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Manhunt 2
Developer(s)	Rockstar London Rockstar North Rockstar Toronto (Wii) Rockstar Leeds (PSP) Rockstar Vienna (Former developer)
Publisher(s)	Rockstar Games
Release date(s)	Summer 2007 TBA
Genre(s)	Action, Survival horror, Psych. Horror
Mode(s)	Single player
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii
Media	DVD, UMD, Wii Optical Disc
Input	Gamepad, Wii Remote

Manhunt 2 is a video game currently in development by Rockstar Games and is a possible sequel or prequel to Manhunt. Game development began in 2004 at Rockstar Game's Vienna branch. The game is tentatively scheduled to be released for the Wii, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable in North America in summer 2007.

Contents 1 Development 2 Gameplay 3 Characters 4 Controversy 5 References 6 External links

Five voice actors have confirmed to have recorded dialogue for the game. Even though two of them chose to remain anonymous, the third voice actor James Urbaniak publicly announced it on his blog on March 16, 2006, only to remove it days later. Of the other two voice actors said to have recorded dialogue for the game, one of which also recorded dialogue for the original Manhunt, much like Urbaniak.

Jeff Gurner, a veteran of video game voice overs, has confirmed to manhuntuncut.com that he too recorded dialogue for Manhunt 2 around December 2005 - January 2006. At some point at the beginning of the year it was believed that the voice over work for the game was completed.

However, the game's fate was unknown after the unexpected closing of the Rockstar Vienna office. The game was in the final stages of development at the time of the closing. After the closure of Rockstar Vienna, Rockstar London took over the PlayStation 2 project, Rockstar Leeds is handling the PSP project, while Rockstar Toronto handles the Wii project.

From the Manhunt 2 website:

• "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 story telling forward," said Sam Houser, Founder and Executive producer of Rockstar Games.

The UK's Official Playstation Magazine #84 (April 2007) revealed that:^[1]

• Bag, glass shard, 'heavy handgun', nightstick and double barrel shotgun return, and are joined by the syringe and a biro.
• The Director, CCTV cameras and the protagonist James Earl Cash from the first Manhunt won't play a part.
• Manhunt 2's main character, scientist Dr Daniel Lamb, is locked in a private asylum by The Project - shady backers of a top secret drugs-based weapons program that Lamb was working on.
• After breaking out of the asylum, Daniel Lamb goes on the run with psychotic inmate Leo Kasper, who is happy to coach Lamb on the brutal art of violence.
• Like the first Manhunt, kills are executed in three deadly shades - Hasty, Violent and Gruesome
• Environmental kills have been introduced (push an enemy face first into a live fuse box, for example)
• Loud ambient noises can be exploited by Lamb to drown out his own crashing about.
• When hiding in shadows, if an enemy comes close the player will sometimes have to copy a button combo in order to regulate Lamb's breathing to ensure that he remains undetected.
• Lamb can climb and crawl *two moves that Manhunt's James Earl Cash couldn't do.*
• Guns can be used for stealth kills.

• Daniel Lamb - Main protangogist, scientist, inmate.
  

• Leo Kasper - Inmate, aids Daniel in his escape.
  

• Dr. Whyte - Head of 'The Project'.
  

• Dr. Pickman - High ranking Dr within 'The Project'.
  

• Judy - Works at a brothel, helps Daniel.
  

After Rockstar's announcement of a sequel to Manhunt, anti-violent video game activist Jack Thompson is suing Take Two to stop them from selling Manhunt 2 and Grand Theft Auto IV. Mr. Thompson plans to file the suit from March 19th and in his words he wants to:

"Prevent the sale of two hyperviolent video games set to be released this year and sold to anyone under 17 years of age."

In retaliation to Mr.Thompson's efforts, Take Two are now filing legal proceedings against Jack Thompson by petitioning to the 'United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida' in which they seek to stop the game being declared as a 'public nuisance' under Florida law. The claim states:

"Thompson has a history of making multiple threats of legal action, whether substantiated or not, both against (Take Two) as well as the retailers who purchase the video games and offer them for sale to the public. Thompson has made such threats again in connection with Manhunt 2 and Grand Theft Auto 4…"

In the UK, both parents of murder victim Stefan Pakeerah, lashed out at Rockstar for confirming the release of a sequel. Stefan Pakeerah was murdered by Warren Leblanc, who was reportedly inspired by Manhunt and is now serving a life sentence for murder.

Patrick and Giselle Pakeerah insist that Warren LeBlanc was influenced by Manhunt before assaulting their son, Stefan – despite the judge in LeBlanc’s court case dismissing the game of any blame.

Mr. Pakeerah, who has campaigned for tighter restrictions on violent games since his son’s death back in 2004, stated: "I'm very disappointed. This is rubbing salt into the wounds in the month we will be marking the anniversary of Stefan's death."

Leicester East MP Keith Vaz has backed both parents, and in his words was "astonished" that producer Rockstar had made a sequel.

Mr. Vaz added: "It is contempt for those who are trying very hard to ensure something is done to control the violent nature of these games."

A spokesman for Rockstar told MCV: "The transcript of the LeBlanc court case makes it quite clear that the Judge, defence, prosecution and Leicester police all emphasized that Manhunt played no part in the case." It has also become clear that Warren Leblanc did not own the game and, ironically, Stefan Pakeerah (14) owned a copy of the game, despite it being legally restricted to 18+ in the UK. ^[2]

1. ^ Games Radar. Manhunt 2 News.
2. ^ BBC NEWS. BBC. Retrieved on 19 June 2006.

Official sites

• Official Site
• Rockstar Games

Supporting links

• Manhunt 2 Publicity Mailing