Saturday November 21, 2009 2:41 PM AEST
PC Games

FFS... Left 4 Dead 2 refused classification in Australia

  • Email a Friend
  • Print Page
FFS... Left 4 Dead 2 refused classification in Australia
Related Articles
By David Hollingworth
Sep 17, 2009 | 56 Comments
Tags: left | 4 | dead | 2 | oflc | stupid | attorney | generals | game | news

Updated:For the love of God, can we PLEASE GET AN R18 CLASSIFICATION!!! And here's why...

Kotaku has just reported that the upcoming EA published title Left 4 Dead 2 has been refused classification by the Office of Film and Literature Classification.

You can see for yourself over on the Board's website. The RC classification means Left 4 Dead 2 contains content that the Board deemed exceeds the guidelines for an MA15+ classification.

The story goes on to say that EA is not making comment at this stage, as they seek a solution and explore options.

We... well, we're pretty speechless about this. It's a zombie game, a classic horror film trope, and this more than almost any of the other games blocked by the OFLC really shows why Australia needs and R18+ classification. Films with this content would not be a problem - why do games suffer?

Well, 'cause certain Attorney Generals think that mature gamers are as real as the Easter Bunny or actual zombies.

ETA: Thanks to News.com.au we now have the report form the OFLC, and here's the salient excerpt.

click to view full size image

Looks like some of the board are on our side, but given the law as it stands you can't blame the OFLC for making the decision. Still, we lose regardless. The higher level of visceral impact of the game is one of Left 4 Dead 2's chief selling points, but it looks like that's one 'feature' we'll be missing out on.

 
 
The latest issue is on sale now!

Want to learn all about Diablo III? Want to find out what the best Solid State Drive is on the market today, and how to look after it? Want to catch up on the latest hardware, games and in depth tech from Australia's best enthusiast mag?

Get your copy today :)
56 Comments
Thoughts on this article? Add a comment below.
smadge1
Sep 17, 2009 11:30 AM
 The title should read "Left 4 Dead 2"

I was going to boycott L4D2 anyway.
2SHY
Sep 17, 2009 11:36 AM
 I buy all Valve Games usually on Steam anyways...OFLC can get f**ked.

I am not surprised that this happened. OFLC is pretty unnecessary IMO. Just classify all Australian created content because most imported content will already be classified.
Hawkeye
Sep 17, 2009 11:38 AM
 I blame cranky typing.

And I have to say... I don't get the whole L4D2 boycott thing. Makes no sense.
N3M3SiS
Sep 17, 2009 11:45 AM
 Mistype well and truly forgiven, Hawkeye.

What. The. Motherfucking. Fuck.

Get a bloody clue Australia! We are legislative joke in respect to technology. Build a big wall to keep teh pr0ns out? Refuse classification to content that is freely available in other mediums all around the country?

Wake the FUCK UP!
nukejockey
Sep 17, 2009 11:48 AM
 Wonder if we can just buy a cd key off one of those dodgy asian sites and activate it over steam?
majestic975
Sep 17, 2009 11:51 AM
 When is the OFLC going to realise that if people want to buy banned stuff, THEY CAN ?? eg:2SHY is doing and so is everyone else. Its only an issue if you want to buy it from a store here, in which case you cant, and the store loses business and our economy suffers, while the places from overseas we buy it from , gains.
We have some really retarded laws in this country. But I'm still glad I live here :)
hectorbustnuts
Sep 17, 2009 12:06 PM
 "And I have to say... I don't get the whole L4D2 boycott thing. Makes no sense."

I think people are shitty that they're releasing a full-priced sequel as opposed to adding it as DLC to last year's original title.

I don't get it either...you end up paying for the content anyway...L4D2 has 5 new campaigns, I'd guess 800-1200 points per campaign if offered as DLC, at ~$16.50 per 1000 MS points that's between $66 and $99 as is!

Periander
Sep 17, 2009 12:09 PM
 I guess this now begs the question, any one got an easy way around Steam region rules?
Periander
Sep 17, 2009 12:10 PM
 Oh and:

How can I make a complaint about a classification decision?

You can make a complaint about a classification decision by writing to us by post, fax or email.

