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Ouch! Left 4 Dead 2 Banned In Australia

September 16, 2009 in News comments 54

Did the people working for Australia's Classification Board forget to take their crazy pills? They sure have been banning alot of games recently! According to the OFLC's official website, Left 4 Dead 2 has been refused classification in Australia due to it's 'high impact violence' against 'living humans infected with a rabies-like virus' thus making it unsuitable for minors under the age of 18.
Oddly enough, the game doesn't seem any more graphic than the previous Left 4 Dead game, or the majority of other M-Rated games for that matter.
Strange.

Left 4 Dead 2 has been refused classification in Australia in a decision announced by the Classification Board this morning.
Miss Razz via au.pc.ign.com »
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  • 1
    Euphoric Sep 16, 09
    I went to add this and it came up as a similar story.

    Anyway my description was going to be considerably less tame though. This has to be the last straw. Surely they can't ignore the outcry now. I mean for *bleep*s sake, everything else has an adult rating. Why the shit don't games? Ludicrous.

    It's bad business as some publishers will in future simply ignore Australia as a market. It's also unethical to deny people access to media for no real reason other than laziness towards writing a new classification code.
  • 0
    Gamesta100 Sep 16, 09
    Their excuse is that they want to "protect" the children by not allowing an 18+ rating.A lot of games at least 17+ everywhere else are pushed into an MA15+ rating.
    • 0
      Miss Razz Sep 17, 09
      I've always thought it was weird that the games that are rated 17+/18+ in other countries are only given an M15 rating here in Australia. We might have a handful of games that are banned or censored, but in the long run the majority of games intended for older teens are being shoved into a younger age bracket. It's a strange system we have.
      If we had an 18+ rating, it'd make alot more sense.
  • 0
    Reenee Sep 16, 09
    quote
    some publishers will in future simply ignore Australia as a market.
    I hope they do.
    • 5
      Euphoric Sep 16, 09
      I hope you're just being childish and you aren't actually retarded.
      • 2
        Seproth Sep 17, 09
        He's not wrong, why waste time trying to import a game that's going to get banned? Just cut out the middle man and save a bit of time, and probably some money.
      • 0
        Reenee Sep 17, 09
        quote Euphoric
        I hope you're just being childish and you aren't actually retarded.
        Boy, I bet your face is red now. And to the three thumbers. (Ha ha! Entendre.)
        • 3
          Euphoric Sep 17, 09
          Why on earth would my face be red? I said the that because the classification board are idiots that publishers are going to avoid Australia in future as they will not be able to sell games here. As such they need to fix the problem and create an 18+ rating. You are trying to tell me it makes sense to go "nah *bleep* the rating, just stop sending games to Australia at all". That is retarded. Plain and simple.

          If you're going to try and talk business then either learn and understand what you are talking about or make sure who you're talking to isn't university educated in the field.
        • 0
          Reenee Sep 17, 09
          quote
          That is retarded. Plain and simple.
          No, it isn't. By making a whole industry move out of the country, you make that country's government look bad, restrictive, etc. Video games are entertainment so if you get them out of there, you send a message to the entertainment industry as a whole.

          In this case, it would be even better because you can pin the blame on the one tard (as stated by Play ISDF below, which I know is true, but I don't know the guy's name) and out him and everyone realizes their mistake so they'll rectify it and bring everyone back.

          Or, if by some miracle you get that jackass to correct himself, that would work as well.

          These are two valid approaches to rectify the situation.
        • 0
          Euphoric Sep 17, 09
          Possibly try saying what you actually mean in the first place next time. Not that I agree with the method. The fact is the games that get low classifications will sell and still be released. Other games will try for classification and fail then not ship here. They aren't really losing anything in the long run, and only annoyance over time will really make them cut off certain games being developed for here.

          The only ways that this is actually going to change is when the minster pisses off and is replaced by someone with a brain, or the minister grows a brain and starts using some common sense. It all boils down to him and the gaming industry pulling out of the country is going to make him happier than he is now.
        • 3
          Red 9 Sep 17, 09
          Oh FFS, just let it go you guys, why must people get pissy about everything these days?
        • 0
          Reenee Sep 17, 09
          Uh, what? There's no argument here.
        • 2
          Euphoric Sep 17, 09
          Just because we disagree on how we would go about certain things doesn't me we are bitching like school children. Some people on this site (forums as well) seriously need to learn the difference between debating and arguing.
        • 1
          Reenee Sep 17, 09
          Yup, just a big misunderstanding that was rectified (by pointing a gun at Euphoric's head).
  • 3
    Team Xtreme Sep 17, 09
    As opposed to 'high impact violence against living humans not infected with a rabies-like virus' featured in countless games.

