Left 4 Dead 2 Ban Surprised, Saddened Valve

Keane Ng

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Left 4 Dead 2 Ban Surprised, Saddened Valve



Valve wasn't expecting Australia to ban Left 4 Dead 2, and the news surprised and "bummed" everyone on staff.

If you haven't heard yet, Australia's Office of Film and Literature Classification decided not to classify Left 4 Dead 2, a move which will basically ban the game from sale down under. It's definitely bad news for Australians who'd like to buy and play the game, and hasn't gone over so well over at Valve HQ either.

"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."

Lombardi says that it "would be a shame," but it's pretty much certain that Australians won't be able to legally purchase Left 4 Dead 2 based on the Office of Film and Literature Classification's rationale for denying the game classification. No, it wasn't because they think Valve are abandoning Left 4 Dead 1 for an easy cash-in sequel.

"The game contains violence that is high in impact and is there unsuitable for people under 18 years to play," the Office wrote, pointing out the "high impact" nature of the melee weapons and the ensuing gore as major reasons for refusing the game classification.

So if Valve wants to make this game legal to sell in Australia, they'll have to well, basically remove the melee weapons and anything and everything violent in the game. And while the idea of a pacifist zombie survival game certainly is intriguing, I doubt it's going to happen.

[Via Shacknews [http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/60508]]

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Destal

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I fail to understand why all games must be suitable for under 18, I thought that was the reason for the rating system.

Pacifist Zombie invasion? I'll keep mine the old fashoned way.
 

Radeonx

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Apr 26, 2009
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How about, instead of zombies and guns, we use unicorns and pillows. Won't that be fun?
 

Woodsey

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That makes no sense. If it's not suitable for people under 18 (i.e. children, although I hate saying that as I'm 15 and perfectly able to play an 18) then why not rate it 18+ ? How are the Australians so behind on this?

So much for the supposed care free look they give out.
 

AceDiamond

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Destal said:
I fail to understand why all games must be suitable for under 18, I thought that was the reason for the rating system.

Pacifist Zombie invasion? I'll keep mine the old fashoned way.
It's mostly because, as far as my understanding is, Australia has no rating for 18+, and any attempts to get such a rating are constantly stonewalled by Michael Atkinson.
 

Amnestic

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Aug 22, 2008
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Radeonx said:
How about, instead of zombies and guns, we use unicorns and pillows. Won't that be fun?
Maybe if Left 4 Dead 2 had more rainbows this wouldn't be an issue.



See? No one has an issue with Diablo 3's dark and eeevul themes. It's all down to the rainbows.
 

Pimppeter2

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Dec 31, 2008
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Sucks to be some of you guys.

Is it Illegal to own the game there? Can you buy it off ebay or have a friend ship it to you.

Would you get punished because of it?
 

SultanP

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Damn I'm glad not to be living in Australia, Germany, or the USA. It seems they keep fucking with the entertainment industry.
 

SultanP

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pimppeter2 said:
Sucks to be some of you guys.

Is it Illegal to own the game there? Can you buy it off ebay or have a friend ship it to you.

Would you get punished because of it?
Maybe they would, the punishment has to be suitable for people under the age of 18 though, so it shouldn't be too severe.
 

Bat Vader

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Radeonx said:
How about, instead of zombies and guns, we use unicorns and pillows. Won't that be fun?
You could spear zombies with the unicorn's horn and fill the pillow case with bricks.
 

ae86gamer

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Chicago Ted said:
Radeonx said:
How about, instead of zombies and guns, we use unicorns and pillows. Won't that be fun?
No, you may choke on the feathers from the pillows.
And the unicorns will stab you in the heart with their horn.
 

AceDiamond

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SultanP said:
Damn I'm glad not to be living in Australia, Germany, or the USA. It seems they keep fucking with the entertainment industry.
Personally I'm glad in the USA we can at least stop things (like bills that would make M-rated games get treated like porn, and people like Jack Thompson), and am glad I'm not in Germany which seems to be trying way too hard to make up for WWII and Australia which is basically being screwed over by one person.
 

Insomniactk

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SultanP said:
pimppeter2 said:
Sucks to be some of you guys.

Is it Illegal to own the game there? Can you buy it off ebay or have a friend ship it to you.

Would you get punished because of it?
Maybe they would, the punishment has to be suitable for people under the age of 18 though, so it shouldn't be too severe.
Wouldn't that put Valve in trouble?
I guess you could set your region to Britain or something, but still?
 

Kajt

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Destal said:
I fail to understand why all games must be suitable for under 18, I thought that was the reason for the rating system.

Pacifist Zombie invasion? I'll keep mine the old fashoned way.
Hippie zombies? Interesting.