Left 4 Dead 2 Banned in AU.

http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/102/1025650p1.html

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No, we're not kidding. Stop laughing. Please.

Thanks to the Australian Classifications Board (and by way of Kotaku), Aussie gamers have one more game to cross off their lists for the time being - Valve's highly-anticipated Left 4 Dead 2. The zombie-survival shooter has just been refused classification, preventing the title from being sold on Australian shelves.

The original Left 4 Dead was rated 'MA 15+' by the Board.

At this stage, we're seeking the full report from the ACB, but EA Australia has issued the following statement: "[We] are still working through the submission process with OFLC and want to explore all opportunities before making any comment."

UPDATE: News.com.au has a copy of the board report. The PDF file indicates that the game was refused classification due to 'high impact violence' against 'living humans infected with a rabies-like virus' that is unsuitable for minors under the age of 18.

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Woah... this is stupid.

This isn't really surprising though, Australia has issues with their game rating commission. Nanny states are not a good thing IMO. Protecting children from "unsuitable content" is not the responsibility of the government, but of the parents.

It's just wierd that the first one went through fine, but not this one. Maybe the melee weapons amp up the violence.

AFAIK there is no standard, it's just arbitrarily decided by the commission on a case-per-case basis. It's the same with Australia's super-secret-internet-blacklist.

Banning art is just insanely messed up.

Don't worry, Australians, EA will do something to get it to come out there. Replace the zombies with teddy bears or something. :p

Art? According to the AU government, videogames are for children *only*. No adults should be playing videogames :rolleyes:

But yes, in most cases the game gets edited to the commission's liking (changing the red color of blood to green/etc) and the game gets released anyway. I still feel pretty sorry for Australian gamers, they shouldn't have to put up with all that nonsense. :(

Nanny government FTW.

Hmm but all the austrailians that want the game are probaly just gonna find a way to buy it online or somthing.

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Originally Posted by Snrm

Hmm but all the austrailians that want the game are probaly just gonna find a way to buy it online or somthing.

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Probably not even buy it. I wouldn't if it was banned. Yeah I know... :arg: ....but it would be too much hassle

Hey Australia, imma let you finish, but Germany has one of the strictest video game classification systems!
Sorry, it was called for :)

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Originally Posted by Astrosimi

Hey Australia, imma let you finish, but Germany has one of the strictest video game classification systems!
Sorry, it was called for :)

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At first I was like
http://static.stuff.co.nz/1251812102/685/2824685.jpg

Then I was like
http://www.superiorpics.com/pictures2/Xzibit_AG026.jpg

On topic: They will probably edit the game in some way to make it available. Hopefully anyway.

I'm used to this. They rated my Burnout Paradise which is like 6+; M. All the ratings suck over hear but you get used to it, until a good game comes out.

I am from Australia and they have the stupidest ratings ever... PG for pokemon, PG for wii sports resort, PG for rayman raving rabbids I can't believe it, all of those games have NO violence and yet they are PG. It doesn't make sence!

Wow, banned?

That's pretty ridiculous.

Its a joke. yet all precious kids have to do is get there hands on google for some of the most sick depraved human content known to man. only a few clicks away. Its a wonder they havn't banned the internet yet. I love australia as a place, but their ratings board always seems to amaze me in there decisions.

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Originally Posted by wexfordian

Its a joke. yet all precious kids have to do is get there hands on google for some of the most sick depraved human content known to man. only a few clicks away. Its a wonder they havn't banned the internet yet. I love australia as a place, but their ratings board always seems to amaze me in there decisions.

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They actually are planning to ban the internet...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interne...p_in_Australia

Its will be on Steam. Can they restrict AU from purchasing it and downloading it there? Unless you guys are talking about L4D2 for the PS3, in which case its probably a good thing you cant get it :)

L4D2 isn't coming to PS3, Valve said they find the PS3 too hard to develop for.

lazy is what I call that.

I doubt Valve will just ignore this because they'd be missing out on a lot of sales.
Australians will get their hands on the game somehow, banning it will just increase illegal downloads.

They'll probably censor the blood or something :p

Oh and i think Valve are planning to develop for the PS3 at some point, they just needed to find the relevant programmers.