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Left 4 Dead 2 Banned In Australia
Valve’s Left 4 Dead 2 has been banned from sale in Australia after being refused classification by the country’s ratings body.
The game, which was set to be distributed by EA for a mid-November release, becomes the fourth title to be refused classification in Australia this year, following Risen, Necrovision and Sexy Poker.
Left 4 Dead 2 "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 Australian ratings body said in a statement issued to GameSpot. “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.”
The Australian ratings board is notoriously strict when it comes to games – while the country's federal government said last year that it is considering introducing an R18+ classification for games, no rating higher than 15+ currently exists for the medium, despite the fact that movies and magazines can receive adult classification.
Tom Crago, the president of the Game Developers Association of Australia, recently labeled the Australian game rating system a “joke”, saying that he’s embarrassed by the government’s stance on game classifications.
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Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court 30 Monmouth Street Bath, UK BA1 2BW
England and Wales company registration number 2008885
Isn't this mainly a Steam-distributed game, anyway? I fail to see how this ridiculous attempt at censorship will be enforceable.
From the country that brought us Wolf Creek I have 4 words: Head-On-A-Stick. Sorry, I know that was different: that was a movie and this isn't......
I don't know why you're all laughing about "those crazy aussies". We banned manhunt 2 on pretty similar grounds, did we not? (and yes, i am aware that it was released eventually)
This doesn't seem too far from that.
Also, Flight of the Conchords is genius.
The joke is that they were banned at all.
Left 4 Dead 2 "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 Australian ratings body said in a statement issued to GameSpot. “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.”
If that's not a promotion telling me to buy this game, I don't know what is.
“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.”
You can get most of that while waiting for, or jumping on, a peak hour train in Melbourne . . .
http://www.theage.com.au/national/man-dies-after-youth-gang-bat-attack-2...
That's just today. Pretty much everyday has a story of unprovoked knifings and bashings.
I think I am safer indoor playing games, eh?
I hope people in New Zealand are wetting themselves about stuff like this...
We'll be fine here, Aussie Government is much more hard-ass even than our National government on subjects like this. Plus we have an adult rating for games.
However we are just a bunch of sheep after all.
Australians are funny. Losing the Ashes and banning games like some paranoid granny. I've seen Flight on the Conchords, so I know the truth...
"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,”
Is this for real? Hello?? They're f**king zombies!! F**k these Australians and their ratings system. What a joke.
I've always been laughing at Australia.
In response to both Alex Walker and toadwarrior:
Nicely said!
The L4D crowd should be happy now. They have the aussies now to support L4D 1.
Australia, we are still laughing at you FYI.
"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"
Fucking Awesome! The first game was aiiiiit. Got boring quickley, needed a meaty storyline and a drop of character develpoment. But I'm seriously looking forward to this one now! Banning art means nothing nowdays what with online shopping. The Aussies banning it just offers free marketing for the developers, I'm very excited to play the game based on the details of gore!!!