Left 4 Dead 2 Banned in Australia, Valve “Bummed”
Posted 09/18/09 at 10:44:29 PM by Nathan Grayson
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Some of you, we’re sure, are probably exercising your God-given right to boycott Left 4 Dead 2 for whatever reason. Australia, though, totally has us Yanks beat. Over there, no one’s buying the game! Oh, what’s that you say? The game’s been “banned” in good ol’ Oz? That’s why they’re not buying it? Well then, that’s no good at all.
As it turns out, Left 4 Dead 2 was refused classification by Australia’s ratings board, the OFLC. Why? Because it’s too violent, apparently.
“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,” reads the OFLC description of the game. “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.”
As expected, Valve is a bit broken up about the whole mess.
“We were surprised to hear of this news yesterday,” Valve’s Doug Lombardi said. “Obviously, everyone at Valve is pretty bummed. It would be a shame if folks in Australia, or anywhere else, are unable to purchase Left 4 Dead 2 because of a ratings issue.”
Bummer indeed, Doug. Guess it’s time to start stuffing those zombies with marzipan and kittens instead of blood and bone. And maybe replace gunfire with the sound of children’s laughter. Yeah, that ought to do it.
Blame Australia's crappy ratings system.
Submitted by 010000100110010... on Sat, 10/03/2009 - 9:14am
Left 4 Dead 2 developer Valve announced today that it has formally appealed the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification's refusal to rate its zombie shooter, a decision that currently prevents Valve from releasing the game in the territory.
The OFLC claimed that the game was unsuitable for an MA 15+ rating due to "frequent and intense depictions of violence" and "graphic depictions of blood and gore." A higher rating than MA 15+, such as 18+, does not currently exist for video games in Australia.
The OFLC's report also noted that a minority of the board believed that the November 17-due PC and Xbox 360 game "warrants an MA 15+ classification with the customer advice of strong violence"--the classification granted to the original Left 4 Dead.
Along with word of the appeal, Valve also sent along a ratings update for the game:
COMPLETED RATINGS
PEGI (continental Europe) - 18+
ESRB (North America) - M
CERO (Japan) -Z (corresponds to Mature in US)
IFCO (Ireland) - Approved the title for classification.
USK (Germany) - 18+
Singapore - Mature 18
FPB (South Africa) - 18+
KGRB (Korea) -18+
PENDING RATINGS
OLFC New Zealand - In progress.
BBFC (UK) - In progress.
OFLC Australia - Refused to rate on September 17. Appealed September 23
http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/60602
...riiiigggghhhhtttt.....
Submitted by NeoTifa on Fri, 09/25/2009 - 10:38am
Australia's gay.
Submitted by 010000100110010... on Tue, 09/22/2009 - 9:33pm
Don't they realize the utter insanity of what they are proposing? Banning L4D2 in Australia is frankly absurd. If you label such a game as L4D2 as 'violent'then why not ban zombie killing games entirely? Or maybe even killing games at all? Most people ACTUALLY like the blood and gore thank you very much. Anyways, the utter stupidity of people never suprises me. "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."-Albert Einstein From yours truly, -Ben
i fear for Plants vs
Submitted by nekollx on Wed, 09/23/2009 - 5:23pm
i fear for Plants vs Zombies who also deals with the living imparied's abuse.
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
Submitted by 010000100110010... on Mon, 09/28/2009 - 8:14pm
Heh. Amusing.
Did I miss something in the
Submitted by jcollins on Mon, 09/21/2009 - 9:57am
Did I miss something in the backstory? Or is this something new with L4D2? I was under the impression that the zombies were infected with the virus, died, then came back. I mean, take a look at a zombies in the game. That ain't no living person...
I'm tired of things being
Submitted by StonedMagician99 on Mon, 09/21/2009 - 9:56am
I'm tired of things being banned for (FAKE) violence, especially violence against things that are technically already dead.
