So by now we've heard that
Left 4 Dead 2 is banned in Australia but now we actually have the details of why it's banned. I'm going to list the reasons below:(A PDF of the report can be
downloaded here, but is anyone else annoyed that the fate of a game can come down to half a page of A4 paper?
* The game contains violence that is high in impact and is therefore unsuitable for persons aged under 18 to play.
Ok, and how is this different from the first game?
It notes that this violence is “inflicted upon ‘the Infected’ who are living humans infected with a rabies-like virus that causes them to act violently”.
Again, this is the same as the original Left 4 Dead. And Resident Evil 5.
* The report singles out the use of melee weapons as those that “inflict the most damage” and cause “copious amounts of blood spray and splatter (sic), decapitations and limb dismemberment.. or even cause intestines to spill from the wounds”.
Whilst I agree chopping someone's arm off with a chainsaw is a pretty visceral image, shooting them with a gun isn't?
* In conclusion, the Board finds that the “interactive nature of the game increases the overall impact of the frequent and intense depictions of violence. This coupled with the graphic depictions of blood and gore combine to create a playing impact which is high.”
The "interactive nature of the game"? I'm sorry, but doesn't the board already go into the classification process of a videogame realising that it is an interactive medium. I may be taking it the wrong way, but is it implying a movie depicting the same actions wouldn't be as bad?
The reasons are there and the worrying thing for me is that it's not something that's easily changed. When [url=http://www.kotaku.com.au/2009/03/why_fallout_3s_drugs_were_bad_but_velvet_assassins_are_ok/Fallout 3 was refused classification[/url], it was due to the fact that morphine was identified as a substitute for a health pack[/url]. Bethesda changed the name to Stimpacks and classification was given. The interesting thing I found about that case was that as far as I understand, only Australia changed the classification of the game because of the name change. All other countries kept the game at a high rating (18+ in the UK, 17+ in the US), but in Australia it was ok for 15 year olds to play Fallout 3, despite the violence. As long as they didn't realise morphine can ease their pain, they could shoot people's heads off all they wanted.
The thing that worries me, is that whilst Fallout 3 had a mere cosmetic change to get it through classification, the reasons for Left 4 Dead 2's banning are the core gameplay mechanics. I'm not sure how EA is going to try and appeal the game's classification without some hefty gameplay cuts. Maybe whilst
Gabe Newell is down here, checking out that guys' mod, he speak up about the issue. Man, the
Refused Classification guys are gonna be pissed off; this week's show will be a must listen if only for Mr Dillinger swearing for an hour and a half.
Alasdair Duncan's blog
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So how about adding a classification for 18 year old people to be able to fucking play it??
I hope valve doesnt not ship to NZ because they cant ship to Aus, it seems to be the way with other games.
Still you could import it, but what a pain.
That's it. I'm moving to the UK :)
Can I fit in your suitcase? (long time no see, btw)
Good stuff Ali D.
It seems likely that it was the "use of melee weapons as those that “inflict the most damage” and cause “copious amounts of blood spray and splatter (sic), decapitations and limb dismemberment.. or even cause intestines to spill from the wounds”." that did it. Apparently shooting someone from a few feet away is different than swinging a melee weapon and directly causing the damage. I can sort of see their point - for kids. I think adults are usually at the point where they understand that this is a game though, and most can distinguish fiction from reality.
Yeah, there's an R18+ rating for movies and DVDs, but there is no R18+ rating for videogames. So, if a game like Left 4 Dead 2 doesn't do enough to warrant an MA15+ rating, then it's refused classification and essentially banned.
I think you're right, the melee combat is maybe the thing that put them over the edge with this one. Thing is, what do Valve and EA do now? Take it out of the game for Australian release? Take it out of the game completely?
*preparing escape pod*
My question, why don't developers push harder to get rid of region locks on consoles? If they KNOW the game they are attempting to release has a good chance to get turned down by rating classification or be cut off entirely by a rating systems board members refusing to conduct a second evaluation...how can these overly creative free thinking people that are "video game devs" not get up and say, "I'm sick of this public school protect our youth bullshit!". I'm sure somebody has says it, I just thought of it, but how come more devs don't get up and take out these ratings boards pricks? Maybe it could get bad enough, some day some how, to where ratings classification has limited creativivty...all because some overly sensitive offended prick doesn't have enough balls to raise his own kid like a real parent instead of having his government do it for him.
And yeah, I get why they use region locks. Region lock is the lock on the rating. It's so ESRB games can only be played in a certain region since most controversial games come from america somebody probably thought, "well hey putting a region lock on all the OTHER places besides NTSC will mean they can't play the game where they are not supposed too!"
On the flipside, this isn't exactly bad press for valve, it's going to take a few weeks to be able to tell. It's certainly a great attention grabber for the game whether in's in a bad light or good light because it's a topic people can talk about and actually debate on...dumb people always crave that feeling of a victory within an argument over protecting our society from future serial killer youth that could be inspired by digital violence.
Ha, I guess valve could get even more sales somehow. Probably not enough to make up for the sales lost in Australia, but valve knows this won't hurt them. Hopefully they find a way to set things straight for the fans so they can play the game. Vavle is a great dev with a awesome reputation, but the scary thing is that valve has an online community fan base that is surpassed by almost no one in the action and shooter genre...when the vavle community get's pissed they get PISSED.
Also, is Australia one of those places that would arrest you for having said "banned" game on your computer if you were to have, say, bought it digitally? I mean, it's obvious the 360 gamers are screwed but do they crack down on the PC as well like that?
Also, is there a way to get your podcast via iTunes?
When I go onto Steam, there are certain games unavailable to me. Like right now, I can't play Batman Arkham Asylum as the PC version comes out here next week. There's also games like the GTA series (apart from IV) that aren't banned here, but just unavailable to purchase. I've been nosing around to see if people from overseas can gift unavailable games.
@walkyourpath:
I think you have to just download it from the cblog page. I don't think the guys are on i-tunes yet.
I don't live in Australia, but it's only a matter of time before more countries go as assbackwards as their government is and start up similar rules.
Look at Germany for example.
Again, this is the same as the original Left 4 Dead. And Resident Evil 5. "
Or any game with zombies, for that matter.
I LOVE LEFT 4 DEAD!!!!!!!!
I Want to prorder it so i can get the extra content.
if it comes out latter can you still preorder it??