Yesterday, Australian gamers got some bad news when word came that the sequel to our 2008 game of the year was effectively banned in their country. You think you’re upset? Valve’s isn’t so happy, either.
“We were surprised to hear of this news yesterday,” Valve’s Doug Lombardi told Shacknews of the Left 4 Dead 2 ban. “Obviously, everyone at Valve is pretty bummed.”
The title was refused classification by Australia’s Office of Film and Literature Classification, due to its “realistic, frenetic and unrelenting violence.” You know, the good stuff. While Lombardi adds that “it would be a shame” if some gamers wouldn’t be able to play the title due to a classification issue, he made no mention or promise of changes that might allow it to be rated.
Our suggestion — change all of the zombies into kangaroos and the guns into, uh, squirt bottles. Pull out the gore, keep the rest of the game as is. Done. Ship it.