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Dead Rising 2 passes Aussie censors

Zombie sequel makes it through Classification Board unscathed; set for local release on September 30.

Things didn't go so well the last time the undead tried to invade Australian gamers in a major way. Last year, Left 4 Dead 2 was initially banned by the Australian Classification board, before a toned-down, largely bloodless version was resubmitted and eventually passed with an MA15+ rating. Back then, the Classification board blamed the game's high level of violence for the banning, stating in a report that "whether the objects of the violence were fictional or real, and whether a 15-year-old could discern the difference, is largely irrelevant where the game displays the level of realism this one does."

Another game where you can mow down legions of zombies has now passed through the Classification Board unscathed: Dead Rising 2. The upcoming Capcom sequel has been tagged with an MA15+ rating--the highest available for a game in Australia--with a consumer warning that it comes with strong horror violence, blood and gore, and sexual references. According to a statement from Capcom's Australian distributor THQ, Dead Rising 2 has not been edited in any way for release Down Under.

In Dead Rising 2, new protagonist Chuck Greene has to battle his way through the thousands of zombies he's trapped with in the Las Vegas-like Fortune City. One of the main new features of the game is the ability to create new weapons from different components Chuck collects in the gameworld, including a vacuum cleaner filled with circular saw blades, a giant paddle with chainsaws attached to each end, and more. Dead Rising 2 is set for release on September 30.

For more on video game classification in Australia, check out GameSpot AU's Aussie Games Classification FAQ feature.

68 Comments

  • Warlord_Irochi

    Posted Aug 17, 2010 9:37 am GMT

    @ShambyIzaZK

    Dead Rising 2 has humoristic details and ridiculous weapons. That's what saved the day for him.

    Also: the best way to tone down violence is making it exagerated; you make it unrealistic that way (be SoF Payback or Fallout 3 two good examples)

  • ShambyIzaZK

    Posted Jul 9, 2010 11:18 am GMT

    lol if i was the australia people i would rather band dead rising 2 thn left 4 dead 2 bc its more violent

  • langrisser2005

    Posted Jul 7, 2010 11:57 pm GMT

    Someone should tell Julia Gillard that she's assured 50,000+ votes in the election if she moves the R18+ classification forward!

    Like seriously, what happened about this?

  • rasco2005

    Posted Jul 6, 2010 1:00 am GMT

    You would think that Australia would be able to deal with something so adolescent. There is a huge movement of freethinking and even an atheist, female, prime minister and Aussies have to jump through hoops to enjoy freedom of expression. This paradox is futurama worthy.

  • TheTrueMagusX1

    Posted Jul 5, 2010 8:59 am GMT

    This is rather surprising. While Left4Dead 2 is quite the violent game, I always thought the Original Dead Rising was a bit more graphic(Ripping intestines from zombies, mowing them, etc etc) and I assumed this game would be. Well none the less, this is good news, and I am glad they will not be getting a watered down game!

  • wars45

    Posted Jul 5, 2010 4:19 am GMT

    ye

  • victort25

    Posted Jul 4, 2010 6:01 pm GMT

    What wait a minute, hold the phone, Australia allowing the men in their country to make there own decisions on whats right and wrong? Its the end of the world.

  • AceBalls

    Posted Jul 4, 2010 1:53 pm GMT

    HELLOOO?? WHATS HAPPENING WITH THE PUBLIC FEEDBACK ISSUE ON CENSORSHIP?? WHERE IS OUR R18+ !!!!???

    Sorry for yelling. Just thought I'd raise it. Glad DR2 passed, but is it as full on as L4D2?

  • CreatureRising

    Posted Jul 4, 2010 12:32 pm GMT

    NO ITS NOT GORY ENOUGH!!!!! jk 8)

  • mull20641

    Posted Jul 4, 2010 1:46 am GMT

    unscathed? the oflc passed a horror game unscathed? holy crap!

  • Transparanoia

    Posted Jul 4, 2010 1:14 am GMT

    @Captain_Tom

    We have our own localised version of Steam, apparently. I downloaded L4D2 off Steam and got the censored version. Also, apparently prices in our region have changed, but are still in $US. For example, Bad Company 2 is now $70 US on Aussie Steam, whereas it is $50 in the States. They're shafting Aussie gamers.

    Although people could gift it to us through Steam and we'd have the uncensored version. I with I did that so I didn't have to do the gore hack. Oh well.

  • Captain_Tom

    Posted Jul 3, 2010 7:17 pm GMT

    So, quick question: if, as an Australian resident, you download games from services such as Steam, do you receive the version approved for release in Australia, or the version released in the States?

  • AceBalls

    Posted Jul 3, 2010 6:09 pm GMT

    Ummm, what's happening with the ratings issue? I thought 99% of us have voted for an R18+ to come in. Why has all of that gone silent over the last couple of months? Oh man, we are so behind the times here in OZ. I feel like a disabled orphan in a very weak dictatorship driven society.

  • creepster32000

    Posted Jul 3, 2010 6:00 pm GMT

    Poor Aussies grats on this one guys

  • pimpofdoom

    Posted Jul 3, 2010 5:39 pm GMT

    Usually it's news when a game gets banned. With the way things are in Australia it's news if the game can be released.

  • sochio

    Posted Jul 3, 2010 12:01 pm GMT

    first cool jacket . second the game looks good but the zoombys look a little guffy . but i goin to buy it yeeahhhhh

  • wario96

    Posted Jul 3, 2010 11:00 am GMT

    alright! i feel happy for the Aussies because now they can see all that lovely BLOOD

  • alienmlbyrne0

    Posted Jul 3, 2010 10:00 am GMT

    Way to go Classification board, keep up the inconsistency. They truly know how to make us Aussies the laughing stock of the whole world when it comes to video games.

