Left 4 Dead 2 Ditches Dismemberment, Secures OFLC Rating
Left 4 Dead 2 Ditches Dismemberment, Secures OFLC Rating
October 8, 2009
News.com.au reports that a resubmitted and modified version of Valve’s Left 4 Dead 2 has been granted a rating by Australia’s Office of Film and Literature Classification board.
The original version of the zombie-killing title was refused classification by the PFLC, rendering it unreleasable. The edited version has received an MA 15+ rating. Distributor Electronic Arts told the website that it still holds out hope that the resubmitted full version of the game would receive classification and that is the version it would still prefer to release.
The OFLC's full report (PDF) on the modified Left 4 Dead 2 title contains consumer advice of “strong bloody violence,” though the board noted that “the game no longer contains depictions of decapitation, dismemberment, wound detail or piles of dead bodies lying about the environment.”
In the Board’s view “the element of violence in the game has been sufficiently modified.”
Via: Edge-Online
Image Via: Cheezburger.com
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Posted 02/09/10 at 11:30am
gellymatos: Then I don't understand what we're disagreeing on then.
gellymatos: Then I don't understand what we're disagreeing on then.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:28am
Valdearg: @Gelly: I'm well aware of that. Which is why I said the "Religious Right." I acknowledge and appreciate the few Christian churches that believe in the Gay Right's movement, as long as it's the WHOLE thing, even up to marriage equality.
Valdearg: @Gelly: I'm well aware of that. Which is why I said the "Religious Right." I acknowledge and appreciate the few Christian churches that believe in the Gay Right's movement, as long as it's the WHOLE thing, even up to marriage equality.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:28am
gellymatos: You act as though all of us religious people are in the same, large group.
gellymatos: You act as though all of us religious people are in the same, large group.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:27am
Valdearg: The absolute LAST thing the Religious Right wants is to have the Government acknowledge that the gay lifestyle is just as equal and acceptable as the straight lifestyle. It goes against EVERYTHING they believe.
Valdearg: The absolute LAST thing the Religious Right wants is to have the Government acknowledge that the gay lifestyle is just as equal and acceptable as the straight lifestyle. It goes against EVERYTHING they believe.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:27am
gellymatos: Then look at another picture then. Not all religious groups have the same beliefs on gay rights.
gellymatos: Then look at another picture then. Not all religious groups have the same beliefs on gay rights.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:25am
Valdearg: Therefore, they will try to find any and all ways to slow the inevitable march of equality. Even admirable laws that protect gays from employer discrimination and violent hate fueled attacks are seen as affronts to their beliefs.
Valdearg: Therefore, they will try to find any and all ways to slow the inevitable march of equality. Even admirable laws that protect gays from employer discrimination and violent hate fueled attacks are seen as affronts to their beliefs.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:24am
Valdearg: Again, you have to look at the bigger picture. Every political victory that the Gay rights movement scores marches them one step closer to being considered "equal" to everyone else. The religious right doesn't want that. It threatens their beliefs.
Valdearg: Again, you have to look at the bigger picture. Every political victory that the Gay rights movement scores marches them one step closer to being considered "equal" to everyone else. The religious right doesn't want that. It threatens their beliefs.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:23am
gellymatos: ...paranoid, as lawyers, that the language of the law may do so. But like I said, paranoid.
gellymatos: ...paranoid, as lawyers, that the language of the law may do so. But like I said, paranoid.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:22am
Valdearg: They see this as the Government encouraging the "sinful sexual behavior." They don't want gays to score ANY political victory, even one that protects them from violent homophobic psychopaths.
Valdearg: They see this as the Government encouraging the "sinful sexual behavior." They don't want gays to score ANY political victory, even one that protects them from violent homophobic psychopaths.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:22am
gellymatos: Oh, hell yes. And nothing annoys me more than that fact. They stray and make real catholics look bad. And yes, they could be...
gellymatos: Oh, hell yes. And nothing annoys me more than that fact. They stray and make real catholics look bad. And yes, they could be...
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:21am
Valdearg: Also, you really think that people who are smart enough to practice law REALLY believe that this law will prevent them from expressing their religious beliefs? The fact is that these guys hate gays, and don't want them to be protected in any way.
Valdearg: Also, you really think that people who are smart enough to practice law REALLY believe that this law will prevent them from expressing their religious beliefs? The fact is that these guys hate gays, and don't want them to be protected in any way.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:20am
Valdearg: The catholic teachings, perhaps, but certainly, there are PLENTY of Catholics who condone violence and hate. Just like these guys.
Valdearg: The catholic teachings, perhaps, but certainly, there are PLENTY of Catholics who condone violence and hate. Just like these guys.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:19am
gellymatos: violence or hate against anyone.
gellymatos: violence or hate against anyone.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:18am
gellymatos: Like I said, paranoia that the law could make it illegal to voice an opinion on gay marriage. And catholics don't condon...
gellymatos: Like I said, paranoia that the law could make it illegal to voice an opinion on gay marriage. And catholics don't condon...
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:15am
Valdearg: Can you find a different reason behind the lawsuit, other than the fact that they want to protect their "right" to perpetrate violence against homosexuals, based on their religious beliefs?
Valdearg: Can you find a different reason behind the lawsuit, other than the fact that they want to protect their "right" to perpetrate violence against homosexuals, based on their religious beliefs?
