A High Court Judge has blocked moves to allow an adult video computer game to be sold in the UK.
The British Board of Film Censors (BBFC) refused to issue a classification for Rockstar Games' Manhunt 2, deeming the product dangerous if it fell into the hands of children.
However, last month the Video Appeals Committee (VAC) lifted the ban following an appeal by the publisher. The Committee ruled the game was "unlikely to cause harm to adults or children" and awarded it an 18 certificate.
But at a High Court hearing in London, Mr Justice Mitting branded the game "dark and violent". He told the VAC to revoke the classification as their decision was fatally flawed by "a clear error of law" when it came to the test for assessing the question of harm.
During yesterday's hearing, the BBFC expressed concern that the VAC decision could have serious implications for its watchdog role "not only in relation to video games, but generally".
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