Contact details:
By Post: Locked Bag 3 Haymarket, New South Wales, 1240
By Fax: (02) 9289 7101
By Email: enquiries@classification.gov.au
Spikey Chicken Mcgee
Sep 17, 2009 12:10 PM
 I love our stupid country,
A land of heaping pains,
With dog attorney generals,
I doubt their fleeting brains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her OFL-sea,
Her beauty and her terror –
The wide brown ban for me!
nesquick
Sep 17, 2009 12:23 PM
 Who wants to dress up like Mexican revolutionaries and go and riot out the front of their office with me?
Hawkeye
Sep 17, 2009 12:24 PM
 Would you say I had a plethora of Atomicans?

And Spikey? That is gold.
smadge1
Sep 17, 2009 12:37 PM
 I'm only boycotting L4D2 while it's cool to do so, when it's uncool to boycott L4D2, I'll buy a copy.
thesorehead
Sep 17, 2009 12:46 PM
 Isn't the plural "Attourneys General"?

# en.wiktionary.org/wiki/attorney_general
Hawkeye
Sep 17, 2009 12:56 PM
 Actually I think it's 'attorneys general', but I'm not that petty... no, wait, I am :)
Martyr
Sep 17, 2009 12:58 PM
 What N3M3SiS & majestic975, australia needs to grow some nuts and bring in the R18+ rating
Martyr
Sep 17, 2009 12:59 PM
 sorry typeo, i agree with what N3M3SiS & majestic975 said
H3VIW8
Sep 17, 2009 1:11 PM
 i too love this country, but goddamnit our laws and regulations are so f**king archaic.
Krispy89
Sep 17, 2009 1:29 PM
 This sort of bullshit that ONE, Attorney General is putting us through, is probably enough to start a coup d'état.
Wolfshanks
Sep 17, 2009 1:37 PM
 WTF!
The goggles! They do nothing!

Next thing you know they'll be trying to Firewall the interwebs to protect us from... wait what...?

/sigh
pkroeze
Sep 17, 2009 1:47 PM
 THIS IS SHIT. It's our fricking life, anyway how can killing zombies even pass MA15+, maybe there's zombie sex scenes but I highly doubt it.
Hawkeye
Sep 17, 2009 2:12 PM
 mark84, I've had to remove your comment 'cause it was breaking our formatting. Sorry!
Jeruselem
Sep 17, 2009 2:38 PM
 Oh great, Australia is laughing stock of gaming again ...
Hoonbernator
Sep 17, 2009 3:14 PM
 Seriously... this is insulting. What the fuck is wrong with the ratings board?!? This seriously pisses me off.
Hawkeye
Sep 17, 2009 3:28 PM
 The ratings board is just doing it's job - they work to the existing legislation. That's why this is an issue for the various AGs to deal with - they're the law-makers.
Trekker
Sep 17, 2009 4:18 PM
 why dont we have r +18
Trekker
Sep 17, 2009 4:19 PM
 what can we do.. harress the local federal rep ?
CAPS LOCK
Sep 17, 2009 4:21 PM
 i bet its because they included some things that were left out of the original...left4head anyone?
Hawkeye
Sep 17, 2009 4:21 PM
 Not harass, no, but you can certainly contact your local state and federal members to register your displeasure.

Alternately, investigate parties that do support new legislation. Interestingly, the Australian Sex Party supports R18+, so they certainly get our vote!
cyb3rspy
Sep 17, 2009 4:47 PM
 I cant muster the will to say it as good as this post from speedtest.net... and I quote:

"Exhumus commented on 17/09/2009 15:35

Dear my friend from somewhere-other-than-australia,

Kindly purchase for me a copy of Left4Dead and send it to me disguised as something else. Strangely my legislators are confusing themselves with my parents, interestingly enough since I'm 28 my parents aren't particularly interested in what games I play. Please also include a packet of fire crackers and some X rated porn.

Sincerly.

Someone capable of thinking and choosing for himself."

thank you
CAPS LOCK
Sep 17, 2009 5:04 PM
 @cyb3rspy

yes yes yes!!!

couldn't have putt it better myself

also, im sure you meant Left4Dead2
Martyr
Sep 17, 2009 5:56 PM
 paragraph 2 of the excerpt from the report reads like a selling point for the game, it makes me want it more
Heartz
Sep 17, 2009 5:59 PM
 why is it that people who obviously dont even play these games, are the ones who makes the laws and classify it, fking morons imo
The Manta
Sep 17, 2009 6:02 PM
 Now now, clearly there's a good reason for this. What if some parent decides to buy it for their four year old child without looking at the box! Or what if the kid nags and nags and nags and kicks and screams until the poor parents...

