Looks like Australia will be stuck with an edited version of Left 4 Dead 2 indefinitely.

I was personally going to pre-purchase this game but due to Australia’s archaic Classification system, I just cannot bring myself to buy an edited version the game – Sorry Valve.

The OFLC official pdf.

A three-member panel of the Classification Review Board (the Review Board) has unanimously determined that the computer game Left 4 Dead 2 is classified RC (Refused Classification).

In the Review Board’s opinion, Left 4 Dead 2 could not be accommodated within the MA 15+ classification. The computer game contains a level of violence which is high in impact, prolonged, repeated frequently and realistic within the context of the game.

In addition, it was the Review Board’s opinion that there was insufficient delineation between the depiction of general zombie figures and the human figures, as opposed to the clearly fictional ‘infected’ characters. This was a major consideration of the Review Board in determining the impact of this game on minors.

Computer games classified RC cannot be sold, hired, advertised or demonstrated in Australia. The Classification Review Board convened today in response to an application from the distributor of the computer game, Electronic Arts, to review the decision made by the Classification Board on 15 September 2009 to classify Left 4 Dead 2 RC.

In reviewing the classification, the Classification Review Board worked within the framework of the National Classification Scheme, applying the provisions of the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995, the National Classification Code and the Guidelines for the Classification of Films and Computer Games. This is the same framework used by the Classification Board.

The Classification Review Board is an independent merits review body. Meeting in camera, it makes a fresh classification decision upon receipt of an application for review. This Classification Review Board decision takes the place of the original decision made by the Classification Board. The Classification Review Board’s reasons for this decision will appear on the Classification website when finalised.

Statement authorised by Victoria Rubensohn, Convenor, Classification Review Board

It will be interesting how this effects the modding community with altered in game assets.  Such a pity.

In the meantime watch the OFLC unedited trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JiOV1F6xu0

Check www.classification.gov.au for updates.

I am assuming this is the unedited version of the game as the re-review was due on the 22nd of October.

Gabe spoke the value of a community before introducing Joe. Said Gabe, of Joe: “Joe understands more about the dynamic of the internet than 95% of the vice presidents.”

Joe then bravely spoke a bit about how it all came about and fielded a few questions. We are thrilled to report that Joe’s a top bloke. He launched this campaign not to draw attention to himself but to simply get Gabe in front of his mod. That’s all. The explosion of interest in his story has him overwhelmed, but not to the point where he lost focus of his mission.

Read More from byteside.com

Left 4 Dead 2 has already set the record for greatest number of pre-orders in our company’s history, and we’re still over a month out from shipping.

L4D2 was originally classified RC (Refused Classification) by the Classification Board on 15 September 2009.  Since this time Valve have appealed to the Classification Review Board.

The Classification Review Board decision takes the place of the original decision made by the Classification Board.

A classification board to review a refused classification by the Classification Board?  WTF?

And we wonder why our ratings system doesn’t work!

The Classification Review Board will meet on 22 October 2009 to consider the application. Check www.classification.gov.au for updates.

Valve recently told IGN:

It would be a shame if folks in Australia, or anywhere else, are unable to purchase Left 4 Dead 2 because of a ratings issue.

Valve also sent IGN an update of all the ratings from different countries and regions:

COMPLETED RATINGS

• PEGI (continental Europe) – 18+
• ESRB (North America) – M
• CERO (Japan) -Z (corresponds to Mature in US)
• IFCO (Ireland) – Approved the title for classification.
• USK (Germany) – 18+
• Singapore – Mature 18
• FPB (South Africa) – 18+
• KGRB (Korea) -18+

PENDING RATINGS

• OLFC New Zealand – In progress.
• BBFC (UK) – In progress.
• OFLC Australia – Refused to rate on September 19. Appealed September 23.

The maximum Computer and Video game OFLC rating of MA15+ fails us gamers once again.

Left 4 Dead 2 has been refused classification in Australia in a decision announced by the Classification Board this morning.

UPDATE: An EA spokesperson has told us they “are still working through the submission process with OFLC and want to explore all opportunities before making any comment.

This Kotaku post outlines the issue and you can find the Steam forum discussion on it here.

Update via IGN: www.news.com.au has a copy of the board report. “High in Impact” is the reason given for the banning.

