Tech Blog

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It's curious to see that Australia became nervous about Left 4 Dead 2, the sequel to the hit zombie-annihilating title of 2008 Left 4 Dead - because there aren't any people to kill in the game.

No, Left 4 Dead 2 , like it's predecessor, focuses on delivering hours of gameplay wherein players work together to eradicate the scores of infected mutations. The zombie-apocalypse simulator gives those 18 and older (the game is rated M or 18+ just about everywhere - and we all know that the conscientious parents of the world wouldn't buy gory games for their wee tykes... that'd be bad parenting!) the opportunity to assault unending hordes of zombies in an effort to get themselves to safety. Truly, no human beings (other than the heroes) can be harmed through the course of events.

The censored version that's been foisted on our Aussie bretheren features much of the same levels of splatitude, but with some carefully selected ommissions - holes, for example, can not be shot through the infected, nor can limbs or heads be separated - and that, my friends, is a travesty.

Violence against humans is a questionable subject; studies have shown that participation in digital violence against kinetically animated digital marionettes doesn't not influence the behaviour of players. That point, however, is moot when you consider the Holy Trinity of Videogame Violence .

The Trinity comprises of three groups upon which untold scores of violence can be visited without fear of reprisal from parents groups, government agents, or bored busybodies. Those three groups are (in no particular order) Zombies, Nazis, and Aliens. There isn't anyone on the planet (other than the guv'mint of Oz) that can reasonably get behind defending these groups as moving targets. You've really got to hand it to Valve when you consider their mastery of this art in Half-Life 2 ; killing jackbooted alien zombies nails them a pretty sweet trifecta.

Left 4 Dead 2 is more than just a game; it's a cathartic release against a foe we can all rally around whuppin': the hordes of the undead hungry for our brains. If you've got something against man defending himself and his fellow man from soulless mutations hungry for gray matter... well, let's just say we won't open the door to the safe room for you when the tide of the undead sweeps towards you. Don't say we didn't warn you - as long as you're over 18.