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Video: Censored Left 4 Dead 2 right 4 classification

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 3rd 2009 at 1:20PM }

Footage allegedly taken from Australia's censored version of Left 4 Dead 2 has made its way online ... and we feel it's inadequately preparing citizens down under for the future! Though the game will get Aussies used to facing down a charging zombie horde, it does nothing to desensitize them to the revolting gore that inevitably follows.

The censored version lacks exploding heads, dismemberment (courtesy of the new melee weapons) and burning corpses. Sadly, for those of us who have built up a considerable hatred for the undead scourge threatening our civilization, the fallen undead just fade into the ether. Check out the full video after the break and pray for Australia's survival when the zombie apocalypse comes.

[Via Destructoid]

Continued →

Australian lobby group calls for re-rating of Modern Warfare 2

by David Hinkle { Oct 29th 2009 at 9:30PM }

Ever since that Modern Warfare 2 scene got out on the internets in all of its airport civilian-shooting "glory," the game has been catching a lot of flak. Despite giving Activision the chance to explain it on this very site, it's just not enough for some -- and in light of that scene, one Aussie group is demanding the game be re-rated.

Lobby group Australian Council on Children and the Media is calling for the second look at the game, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. MW2 currently has a rating of MA 15+ -- the highest available -- though ACCM president Jane Roberts argues that the current rating would still make it accessible to kids under the age of 15. Update: If the game was to be reconsidered and denied a rating (anything considered higher than MA 15+), it would be effectively banned.

"We understand that it's a game but ... we're not far off when you look at the images that you could actually put it on a Channel Nine news report and you'd think maybe that is real," she said. As for the re-rating, odds aren't looking good for Roberts. An Australian Classification Board spokesperson said that the Board could not review its own decisions.

[Via Kotaku]

Dress up at Australian New Super Mario Bros. Wii midnight launch for fabulous prizes

by JC Fletcher { Oct 28th 2009 at 2:15PM }

If you live near Melbourne, Australia, you'll have the opportunity to pick up New Super Mario Bros. Wii a bit early, and either vie for a lovely prize or laugh at people in silly costumes! Nintendo is holding a midnight launch event for the game on Wednesday night, November 11, at its "Nintendo Experience" EBGames store.

Attendees will have a chance to win the glass laser-etched Mario statue seen above, provided they're willing to dress up as their favorite Mario character. Does the Kuribo's Shoe count as a character?

If you don't already have a costume, you'll have the beginning of a (terrible) Mario outfit once you pick up your pre-order: EB in Australia is giving away Mario baseball caps with reserved copies.

[Via GoNintendo]

Aussie Borderlands fixed, requires another Steam download

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 28th 2009 at 1:30PM }

GamesonNet reports that the uncensored version of Borderlands is now available for Australian Steam users. 2K Games is asking all users who preloaded the game to delete the previous content and re-download the eight gigglebyte title. That should fix the issue of Aussie Steam users receiving the "low violence" version of the game, a laughable mistake after the OFLC granted the "high violence" edition entry into the country.

Forum users are commenting that there are alternative fixes available out there, but let's all just agree that re-downloading the game is probably the safest and most "official" way of handling the issue. Of course, redownloading 8GB is not going to make Aussies who have a download limit from their ISP happy.

[Via Big Download]

Aussie Steam users get low-violence Borderlands by accident, fix incoming

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 27th 2009 at 4:00PM }

Oops! Australia has become so synonymous with censorship that even distributors are starting to get confused. Despite the unedited version of Borderlands passing the OFLC's ratings board successfully, it turns out that a "low-violence" version was accidentally uploaded for Aussies on Steam.

2K Games Australia is apparently working on getting the correct version onto Steam before the game launches in a few days. This does not affect the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game, which will be presented in what can only be described as "full violence" mode. Now, with luck, Australia will have the exact opposite problem with Left 4 Dead 2's launch.

[Via Big Download]

Australia's OFLC wants to classify iPhone, mobile games

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 22nd 2009 at 7:25PM }

Australia's ~~Censorship~~ Classification Board wants to rate games released on iPhone and other mobile devices. iTnews reports that Donald McDonald (really?), director of the OFLC, sent a letter to the "commonwealth censorship minister" (really, really?!) that he's concerned games offered on mobile devices aren't being submitted to the classification board.