The required sum for the tickets was donated within 3 days with this response from Gabe Newell:

The English language lacks the words to express the level of excitement Erik and I feel that you and your friends have pulled this off. Give us some time to organize our affairs, as we are trying to ship a product, and then we’ll let you know the time and date of our arrival. Give our best to Robin’s mother, as she is apparently a neighbour of yours.

Gabe & Erik

The history of the stunt, from the Fly Gabe Newell Blog.

In June 2009, a Steam group was created to boycott Valve Software’s upcoming sequel, Left 4 Dead 2.

In September 2009, the leaders of the group were invited to Valve’s headquarters to play the game for themselves, whereupon they decided it was awesome after all.

Although I personally have been privileged enough to have conversed with Valve’s CEO, Gabe Newell, many times by email, and even to have been sent a signed, cardboard X800XT from him (he’s a pretty awesome dude), I have not once – not one time - been flown to Valve to play their games early!

I therefore sent him an email. For context, I have recently been working on a Left 4 Dead 1 campaign.

Steam Client

• Added contact email account verification by request and on new account creation
• Improved account security with verified contact email to prevent phishing
• Added mod support for Killing Floor
• Fixed memory leak
• Added ‘officers-only chat’ mode to group chats

- Fixed an exploit that allowed files to be uploaded to the server at arbitrary locations in the file system
- Fixed a server crash caused by a client packet claiming to be an HLTV client when HLTV is disabled on the server
- Fixed a server crash caused by spoofing a client disconnect message
- Fixed a server crash caused by sending malformed reliable subchannel data

Left 4 Dead:

- Novint Falcon support is now enabled by default

Orange Box Engine:

- Fixed an exploit that allowed files to be uploaded to the server at arbitrary locations in the file system.
- Fixed a server crash caused by a client packet claiming to be an HLTV client when HLTV is disabled on the server
- Fixed a server crash caused by spoofing a client disconnect message
- Fixed a server crash caused by sending malformed reliable subchannel data
- Fixed a server crash related to unbounded settings on some convars

Team Fortress 2:

- Bullet spread algorithm changed to fire a bullet right down the crosshair under these circumstances:
- The first bullet of a spread weapon (except for rapid fire spread weapons like the minigun)
- The first bullet of a non-spread weapon if it’s been >1.25 seconds since firing
- Added a “Disable HTML MOTDs” option to the multiplayer->advanced dialog
- Added “motdfile_text” convar to servers, which allows them to specify a text file that’s shown instead of the HTML MOTD to clients who’ve turned on this option
- Fixed radius damage not tracing out of enemies when the explosion occurs within them
- Fixes rockets & grenades doing no splash damage when fired point blank into enemies
- Added missing snowpuff particles for DX8 players (honest)
- Restored LOD for the Demoman player model
- Fixed being able to alt-fire with the fists while stunned as a Heavy
- Fixed CTF_Sawmill not ending the map when mp_timelimit hits during the middle of a round
- Fixed the “The Big Hurt” achievement not being awarded for players who already have the required count
- Fixed sv_pure not reloading the map’s custom particle file
- Custom particle effects contained within maps must now be placed in the \particles directory
- Fixed another case where items weren’t being validated properly in class loadout slots

Community requests:

- Removed centerprint texts for TF_FLAGTYPE_INVADE CTF game mode
- Changed TF_FLAGTYPE_INVADE CTF game mode capture reward from 10 kills to 1 capture
- Added OnCapTeam1 and OnCapTeam2 outputs to the item_teamflag and func_capturezone entities
- Fixed HUD “carried” image for the TF_FLAGTYPE_ATTACK_DEFEND and TF_FLAGTYPE_INVADE CTF game modes using the wrong team color
- Fixed dropped flag for the TF_FLAGTYPE_INVADE CTF game mode using the wrong skin

Beginning at 6:00 pm Pacific time Thursday August 6th, we will be performing software maintenance on some Steam servers. We expect the resulting downtime to last three hours at most, putting the end of the window at 9:00 pm Pacific time.

Some Steam services will be offline during this time. Affected services will include the Steam Community, in-game matchmaking or lobbies, downloading games from Steam content servers, and making purchases from the Steam store. Games that do not rely on Steam matchmaking services should remain playable.

News updates and any further information will be posted in this space.