Submitted by WFUJay on Mon, 09/21/2009 - 7:42am
Left 4 Dead 2 starring: Andy Garcia, Lil' Mama, Biz Markie, and Chris Martin. Coming soon.
Submitted by kevjohn on Mon, 09/21/2009 - 6:30am
"Attacks cause copious amounts of blood spray and splatter, decapitations and limb dismemberment"
Are you kidding me? This sounds like the most awesomest thing evar!! Had no interest in this game... until now. Thanks, Aussies!!
Plus, I just came up with a new business plan. I'm gonna take orders from people in other countries who can't get stuff that we can buy here, jack up the price, then ship it to them in a plain brown box. If I can avoid Customs and jail time I should make a tidy profit. Enough to buy a new set of rims for my car in 3 or 4 years.
Submitted by Sina on Sun, 09/20/2009 - 9:23pm
as far as i know, you can buy any game that you like in iran, there's no copyright law & rating system in iran.
any game/movie for less than $5.
underground rules...
Submitted by joewood77 on Sun, 09/20/2009 - 9:17am
When will governments learn you simply cannot pass edicts that ban certain actions and be able to enforce them? Anyone wanting a copy with half a brain can get it. Hmmm. Newegg sells it, so does Amazon. Does anything think they will not ship a copy to Australia? Any aussie could have an online buddy mail him one.
Valve could even set it up where they would just sell the license key. You get the media however you want. P2P come to mind? FTP servers?
Geez, legislators are ignorant idiots.
If a customer in Austrlia is
Submitted by I Jedi on Sun, 09/20/2009 - 10:08am
If a customer in Austrlia is buying an item off of Amazon.com or Newegg, then wouldn't it make sense that the retailer would know that the product that particular person in Austrlia bought was banned in that country? After all, retailers don't want to get into a law suit from a government gone mad. No, it'll be under-the-table handing around of L4D 2.
Submitted by erolsipar on Sun, 09/20/2009 - 8:23am
If they I lived in Australia I would move to another country what kind of fuking rights is that. I love to be a Canadian and I love to live in Turkey.
Fuk You Copy Right Rootwarez,org
But you would have to...
Submitted by Devo85x on Mon, 09/21/2009 - 4:55am
But you would have to visit Australia after you left... at least for the blonds... :)
banned in Australia
Submitted by Dexter243 on Sat, 09/19/2009 - 10:16pm
if any one in Australia wants a copy just contac some one in the us and have then send it to you :-)
hell ill mail it to you for cost
Lousy Wankers
Submitted by Havok on Sat, 09/19/2009 - 6:25pm
I'm gonna take a page out of someone else's book -
"But can they play GTA4?"
OMGWTFBBQ
buuuuuuuut....
Submitted by mps725 on Fri, 10/02/2009 - 10:34am
GTAIV doesn't have limb removal, wild crazy blood splatters (they are there but not like in L4D series) and decapitation.
I mean come on... GTAIV you can only run people over, have intercourse with hookers, beat people to death with bats/fists, constant swearing, racism, theft, robbery, hi-jacking, the ability to stand over an already downed body and stab it repeatedly until money comes out and have Niko spout, "guess you won't be needing this anymore."
I could go on... but really... L4D2 is way worse. /s
Submitted by I Jedi on Sat, 09/19/2009 - 4:00pm
Hello Kitty Island for the pussy Australians and more L4D 2 for the American here. :}
Can they block Steam from
Submitted by chaos.13037 on Sat, 09/19/2009 - 3:24pm
Can they block Steam from selling that game? Or is Valve not allowed to put it up on Steam for Australian users, can they do that, make it location specific selling over the internet?
Submitted by majorsuave on Sat, 09/19/2009 - 8:23pm
your IP adress identifies your ISP and its country (and often city) of origin so it is fairly easy for an app to mark you as an Australian and adapt the content displayed to you (and sold).
