Valve is 'bummed' by Australia's Left 4 Dead 2 ban

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 19th 2009 at 7:00PM }

It seems Australian zombie enthusiasts aren't alone in their dismay over the OFLC's recent ban on the sale of Left 4 Dead 2 in the Land Down Under -- Valve's Doug Lombardi recently told Shacknews that the ban came as quite a surprise for the developer as well. "Obviously, everyone at Valve is pretty bummed," Lombardi explained, as a grief-wracked Gabe Newell wept openly into his shoulder.

It's a real shame that the OFLC added L4D2 to its expansive list of titles prohibited from being sold in Australia -- not only because Aussies will be robbed of one of the most promising multiplayer titles of 2009, but because it effectively invalidates the two parties' pre-existing peacemaking efforts.

Gallery: Left 4 Dead 2

Tags: australia, ban, doug-lombardi, government, left-4-dead, left-4-dead-2, oflc, pc, valve

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Sep 19th 2009 7:10PM

Yahtzee is going to be PISSED!

Ignatius @ Sep 19th 2009 7:13PM

He'll just import it like every other Australian that wants it. You'll definitely hear about it anyway though.

aristokrat @ Sep 19th 2009 7:44PM

If you were a true Yatzhee fan, you'd know he'd just get it from GAME TRADERS ROBINA!

Viking @ Sep 19th 2009 8:13PM

aristokrat:
If you were a true fan, you would spell his name right.

Anti-Villian @ Sep 19th 2009 9:14PM

It's not banned, It's RC'd, you can still get it it's just a bit harder and it's NOT illegal. Plus this is one of the biggest games of the year so there will be plenty of distribution.

derek @ Sep 19th 2009 7:17PM

I'm getting a little pissed that more and more "democratic" countries are banning media just because it's "controversial". It's kind of frighting when you think about it.

Spike (GT: SitriStahl) @ Sep 19th 2009 7:20PM

there go any games over the E10+ rating in america

West @ Sep 19th 2009 10:44PM

Arn't the Brits and the Aussies supposed to be more "sophisticated" than USians anyway? Maybe it's just the accent?

RobLink (Alex Kidd incarnate) @ Sep 20th 2009 7:14AM

I don't think sophistication is tied to your nationality, more to your personality. I live in England, and sophistication is not something that's incredibly common over here. But maybe that's because I'm from London. It might be different somewhere like Oxford or Cambridge.

The Baron @ Sep 20th 2009 8:02AM

Sophistication is somewhat hard to come by up north too.

Ghen @ Sep 19th 2009 7:17PM

So as a 29 year old if I just happened to live in AU I'd have the government telling me what I can't play ever? Thanks.

Martin @ Sep 19th 2009 7:20PM

I don't know how you'd "just happen" to live there ... was it an accident?

But yes, that's how it works. It also works that way in the US. When a game is rated Adults Only, it's an effective ban on the game as most retailers won't stock that rating. The difference being publishers will change the game to reach the US market.

Kaio @ Sep 19th 2009 7:25PM

But how many AO game have there been? This game is rated MA.

Ghen @ Sep 19th 2009 8:07PM

AO games can still be played on PC, L4D2 is banned even there.

Special Agent Steve @ Sep 20th 2009 9:02PM

Can't you get L4D2 over steam? I mean, it's just banned from being SOLD in Australia, and technically the Steam servers are in the US so...

Viking @ Sep 19th 2009 7:20PM

So... Australia basically boycotted L4D2?

[ArchiGamer] [Nominated for Three Glemmys] @ Sep 19th 2009 7:22PM

So that were those $3000 dollars came from!!

Viking @ Sep 19th 2009 7:35PM

It started with some dudes (and dudettes) boycotting the game. Valve flew in some people, making them look like idiots.
Valve starts joking about it, boycotting a fan-made campaign. Internet responds with donations to fly Valve to Australia. It should stop there.

Someone needs to tell Australia when to stop a joke. It's not funny.

RobinEivets (Soon to be Crimsic) @ Sep 19th 2009 7:21PM

Maybe Gabe can fly this Australia person to Valve....

Poisoned Al @ Sep 19th 2009 7:22PM

It has always puzzled me why such an easy going people keep voting in a load of ultra-right wing, goose-stepping Nazis. They make even the Republicans look sane... well, almost.

Demon G Sides @ Sep 19th 2009 8:04PM

99% of Republicans are sane. its the vocal minority that make them look bad.

West @ Sep 19th 2009 10:47PM

Actually, yeah, I think it's mostly those "more vocal" for both parties give the wrong idea to the mass members of the other party. Can't we all just go get a beer together?

