Doug Lombardi Responds to Left 4 Dead 2 Ban

[DigiQ8]

Two days ago Australia's Office of Film and Literature Classification refused to classify Left 4 Dead 2 because it failed to meet MA15+ classification in order for it to be released in Australia. The news came as a surprise to the folks at Valve, Doug Lombardi said..

We were surprised to hear of this news yesterday," the executive told us. "Obviously, everyone at Valve is pretty bummed.[br]
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

I'm pretty sure Valve are still working through the submission process with OFLC.

 

[Snowknight26]

Let me quote someone from somewhere else:

On a similar note, they should ban movies where people get hurt and replace all the guns with flowers.

 

[Tyguy]

Well, that stinks...for the Australians anyway. I don't understand the ban, if zombies ever came to be, Australia would be ill-prepared. People would be running around using sub-par weapons and not healing each other. They are doomed.

 

[tschumann]

I hope they can fix it all before the preload.

 

[xdrive]

Well, that stinks...for the Australians anyway. I don't understand the ban, if zombies ever came to be, Australia would be ill-prepared. People would be running around using sub-par weapons and not healing each other. They are doomed.

Even if that were true, we would still have sub-par weapons, automatic and semi-automatic guns are banned in australia.

 

[Planetary]

That's what happens when you let kangaroos vote....












I kid, I kid! Don't vegemite me!

 

[Avoidist]

As I have said before, there has been considerable uproar in the past when other games have been expected to be banned such as the GTA games, Postal and Fallout 3.

This on the other hand will have far more impact for two reasons: first, the argument is on violence alone as opposed to drug use or sexual content which are far better arguments for banning a game. Second, it's a Valve game, so not only will it be just as popular (if not more so) than previously banned titles and be of a respectable quality, it's also obvious that the game is not intended to be an inflammatory statement but a game designed for fun only.

If they continue the ban, the shit will hit the fan.

 

[xdrive]

That's what happens when you let kangaroos vote....












I kid, I kid! Don't vegemite me!

Dw, i will just hack you to death with an axe.

 

[Chris D]

They'll sort it out the same way they'll probably have to sort it out for Germany.

They won't be zombies, they'll be aliens with green blood, or androids with yellow blood. Their objection will most likely be due to the zombies being too representative of humans and they think their own people of Australia will be too stupid enough to distinguish them.

(Which they aren't)

 

[xdrive]

wow left4dead2 banning has hit mainstream media in aus http://news.ninemsn.com.au/entertainment/865288/gamers-outraged-at-zombie-game-ban

They'll sort it out the same way they'll probably have to sort it out for Germany.

They won't be zombies, they'll be aliens with green blood, or androids with yellow blood. Their objection will most likely be due to the zombies being too representative of humans and they think their own people of Australia will be too stupid enough to distinguish them.

(Which they aren't)

Your assumptions are wrong, people often think the same wrong thing as you.

The game wasn't banned techincally. It was refused classification. Unlike germany the australian government doesnt care how violent the games are etc, the reason it was refused classification is because the amount of violence in the game warrants a rating of R. Australia doesnt have an R rating. The game does not fit into MA15 so therefore the game has been refused classification. It wasn't refused because the government said "oh it's too violent" like most people who have no idea about the system say.

 

[Chris D]

You keep contradicting itself.

"australian government doesnt care how violent the games are"
"the amount of violence in the game warrants a rating of R"
"It wasn't refused because ... it's too violent"

If it's too violent for an MA15 rating, it's too violent to be classified.

If I recall, Australia does have an R18+ rating - does that only apply to films?

 

[xdrive]

You keep contradicting itself.

"australian government doesnt care how violent the games are"
"the amount of violence in the game warrants a rating of R"
"It wasn't refused because ... it's too violent"

If it's too violent for an MA15 rating, it's too violent to be classified.

If I recall, Australia does have an R18+ rating - does that only apply to films?

Australia does not have an R18 rating for video games hence why it has been refused classification.

Anyway in my last post, you don't understand what i am trying to get at. The government doesn't have a problem with the amount of gore etc in the game. But because of the amount of gore etc in the game, it does not fit into any current classification hence why it was refused classification.

The way you talk, you make it seem like the australian government "banned" it because it had to much gore, they just came out and said "oh it has to much gore, we don't like it so it's banned"

it has just been refused classification because there is no classification for it.

There is a difference between banning and then refusing a classification because there is no classification category for it.

 

[Paulaner]

There is a difference between banning and then refusing a classification because there is no classification category for it.

I see your point. Not having a classification category for violent games means that games are considered kids things, right? The same happens in Italy about cartoons. It's a cultural behaviour.

 

[Dax]

Soo...isn't it about time they introduce an "R" classification for video games then?

 

[Kyorisu]

Soo...isn't it about time they introduce an "R" classification for video games then?

Tell that to Michael Atkinson. Google that name if you're actually interested in why we have no R18+ rating.

Or just read this http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/20/atkinson.gif

The guy is a loony.

 

[Tee Kyoo Em]

.

 

[Kyorisu]

instead of just focusing on the short-term goal of getting an 18+ category in the hopes of it being the silver bullet to solve all the problems.

Short term goal? Oh boy you have no idea.

 

[Tee Kyoo Em]

.

 

[xdrive]

Soo...isn't it about time they introduce an "R" classification for video games then?

Yes, but one guy is opposed to it, that's why we dont have it.

 

[Kyorisu]

A "short-term" goal in comparison to what you guys might really want: the ability for adults to legally obtain games in their original form, unless the latter is more easily achieved than the former.

Mate from my own perspective the influx of titles that would no longer be deemed RC would be a boon for me. There is a huge quantity of things I'd like to import from Japan without customs getting all pissy at me. As it stand quite a few games meant for Australia release already have been altered to fit into the MA15+ rating, the introduction of an R18+ rating won't stop that from happening but it will allow for titles that fit it. There is no possible downside to having an R18+ rating.

 

[dogboy73]

The 'Boycott Left 4 Dead 2' boys on the Steam Forum must be laughing their arses off!

 

[TheSmJ]

This will mean that the vast majority of Australians who want to play LFD2 will be forced to pirate the game, as there will be no truly legal means for them to acquire the title. This is obviously bad for Valve, and bad for the public opinion of Australia's government.

 

[Otto-Grainer]

Heh, yeah. Banning it would not only majorly decrease the amount of money Valve would get from purchases, but a mass pirating (which will no doubt take place in large quantities, provided the final decision is a ban) could really damage Steam and a lot of Steam users from Australia.

I luckily do not live in Australia, but I still need a lot of their servers to play on.