Left 4 Dead 2 Refused Classification
As basically everybody everywhere is reporting this morning, the highly anticipated Left 4 Dead 2 has been Refused Classification in Australia – or in other words, banned.
For reference, the original Left 4 Dead only warranted an MA15+ rating. While it seems possible that L4D2 added some highly objectionable new content to warrant its Refused Classification branding, chances are that this is simply another case of woeful inconsistency from the Classification Board.
Kotaku AU is reporting that:
An EA spokesperson has told us they “are still working through the submission process with OFLC and want to explore all opportunities before making any comment.”
While this does leave open the possibility of Australians being allowed to play L4D2 in the future, realistically the game is very close to being finished, and it is likely any massive changes will either push the release date further back, or simple be skipped over in favour of getting the game out the door.
This is one of the highest profile titles to be Refused Classification in a long time. We will follow this case with interest.
(link)
MattR says:
IGN has (via news.com.au) the PDF of the decision: “The game contains realistic, frenetic and unrelenting violence which is influcted upon “the Infected” who are living humans infected with a rabies-like virus that causes them to act violently.”
One has to wonder if changing “the Infected” to “zombies” would nullify the argument. It’s like an inverse of “House Of The Dead: Overkill” — DO use the “Z”-word.
With any luck, it will be overturned on appeal, but I’m not holding my breath.
(link)
Glenn says:
There is a game called House of the Dead: Overkill that also has excessive violent that exceeds the ma16+ classification. What makes this game any different?
“The game contains realistic, frenetic and unrelenting violence which is influcted upon “the Infected” who are living humans infected with a rabies-like virus that causes them to act violently.”
There is a difference between reality and fiction. But obviously the CB seems to think otherwise.
(link)
MattR says:
@Glenn, I believe the classification board uses “Wheel of Censorship Fortune” to determine what happens to each game. There is absolutely no consistency across their decisions (compare the use of ‘morphine’ in Fallout 3 vs Velvet Assassin).
Overkill is a perfect example of a game that really should be R18+, and the fact that L4D2 got banned when it didn’t is just the latest in a long line of bizarro decisions.
(link)
Marc says:
It’s stupid really when you have worse things in games like Fallout 3 and Grand Theft Auto IV which let you inflict damage to real people not fictious beings like zombies (although the mutants and like in Fallout 3)
Really who’s this going to offend the undead? LOL! i’m not pissed off that L4D2 has been refused classification i’m pissed off at the fact the people on the classification board don’t have a brain to see this is simply fantasy, unlike so many other games that have passed classification in the past.
(link)
Glenn says:
Valve has responded to the CB’s decision: “We were surprised to hear of this news yesterday. Obviously, everyone at Valve is pretty bummed”. If I was working t Valve, I’d be surprised to.
(link)
Daniel Mason says:
The OFLC’s report stating that LEFT 4 DEAD 2 is “unsuitable for persons aged under 18 to play” now means the Board are highlighting the need for an R18+ classification themselves, I would think.
(link)
Glenn says:
In the news.com.au that was posted a few days ago, most of the people said there were more than happy to import it from overseas. I assume that there were referring to the X360 version.
The PC version is only available via Steam, which means you have to use Steam to get it. Sadly for PC users like me, Steam automatically determines the country you are in by your IP address, which means that when L4D2 is released, it won’t show up in the search results ( or if it does and you click on it, you get a page saying “This title is not available in your region”) So the only way to download the PC version is to download – via BitTorrent – a hacked version of L4D2 that does not require Steam.
This game would have passed by now if a “majority rule” system is put in place at every SCAG meeting, so that tossers like Michael Atkinson would lose out. He is the key reason why we still don’t have an adult rating in Australia.
(link)
Daniel Mason says:
Importing the game on 360 would still be illegal – it’s bringing contraband into the country. Using another means to obtain the game rather than acting to secure our national freedom of choice will not fix the problem, either. I wonder if the government realise they’re encouraging piracy as the result of their unfair legislation? When I look at forums discussing the ban on this game it seems the majority are plotting illegal ways to access the banned material. It’s very disappointing to see this resulting from a ban.
(link)
Matt says:
I am very vocal on this all to familiar subject, yet again we have had our rights ripped away from us and our freedom of choice taken from us. Australia needs a R18+ classifictaion its the only way to solve this problem. But I am afraid the stuborn classification board are to set in their ways to listen to reason.
(link)
Nevan Ford says:
I have started an online petition for the introduction of an R18+ classification for video games in Australia.
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/ozgamers
I still can’t believe just ONE MAN has the nerve to affect those he obviously doesn’t care of or listen to. Thats ok we’ll see if he listens when the next state election comes around. I’m not voting Atkinson back. Rann should’ve dropped him when he had the chance for hurting our games industry.
(link)
Reuben says:
This is ridiculous. the entire classification system needs to be re-worked. It’s grossly outdated, and unfortunately controlled by politicians who are equally out of touch. I don’t think it’s just Atkinson judging from his statements. our entire nation’s media, entertainment and communication are censored to suit the tastes and sensibilities of a group of Stubborn, ignorant, elderly neophobes.
mention family values and you could ban water.
(link)
Glenn says:
Taken from here:
Today, publisher EA finally commented on the banning. Tiffany Steckler, an EA spokesperson, told GameSpot AU that adults should have the right to choose what games they play.
“It’s funny that a place like Australia, which has come up with some pretty violent material in the past with something like Mad Max, can effectively ban video games for the same reason,” she said.
“EA believes that adults should have the right to make their own choices when it comes to the content they consume.”
Steckler would not comment on whether Valve will make any changes to the game following the Classification Board of Australia’s decision.
(link)
Adam Cornish says:
I seriously hope EA dont re-submit this game for classification. Maybe then it’ll light a fire under us gamers and actually get some real action done.
OF course there’s still Michael Atkinson to deal with, but maybe we can even get the PM to throw in his two cents…
(link)
Lachlan says:
I’m not convinced we want Kevin Rudd involved. He’s so mesmerised by ‘the children’ and ‘working families’ he’d probably personally endorse Atkinson just to keep the Mum’s onside.
What’s needed is to blackmail Atkinson, he won’t change his mind of his own volition and to make the process majority based would require a referendum so we just need to force Atkinson to vote the right way
(link)
Julien says:
This is a joke, game developers should not have to change a product just to cater for us. It will be a tragic turn of events is this game is not released. More importantly it just highlights the fact that we are in desperate need of an R18 rating. They are forcing me to spend my money overseas instead of with Australian business, and if they continue to ban games i will continue to do it.
If this game is banned it will be the most imported thing in the country, and i will be at the forefront of that line. Doesn’t matter if it’s illegal or not. Atkinson take note.
(link)
Glenn says:
Valve is appealing against the RC decision.
http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/60602
(link)
Ryan says:
Game companies work hard to make games better/ more real. then they are forced to blur it etc… what a joke. this is going to become more common i think as games are having more attention to detailed.
(link)
voicelessaussie says:
It makes me sick to think that in the 40’s thousands of good Australians gave their lives fighting Nazi Germany and fascist Italy trying to put and end to their totalitarian systems… well here we are now run by a fascist police state where the voice of the people means nothing and the voice of one man determines the fate of an entire nation. god forbid “free” Australians have the right to choose what material we expose ourselves to… burn the books! I mean computer games… don’t forget the government has no power without the governed.
(link)
Glenn says:
So the Classification Board approved Left 4 Dead regardless of the excessive violence it contains, yet L4D2 was rejected for the same reason.
Further proof that the CB is a joke.