Left 4 Dead 2 Banned In Australia
Reports released on Friday have confirmed that the Australian CB (Classification Board) has decided to refuse classification for failure to adhere to the current maximum MA 15+ ratings guideline for games.. This means that Valve did not adhere to the MA 15+ rating which is the highest rating for video games, the highest rating for 18′s is kept for movies alone.
More information has been received in the last few days revealing the real reason for the decline. Left 4 Dead 2 now introduces melee weapons. The addition of axes and swords ,which can hack off the limbs of the infected, are just too realistic and violent. No information has been announced by Valve or EA (the publishers) with regard to any changes being made to the game. The only information officially released states that they are still going through the classification process. It is unsure if something, or anything, will be done to the game. What we can be sure of though is that the game is currently illegal to sell, rent or promote in Australia.
According to Gamespot, the CB have revealed that it was not a unanimous verdict to vote the game too violent. There is a strong possibility of an over ruling and this could all blow over before the games release in November. I want this game reviewed by Zero Punctuation so I seriously hope it gets through in the end!
australia has a real hard on for banning games. germany looks to be going that way… which is bad because at least germany PRODUCE games