Submitted by I Jedi on Sun, 09/20/2009 - 10:01am
And that's why a lot of people like to use Proxy servers to hide their own IP addresses. It becomes a lot harder to track the person in question. This was a way that people outside of the U.S. were able to view Hulu videos for awhile. L4D 2 will be in Austrlia, have no doubt. It'll just not be publicly accessible at your local gaming store.
Was the first Left 4 Dead
Submitted by gendoikari1 on Sat, 09/19/2009 - 12:18pm
Was the first Left 4 Dead banned in Australia? If not, then Michael (Tw)Atkinson has some explaining to do. And I expect P2P sites to have a large spike in downloads from Australia...
Submitted by Biceps on Sat, 09/19/2009 - 12:23pm
The Austrailian government will fine any ISP that allows P2P transfers, with or without their knowledge. I could be mistaken (meaning they might have changed their minds), but there was a Max PC article about this a while ago.
Submitted by gendoikari1 on Sun, 09/20/2009 - 7:40am
So is Australia really the Orwellian police state that the news makes it out to be?
Submitted by B.A.Frayd on Sat, 09/19/2009 - 11:42am
I have one thing to say to the Australian Government:
IT'S NOT REAL! NONE OF IT!
Submitted by Biceps on Sat, 09/19/2009 - 9:53am
It has been proven beyond a shade of a doubt that New Zealand is much much cooler than Australia.
Submitted by Biceps on Sat, 09/19/2009 - 10:54am
Is it just me, or does the guy on the left look a lot like Dave Matthews?
Submitted by WFUJay on Sat, 09/19/2009 - 3:05pm
It's just you. He looks more like Andy Garcia.
So, why don't they release
Submitted by vistageek on Sat, 09/19/2009 - 9:53am
So, why don't they release an "Australia edition"?
Submitted by Devo85x on Mon, 09/21/2009 - 4:59am
Because their main problem with the game is that the zombies look too much like people (from other sites I have read)... got a way to change that?
Good point...
Submitted by ShroudedWolf51 on Sun, 09/20/2009 - 12:53am
That is a good point. After all, here, they did release a "watered down" version of GTA:SA and in europe, they did release a "watered down" version of RE4, so I'm guessing that what Valve will do is release a "watered down" version of L4D2 there in order not to lose an entire continent worth of market...
Submitted by I Jedi on Sun, 09/20/2009 - 10:05am
Because some Australin is going to appreciate a game where all of his U.S. buddies go,"Wow, did you see that zombie explore?" and all the Australin sees is it fall to the ground and do nothing but die.
Zombies right-ists
Submitted by joel96 on Sat, 09/19/2009 - 7:52am
“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."These people bravely stand up for the rights of the life impaired. L4D2 encourages life-ist bias and violence against an unrepresented peoples group. It is no wonder these poor oppressed individual collectivists disagree with the survival instincts of different humans.
What in the world. This is unreal.
Chaintech nForce4 Zenith VE
1GB pc3200 cl3 DDR,Athlon 64 3500+ Seagate 320GB, Thermaltake PurePower 480W PSU, ATI x800 Radeon 512MB PCIe, IOMagic DVD16DL, Audigy 2SE.
Submitted by nekollx on Mon, 09/21/2009 - 9:26am
i find it funny the OZ is supporting the rughts of the undead to EAT HUMAN BRAINS
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
Submitted by thommo on Sat, 09/19/2009 - 7:06am
Zombies filled with Kittens and children laughter for guns sounds like a great mod ;-) Valve should totally add that as a easter egg - "Non-voilet suitable for Australia Edition" in the options.
Submitted by Sina on Sat, 09/19/2009 - 6:17am
the level of dictatorship in iran & australia is very high.
Submitted by Sina on Sat, 09/19/2009 - 6:19am
haha... lol
australia is just like iran: retarded rules.
Submitted by arkweld on Sun, 09/20/2009 - 4:17pm
and just like America.
This game has not been banned. It's been refused classification. Which means you can own the game, you just can't buy it from an Aussie retailer in it's current state.
