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General discussionPre-order: Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number(270 posts)(270 posts)
(270 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted February 25, 2015
A haze of neon carnage.



<span class="bold">Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number</span>, a conclusion to the psychotic saga, is now available to pre-order for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux, DRM-free on GOG.com with a 10% discount.

Limbs strewn everywhere, pulsating to the rhythmic thumping of a haunting (hauntingly good) mixtape. <span class="bold">Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number</span> is a conclusion to the maddeningly good saga that's conquered so many of our hearts, then left them bleeding out in the corner of a musty motel room. A quiet end, we should count ourselves lucky. Should have, because Hotline Miami is back with a thick, bloody vengeance. If there is one thing to love about the series (other than than the incredible soundtrack and gritty neon-laced setting), it's the precise, fast-paced gameplay which just got better and a bit more varied. There are new unique mask abilities like dual wielding or chainsaws (maybe dual-wielding chainsaws, if we're lucky), and seven new playable characters to make up this twisted part-prequel, part-sequel story of Jacket's aftermath.

If there was ever a good reason to pick up the bigger package, the <span class="bold">Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number Digital Special Edition</span> comes with the Remix EP and 6 unique tracks. An absolute treat, if you're into the Hotline musical stylings. Nothing's lost if you don't want to make the commitment just yet. You can always get the standard edition, and get the upgrade pack when it becomes available later on.

Once it's complete, all versions of the game will also come with a DRM-free Custom Level Editor to create your own maps and share them with friends. While you're waiting, make sure to grab the Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number Digital Comics for free!



Ring ring. It's <span class="bold">Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number</span>. Will you pick up? The pre-order is available now on GOG.com, with a 10% discount.











Why is Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number not available for pre-order in Australia?
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number was refused classification by the Australian Classification Board - the classification and censorship body formed by the Australian Government - this means that we are legally unable to sell the game to our Australian customers. We hated to hear it as much as you do, but after thoughtful consideration we felt that by refusing to sell the game worldwide, we would effectively apply the Australian censorship to 190+ other countries in the world. That would be unfairly punishing not just to our customers, but also the developers who took a stand against censoring their game.
By preventing purchases from IP's located within the borders of Australia, we make sure that the smallest number of people are affected by the ban. It sucks, but we believe it's the least of all evils.
Post edited February 25, 2015 by Konrad
Posted February 26, 2015
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tfishell: Konrad, why the huge gaps between certain paragraphs? :P
There are no huge gaps. Part of the text is simply not available in the United States.
Posted February 26, 2015
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madth3: As I posted in another thread, I see a difference between region restrictions in movies that were created by greed and a ban in a specific country that was not the fault of the devs/publishers.
Yes, I saw that post. I linked mine for RadonGOG's open vote sentence, which I'm not even clear what they were actually saying.

Honestly I'm having trouble seeing the fucking difference between this ban and a Japanese dev/publisher, for example, deciding they will punish PC gamers in Japan by blocking the game in Japan, but allowing it to be sold everywhere else.
Post edited February 26, 2015 by Gydion
Posted February 26, 2015
Well, I couldn't help but send a very lengthy and technically worded semi-essay to the ratings board. This time, I did NOT tick the box where they ask if I want a response or not! But in all seriousness, it will probably fall on deaf ears; I mean, those pricks probably have breakfast still in the corners of their mouths and a white forest of hair sprouting out of their ears to stop them from taking notice.
Posted February 26, 2015
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GOG.com: By preventing purchases from IP's located within the borders of Australia, we make sure that the smallest number of people are affected by the ban. It sucks, but we believe it's the least of all evils.
And you'd be wrong. It's banned in AUS because the publisher refused to appeal the rating board decision. You shouldn't be using their apathy as an excuse to start regionally restricting. GOG, you would have earnt my respect again if you had simply refused to sell the game worldwide. But now, you've shown you're just like every other store. How long now until you start restricting access to content in other regions, not because of supposed legal need, but simply because the publisher asks you to? Value *ALL* your customers over profit please.
Posted February 26, 2015
high rated
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patthefatrat: What's the legal difference between Hotline Miami 2 and say Postal 1+2? Both Postal games are banned (RC refused classification) in Australia too, yet GOG decided to sell them to their Austrailan customers. Why start with HM2?
There are actually a significant number of games that gog sells that have been refused classification in Australia. I'm not going to list them because I don't want gog to do something stupid, but you would be surprised.

