Left 4 Dead 2 banned in Australia

The OFLC has placed upcoming 360 and PC title Left 4 Dead 2 under the banner of Refused Classification, meaning it cannot be released in Australia.

You can peruse the official determination here, though it includes no specific details on why the game has been given its RC rating.

An EA spokesperson has told Kotaku that they “are still working through the submission process with OFLC and want to explore all opportunities before making any comment.”

Given that this is the first high-profile title to be given an outright ban for some time, it will no doubt reinvigorate the debate about whether Australia should have an R18 classification for videogames.

Take a look at http://everyoneplays.org.au for more information about introducing an R18+ rating for video games in Australia.

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109 Comments

Charly

2 years ago

^ I did run a store. Kind of. I wish.

And the management of all the stores close to me at that time were all as strict as I. The staff up in the store I work out now, are also strict. I suppose all it takes is one bad manager...

I must agree that parental control is the best protection when it comes to games rated MA15+. I like when parents bother to ask about content. Like with the M rating on the Sims 2, parents often ask what that is all about. Nice bit of responsible and active parenting right there.

drinniol

2 years ago

Those cashiers could always be reminded that they're breaking the law selling to underage kids, because unlike the US ratings system ours isn't voluntary and is enforceable.

Another thing that people could use reminding about is that an R rating is not an 'anything goes' rating. Sexual violence is still out. Explicit pornography is still out. Violence can be refused if it's high enough impact. Detailed drug use is out. Atkinson himself is guilty of ignoring this little fact.

mikezilla2

2 years ago

drinniol wrote

i dont no about that one well i mean yea ours is but from what i recall most EBs didnt care then jacktomson shock up a big legal umbrgo with retailers in the US about underage sales and since then AUS followd suit - thats what i read .

Nic_231

2 years ago

With regard to the sentiment that an R18 rating for games would not be enforcable as store clerks would sell games to underage people anyway, I don't really see that as a valid argument.
All that would need to be done is to place harsh penalties on stores that made such sales (similar to those that govern the sale of alcohol to underages) and actively enforce them. I imagine most stores would change their practices pretty quickly.

G J FLAME

2 years ago

Australia you have done it again the whole will be getting it accept boo to the board of directers

drinniol

2 years ago

mikezilla2 wrote

In WA at least,
(1) A person must not sell or supply to a minor a publication
classified Category 2 restricted.
Penalty: $15 000 or imprisonment for 18 months.
(2) A person must not sell or supply to a minor a publication
classified Category 1 restricted, unless the person is a parent or
guardian of the minor.
Penalty: $5 000.

This is from the WA Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Enforcement Act 1996 - which predates Jack Thompson by about a decade.

wolfycookies

2 years ago

I have to say that sucks! Left 4 Dead is one of the most original and fun games that has come out in awhile.

One day graphics in videogames will be photorealistic, I guess when that happens the OFLC will just ban every game that has any weapons.

Last time I checked Australia was a democracy.
Oh well, time for importing.

Qbert

2 years ago

On my facebook recently...

Reading fail.

And as people have said, there are already huge fines for people to sell games to underage children. I could not believe a company would endorse selling to underage people. They would have to make 100s of sales to even pay off a fine.

adam_91vn

2 years ago

^^ Probably should get rid of the f-word

Gamesta

2 years ago

Charly wrote

lapzod wrote

The staff at the shop don't care that they're selling a game to an underage person. They just want a sale.

And before you complain I've had friends who work for games stores tell me that they get in trouble if they don't sell games to underage children.

Well, you and the company get fined if you get caught, and you lose your job where I work. I ask every MA15+ game purchaser for ID if they look under 18. And I refuse to sell games all the time. Your friends are certainly not indicative of the all the sale assistants and honestly, unless you get paid commission why would you even care if you lose the sale?

Our EB games asked for ID once.Me looking so young, I was something like 23 when I was asked for ID when I went to buy an MA15+ game