14 DAY TRIAL // The Australian Classification Board, the body that is responsible for rating all the video games that are to be released in the country, has refused to award a rating to Left 4 Dead 2, the upcoming zombie, cooperative shooter from Valve, which was set to arrive in November. The decision basically means that the game is banned in the country, as legally promoting the title, renting it and selling it is illegal until it has a rating.
The Australian Classification Board has made its decision on the basis of the excessive violence that Left 4 Dead 2 is seen to show. Its decision reads, “The game contains realistic, frenetic and unrelenting violence which is inflicted upon 'the Infected' who are living humans infected with a rabies-like virus that causes them to act violently,” before adding, “However, it is the use of the 'melee' weapons such as the crowbar, axe, chainsaw and Samurai sword which inflict the most damage. These close in attacks cause copious amounts of blood spray and splatter, decapitations and limb dismemberment as well as locational damage where contact is made to the enemy which may reveal skeletal bits and gore.”
When contacted by GameSpot, AU Electronic Arts, which is set to handle the publishing of the video game in Australia, said that there were still ways to appeal to the ruling so that the title could be released on its initial date in Australia. One possibility is for Valve to eliminate some of the over-the-top, zombie-based violence and resubmit the game.
The problem is that the Australian Classification Board does not issue an R18+ label for titles, which can only go as high as MA 15+. If Australia had employed the same standard as for movies, then Left 4 Dead 2 could have been released, albeit with a strong rating that might have limited sales.