    *bleep* OFLC.
  • 1
    Aussie Legend Sep 17, 09
    Its official, Australia is a shithole.
  • 3
    Star of Spurs Sep 17, 09
    Hasn't Australia realised yet that if games are rated R18, they should be sold to people over the age of 17. Not banned from a whole country. And, if people want something badly enough, they're going to get it. Import or not.
    • 3
      Aussie Legend Sep 17, 09
      Exactly. Its like saying alcohol is unsuitable for minors under 18 so we're just going to ban it and not let anyone have any...

      *sigh*

      I'm just gonna import it anyways, so myeh. Lets just hope we get edited version, its better than nothing.
      • 0
        Big A2 Sep 17, 09
        quote
        Its like saying alcohol is unsuitable for minors under 18 so we're just going to ban it and not let anyone have any...
        It's far stupider than saying that. People have died becuase of alcohol, but no-one's died over a video game.

        And while I have said that Austrlian parents are not ready for an R18+ rating, I do admit that it is getting out of hand and making Australia look less like the video game market it already isn't
        • 2
          Red 9 Sep 17, 09
          quote Big A2
          People have died becuase of alcohol, but no-one's died over a video game.
          Actually someone died from exhaustion once from going on a gaming marathon.
  • 1
    Play ISDF Sep 17, 09
    For those blaming the OFLC and Australia as a whole and everything, stop. It's ONE GUY who says that he's protecting the kids by stopping the R18 vote. It must be a unanimous vote and he's stopping it. Bloody bastard...
    • 1
      Shuyu Sep 17, 09
      Personally, I'm blaming every South Australian who voted Labor in the 2002 state election. I doubt many of them knew this would happen, but I'm still blaming them.
      • 0
        Bale Fire Sep 17, 09
        You have just given me the brilliant idea of moving to SA, and then running a campaign against him. I'd get every Aussie's vote here right? Only the other 99% of the population to go
  • 0
    Twin_Master Sep 17, 09
    This is absolute *bleep*ing bullshit!
    • 0
      RaidenXS Sep 17, 09
      are you australian???????
      • 4
        Xeros the Slayer Sep 17, 09
        And a huge L4D fan.

        I thought he'd go shoot the board over this... while dressed like Bill.
      • 0
        King X2 Sep 25, 09
        Well I couldn't imagine why he would be complaining if he wasn't.
  • 0
    Curt Connors Sep 17, 09
    Why aren't the game industry in Australia lobbying for a change in the law? This is starting to look retarded, it's not like Oz is known for being particularly prohibitive.
  • 1
    Miss Razz Sep 17, 09
    The Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia lobbied for a change in the law last year. Despite the ridiculous amount of evidence supporting the campaign, Michael Atkinson (the only politician against the R18+ rating) refused to even discuss the matter, so it was thrown out the window. Hooray for democracy (-_-)
    • 0
      Shuyu Sep 17, 09
      quote Miss Razz
      Hooray for democracy (-_-)
      China wouldn't like it, so Rudd's scared of doing it.
      • 0
        Play ISDF Sep 17, 09
        You know, as I recall, Aus is looking for a new little phrase to use in response to New Zealand's "100% Pure". Perhaps "Australia: Where Rudd bends over for China" would be appropriate.
    • 0
      Star of Spurs Sep 17, 09
      Ah, Michael Atkinson. I've heard of him from Yahtzee's videos. He seems to be the Australian version of Jack Thompson.
    • 0
      Curt Connors Sep 17, 09
      Someone in the games industry needs to get this guy on a junket to Thailand, get him drunk and take some photos of him cuddling a ladyboy.
  • 2
    Slumpy monkey Sep 17, 09
    Australia is a *bleep*ing joke man.
    • 0
      Big A2 Sep 21, 09
      I suppose that's why we always don't mind laughing at ourselves.
      • 1
        Tiger of Wu Sep 21, 09
        Or perhaps that's why you take yourselves too seriously on the intertubez
  • 0
    Insanity Prevails* Sep 17, 09
    It's bad enough to be outright banning games because the pure innocent minds of humanity (hahaha) might get corrupted, but then there's no real consistancy in any of these decisions.

