Australia lifts ‘ban’ on Aliens vs Predator game

After being denied classification in Australia earlier this year (effectively banning it from being sold altogether), Aliens vs Predator has won its appeal, reversing the previous decision. The Xbox 360, PS3, and PC game will now carry an MA15+ (meaning only those aged 15 years over can purchase the game) when it goes on sale early next year.

Here’s Darren Macbeth, general manager at Aliens vs Predator publisher Sega Australia, with some words:

“It is with great pleasure that we announce the success of our appeal. We are particularly proud that the game will be released in its original entirety, with no content altered or removed whatsoever. This is a big win for Australian gamers. We applaud the Classification Review Board on making a decision that clearly considers the context of the game, and is in line with the modern expectations of reasonable Australians”.

Hear that? No content removed. Which is great and all, but I’m confused: how in the hell did a game that looks like that win through its appeal, while Valve was forced to release a severely watered-down Left 4 Dead 2 in Australia? I mean, I’m chuffed to bits for Sega, for developer Rebellion, and most of all for Australian gamers, but seriously: wut?

In case I need to remind you, the Aussie version of Left 4 Dead 2 had to remove “depictions of decapitation, dismemberment, wound detail or piles of dead bodies lying about the environment” before it was allowed on store shelves. Yet suddenly, carrying some dude’s torn-off head about as you go on your daily business is totally fine.

[Via Kotaku]