Take-Two, please rethink "Manhunt 2" ...

Dear Paul Eibeler:

The "Hot Coffee" scandal. Grand Theft Auto. Take-Two Interactive.

You're company is not exactly known as a paragon of virtue in the gaming community. However, a lot of the industry and popular frustration with Take-Two is not just in opposition to your right to make "edgy" content.

It's in response to the damage you've done to the game industry, its perception in the mainstream culture, and the work you've caused other people fighting battles -- battles you made tougher because of your poor decisions. It's about you stepping up and being more accountable and professional and responsible.

I have an industry colleague who doesn't work for you, but was wearing a GTA T-shirt at last year's E3. He had things thrown at him. This was from people within the industry.

To be fair you've made (or at least published) some good stuff I've enjoyed over the years. I don't even have issues with GTA, per se.

And while I'm totally looking forward to titles like The Darkness, your stunts make me wish the game had a different publisher. If a top-tier game like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion arguably suffered unnecessarily as fallout from your antics, I hate to see shining star Starbreeze Studios put at risk.

So, just be really careful with this whole Manhunt 2 thing.

I mean, you need to be careful, anyway. But the timing -- and your track record -- makes your handling the timing and release of the title even more important.

From a recent forum post of mine onTeamXbox.com:

"We're at a tough place in gaming, and we're getting nailed constantly in the
mainstream press and court system for being violently or sexually explicit. And
now, our greatest advocate and president of the ESA, Doug Lowenstein, is
stepping down."

On his way out, Mr. Lowenstein had some tough words for you. Though he never named Take-Two, GTA, or "Hot Coffee", only the obtuse don't know he was wagging a finger at you.

I'm not saying you shouldn't make the game, necessarily. I am asking you to handle it carefully.

I'm glad you're "proud to announce Manhunt 2", but keep in mind, you're actually going to release a game that uses fodder for snuff films as its schtick during the onramp to an election year. Some of the likely contenders for the presidential and other races have a history of attacking video games. Add to that your targeting Nintendo as a platform -- a platform with an inarguably heavy family market connotation -- and your care and handling of this title is critical.

I'm a gamer. I'm a responsible enterprise software professional. I'm a media professional and active proponent of First Amendment rights.

So, I'm one of many asking you to do a 180. Reverse some of the damage you've done to your colleagues, and become an actively supporting member of the ESA and ESRB efforts.

And stop choosing to hurt the industry of which you're a part.