THE sequel to a popular video game has been banned in Australia after failing to receive a rating of MA15+.

Left 4 Dead 2 was refused classification by the Classifications Board this week, meaning it will be banned from sale.

In its report the board said the game, due to be released in November, contained "realistic, frenetic and unrelenting violence".

"The game contains violence that is high in impact and is therefore unsuitable for persons under 18 years to play," the report said.

There is no adult rating for video games in Australia. Any game that fails to meet the criteria for MA15+ is refused classification.

Gametraders national marketing manager Chad Polley said the decision was "hugely disappointing".

"Left 4 Dead 2 was expected to be even bigger than the original version," he said.

"We had huge predictions of sales."

At least one member of the Classifications Board disagreed with the decision.

"A minority of the board is of the opinion that the violence is strong in playing impact and therefore warrants an MA15+ classification," the report said.

Such a classification would have allowed the game to be sold in Australia.

Mr Polley said the decision highlighted the need to reform the rating system for games.

"We would love to see an R18+ rating introduced for more transparency around games," he said.

Earlier today distributor Electronic Arts told gaming blog Kotaku it was in discussions with the Office of Film and Literature Classification.

"(We) are still working through the submission process with the OFLC and want to explore all opportunities before making any comment," the company said.

Left 4 Dead 2 is the fourth title to be banned in Australia this year after strip poker game Sexy Poker, shooter Necrovision and role-playing game Risen.

Edited versions of Sexy Poker and Necrovision were both rated M after resubmission.

The plot of the original Left 4 Dead followed four survivors of a medical pandemic as they battled zombie-like victims. It received several end-of-year awards from gaming publications.

haven't played the first one myself, but still, australia is useless for games, not only do we have the classification shit we also have to pay more than other countries

Its nothing special.
There is 5mins worth of SP gameplay, 4 weapons, and same shit is just repeated over and over again.
Haven't played online, this is just the Skullptura rip.


Mods might make it better though, haven't had a look at them.

Lucky you dont have to worry since valve will never release it on the ps3 anyway.

Same shit happened with Fallout 3. The version they showed is refused classication, they'll just make some changes and it'll get released here fine...Hopefully.

Doesnt really matter for PC side of things, i assume it'll still be avaliable on Steam anyway? I got no idea how classification would work with online distribution.

well they seem to be focused on the dismemberment....

did these fuckers even play fallout 3? you shoot someone in the head and you see the eyes fly one way, the jaw another etc... so its retarded how something is ok in one game and not in another.

I dont understand how its any different to movies, in fact i think movies are worse because you're seeing it happen to what appears to be a normal person.

But with video games, its just some nicely arranged pixels on the screen.

Just watch any of the Saw films. I think it's bullshit that there isn't an R18+ rating for video games though.

Pretty sure Steam shows content based on your IP address, so it will be the censored version. Ive heard getting it gifted from an another countries account sends over the uncensored version of games, but tbh id just wait until its released and see what works, who knows how it will all work since most of the game will be played through online matchmaking etc.