Scarface actually being DECENT, considering the Ubi games sucked)

[krypt0nian]

Cannot wait for a visually next gen Manhunter, but I will grab the wii version no doubt.