Which is exactly the same situation that America put Manhunt, GTA:SA, Farenheit, The original Witcher, or any AO rated game in.
The number of times I've had to import a game from Europe because America can't deal with nipples is equally ridiculous.
Submitted by Xee on Sat, 09/19/2009 - 5:30am
Why don't they just rate it R18+?
Australia has no R18+rating for video games.
Why doesn't Australia have an R18+ rating for video games?
A single man, South Australian Attorney-General, Michael Atkinson doesn't want an R18+ rating, despite overwhelming public demand.
Why does one man get to determine what is right for everyone else?
The system is flawed.Michael Atkinson has the appearance of a man who has never and will never actually play a video game, why then is someone with no actual experience in the industry in charge of what is acceptable conduct within?
It's time to send a message to Mr Atkinson, introduce a mature ratings system to the video game industry or turn over your duties to someone better qualified.
Contact The Attorney-General and tell him what you think:
Phone
8207 1723Fax
8207 1736
attorney-general@agd.sa.gov.auPostal Address
GPO Box 464
ADELAIDE SA 5001Office
11th Floor, 45 Pirie Street
ADELAIDE SA 5000
Submitted by mesiah on Sat, 09/19/2009 - 3:52am
I think it would be hilarious if they made an "Australian Edition" where instead of guns and clubs you wield silly string and lolly pops. And all the blood and gore was replaced with happy faces spraying from your victims. Of course it would have to be offered everywhere else in DLC form. It would probably make it the single greatest game of all time.... ok, maybe not that good, but definitely a memorable one.
Submitted by NeoTifa on Fri, 09/25/2009 - 10:45am
That's not blood coming from the zombies, it's red Pixi-Stix!
Submitted by rachelandjarod on Sat, 09/19/2009 - 12:03am
As Australians, we are frustrated by the Office of Film and Literature Classifications consistant inability to move with the times. The OFLC is backed by a government to afraid to alienate an ageing and out of touch population. The OFLC has R18+ classification for films but only 15+ classification for games. With the average gamer age in the mid 20's, the OFLC needs to realize that video games are no longer only for children.
Great
Submitted by Darth Ninja on Fri, 09/18/2009 - 11:28pm
Great, now I'm going to have to mail a copy to my friend in Australia, but will he pay me shipping? nooooo!
lol@software bans in 2009
____________________
DarthNinja
www.DarthNinja.com
Solution....
Submitted by K0BALT on Fri, 09/18/2009 - 10:57pm
Nuke the whole continent, just to be safe....
Submitted by K0BALT on Fri, 09/18/2009 - 10:56pm
.....they're bannning the only knowledge to fight off the resistance of the undead which is, in turn, themselves.....
Lame
Submitted by Ryan Whitwam on Fri, 09/18/2009 - 10:08pm
It's stupid to ban a game in general, but it sounds like these people have never heard of zombies. Live humans, indeed.
Submitted by K0BALT on Fri, 09/18/2009 - 9:29pm
Can't they just order it from a place in the US or even easier, just D/L it?
Submitted by wolf17 on Fri, 09/18/2009 - 10:34pm
They may be able to have someone from the US buy it and gift it to them, say if they have relatives here. Or maybe there's a way to fool steam into thinking they're buying it in the US? I imagine it's only banned to purchase the game, not to play it, so they could still proabably play the game via steam, even if they can't technically buy it :P.
"Life is about living, not stressing" - a very smart girl :)
Submitted by wolf17 on Fri, 09/18/2009 - 9:21pm
"Guess it’s time to start stuffing those zombies with marzipan and
kittens instead of blood and bone. And maybe replace gunfire with the
sound of children’s laughter. Yeah, that ought to do it."Nah, that's /still/ too risky haha.
But someone should def. do a mod of L4D2 of what you just said; it'll go great with that freeware ponies game Murphy wrote about a couple weeks ago haha.
just kidding!
"Life is about living, not stressing" - a very smart girl :)
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