Comments on: Australia Joins Left 4 Dead 2 Boycott

By: Sean Australia

Sean Australia — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 04:05:24 +0000

Well thats the end of that then :p green blood it is, Man I really want that game. And its EA, they will bend over backwards to make somemore money

By: noobdeagle

noobdeagle — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:35:19 +0000

australia might get the German L4D2 i think it just has green blood so it gets past german laws which are alot more strict.

By: A-Scale

A-Scale — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:07:58 +0000

Political debates relating to video games and government control where people espouse beliefs you disagree with? My word!

By: Tei

Tei — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:55:57 +0000

Is on the “human rights”, and thats enough for me

By: A-Scale

A-Scale — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:52:25 +0000

“So while you can expect freedom of expression, it is not a protected right, and can be challenged.”

And all the more reason to defend it.

By: Stompbox

Stompbox — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:59:14 +0000

Clarification for people under the impression that Freedom of expression Is guaranteed in Australia. It isn’t. Australia has no bill of rights, and it is not expressly protected under the constitution. However the High court found that representative democracy is entrenched in the constitution, which implies certain rights in relation to political discourse. Australia is a signatory to International law which guarantees the freedom of expression; but international law is not legally binding. Furthermore there are of course Defamation laws and the recent sedition laws that limit the scope of what can be produced. So while you can expect freedom of expression, it is not a protected right, and can be challenged.

By: KH

KH — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:20:47 +0000

Sigh, not again. I can’t believe this is still happening.

By: vagabond

vagabond — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 05:51:49 +0000

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/wa/consol_act/cfacgea1996596/s89.html

89 . Possession or copying of certain computer games
(1) A person must not possess or copy —
(b) a computer game classified RC.
Penalty: $10 000.

If you own a refused classification computer game in Western Australia, you can be fined $10,000.

And even if that weren’t the case, customs will confiscate it if they find you trying to import it, so please drop this “It’s not banned, you can pay thousands of dollars to go and buy something worth fifty dollars in another country and bring it back with you” argument. It’s semantic rubbish.
The word banned does not equal “the government will put you in front of a firing squad if they find you with this”.

By: Muzman

Muzman — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:17:06 +0000

Your simplicity knows no limits, clearly.
The part about gamers needing to pay more attention to the situation is true. The rest is not.

As to whether the government has the power to ban more things today, it’s irrelevant. The U.S. government had far less capabilities to infringe on our rights pre 9/11, but over night the Patriot Act changed that. It only takes one 9/11 or one Reichstag for everything to go to hell. To ignore that fact and rely on the current powers of government being insufficient is to bury one’s head in the sand.

I don’t know what the hell this has to do with anything. How about we tackle any knee-jerk reactionary stuff when it comes along. Banning L4D2 doesn’t constitute a putch or egregious misuse of some emergency powers (it’s an irritating misuse of state’s rights). Your hysteria is baffling.

By: A-Scale

A-Scale — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:40:06 +0000

There are apologists, and then there is you. The game is banned for sale in Aussieland meaning that 99% of Australians will not have access to it. Only those who buy it in another country and bring it back can legally obtain it. You’re arguing that the item which is effectively banned is not banned because a loophole lets a traveler purchase it elsewhere and bring it back. If it smells like a ban, prevents the sale of the item like a ban and prevents 99% of people from getting it, IT’S A BAN.

By: jeffb

jeffb — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:22:18 +0000

A-scale, you should focus more on your own country as you seem to have zero understanding of Australian law.
edit: “Please tell me I didn’t just read that.”
Its not illegal to own it, noone can stop you bring it into the country unless you plan on reselling it.

By: A-Scale

A-Scale — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 02:37:18 +0000

Unfortunately I’m not a citizen of that particular country, so I don’t think my words would hold much sway. Hell, here congressmen don’t give a damn about you unless you’re a member of their district, much less the member of another country.