Catprog @ Sep 20th 2009 12:31AM

our current government is left and the other one is right (but more left then the democrats),

The problem is 1 person(elected at the state level) can say no and there is no debate about whether Australia should have a R18 rating for video games.

xblingdaddy2005x @ Sep 19th 2009 7:23PM

The Australian government doesn't want its citizens prepared for the coming zombie apocalypse.
My heart goes out to all those in Australia that won't know what to do in case of zombie dingos.
This post is totally serious.

oOWallaceOo @ Sep 19th 2009 7:41PM

Australia gets pretty screwed up when you introduce a Bullfrog to the enviroment, they wouldn't stand a chance against zombies.

Sly (Now with less shake, more bake!) @ Sep 19th 2009 9:59PM

zombie dingos? they're not the main problem. zombie kangaroos are the problem.

Spartan [Planeteer | Power of Sunshine & Lollipops] @ Sep 20th 2009 4:18AM

"The Australian government doesn't want it citizens prepared for the coming "ombie apocalypse.
My heart goes out to all those in Australia that won't know what to do in case of zombie dingos."

Gold

"This post is totally serious."

Comment of the month!

Ghen @ Sep 20th 2009 7:52AM

Seriously, Kangaroos in AU are like deer in America. Go cross country and you'll see 20-30 just laying on the side of the road after getting hit. If they got up and started eating brains??? forgeddaboudit.

Ikespawn @ Sep 19th 2009 7:34PM

They should put it on xbox live as a full game download in Australia.

Dr. @ Sep 19th 2009 7:45PM

At least they can get people outside of the country to gift them the game through steam... That effectively breaks any region bans.

aristokrat @ Sep 19th 2009 7:46PM

I would just like everyone to know that I just found 'rickroll' in Scribblenauts. Carry on.

Cheesus Crust @ Sep 19th 2009 8:19PM

Try lol wut it gives you a giant head. And try NEOGAF! Its a SMALL flying ball you can ride.

MRLN the Amazing @ Sep 19th 2009 9:35PM

The "neogaf" is my new favorite item, though I don't understand the name/object correlation. By the way, I just gave God a monocle and a skateboard in one of the war levels and he promptly beat the sh*t out of everyone in the level.

This is related to L4D2 because they are both extremely awesome. And Australia's government isn't.

relaxeder @ Sep 19th 2009 7:53PM

Aussies can still import the game, or ask their friends on Steam to send them L4D2 as gifts so its not all doom and gloom.

68newyorker @ Sep 19th 2009 8:48PM

And so being able to import it is an acceptable reason not to aggressively oppose the government abrogation of the right to free speech?

Really, Joystiq, that wasn't among your major criticisms of Australia's actions? Aussie's being robbed of a great game and an end to two, clearly dangerous, political parties "peacemaking efforts" is a major problem but that whole continuing destruction of individual rights, that's not worth a mention.

Australians: you should not accept importing as a valid way of dealing with your governments intrusion on your individual sovereignty. You should tell your government, no matter which party, that it's none of their business.

And to all you who are about to say it's not that big of a deal; you will deserve what you ultimately get.

rabbler78 @ Sep 19th 2009 8:59PM

I'm guessing if you lived in Australia, you'd be one of those people that has an "accident"

Soap McChicken @ Sep 19th 2009 8:00PM

As an Aussie I don't understand why the F they can ban L4D but zombie / horror films etc are fine. In which frickin century are games not gonna be still seen as kid shit?!? Makes me embarrassed to be from here. The original L4D is on the shelves. Dead Rising is on the shelves (melee). Seriously, I will send a boomer to Canberra!

Lunastra78 (PSN: lunastra78) @ Sep 19th 2009 8:07PM

Fair dinkum!

Lunastra78 (PSN: lunastra78) @ Sep 19th 2009 8:05PM

Can't they just make an alternative Australian edition where the guns shoot rainbows, and the Zombies are acutally... squirrels?

Viking @ Sep 19th 2009 8:09PM

And just let PopCap do the port.. and make it for the Wii.

I like how some people care about racism and such enough to ban a game, even though I haven't heard ANY zombie complain about the game yet, are we just going to assume they don't like the attention?

Lunastra78 (PSN: lunastra78) @ Sep 19th 2009 8:24PM

Stop being zombist, man. You should know they prefer the term "deceased american".

xblingdaddy2005x @ Sep 19th 2009 8:24PM

"When asked to comment on this story, local zombie Gary Busey replied, "Urrrnghh! Braaaaaains!""

I'll be here all week folks.

Viking @ Sep 19th 2009 8:41PM

So you're saying every Zombie is American? I can't imagine them taking THAT well.

And I thought the correct 'technical' term was "MTV Top 20 Celebrities." Not to be confused with "Disney Channel Stars" and "Reality TV Stars", although they are very similar.
I am sorry if I have offended someone's obviously bad taste in music during this unnecessary comment.