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Manhunt selling out in UK

Justin Calvert
By Justin Calvert, Executive Editor

Since being linked with the murder of Stefan Pakeerah, Rockstar's Manhunt is reportedly selling out in stores across the UK.

When 14-year-old Stefan Pakeerah was brutally murdered in a park in the UK in February, his grieving mother blamed the crime on Rockstar Games' violent stealth action game Manhunt. The 17-year-old accused of murdering Stefan with a claw hammer and a knife, it seems, was a big fan of the game. It later emerged that a copy of the game was found in Stefan's bedroom, raising questions as to how the schoolboy was able to get his hands on the 18-rated game.

With all of the publicity surrounding the murder and the decision taken by a number of major retailers to withdraw the game from sale, the level of interest in Manhunt, according to a recent report in the Daily Mail newspaper, is now higher than it was when the game was released last year. A spokesperson for HMV, which still stocks the game in its 200 stores, told the newspaper that demand for the game had "significantly increased" and added that "people who had never heard of the game now want to buy it. Many think it's going to be banned and that lends a certain cachet."

Mrs. Pakeerah, who has been campaigning to get Manhunt banned, has spoken of her sadness that Manhunt has sold out across much of the UK. "It doesn't really come as surprise, they say no publicity is bad publicity," she said. "But I must say I'm saddened and disappointed. The content of this game is contemptible. It's a societal hazard and my concern is to get it off the shelves as there's enough violence in society already."

Justin Calvert
By Justin Calvert, Executive Editor

Justin's youth was largely misspent playing Commodore 64 and Amiga games. He left the UK's Official PlayStation Magazine to join GameSpot in 2000, believes that he's one of the best Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe players in the world, and puts HP Sauce on everything.

6 comments
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Terry_Foxman
Terry_Foxman

This is a real tragedy but the blame game is almost as revolting. Mentally warped and sick minds will always do mentally warped and sick things. What they view and how it influences them cannot be avoided. But lets say we ban this type of video game. Whats next? books? well, books never killed anyone. (following this mentality) 2 extremely dangerouse ones have: Mien Kumf and the Bible. Both have caused millions to die in horrible and dispicable ways and been denounced more or less, if we ban games for inspiring violence books should be next, followed by movies and hey history, which is the inspiration for everything else. If we do not speak of violence the world will not know it....right, i heard the same argument from a 2nd grader who closed his eyes, and sayed "you cant see me, you cant see me" Its truly a tragedy but placing blame on inanimate objects is revolting. My condolences to the family for their loss.

diableria
diableria

i love this game, its awesome in a sick way, kill!

mattius1989
mattius1989

if mentally unstable children are bought games unsuitable for their fragile minds by their ignorant parents then things like this can happen. but it could just be an excuse of the criminal in question for maybe a lighter sentence on mental issues.

SgtSilock
SgtSilock

Killed near me. I knew the killer

orange-thing
orange-thing

Knives and hammers don't kill people, toys warping thier minds do.. People are stupid and it's some idiot kids insanity and moronity that's responsible. This is like blaming marilyn manson for columbine.

thegamefaqer
thegamefaqer

it's the fault of the person that bought the game (could be him, his mum, etc.)

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