Left 4 Dead 2: Banned in Australia. (5 Viewers)

[SnowFox]

Aussie Classification Board cites "realistic, frenetic and unrelenting violence" as cause for zombie game ban down under.

Left 4 Dead 2 was slated for a mid-November local release, but events today have put a giant question mark over the launch after news came that the Australian Classification Board had put its legislative foot down. The Classification Board is the government body responsible for rating all video games content authorised for sales in the country. According to the Classification Board website, Valve's upcoming first-person shooter has been refused classification for failure to adhere to the current maximum MA 15+ ratings guideline--film can reach a maximum R18+ rating. The announcement means the title is now illegal to sell, rent, or promote within Australia.

GameSpot AU contacted the game's local distributor, EA, seeking clarification as to why the title was refused classification. An EA spokesperson confirmed the ban, but declined to comment on the possibility of edits or resubmission saying "We're still working through the submission process with the [Classification Board], we want to explore all opportunities before we can make a comment." The Classification Board was unavailable to provide an overview of the reason for the ban at time of print.

Left 4 Dead 2 marks the fourth game banned in Australia this year, joining Risen, Sexy Poker, and Necrovision--the latter two of which were approved for sale after being resubmitted with changes. The original Left 4 Dead game was given the maximum MA 15+ rating when it went on sale in Australia in November last year.

Left 4 Dead 2 tells the story of four survivors in the southern United States of America and is spread across five campaigns, each divided up into several levels. The original Left 4 Dead was praised for its dynamic AI and online cooperative play.

Stay tuned to GameSpot AU for full details as they become available. For more on Australia's classification regime, check out our Censory Overload feature.

[UPDATE] GameSpot AU has received the official ruling from the Classification Board. The refusal largely focuses on the Board's interpretation of the game's violence finding that "The game contains realistic, frenetic and unrelenting violence which is inflicted upon "the Infected" who are living humans infected with a rabies-like virus that causes them to act violently" The ruling goes on to say that "However, it is the use of the "melee" weapons such as the crowbar, axe, chainsaw and Samurai sword which inflict the most damage. These close in attacks cause copious amounts of blood spray and splatter, decapitations and limb dismemberment as well as locational damage where contact is made to the enemy which may reveal skeletal bits and gore."

Interestingly the report also notes that "A minority of the Board is of the opinion that the violence is strong in playing impact and therefore warrants an MA 15+ classification with the consumer advice of strong violence," suggesting the ruling was anything but unanimous among Board members.

Left 4 Dead 2 Banned in Australia - News at GameSpot

17 September 2009
The sequel to one of the most popular and well recognised games of 2008 has been banned for sale in Australia. Left 4 Dead 2 has been refused classification. Yet another victim the Classification Board's stupefying lack of an 18+ classification for video games.
From the decision:

Whilst this will stop legitimate sales from Australian stores and online retailers, it is unclear if this decision will affect items sold on Valve's PC based digital game distribution system Steam or from overseas based online retailers. However with the proposed internet filter, the government will attempt to close those avenues too.
Due to come out in November, Left 4 Dead 2 was tipped to be one of the biggest games of the year with no substantial differences noted from the first Left 4 Dead, which was given a MA15+ rating.
Distributor Electronic arts told gaming blog Kotaku that the company was “ still working through the submission process with OFLC and want to explore all opportunities before making any comment.”

http://www.digital-media.net.au/article/left-4-dead-2-banned/498777.aspx

Well, our government just hit shit creek with nothing but spoons. L4D2 has essentially the same amount of gore as its predecessor and yet gets a banning. Only recently the OFLC were hit with a huge amount of Flak for trying to ban Fear 2 due to its "grotesque and realistic violence...with the use of realistic weapons based off current military designs...used upon humans." Obviously never played Fear 1 then, clones fools, clones! If a game like L4D2 can get banned here due to its violence, god forbid when the new AVP game hits our shores, or sitting just outside due to the OFLC getting tight with violence laws.

With digital game imports fetching roughly 1.9 Billion dollars annually, you would of thought the government to place a new R+ Rating into the OFLC, but obviously not. Fear 2 was dumbed down to the maximum MA 15+ by taking some details out, i.e. essentially turning the child lock on, but most players just Illegally downloaded the game.

Whats your views gamers?

 

[pritnep]

I'm a huge Left4Dead fan and was shocked when I heard the news.

That being said I wonder how it will affect its sale through the Steam Store as people will just buy it through there when it's available...

Banning games hasn’t worked in the past and if anything has lead to increased popularity that wouldn’t of been there without it.

Being a AAA title I would try to comply with Australian laws however if you read the document the reason why faced higher classification level is because of the new melee weapons taking them out would completely change game play so we might see a decreasing of “gore”.

Certainly an interesting case (and I hold a lot more interesting being a L4D fan) probably will bring the R18+ debate back in the headlines again.

 

[Omie Jay]

hahahhaha, that is so shit!

having a maximum game rating of MA15+ implies that aussie gamers are up to 15yrs old, yet the average age of gamers in australia is 30 (i think).

aussie govt should srsly have an R18+ rating, this is just encouraging us to buy from overseas or to illegally download games that are banned.

