Manhunt game 'flying off shelves'

[Vampmon]

A computer game linked to the violent murder of a teenager has sold out of stores across the UK.
The parents of 14-year-old Stefan Pakeerah, claim his murderer had been inspired by the Manhunt game, although police have denied any link.

A number of major high street stores have withdrawn the game from sale. But at HMV, where it is on sale, demand has "significantly increased".

Stefan's family said they were "saddened" people still bought the game.

"It doesn't really come as surprise. They say no publicity is bad publicity. But I must say I'm saddened and disappointed," said Giselle Pakeera, Stefan's mother.

"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."

Manhunt has sold out at HMV's branches in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and Belfast.

And HMV stores in London's Leicester Square and Oxford Circus and Aberdeen have recently restocked after running out of copies last week.

Stefan's family blamed the "serial murder simulation" for the death of their son.


However, Leicestershire Police said their investigations did not uncover any links with the game and said the motive for the murder had been robbery.

Raised profile

Warren Leblanc, 17, of Braunstone Frith, Leicester, last week pleaded guilty to Stefan's murder in February this year.

He had savagely beaten his friend with a claw hammer and stabbed him repeatedly after luring him to a local park to rob him.

The Dixons Group last week withdrew the game from its Dixons, Currys and PC World stores, while Game and Virgin Megastores have also pulled Manhunt.

HMV spokesman Gennaro Castaldo said: "Interest in Manhunt has significantly increased for all the wrong reasons. It's flying off the shelves.

"The great irony is that since it came out last year, sales of Manhunt had been negligible.

"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."

Mr Castaldo said HMV had not followed Dixons example in withdrawing the game because it did not believe it should act as a censor.

Sales of the game have also been brisk at online auction house eBay, where many vendors mistakenly claim Manhunt has been banned.

Academic opinion over whether such games can affect adolescents is mixed, but many researchers say watching violent cartoons or games does alter younger children's behaviour in the short term.

BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/l...re/3535268.stm

[Atheist Icon]

That's bullshit...poor parenting is the reason the kid did what he did...parents are responsible for telling the kids right from wrong...

[black_magiic]

I really dont think manhunt caused the murder the parents are just looking for something to blame aside from the 17 year old. Even though i've played manhunt and I would have to say its pretty twisted.

[FrozenShadow23]

God, when will people stop blaming video games for everything, it's obviously MICROSOFT'S DOING!!! Damn dirty dogs....

Heh, but seriously, I don't know a single person that gets motivated to do stuff because of a videogame.

[broadwayrock]

.....and what about the fact that the police said they had found the game at the victim's house and not the killer's house.

[gajans]

The guy who killed him needed money to pay off debts to drug dealers plain and simple. The game had nothing to do with it

[XtraNtnse]

I didn't think the game was all that great. GTA-like graphics kinda blow.

[Malicious Intent]

"Game and Virgin Megastores have also pulled Manhunt. "

Funny that these are the first places to complain about falling sales!

HMV have nearly got the point, but they went to far. They should just have said, "why should we?" After all, this is a new low for video games caused such-and-such news.

Video games don't effect people.

XtraNtnse - One more word against GTA, and I'll be coming to flatten you in my stolen car!

[MoonMan]

Everyone loves using video games as a scapegoat. It's really just a tired effort now to pin every little somewhat related (I use that loosely) incident on the game industry.

[crackerjacker]

Everyone is responsible for their own actions. People always like to blame others for what they do.

[Elviz]

blaming videogames for his actions
poor stupid :tol

[newbornbliss]

has anyone ever heard of hmmmm lemme see.... goodfellas or scarface. videogames just get the shity end of the shit stick.

[Lord_of_the_Dense]

I think they're just getting the wrong games. When I mimicked Pac-Man and ate blue ghosts, no-one did anything. Then again, they wouldn't let us do much in Ward B.

[CCSDUDE]

Manhunt has been out in the states for PS2 for a long ass time...no one has decapitated someone with a shard of glass yet...

The PC version is better...but it still wouldn't have driven anyone to killing. The fucking dinks you whack are dressed up as gimp ass clowns for fucks sake!

Next it's gonna be Doom 3....

"Doom 3 made my son build a plasma rifle and kill his friends!" "Uh...miss....that was a handgun and your son shot your abusive husband...so shut the fuck up."

[spikky219]

stupid stupid stupid people