Let's just try to ignore that the task of classifying all the games released on the App Store would be overwhelming -- but, bless the OFLC for trying. The US's ESRB is also currently trying to get mobile games under its purview, however, the difference is that the ESRB accepts that games can be for adults.

[Via Edge]

Unedited Left 4 Dead 2 refused Aussie classification for second time

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 22nd 2009 at 10:31AM }

On this day of reckoning, Australia's Office of Film and Literature Classification has denied Valve's appeal to sell the unedited Left 4 Dead 2 down under. The three-member board determined unanimously that the game "could not be accommodated within the MA 15+ classification," which is the highest rating allowed for video games in the region.

The board believes that there is "insufficient delineation between the depiction of general zombie figures and the human figures." The inability to clearly distinguish the humans from the "clearly fictional 'infected'" was a "major consideration" of the board.

The unedited version of Left 4 Dead 2 is classified RC (refused classification) and "cannot be sold, hired, advertised or demonstrated in Australia." Sorry, mates. An edited version of the game has been approved by the OFLC for consumption in Australia -- censoring "decapitation, dismemberment, wound detail or piles of dead bodies lying about the environment."

[Thanks, Adam]

Sony: PS3 Slim is top dingo in Australian console war

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 21st 2009 at 1:45PM }

Shortly after forcing two pieces of their technology to violently collide at high speeds, Sony Australia released some surprising sales figures from the Land Down Under. According to the company's calculations, the PS3 Slim has sold "in excess of 60,000 units" since its September 3 launch, outselling both the Xbox 360 and Wii during the same time period. Sure, in overall sales, the PS3 still trails in the region -- but it seems Aussies have been temporarily mesmerized by the system's slightly sleeker frame.

Sony Australia flings a PS3 into a Bravia, technophiles cringe

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 21st 2009 at 11:30AM }

Dear Mr. Larson,

Congratulations! With your recent purchase of our 46-inch Bravia KDL46X 3100 LCD TV, you're eligible to receive a free PlayStation 3 -- provided you haven't changed your address, and still live in Australia. Funny story: You're actually the last person that's eligible to receive the free console with the TV's purchase. "Lucky Number 25,000," we've been calling you around the office. I'm running to the stockroom right now, so I can ship your console and television to you personally, along with a very heartfelt letter of gratitude.

Oh, crap. Listen, Mr. Larson -- I might have forgotten something ... important. See, to promote this offer, we may have flung the last PlayStation 3 into your Bravia television at 50 mph. By "may have flung," of course, I mean "totally did fling." If it makes you feel any better, it was a really good ad (check it out after the jump)! Very thought-provoking, and even a little cheeky. Just know that your television and video game console died for a worthwhile cause. (What? No! Of course there are no refunds. Don't be silly.)

Love,
Sony Australia.

Continued →

OFLC rating outs 'Ghost Recon: Predator'

by David Hinkle { Oct 20th 2009 at 9:30PM }

Ubisoft's tentatively titled Ghost Recon 4 may just be "Ghost Recon: Predator" -- that is, if this OFLC classification is any indication. The classification itself is pretty barren, save for the title of the game, the fact that it's multiplatform and it's rated MA 15+. Still, given the title, it's a pretty safe bet that this will be a Ghost Recon game more in line with the roots of the series and not another Advanced Warfighter -- mostly because it doesn't have "Advanced Warfighter" in the title.

Hopefully, Ubisoft will confirm sooner rather than later. We definitely encourage the company to do so, especially if it still hopes to get the game on shelves by March 2010.

[Via VG247]

Left 4 Dead 2 trying 2 approaches 4 sales in Australia

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 7th 2009 at 2:00PM }

Valve is working two angles to get Left 4 Dead 2 on Australian consoles and PCs, following the Aussie ratings board's refusal to classify the zombie shooter. One version of L4D2 making its way through the OFLC is an "Australia specific" (i.e. edited) take on the game, while the other is the gore-lovin' original, which Valve currently has on appeal.

Gamespot spoke with Valve's Gabe Newell, who explained that the next step for the unedited version won't occur until October 22, which means the timing gets tight in terms of manufacturing and other hurdles before a November 17 launch. Valve project manager Erik Johnson finds the OFLC's issues with the sequel to be "inconsistent" because of Left 4 Dead's unedited release in the region. We wish Valve (and the gamers of Australia) all the best in working out those Michael Atkinson issues.

