Developer Valve isn’t too happy that Australia’s ratings board has refused to stick an MA15+ rating on Left 4 Dead 2, their highest possible classification. It means the game is banned.
Valve is launching an appeal process. Left 4 Dead 2 has been rated ” in the majority of the world” with only the UK and New Zealand to reach a certificate. Britain is likely to slap it ‘18’.
”The title, targeted for release exclusively on Xbox 360 and PC November 17, has been rated in the majority of the world and awaiting final ratings in the UK and New Zealand, where final ratings are expected in the coming days,” said Valve.
”Meanwhile, the ruling in Australia from the OFLC has been appealed by Valve,” they continued.
Not many are happy with Australia’s decision to refuse consideration of a higher certification than MA15+, and this has lead to many developers heavily censoring their games.
One such example is Fallout 3 from Bethesda which had to change their representation of drugs, or ‘chems’ in-game. The OFLC wasn’t happy with them too closely resembling real-world narcotics, even if they had fictitious names.
Left 4 Dead 2 has by and large been given the highest classification possible in all territories, that being ‘18+’. This level simply doesn’t exist Down Under - if a 15 year-old can’t play then no one can in Australia.
Source: CVG