...OK, there's no good reason.
MagnumXY
Sep 17, 2009 10:06 PM
 Someone should make a mod which is just repeatedly hacking off Michael ATkinson's limbs with the aforementioned samurai sword over and over and over again I would never get bored of that :D
But srsly Australia is supposed to be run by the Labour Party not f*cking nazis I mean WTF?
Sebbs
Sep 17, 2009 10:59 PM
 i think we need a variation of cyb3rspy's post to send to Michael Atkinson, especially the parts of

"Strangely my legislators are confusing themselves with my parents, interestingly enough since I'm 28 my parents aren't particularly interested in what games I play" and "Sincerly, Someone capable of thinking and choosing for himself."

he really needs to realise that many of australia's gamers -are- 18+


either that, or we need to get the Governer General to throw him out :-D (on that note, would appealing for the R18+ rating to the GG actually work?)
winstor
Sep 18, 2009 12:36 AM
 Isnt it the SA Attorney General that is being a cock block? All AGs have to agree to an R18 classification, with the SA AG being the only one supposedly opposed?
A Hitman
Sep 18, 2009 5:47 AM
 "But srsly Australia is supposed to be run by the Labour Party not f*cking nazis"
I thought labour was the Nazi party.
Always acted like it in NZ.
Hoonbernator
Sep 18, 2009 11:33 AM
 R18+ movies? Check
R18+ books? Check
R18+ music? Check
R18+ TV? Check
R18+ artwork? Check
R18+ toys? Check
R18+ games? ........... fail
Dumb_Computergeek
Sep 18, 2009 12:30 PM
 The old people making the policies need to get over the fact that games are not only for kids anymore.

I also like the the term realistic in the second paragraph. Since when have zombies been real???
V-Rock
Sep 18, 2009 12:36 PM
 I just this moment registered so I could comment on this...but it got out of hand and ended up here instead: http://vrockvents.blogspot.com/

Also, for those directing their ire at the OFLC, it's been replaced: www.classification.gov.au

phatbeat
Sep 18, 2009 2:16 PM
 OK people, it's time to get active on this. I, like everyone else here is sick and tired of this rubbish. Go to this site

http://www.r18games.com.au/help/

And write a letter to your local Attorney General
seab4ss
Sep 18, 2009 2:53 PM
 This is total bollocks!!! I think its time i actually did my bit. I am going to send a copy of that letter from r18games.com.au TODAY as i am absolutely sick of this crap after GTA4 and FALLOUT 3.

And for you wussbags boycotting L4D2 then go right ahead lol. You might remember a little game called 'Doom' that came out in 1993, well its sequel 'Doom 2' came out *GASP* a year later! Oh noooozzzz !!!!eleventy11!!!11!! boycots!!
seab4ss
Sep 18, 2009 4:04 PM
 I just posted my letter to the Hon. Kerry Shine (QLD).

Any idea if they actually acknowledge the letter with a reply?
xtort
Sep 18, 2009 4:19 PM
 Strange? The law assumes i, being 29 can drive out to any given licensed premises and be trusted to have the self control and maturity to not get smashed and drive home. But i can not be trusted to control myself after playing a game with strong violence!!!!!! i can hire movies with equally strong (admittedly not so interactive) violence and themes when ever i want so what gives! clearly the board thinks 1. most parents are useless and 2. we will turn into a raving bunch of psychopaths if we start playing these types of games. Last time i checked it was far safer to play games than to go out into the city on a Saturday night.
Periander
Sep 18, 2009 7:06 PM
 It's important to remember, it's not the board that decides the law, and they cannot actually classify an R 18+ game. However, it's silly of them to not classify this MA 15+ because, well, violence against infected (zombies), is clearly cartoon violence.
tehoriginal
Sep 18, 2009 8:21 PM
 I want to give that minister a kick in the head.
Anyone available in Adelaide on Sunday?

If your reading this minster... watchout.

