GamerNode: News - Valve responds to Left 4 Dead 2 ban

Valve responds to Left 4 Dead 2 ban

Category: Industry, Posted: 09/18/2009 at 12:49PM EDT by Mike Murphy, Staff Writer

Australian gamers won't be able to find out just what Left 4 Dead 2 will be like.

News yesterday announced that the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification had refused classification for Left 4 Dead 2, essentially banning the game from the country. This of course came as quite a shock to developer Valve.

"We were surprised to hear of this news yesterday," said VP of marketing Doug Lombardi. "Obviously, everyone at Valve is pretty bummed."

The game was denied classification due to "realistic, frenetic, and unrelenting violence" and the gore that comes with severing limbs, decapitating, and killing the infected in other graphic ways. This, by law, prevents the game from being sold as it now lacks a rating in the country.

"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 stated.

Left 4 Dead 2 launches everywhere else on November 17.

[Shacknews]

Posted by Eddie R Inzauto on 09/20/2009 at 12:01PM

That's pretty sad, especially considering the context of the game. Shooting up zombies -- imaginary monsters -- is not exactly a horrific thing to do.

Posted by bu11eTJuNkiE on 09/23/2009 at 12:23AM

Governments are so retarded. I can't believe they can tell adults what video games they are and are no allowed to play, basically. I would say I'd hate to have to live there, but the U.S. is just as retarded in other areas other than video games. I think i'm going to start a TRULY free country of my own one day.

Posted by Jacob on 09/23/2009 at 04:11AM

Thankfully, people in Australia are going to get their hands on it anyway, so the GOV is just making the customers hate them a little more. Just the thing for regime change. ;)