Valve Appeals Australia's Left 4 Dead 2 Ban

Left 4 Dead 2 developer Valve announced today that it has formally appealed the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification's refusal to rate its zombie shooter, a decision that currently prevents Valve from releasing the game in the territory.

The OFLC claimed that the game was unsuitable for an MA 15+ rating due to "frequent and intense depictions of violence" and "graphic depictions of blood and gore." A higher rating than MA 15+, such as 18+, does not currently exist for video games in Australia.

The OFLC's report also noted that a minority of the board believed that the November 17-due PC and Xbox 360 game "warrants an MA 15+ classification with the customer advice of strong violence"--the classification granted to the original Left 4 Dead.

Along with word of the appeal, Valve also sent along a ratings update for the game:

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 17. Appealed September 23.