Take 2 "being burned by their past"

The ban in the UK and Ireland slapped on Take Two's Manhunt 2, and its subsequent AO rating in North America, is a response to the company's previous controversial content, according to one analyst.

Nollenberger Capital Partners' Todd Greenwald told the Associated Press that various controversies in titles such as the Grand Theft Auto series and Bully (Canis Canem Edit in Europe) have contributed to the recent lambasting by the BBFC and the decision by Sony and Nintendo to refuse the release of Manhunt 2 in the US.

"It does seem that Take Two is being a little bit unfairly singled out... because of their history of provocative games," commented Greenwald.

"They're being burned by their past, " he added.

The publisher has come under fire for the Hot Coffee scandal, accusations of racism and subject matter in Bully, amongst others.

As a result the company has faced various lawsuits, bad press, political questions and even titles withdrawn from sale.

Last week the BBFC banned Manhunt 2 in the UK, citing the games "unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone."