It would seem that Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360, PC) just keeps surprising Valve. "I thought Left 4 Dead 2 would get the same treatment as Left 4 Dead 1 (Xbox 360 and PC)," said Gabe Newell. "So I was a little surprised [by the decision]." He would be referring to the recent refusal of Australia's OFLC to classify the zombie sequel. No matter, though, they're out to get that approval, and yes, they have officially appealed the decision.

Here's a bit of semi-good news for Australian gamers. Even with Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360, PC) effectively banned in Australia, Valve is not giving up. They're still in the process of making sure that gamers in the region will get something come the game's supposed launch date.

Valve's Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360, PC) is just the latest casualty of the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification's stringent -- and, for most Australian gamers, draconic -- adherence to their ratings guidelines. Publisher EA Australia said last week that they're "still working through the submission process with OFLC." It seems they've since become much more candid about the issue, however, as they've finally issued a comment.

That image you see above is Australia's OFLC's webpage for Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360, PC). That "RC" Classification you see right there stands for "Refused Classification." That's right, the Left 4 Dead 2 zombies aren't making their way to Australia.

Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed 2 (PS3, Xbox 360, PC) is going black. EB Games Australia is reportedly offering at their online store the Assassin'sc Creed 2 Exclusive Black Collector's Edition, and is pegging it for a November 2009 ship-out.

Two years ago, Atari Europe was fortunately in the safe zone, despite the mother company's grim and disheartening financial report of Q2 2007. Back then, the problem was isolated only to the US offices, and the Atari branch was said to be unharmed by the restructuring overseas. Today, however, Atari Europe is no more, now having been officially acquired by Namco Bandai.

Come April 30th, Xbox Live subscribers and PC owners of Battlestations: Pacific will be getting the demo for the said game. Wanna get a close-up feel of the famed Kamikaze attacks during WWII? Then this is your chance.

Our mates down under just whipped out the banhammer, seeing as they don't seem to want any necro in their vision. After refusing classification to NecroVision, the Australian Classification Board subsequently banned the ghastly World War I shooter, citing a number of offensive material found in the game.

By now, Fallout 3 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC) fans are no doubt familiar with the classification troubles that Bethesda encountered in Australia. Now, if you Australian gamers out there are thinking that you'll be getting a different version from everybody else, well, that's not the case. Everybody will be getting the exact same version of Fallout 3.

Fallout 3 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC) has only recently been cleared for release in Australia after the whole drugs debacle, but it looks like Bethesda's Pete Hines is still a bit peeved. According to the Fallout 3 product manager, censorship laws that differ from country to country are "frustrating". More from Hines in the full article.