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EA “Surprised” by Australia’s L4D2 Ban
Last Thursday, Australia’s Classification Board banned upcoming zombie apocalypse FPS Left 4 Dead 2. Because the game received no classification last week, it is officially illegal to sell, rent, or advertize the game in any way in the land down under.
It’s not exactly news that Left 4 Dead 2 is a violent game. Hell, you can dismember zombies with anything from an electric guitar to a shotgun with incendiary ammo. According to GameSpot, the Board describes the game as containing “realistic, frenetic, and unrelenting violence, which is inflicted upon 'the Infected'.” They also add that the game has “copious amounts of blood spray and splatter, decapitations, and limb dismemberment." It’s as if they have reached into my mind and extracted the very reasons we can’t wait to play the game.
Tiffany Steckler, an EA spokesperson, went on the record today regarding the ban. She believes that grown ups should be able to decide which digital undead they do or do not want to dismember.
"It’s funny that a place like Australia, which has come up with some pretty violent material in the past with something like Mad Max, can effectively ban video games for the same reason," said Steckler. Playing the old Mad Max card, eh EA? That’s, you know, relevant…
"EA believes that adults should have the right to make their own choices when it comes to the content they consume," she continued.
EA has not yet commented on whether Valve they will be putting the proverbial mop to the blood-soaked game. Considering gamers in Australia will likely find a way to play L4D2 one way or another, EA would be silly not to clean up the title and ship it out. Maybe they can transfuse whatever gore is being cut from of the Aussie version of L4D2 into our version. Please?
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