Thu, Sep 17, 2009 | 07:48 BST
Left 4 Dead 2 banned in Australia
Left 4 Dead 2′s been refused classification in Australia. See here: that’s what the “RC” means.
Why? We’ll tell you why. Or rather, the OFLC’ll tell you why, through the magic gateway that is Gamespot:
“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.”
Yeah, you see: the “realistic, frenetic and unrelenting violence” is the reason it’s awesome, Mr OFLC.
Australia doesn’t allow games to be rated over “15+,” which means anything that deserves an 18 gets effectively banned from sale.
Left 4 Dead releases in the civilised world in the coming months.
18 comments
#1
Michael O'Connor
17/09/09, 7:55 am
Australia <– LOL
#2
Blerk
17/09/09, 8:22 am
It might be less work to just start running ‘Game X not banned in Australia’ stories instead.
#3
Gekidami
17/09/09, 8:36 am
I’ve actually played the Australian version of L4D. Its pretty funny; All green blood and disapearing zombies as soon as they die (which looks really odd when you set them on fire), all the static corpses have been removed to.
#4
Tonka
17/09/09, 8:56 am
/signs petition
#5
Freek
17/09/09, 11:00 am
Sooner or later they will catch on to the idea that people over the age of 18 might also play a game now and then?
You know, like the rest of the world.
#6
freedoms_stain
17/09/09, 11:16 am
People of Australia, you have the vote, use it before your government decides you are not capable of choosing your own representatives as well as your own video games.
I don’t know what the political situation is like in Aus, probably a 2 or 3 party system like everywhere else, but generally all the top parties are almost identikit clones on issues like this, so vote for someone else.
#7
Psychotext
17/09/09, 11:25 am
About time you moved out of the dark ages isn’t it Australia?
#8
DaMan
17/09/09, 12:12 pm
-_-
I can’t fucking believe this.
#9
Jadeskye
17/09/09, 1:59 pm
Gotta love Censorship.
#10
Michael O'Connor
17/09/09, 2:15 pm
“People of Australia, you have the vote, use it before your government decides you are not capable of choosing your own representatives as well as your own video games.”
What you don’t seem to realise is that the majority of the Australian population *support* this sort of decision. The country is rife with rampant conservatism, and the Australian government goes out of its way to pander to *anything* that *anyone* bitches about.
#11
El_MUERkO
17/09/09, 2:32 pm
it’s that great two-faced conservatism as well, where they beat there wives do drugs and sleep around while denouncing their neighbours lack of godliness
#12
DaMan
17/09/09, 2:36 pm
it’s just some politicians making a living through this stuff, same as in other countries. Australia just doesn’t have a plausible rating system.
#13
DogSoldier
17/09/09, 4:01 pm
Voice your opinion and show your support for Australian’s who demand the right to purchase and play Left 4 Dead 2 in its original and uncensored condition!
Join our steam group (http://steamcommunity.com/groups/l4d2inoz) and sign our petition (http://www.petitiononline.com/l4d2inoz/petition.html).
#14
Phoenixblight
17/09/09, 4:21 pm
http://www.vg247.com/2009/09/14/gamers-raise-3000-to-fly-gabe-newell-to-australia/
THat right there is a kick in the pants. Aussies fly him down there and in the same week his game gets banned.
#15
endgame
17/09/09, 4:41 pm
“Left 4 Dead releases in the civilised world in the coming months.” Too right Pat.
#16
DarkElfa
17/09/09, 5:25 pm
When did Australia become the UK from V for Vendetta?!
#17
Phoenixblight
17/09/09, 5:29 pm
Been awhile now. THis country is why certain games get censored for all of us ie Bioshock.
#18
DarkElfa
17/09/09, 5:47 pm
God, I remember thinking I could always run to Australia when things became ridiculous in the US. Looks like I’ll be off to the Netherlands instead.
This world is heading for nutsville.