(okes-ja)
Kastoli
Sep 18, 2009 9:30 PM
 You know, the only thing in this entire article that turns me off this game is "EA published title Left 4 Dead 2" EA tend to ruin everything, I'm not sure if they had anything to do with 'Left 4 Dead 1' and hope they didn't.
cheozuka
Sep 19, 2009 8:28 PM
 I am sick of this BS. I can go buy some r rated movies or even hard core pron over the counter, but I cant even get a video game?
FFS if they are that worried maybe they just need to have someone show ID before purchasing r rated game. ...prob solved.,
melkor
Sep 20, 2009 7:29 PM
 A mate is currently working on forming a lobbying group to raise awareness on the lack of computer game rating in Australia - feel free to join:

http://home.udhaonline.net:81/mediawiki/index.php/Main_Page

Dave
prof_skum
Sep 20, 2009 8:53 PM
 One way for this to change is for the gaming community to become board members!
sicarius123
Sep 24, 2009 10:27 AM
 Vote with your dollars, buy from overseas.
Rom
Sep 24, 2009 10:59 AM
 Bring on +R18!!

or are we 'aged' gamers unable to make educated decisions? able to discern between make-believe and real life? Right and wrong?? so on and so on.



0s1r1s
Sep 24, 2009 11:31 PM
 We know who are to blame. That religious god-bod nut-job form South Australia whose trying to censor the internet is one of them.

Why not just have certification like other countries such as the U.K.
U = Universal, PG = Parental Guidance, 12, 15, 18, 18+, X
Easy.

"God told me to do it". Pfft, 'God' apparently says a lot of things and most people's translations lead them to the top of a campus clock tower with a fully loaded carbine.

This is why I'm proud to be an internet pirate! uTorrent here we come!
0s1r1s
Sep 24, 2009 11:34 PM
 I also agree with what was previously stated about our shops losing business - surely that's an obvious flaw in their plan. If K-Rudd got wind of that he'd go more grey than usual!

Hopefully someone will be monitoring who buys what overseas and feed that information back ... and then ban overseas shops from the Australian Internet ... because God told them to do it!
adora
Sep 26, 2009 11:15 PM
 Why does Game have it on preorder on their website, have they not heard the news?
Login or register to submit a comment.
 
Area 53
 
Editor's Choice
 
Atomic Magazine

Issue: 107 | December, 2009

Atomic is a magazine aimed squarely at computer enthusiasts, gamers, and serious PC upgraders.

Every month we bring you the latest reviews of new technology and PC components, in depth features on everything from overclocking to console hacking, and gaming previews and interviews.
 
Latest Comments
"Done.

.
..
..."
on Queensland takes on Atkinson!
by theflyingswan | Nov 21, 2009 10:41 AM
 
""sudo preupgrade"
...failed to download installer metadata
------------
So ..."
on Fedora 12 is released
by wlayton27 | Nov 21, 2009 8:16 AM
 
"I thought Vista outlived it's usefulness about the same time it was released , lol"
on Windows 7: Fastest selling OS ever
by mr.gargoyle | Nov 21, 2009 12:28 AM
 
"^ I find with CoD4 that I can jump on an empty server and be joined by 6-12 others before the ..."
on Modern Warfare 2 breaks records, and hearts
by Ezekill | Nov 20, 2009 10:10 PM
 
"check

LOMAC
DCS Black Shark
X-plane"
on Heroes over Europe
by Bastard Child | Nov 20, 2009 8:13 PM

Plan Finder

Powered by WhistleOut

1) Samsung S8000 Jet8 plans 50%
2) Apple iPhone 3GS 16GB35 plans 25%
3) Blackberry Curve 85206 plans 17%
4) Apple iPhone 3GS 32GB35 plans 42%
5) Nokia E7147 plans 1%
Three iiNet Virgin Mobile Vodafone
« 1 of »
1) iiNet32 plans 7%
2) Netspace33 plans 42%
3) Optus47 plans 17%
4) Telstra BigPond41 plans 9%
5) Internode34 plans 9%

Compare: Mobiles | Broadband

Atomic MPC
Latest User Reviews
Shenmue II
10%
Shenmue II
asdfasdf
By jeffreybushii | Nov 13, 2009
 
EVGA X58 Classified
90%
EVGA X58 Classified
great board, a few things could be better
By -adicolor93- | Nov 2, 2009
 
EVGA X58 Classified
90%
EVGA X58 Classified
Gorgeous looking
By kramgref | Oct 29, 2009
 
Sapphire 4890
90%
Sapphire 4890
So good, I immediately wanted a second one!
By prof_skum | Sep 20, 2009
 
MSI 790FX-GD70 motherboard
90%
MSI 790FX-GD70 motherboard
Allmost the prefect gaming board
By George copley | Aug 28, 2009
 
more user reviews »