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:14am
Valdearg: The fact is that this Law Center, which specializes in the defense of Catholic Beliefs, kind of like a Catholic ACLU, I suppose, is challenging a law that PROTECTS homosexuals from violent acts motivated by hatred of gay people.
Valdearg: The fact is that this Law Center, which specializes in the defense of Catholic Beliefs, kind of like a Catholic ACLU, I suppose, is challenging a law that PROTECTS homosexuals from violent acts motivated by hatred of gay people.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:13am
gellymatos: Again, sorry I jumped the gun like I did.
gellymatos: Again, sorry I jumped the gun like I did.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:13am
Valdearg: @Gelly: It's a liberal blog. Its not designed to be balanced. Does that mean that everything there is completely false, and not worth investigating? Nope.
Valdearg: @Gelly: It's a liberal blog. Its not designed to be balanced. Does that mean that everything there is completely false, and not worth investigating? Nope.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:12am
Valdearg: To be completely honest, I would argue that that assessment is more biased and farther from reality than the Daily Kos assessment.
Valdearg: To be completely honest, I would argue that that assessment is more biased and farther from reality than the Daily Kos assessment.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:12am
gellymatos: I'm sure the story itself is true, it's just that the site seems to be biased. More so than Fox. And that takes effort.
gellymatos: I'm sure the story itself is true, it's just that the site seems to be biased. More so than Fox. And that takes effort.
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Comments
Wow they took all the fun out of it. :'( At least the game is rated so you can import the uncut version with no problems from customs.
Utter failure.
How much money do we have to raise next time to bribe Gabe Newell to keep him from going to Australia?
-Ultimately what will do in mankind is a person's fear of their own freedom-
But will all versions be this way or only the AU versions? I'll be pissed if dismemberments, wound detail, and piles of bodies are taken out. It's a zombie game for Christ's sake.
-If an apple a day keeps the doctor away....what happens when a doctor eats an apple?-
That's my question too. If that change is for every version then all I have to say is "way to go sucking Austrailia's **** for those few extra bucks, Valve."
I'm not really all that mad that that stuff is being taken out, it's what that change represents that pisses me off. I mean really what's the point of even making a zombie (or any other) game if you're going to easily bend to the will of an archaic classification system? You may as well just replace the guns with super soakers filled with rainbows and the zombies with cute teddy bears. That will appease all the rating boards and "family value" groups, but that doesn't make it a good idea.
They made a special edited version JUST for Aussie release, said so in the last story. Rest of us get the uncut one.
Check out my blog - http://serveratcapacity.blogspot.com
Well that's better but still not good. I still can't believe this is even an issue. This whole mess should have been over and done with in less than a day.
Hey we have an 18+ rating for movies but not videogames. Wow you're right, we'll put one in. Ok thanks. END OF STORY!
Now let us just make a list of all the games currently for sale here in Australia with all of those features in copious amounts... and rated only MA at that. The need for an R rating is one thing, but I'd like to at least see some consistency from the OFLC.
The thing is they wanted it approved in time for their global release, so they overcensored it, this isn't the stuff they HAD to remove but the stuff that would get it approved faster
oh and if the appeal is succesful then the AU version will be patched to the global version, but thats a big if
what I don't get is why they can rate a whole game faster then process an apeal on a game they already know
So, all the cool stuff is gone then?
Why do they think so lowly of 15 year olds over there, surely they can handle Left 4 Dead?
----------------------------------------------------
Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.
Australia also known as Jack Thompson Island ... is that what they want ... I mean REALLY????
Left 4 Dead 2: Kindergarden Edition.
They will look up and shout "Give ROFLCOPTERS to us"... and I´ll whisper "NO". The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com
O_O kids? with a baseball bat , slingshot , dustbin lid , metal pipe (or is that a shovel?) and a brick beating up other kids? *SHOCK HORROR* its vile FILTH *sarcasme*
THEIR EMULATING GAMES THINK OF THE CHILDREN
Looks liek a broom
cops:ZOMG!!!! he haz a broom!!
kid wif broom:don't taze me bro!
Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
Also don't forget that Australia is a racist country if you believe all those news reports recently.
But what they don't tell you is that Australia is only racist in their laws. Not the people themselves.
Mainly, Australian laws don't allow freedom of speech for videogames while Movies, DVDs, TV, Books and art are allowed greater freedom.
That is the sort of racism I am talking about. Not the one with the color of skin.
I think the word you're looking for is Discrimination. I agree.
Actually it may surprise you to find out that there is nothing in the Australian Constitution that grants us freedom of speech, the only rights we have are trial by jury and freedom of religion. Decisions in the high courts have implied freedom of speech but there is nothing stoping the government from making legislation to censor speech *cough*web filter*cough* and every time the Issue of a Bill of Rights gets brought up it just gets swept under the rug as quickly as possible.
Is not the UK/England the same?
Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
We don't have a written constitution, atleast not in the sense that you would recognise from yours.
This is a big part of why my wife left Australia (or as she has come to call it, Ausfailia).
That and the upcoming web filter, which, as I understand it, has cost nearly 100 billion dollars (not sure if that's Australian or US dollars), and will bring overall speed DOWN. Hilarious.
SO dismemberment and blood(?) got remvoed so what? it can be hacked back in :X
Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
If there's no patch to make it into the global version, then an "Atkinson mode" mod needs to be made.
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