"Games made for Nintendo systems enjoy a broad variety of styles, genres, and ratings," a representative told GameSpot. "These are some of the reasons our Wii and Nintendo DS systems appeal to such a broad range of people. But as with books, television, and movies, different content is meant for different audiences. That's why the ESRB provides ratings to help consumers understand the content of a game before they purchase it. As stated on Nintendo.com, Nintendo does not allow any AO-rated content on its systems."
So... Nintendo supports the ESRB, but they take it a step further and enforce their morality on me, a legal adult who will buy the PC version of Manhunt 2. I can understand their intentions, wanting to maintain the image of wholesome family fun, but Nintendo is hypocritical. Years ago I remember reading about an early Japanese SNES fighting game, Killer Instinct, being renamed to Power Instinct in the U.S., because Nintendo of America didn't want the word "killer" in a game's title. A few years later, Nintendo releases a new Killer Instinct to the arcades, SNES, Gameboy, and N64. Also, the SNES version of Mortal Kombat had no blood code (unlike the Sega Genesis), but the SNES version of Mortal Kombat II had the blood intact. Nintendo may claim moral superiority, but they're willing to flip-flop for whatever is most profitable.
Although I can understand Nintendo's point of view, even though I'm not fooled by it, I don't understand Sony nor Microsoft. Both permitted the first Manhunt game, and Microsoft allows me to see a geyser of blood splash my TV screen when I take a chainsaw-bayonet to an opponent. Microsoft also permitted The Chronicles of Riddick, which allowed me to see the effect of a screwdriver on an incarcerated felon.
Does Nintendo truly respect the ESRB if they feel the need to be a higher authority? Conservatives wail "won't somebody think of the children!"; I say it's time to think of the mature-adult demographic... and then the immature parents that buy mature games for their kids, without doing actual parenting. No decent parent would buy porn for their kids, but apparently it's impossible for parents to make responsible decisions regarding violence in games.
When I have kids, they're playing nothing but Candyland until they leave for college.