Source -- Valve to resubmit two versions L4D2 (Gamespot)
Source -- Newell discusses ban on video (Gamespot)

Gallery: Left 4 Dead 2

Report: Transmission Games ceases communications with more than 20 staff

by Randy Nelson { Oct 2nd 2009 at 12:00AM }

Melbourne, Australia based Transmission Games (formerly IR Gurus) has laid off more than 20 members of its development staff, Gamasutra reports. The studio, which created the WWII air combat games Heroes of the Pacific and the just-released Heroes Over Europe for Ubisoft is said to have made the cuts today, according to the site's sources.

The developer has not publicly addressed the layoffs or its reasoning behind them, but its latest title has met with mediocre reviews averaging a full 10 points lower than its previous game in aggregate scores. We'll keep our eyes on the studio in case of any executive bail outs.

Newell pays way to Australia, donations go to Child's Play

by Ben Gilbert { Oct 1st 2009 at 4:30PM }

Despite the internet's best efforts to pay Valve prez Gabe Newell's way to Australia, the man simply won't take it. Posting on Fly Gabe Newell, the now infamous Australian Left 4 Dead modder "Joe W-A" says that not only are Newell and Valve project manager Erik Johnson heading down under next week, but they've paid their own way. "All the money accumulated will be going to the Child's Play charity," which Joe W-A tells Joystiq totals $3,099.54 from 233 donations.

Said Valve's Newell in an official statement, "The power of the gaming community and their ability to rally around a cause -- be it serious or fun in nature -- is amazing." And Newell's no stranger to both sides of it, having recently invited the creators of a Left 4 Dead 2 boycott to visit Valve's studios, sparking the joke email thread between Newell and Joe W-A that eventually resulted in the trip to Australia.

We'll have more on the visit next week; hopefully including a promised video from the Australian modder hosting Newell.

Splinter Cell Conviction Collector's Edition sneaks into Australian retailer site

by Ben Gilbert { Oct 1st 2009 at 3:26PM }

Australians with a burnin' love for Sam Fisher will be glad to hear that Splinter Cell Conviction has a Collector's Edition with bonus content coming next February when the game ships in their country. According to the product's listing on JB HiFi, $119 AUD ($104.42 USD) nets you a "Sam Fisher figurine" and "other exclusive content."

Though GameStop Australia doesn't have the listing and picture you see above, it does share the same pre-order bonus detailed by JB HiFi. For plunking down your dollars early, you'll receive extras ranging from a "scratch card to unlock unique in-game content" to a download code for Splinter Cell Chaos Theory. Both Australian listings also say the Chaos Theory download will come from "Xbox Live Arcade," though that could simply be poor phrasing for the "Games on Demand" offering.

We contacted Ubisoft Montreal who told us the company has "no official announcement" for North America at this time (our question about Chaos Theory was unanswered as of publishing). We'll assuredly find out more soon, as the game's February 2010 release date isn't so far away.

[Via Destructoid]

Australian attorney general refuses to support 18+ game rating

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 30th 2009 at 4:44PM }

Australia has a long, sordid history when it comes to banning the sale of mature games. Titles which exceed the limits of the Office of Film and Literature Classification's MA15+ rating are refused classification, preventing them from being sold in the Land Down Under. Following such a ban on Valve's Left 4 Dead 2, the introduction of an R18+ rating has been feverishly debated by the nation's officials -- however, a South Australian attorney general named Michael Atkinson is holding up the proceedings by vehemently opposing the adoption of the mature rating.

Atkinson told Australian news outlet News.com.au that he's uncomfortable with the interactive nature of the medium. "People are participating and 'acting-out' violence and criminal behaviour when they are playing a video game," he explained, later adding, "it certainly does restrict choice to a small degree, but that is the price of keeping this material from children and vulnerable adults. In my view, the small sacrifice is worth it."

Rarely can governmental actions be attributed to just one person, but the OFLC's refusal to rate mature titles is a direct result of Atkinson's opposition. Remember, this is the same guy who tried to censor a public document which canvassed Australians on the issue in an attempt to better advise the nation's ratings officials. He censored the study on censorship. Consider our mind truly boggled.

[Via GamesIndustry]