What is interesting to me, is that in many jurisdictions in Australia it is not illegal to possess RC material and it is only illegal to distribute it (whilst being in Australia). It is not illegal for a foreign entity to sell it to an Australian.

It is my understanding that only in my jurisdiction (Western Australia) is it actually illegal to possess RC material.

It interests me that, notwithstanding that it is [NOT illegal to sell this material to Australians, gog refuses to do so.
It's a shame when decisions are made about legal matters without first getting legal advice. I guess the people who run gog are as ignorant as everyone else on the internet.
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micktiegs_8: Well, I couldn't help but send a very lengthy and technically worded semi-essay to the ratings board. This time, I did NOT tick the box where they ask if I want a response or not! But in all seriousness, it will probably fall on deaf ears; I mean, those pricks probably have breakfast still in the corners of their mouths and a white forest of hair sprouting out of their ears to stop them from taking notice.
I appreciate the sentiment but writing to the ratings board is futile. They are obliged, by legislation, to ban this game. They cannot just change the decision because it is unpopular. They don't really have a lot of discretion.

If you want to actually make a difference, you need to write to your local MP and the leaders of the other parties. They are the ones who have the power to amend the legislation. You have the power to vote your local MP out and put someone in who cares about censorship.

The only way this is going to change is if politicians are given the impression that they will lose votes (and their jobs) if they allow this to continue. This may mean that you have to start voting for a party that you may not agree with on all issues (possibly the Greens, possibly the Liberal Democrats).

When I have some time this weekend I will be putting together a letter that people can use to send to the politician of their choice. If people really want to change this, they need to put pressure on the right people.
Post edited February 26, 2015 by htown1980
Posted February 26, 2015
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tfishell: Konrad, why the huge gaps between certain paragraphs? :P
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mrkgnao: There are no huge gaps. Part of the text is simply not available in the United States.
That was good. +1
Posted February 26, 2015
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htown1980: It is not illegal for a foreign entity to sell it to an Australian.
How does the law exempt foreigners?
Posted February 26, 2015
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htown1980: snip
I wasn't expecting them to change. I wanted to just give them the business and how I among others feel about it. I forgot about talking to local MPs but then again I'll probably get the same results. I would however, like a chance to help distribute that paperwork at least to the MPs governing my area. Can't have you wasting the effort on it :)
Posted February 26, 2015
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htown1980: It is not illegal for a foreign entity to sell it to an Australian.
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ForgottenTrope: How does the law exempt foreigners?
Its a little complicated because it depends on which legislation you are dealing with (each State has its own way of enforcing the classifications).

Each piece of legislation deals with "publishing" which have slightly different definitions but usually include "includes sell, offer for sale, let on hire, exhibit, display, distribute and demonstrate" and makes it illegal to do those things in the jurisdiction which that legislation applies to (the relevant State or Territory).

Broadly speaking, its not a matter of exempting foreigners, it is more a matter of parliament not having the power to make legislation that affects people outside of their jurisdiction. In Australia, the parliament of one jurisdiction cannot make laws with respect to foreign corporations or individuals, unless those persons have a nexus or connection with Australia (for example, are trading in Australia, live in Australia, are incorporated in Australia), etc.

Simply because murder is illegal in Australia, it doesn't mean that a foreigner who murders someone in a foreign country can be prosecuted in Australia. Similarly, just as NSW Parliament cannot make things that occur in WA illegal, the Australian Parliament cannot make things that occur outside of Australia illegal.