  • blackhuntingcat

    Posted Jul 3, 2010 5:49 am GMT

    even if it was banned ill just get it from another country . I love my PS3

  • nroug7

    Posted Jul 3, 2010 3:00 am GMT

    Maybe julia gillards giving the board an overhaul

  • nroug7

    Posted Jul 3, 2010 2:54 am GMT

    makes me want to obtain an american version of left 4 dead 2 *Drool's* Oh well, some day there gonna realise we will develop our own ways of getting our hands on what they try restrict us from, darn them.

    I think a gamer knows the difference between reality, and a video game... i mean, before movies and games were around, man were already slaughtering each other.

  • firestick442

    Posted Jul 3, 2010 2:03 am GMT

    if they passed aliens vs predator in Australia with no editing then they can release any game geez

  • QVT

    Posted Jul 3, 2010 1:52 am GMT

    This actually happens a hell of a lot more than some of you think.

    Which only serves to compound the idiocy of the ratings system.

  • BallisstiXXX

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 9:56 pm GMT

    This makes no sense. Dead Rising 2 has alcoholic content, somewhat mature sexual refrences, and lots and lots and LOTS of gore. Probably safe to say that this twice the game Left 4 Dead 2 was as far as violence and adult activities goes. Yet it makes the cut? Ya' makes alot of sense. Oh well no complaints here though, I'm glad that Aussies finally get to play a good game the way it was ment to be played. I'ts better than the alternative, like playing a toned down POS with no substance.

  • DamnedApples

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 7:29 pm GMT

    Well they just proved the arbitrariness of their system, nuff said.

  • sequekhan

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 5:24 pm GMT

    The threat of Chuck Norris at the Board's front door ensures this game will not be adulterated by Aussie tight-a**es.

  • aldrenar47

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 5:23 pm GMT

    The Australian Classification board.... Australian for "censorship"

  • mattbmb

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 4:57 pm GMT

    suprise suprise miracles do happen

  • Bobby777888

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 4:21 pm GMT

    Very good news.

    Not that im particuarly fond of Dead Rising.... But if there is any consistency in their descisions (I know, I know, there wont be) we should see MGS Rising pass through. I think thats going to be a tough one.

  • tatu2004

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 3:24 pm GMT

    great news

  • GodsPoison

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 1:30 pm GMT

    The wordls ending folks! Aussie is passing extremely Violent video games, sure sign of the apocalypse! Start stocking up on cheetos and MTDew, your gonna need it.

  • Bhemont

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 12:25 pm GMT

    looks like crap

  • Deepflow2

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 9:33 am GMT

    nice jacket

  • otanikun

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 8:52 am GMT

    Woah, really? Did the world just end?

  • spacemariens22

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 8:18 am GMT

    this is great news maybe we are finaly making some head way with the censorship board?

  • coasterride509

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 8:03 am GMT

    The Australian Classification board needs to get that stick out of their a**.

  • Reyveign posted Jul 2, 2010 7:55 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Reyveign

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 7:55 am GMT (hide)

    Okay, we get it. Australia has a strict censorship thing going on. Not sure why it keeps being made a big deal of.

  • johny300

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 7:46 am GMT

    Why was L4D2 banned in Australia and heavy rain and God Of War 3 passed? anyway DEAD RISING 2 FTW.

  • Excedra

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 7:32 am GMT

    Jaguar_Shade

    hey dude, whats the anime on that profile pic?

  • zxssded

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 7:12 am GMT

    ....wow...australia is so much of a hole tat it the censorship board has more ups nd downs then a camel...

  • brian_13un

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 6:26 am GMT

    Congrats!

  • SillySkeleton

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 6:17 am GMT

    I'll never understand that Left 4 Dead fiasco. Is zombie gore really so much worse than shooting living, breathing human characters that don't bleed as much? And now somehow Dead Rising squeezes by?

    I think those Government fools need to re-evaluate exactly what they're trying to protect childern from. Now join the rest of the world, and bring in an R18 rating for your videogames.

  • Stabby

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 5:44 am GMT

    O...k... ban Left for Dead 2 but not Dead Rising 2... how so?

  • gameking5000

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 5:22 am GMT

    Is there a specific reason why Dead Rising 2 was allowed and Left 4 Dead 2 not?

  • jackdaniel594

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 4:40 am GMT

    LOL you know a rating system is screwed when it becomes news that a game actually makes it through.. its like some amazing story haha. But seriously, i think the OFLC have strted to soften up just the tinyest bit, they used to be much worse.. sure, they banned aliens vs predator, but eventually allowed it. a few years ago, they wouldnt have allowed an appeal. They realise now that if they ban a game, its predictable

  • JasonDarksavior

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 3:06 am GMT

    @BladeTrinity114
    Man, I'm from Aus and I have no idea. Its so lame when you wait for a game for a long while, and find out it's either banned or toned down. I really hope we introduce a R 18+ rating, so we can get what everyone else is getting.

  • BladeTrinity114

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 2:50 am GMT

    Why is Australia's government like this? I can't see why they're so strict..

  • Extreme124

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 2:48 am GMT

    Shocker. Even shovel-ware has a hard time making it through Aust

  • supernaught360

    Posted Jul 2, 2010 2:44 am GMT

    Has anyone considered there's a REASON this passed the board? Maybe it's not as violent as the last, and maybe more unrealistic. I mean, Frank West was over the top, but I'm pretty sure every weapon he used COULD be used to mulch Zombies, were they real. The weapon system in this sequel sounds idiotic and childish. They really should have just kept going with Frank - he was just way cooler.

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