Left 4 Oz - Left 4 Dead 2 now classified in Australia

ElPresidente · 10-07-2009, 04:31 PM

After the controversy surrounding the denial of a classification by the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification for Valve's hotly anticipated co-op zombie slaughter fest Left 4 Dead 2 it appears the OFLC has had a change of heart.

Just yesterday the OFLC reversed its decision to deny classification to L4D2 and has awarded the as yet unreleased game an MA15+ rating - the highest possible classification for a game in Australia.

As yet it is unknown whether this classification is for the edited version that Gabe Newel announced they were planning on submitting or for the original.

Update The edited version is what has recieved the classification. The appeal for reclassification of the original game has yet to be decided.

SnakeMGS135 · 10-07-2009, 05:24 PM

wait why!?!?

i get that it is violent but no sexual content or drugs. not even alchohol if u dnt count a friggin molotov

ElPresidente · 10-07-2009, 05:35 PM

It was the upping of the graphic nature of the violence that caused concern.

The eagle eyed amongst you will have noted there was a confirmation that it was the original version that is no longer in the OP. Apologies for that... my 'source' buggered up. :P

SnakeMGS135 · 10-07-2009, 05:40 PM

so does valve have any plans on a more edited version?

ElPresidente · 10-07-2009, 06:02 PM

Here's the deal.

What got the MA15+ rating was the edited version. Now as far as I'm aware Valve is still wanting to appeal the original decision but had provided an edited version to the OFLC to ensure the world release date is not missed.

I'll post more firm information as it comes to light. Currently game journos all over Australia are trying to nail down the official situation. :P

hogi · 10-07-2009, 06:03 PM

Well I got this from my friend who work at the classfication board. He wroks on movies side of things but got it from his other half.

"'Revised' version of the original submission. Review Board is going to
take a look at the original soon."

I think they going to compare the two submission. Again Australia will get a "revised" edition. Sad most of our games here are editted.

SnakeMGS135 · 10-07-2009, 06:04 PM

o ok great thanks. it peeked my interest so yeah...;]

hund_ · 10-07-2009, 06:22 PM

and the true reason for gabes visit comes out

hogi · 10-07-2009, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElPresidente

Here's the deal.

What got the MA15+ rating was the edited version. Now as far as I'm aware Valve is still wanting to appeal the original decision but had provided an edited version to the OFLC to ensure the world release date is not missed.

I'll post more firm information as it comes to light. Currently game journos all over Australia are trying to nail down the official situation. :P

I keep asking my friend for the status and the internal bickering that goes into the office. You would not believe how they deal with the people from Blizzard showing them the game.

Sad thing is importing can get you into trouble, well got me into trouble since I tried to import GTAIV and it got taken by customs.

ElPresidente · 10-07-2009, 07:27 PM

Wow. That's the first time I've actually heard of someone having a banned game seized by customs. That's pretty crappy luck.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hogi

I think they going to compare the two submission. Again Australia will get a "revised" edition. Sad most of our games here are editted.

They aren't though. The vast majority of game releases make it out to Australia in an unedited format. Even when other nations recieved edited editions (most recently this was with The Witcher).

Most developers who have found themselves in this position consider Australia too small a market to make it worth the investment in time and resources it takes to submit a revised entry.

Big games like Left 4 Dead are a little different since they are almost universal purchases and even a small market can represent a lot of money if the majority of that market wants to buy.

In such a situation you can justify the additional expense providing an edited version entails.

Off the top of my head there have only been a few examples of editing to meet OFLC demands.

Grand Theft Auto III onwards - Some edits pertaining to prostitutes (i.e. not being able to rotate the camera during nookie in GTA IV)

Silent Hill: Homecoming - Scenes involving improper use a drill removed

Dark Sector - Toned down

Soldier of Fortune: Payback - From memory the localised damage effects were toned down.

All up we do okay here... banned games are not really that frequent.

That said, we still need a bloody R18+ rating!

Even Margaret Pommerantz agrees.

mulamasa · 10-07-2009, 08:00 PM

im hoping its not a revised edition but seems like no one can nail that info down for sure yet?

question: if you buy on steam will it download the universal version or will it check your region and DL the edited version (if such a version was pushed forward). i know you can buy games on steam before they hit retail shelf's here if the NA release is earlier (at least im pretty sure) but i have never thought about getting a different version of a game.

hogi · 10-07-2009, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElPresidente

Wow. That's the first time I've actually heard of someone having a banned game seized by customs. That's pretty crappy luck.

...

I think it is WA. I actually know a person who was jailed for three months for inmporting RC games. This was in 1998.

The mail I got was from customs and required me signing it. Inside was a photo copy of the code I breached and their explaination. You what pisses me off? The reason and I quote "...offensive to minors." There were more in front of that but that was printed in bold. I did not buy that game for minors...

There was another code I violated something about importation of counterband. So they could do me for two charges. I still have the original letter. If customs really wanted too, I would be a criminal now like person in 1999 case. I have yet to find any cases like this except Queensland and WA. We are more off a nanny states than other states.

hogi · 10-07-2009, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mulamasa

im hoping its not a revised edition but seems like no one can nail that info down for sure yet?

question: if you buy on steam will it download the universal version or will it check your region and DL the edited version (if such a version was pushed forward). i know you can buy games on steam before they hit retail shelf's here if the NA release is earlier (at least im pretty sure) but i have never thought about getting a different version of a game.

It is revised edition that got MA. But you did not hear it from me. However internally they are review both and see if they can release the original at MA. The revised is MA, but the appeal at the moment is to release the original. Revised edition cost a lot of money to repressed according to publishers. And yes this is confidential info. There are games that are changed but no one about because publisher do not publish that info. Lucky most changes are minor that most people will not know about unless it is pointed out.

revelation · 10-07-2009, 09:19 PM

I've imported a hell of a lot of games without getting that (including three uncensored versions of GTAIV I bought for friends).

Looks like you guys in WA are a lot more stringent on the bans.

Earth Djinn · 10-07-2009, 11:17 PM

I guess Ill just go ahead and import this from the UK to get the proper version.

I'm just so sick of this censorship shit in this country. Its a joke.

ascl · 10-08-2009, 08:14 AM

I am curious what happens if you buy the steam version? What happens if I buy the uncensored version outside of Australia, and then play it inside? (I am moving back soon hopefully)

South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson needs to piss off.