 

[Omie Jay]

and if its gory/violent/profane enough to get banned, i think i'll actually get this game =]

 

[cs01001]

Here goes some student from MQ emailing our Attorney General to get the ban on L4D2 lifted lol

Letter to Australian Attourney General (The dude who is against R18+ classification) - Steam Users' Forums

But personally, I do believe a R18+ classification system is needed.

 

[SnowFox]

I think a petition is order, but with the gamers age and contact details, it will prove gamers are not just tween fucks.

 

[ehtefaz.hedayet]

that's just bullshit

 

[niloony]

I'm a huge Left4Dead fan and was shocked when I heard the news.

That being said I wonder how it will affect its sale through the Steam Store as people will just buy it through there when it's available...

Valve would put in place regional restrictions like they do already for Germany.

Don't worry if worse comes to worse they'll just make a reduced gore version.

 

[anom1ly]

samurai sword, crow bar, chainsaws..... dismemberment, decapitation....
this is a new era in gaming, and australia is going to miss out.
why do these people want australian gamers to be the uncoolest in the world. so embarrassing.

 

[Omie Jay]

samurai sword, crow bar, chainsaws..... dismemberment, decapitation....
this is a new era in gaming, and australia is going to miss out.
why do these people want australian gamers to be the uncoolest in the world. so embarrassing.

or some reason that first line made me excited

 

[pritnep]

hahahhaha, that is so shit!

having a maximum game rating of MA15+ implies that aussie gamers are up to 15yrs old, yet the average age of gamers in australia is 30 (i think).

aussie govt should srsly have an R18+ rating, this is just encouraging us to buy from overseas or to illegally download games that are banned.

Close but 28. Interesting enough everytime this issue comes up the same debate gets raised yet nothing seems to be done, perhaps this time something will be.

Here goes some student from MQ emailing our Attorney General to get the ban on L4D2 lifted lol

Letter to Australian Attourney General (The dude who is against R18+ classification) - Steam Users' Forums

But personally, I do believe a R18+ classification system is needed.

Considering I believe other countries have it does make us lag behind. I guess people see it as a different issue when your interacting with a world rather then watching (movie).

Valve would put in place regional restrictions like they do already for Germany.

Don't worry if worse comes to worse they'll just make a reduced gore version.

Yep I got told that today.

I think that's the most likely thing that will happen we will get a modified version of the game to suit the rating.

samurai sword, crow bar, chainsaws..... dismemberment, decapitation....
this is a new era in gaming, and australia is going to miss out.
why do these people want australian gamers to be the uncoolest in the world. so embarrassing.

Funnily enough another game available at the Steam Store Killing Floor has those same weapons and affects...

 

[SnowFox]

I think its because they are not actually zombies, but people infected with a disease.

IMO, mass riot.

 

[youngminii]

Lol I never bought L4D anyway. I was going to buy L4D2 but oh well, just gonna have to download it again

 

[TehAzner]

I'm a huge Left4Dead fan and was shocked when I heard the news.

That being said I wonder how it will affect its sale through the Steam Store as people will just buy it through there when it's available...

Banning games hasn’t worked in the past and if anything has lead to increased popularity that wouldn’t of been there without it.

Being a AAA title I would try to comply with Australian laws however if you read the document the reason why faced higher classification level is because of the new melee weapons taking them out would completely change game play so we might see a decreasing of “gore”.

Certainly an interesting case (and I hold a lot more interesting being a L4D fan) probably will bring the R18+ debate back in the headlines again.

I agree with your opinion. I'm just very sad that Australian gaming ratings is still subjected to such intense scrutiny. It's time for change... YES WE CAN!!

 

[Uncle]

This is another good reason to download the game rather than purchase it from retail stores.
I don't recall if you can purchase this game off Steam since it is an internet-based content delivery service.

Probably should get a real axe and sword and attack real people if virtual zombies aren't available.

 

[Omie Jay]

yea, sif buy the toned down version.

i want full gore kthx

 

[pritnep]

lol but you haven't even played L4D Omie Jay.

To be honest I just want to play the game so I wouldn't be that bothered if they cut down the "gore" to L4D 1 level.

Until the R18+ debate is brought up again and actually pushed through into a law or at least debated in proper forms with government officials this will be more then likely to happen again with another game.

 

[Omie Jay]

i have played l4d1 a few times at a friends place, didnt really like it that much, maybe if i properly got into it i'd like it.

 

[pritnep]

Ah ok fair enough, thought from everything you said you hadn't played it.

It's an awesome game. Still experiencing new aspects/styles and I've had it since release.

 

[Uncle]

i have played l4d1 a few times at a friends place, didnt really like it that much, maybe if i properly got into it i'd like it.

you just need to take advantage of the hidden lolz in games.

in left 4 dead: get ready, set, shoot the witch to startle her and run! (maybe like to kill her as you run) the one who gets brought down by witch becomes a stinky bleeding carcass!

in pokemon: rename all your pokemons to rude names like PENIS to have a go at the name rater

just need to find that hidden element of lulz in many games.