Valve looking at re-submitting Left 4 Dead 2 as R18+, happy to foot the bill
By Tim Colwill on January 17, 2013 at 4:18 pm
Left 4 Dead 2 was, in many ways, the flagship for the R18+ campaign here in Australia — and now it looks like Valve may be moving ahead with re-submitting the game under the new classification.
Writing on the Steam forums, Valve’s Chet Faliszek says: “No need to flood us with emails. We have been exploring the options here and what we can legally do.”
“We will have more information on this when we understand the issues fully and how we are moving forward but don’t worry any cost associated with it doesn’t worry us, this is something we want to do.”
Good stuff, Valve! I’m sure I speak for us all when I say we’re very excited to see how this turns out.
Source: Delimiter
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thumbs up!
I am so very, very happy this is happening!!
I would also love it to recieve an MA15+ rating. That is what I think it deserved all along!!
I think MA15+ is a bit low for L4D2. It got 17+ in the US and 18+ in the EU and I think those are good ratings. It has some pretty full on gore and violence, especially with the melee and explosive weapons found in the game.
Now if only Valve could stick up for Aussies when it comes to Steam pricing.
It’s been 2 years since it was released so can’t they just re-submit?
They probably can’t automatically make the censored versions into uncensored versions but I’m sure they will find a way to get around that.
I agree. I see nothing wrong with l4d2 sliding in with an R18 classification, but an MA15+ one would really ride the line, which is exactly why we needed an R18 classification in the first place; no ambiguity to what is being bought.
PC version is simple because Valve can just issue a patch through Steam to make the game uncensored. Since retail copies activate on Steam anyway and part of the Steam install process is updating to the latest verssin of the game, it’s just a matter of sticking an R18+ sticker over the MA15+ icon that’s on existing stock.
Not sure about XBL though. IIRC there was a ninja patch that uncensored GTA4 soon after release (I think it was with the first DLC for the game). Valve could possibly do the same with L4D2.
YAY! As far as legalities, they’d probably have to release a patch as optional, r18+ dlc. I’m down with that :D
Yeah they’d need to check the legals. What happens if the uncensored version still gets RC’d and the current version gets pushed up to an R18?
There’s also likely issues around enforcement of the R18.
>Make new level, based in outback
>release as “Down Under Edition”
>totally new game!
Don’t most people just use a patch to launch the game in all it’s uncensored gory anyway? I know I do xD
Excellent news. :D Hoping Witcher 2 also does it. I know it’s minor but still, would be nice. >_>
If that happened then it’s conclusive proof that the system is broken and all our protests were for nothing.
exe3,
What’s censored with the Witcher 2? I pre-ordered through steam and get the full nudity and violence…
Two female characters offer sex as a reward if you complete a quest for them, in our version they removed the option to accept.
I doubt that the current version of l4d2 will be automatically upgraded, for the simple reason that people (parents) who bought the game based on being censored + m15 rating, for use by a 15-17.99 year old, won’t want the game automatically bumped to R18.
Actually curious how they will handle going up to R18, as it does introduce a few transitional problems like that.
It’s likely Valve will just resubmit the PC version for reclassification, not the console versions.
Excellent news :) Good point about what about those who bought it wanting it to be MA15+ like parents for children, possible the upgrade to uncenser the game will be optional?
I actually thought most people got an American to gift this/Traded/Imported/VPN’d around this, still this is good news for the handful of people who actually willingly bought a gimped version…..for whatever reason…
Well. Lets be honest, if you’re worried about gore and violence, you shouldn’t be buying kids a game about killing zombies to begin with.
Even with the gore removed, it’s still a pretty violent (Albeit, fun!) game.
Thankfully I had an American gift it to me ages ago, being almost 30 I shouldn’t have to have censored games, I should be able to make that choice for myself, being an adult and all, capable of making my own decisions etc’.
discolt,
Sure do: HERE…
You mean to tell me the Witcher 2 is censored? In what way? I have myself a copy, and it doesn’t seem to hold much back. I got mine from GOG though, if that makes a difference. Region is definitely set to Australia, however. And yes, I know how off topic this is, so…the cost for resubmitting L4D2 might just be the cost required by the Office of Film and Literature Classification for an assessment, correct?
Happy Dance Time :D
Yes the Office of Film and Literature Classification require resubmission fees for assessment, it’s a fairly expensive proposition but one Valve could easily cover. They wouldn’t need to alter the game at all so there should be no costs there, but there would be costs associated with releasing new version to store shelves and if they wish, the recalling of older classified titles still on shelves. It all depends on what Valve plans to do (or not do) in terms of distribution.
The Witcher 2 Oz version has some censoring but it’s equated to things like offering sex as a reward etc.. plenty of e-flesh on offer otherwise in the game for the peeps who get their boat floated by it.
The truth is I’ll believe it when i see it. Valve have a bit of a history of not coming through and lost my trust quite some time ago. If you need proof, then where the hell is Episode 3? And don’t give me any of that when it’s done crap. I started playing HL a long long time ago, and now fear i may be dead before it ever ends lol.