So as gog is a foreign corporation that does not trade in Australia and has no jurisdictional nexus with Australia, it is not illegal for gog to sell RC material to people who may or may not reside in Australia. It would, however, be illegal for gog to do so if it operated in Australia, just as it is illegal for other persons in Australia to publish that material or (because my State is more backwards than others) for me to possess it.
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htown1980: snip
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micktiegs_8: I wasn't expecting them to change. I wanted to just give them the business and how I among others feel about it. I forgot about talking to local MPs but then again I'll probably get the same results. I would however, like a chance to help distribute that paperwork at least to the MPs governing my area. Can't have you wasting the effort on it :)
I'll put it up here. Hopefully, someone on Steam will be doing the same thing. Australian politicians need to realise that there are a lot of voters who play video games and have issues with us being treated like children.
Post edited February 26, 2015 by htown1980
Posted February 26, 2015
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ReynardFox: WHAT THE FUCK!

Please tell me I can still switch region and buy it that way...
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tfishell: Like EnforcerSunWoo posted above, "just pirate it." Seriously. It'd be nice to give GOG some dough but if you can't, well, too bad I guess.

Shame they couldn't apparently find a way around this. It'd be nice if GOG could show a little good-faith gesture to Aussies and give them a discount on other games.
It wasn't EnforcerSunWoo who said that, it was actually the developers of Hotline Miami 2. (http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2015/01/18/hotline-miami-2-developer-to-australian-gamers-just-pirate-it/)
Posted February 26, 2015
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HypersomniacLive: I'm a bit late to the party, and a bit confused why the Australian law is enforced on this one but not other titles sold on GOG (mentioned by others already). I'd be appreciated if GOG would comment on this.
I'm going to guess it's down to drug use, by the look of it, our ratings board considers drug use to be the most morally corrupting and unacceptable content on the planet... when it's in video game form. They couldn't care less in other media it seems.

Also GOG, giving me a 404 when trying to access the gamecard is not cool. I know it's due to the ban because I can fire up Tor and view the card just fine.
Post edited February 26, 2015 by ReynardFox
Posted February 26, 2015
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htown1980: I appreciate the sentiment but writing to the ratings board is futile. They are obliged, by legislation, to ban this game. They cannot just change the decision because it is unpopular. They don't really have a lot of discretion.
Were they also obliged by legislation to lie about the contents they were sent to review? They allegedly banned the game based partly on "thrusting" movements that never existed in the material sent to them.
Post edited February 26, 2015 by bansama
Posted February 26, 2015
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soulsick82: lots of text
I personally believe in encouraging and discouraging methods. Steering people through money (from a political pov).
Also rules and regulations can be good for the society. Totaliratism or however you call it, is not good, but a 'do whatever the fuck you want' system is not good either.

Anyhow, screw the australian government.
Post edited February 26, 2015 by Senteria
Posted February 26, 2015
When I used to go to the video shop as a kid here in New Zealand lots of videos would have a red sticker that said "Banned in Australia"; It made the video (usually some god awful manga like "Legend of the Overfiend") only more desirable to watch haha.
Posted February 26, 2015
Pre-Orde....
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GOG.com: Why is Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number not available for pre-order in Australia?
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number was refused classification by the Australian Classification Board - the classification and censorship body formed by the Australian Government - this means that we are legally unable to sell the game to our Australian customers. We hated to hear it as much as you do, but after thoughtful consideration we felt that by refusing to sell the game worldwide, we would effectively apply the Australian censorship to 190+ other countries in the world. That would be unfairly punishing not just to our customers, but also the developers who took a stand against censoring their game.
By preventing purchases from IP's located within the borders of Australia, we make sure that the smallest number of people are affected by the ban. It sucks, but we believe it's the least of all evils.
well then, I guess not
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionPre-order: Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number(270 posts)(270 posts)
(270 posts)