    I wouldn't be surprised if a coin toss is brought into play whenever a mature title comes across.
  • 0
    Seeker X Sep 17, 09
    quote
    Boy, I bet your face is red now. And to the three thumbers. (Ha ha! Entendre.)
    Ha Ha! +500 cool points for Sebben reference.

    To import or not to import...there's the rub...HA HA! Rub.
  • 0
    dwg14390 Sep 17, 09
    This is why no one respects the Australian government.
  • 0
    Team Xtreme Sep 17, 09
    quote Play ISDF
    For those blaming the OFLC and Australia as a whole and everything, stop.
    Be that as it may, how is the reason behind the refused classification justified? Exaclty the same concept as the original L4D, just a continuation of the story (as is my understanding). Not to mention all the other zombie games that exist and make it to Australia uncensored (Dead Rising, Killing Floor, Resident Evil, etc). How are any of those games not considered to have 'high impact violence' against 'living humans infected with a rabies-like virus'?

    I think despite our stupid rating system, on this one I'm still giving a big *bleep* you to the OFLC. If this keeps up soon we will probably only see new Barbie games make it over here... Provided that the OFLC doesn't begin to think that horse riding is cruelty to animals.
    • 0
      Play ISDF Sep 17, 09
      I never said it was justified. However my only thought is that Left 4 Dead 2 might take a step above L4D to R18 for some particular reason. It might be something as stupid as what happened with Fallout 3 though with the whole morphine/med x thing.
  • 1
    Cantaloupe Sep 17, 09
    To quote the great Mark Twain :
    "He had discovered a great law of human action, without knowing it - namely, that in order to make a man or a boy covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to obtain."
    • 2
      Tiger of Wu Sep 17, 09
      To quote the great Cartman :
      "This shit is *bleep*ing retarded."
    • 0
      Big A2 Sep 18, 09
      While there is great truth in that quote, I'm note sure whether questioning how many Australian here complaining were actually planning on buying Left 4 Dead 2 would get me a lot of angry responses or just ignored.
  • 0
    PrincessPeach12 Sep 17, 09
    That sucks for Aussies'. There are many games that are worse then Left 4 Dead 2 and plus it is not different from L4D much at all like the article says.
  • 0
    Aussie Legend Sep 18, 09
    I suppose the writing is on the wall for Dead Rising 2 as well then (Dead Rising is more gory than Left 4 Dead)...
    • 0
      FinalFantasyFanaticc Sep 18, 09
      Yup, if L4D2 gets banned in Aussy then DR2 is bound to go the same way, damn i feel sorry for the land down under.
      • 0
        Miss Razz Sep 18, 09
        I honestly wouldn't be surprised if DR2 isn't banned. That's how crazy that ratings system is over here. There's like 0 consistency.
      • 0
        Gamesta100 Sep 20, 09
        The thing is that the OFLC isn't very consistent.There's no telling what games will or won't be banned.They may ban one game but allow another with the same features and in some cases even worse features.
  • 1
    Curt Connors Sep 18, 09
    I third that, driving a chainsaw enhanced bike through hordes of 'living humans infected with a rabies-like virus' seems sure to wind this moron up even more. Maybe you should start a petition entitled 'Screw you Atkinson, I'll import and send all my money overseas' that'd look bad on his next election campaign.
    • 0
      Xeros the Slayer Sep 18, 09
      Especially when the plot of the first game was that the government made zombies to provide meat for the food industry.

      So not only is it more violent, it's also more messed up in a thematic sense.
  • 0
    Curt Connors Sep 20, 09
    IS there an appeal process? And if so, are they participating in one?
    • 0
      Shuyu Sep 20, 09
      The decision can be appealed and developers can attempt to have the game classified as MA15+, and in the end they either don't bother or wait until they have an edited version to submit. I think F.E.A.R 2 was overturned with no edits, but each application for classification costs money, so a lot of companies don't risk outright challenging the decision without a cut version.
      • 0
        Gamesta100 Sep 20, 09
        You're right.FEAR2 was appealed and the OFLC viewed the game more and decided to allow an MA15+ rating.

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