Games ~ Left 4 Dead ~ Left 4 Dead 2

How-to: Left 4 Dead 2 Uncensored

by noetix @ 5:01pm 1st November 2009

The censored version is pathetic, here are the steps I used to buy the uncensored version.

NOTE: This guide explains how you can purchase the uncensored game. There is a way to unlock the AU version but its not playable online.

I've been told that you can simply load up the any other Steam Store & purchase the game, but I used a VPN too.

You can skip the VPN section but I didn't really want to take this risk.

In Short

1) Setup a VPN (free VPN providers listed below)
2) Purchase game from the UK or US Steam Store
3) Enjoy

VPN

You can trial a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service to give yourself a non-Australia IP.

I used AnonymityNetwork. Other people have used Hotspot Shield.

You'll need to follow the instructions on the VPN provider's website. Its pretty easy, you signup, start the trial & download a 'PPTP' client which will do all the windows configuration.

Once you've set that up make sure you visit http://www.whatismyip.com/ to double check that your running through the VPN. Your IP should be different to what it is usually. If you don't know your IP, go to the website before & after you connect to the VPN.

Buying the Game

I bought it from the UK store, heres the link: http://store.steampowered.com/?cc=uk

Simply add to your basket & purchase as usual.

When you get to filling in your address, you will obviously need UK address details:

  • State: W12
  • Postcode: 7TQ
  • Country: United Kingdom (duh)

Now you should have the International version linked to your account.

Downloading the Game

You can disconnect from the VPN to download your game files. Once the purchase is done you own the International version (app 550) & Steam will download that version wherever you are.

Already Pre-ordered

If you have already got the game, you can return it.

1) Go to Steam Support & Ask a Question here.
2) File your question under 'Billing > Preorder'
3) Tell them the censored game isn't up to par.

They'll refund the game within a couple hours.

Nested Replies Flat Replies

  • risbo

    5:05pm 1st Nov 2009

    The link to 'Ask a Question' is here; https://support.steampowered.com/newticket.php

    • OP noetix

      5:06pm 1st Nov 2009

      Ta, updated :)

  • warrior

    5:07pm 1st Nov 2009

    ROFL, ta alex :)

    (tute saved; just in case.)

  • risbo

    5:16pm 1st Nov 2009

    After purchasing the game, did you continue to download the content files for the demo with the VPN enabled? or is it safe to download with your normal public IP Address?

    • OP noetix

      5:28pm 1st Nov 2009

      You can disconnect from the VPN to download your game files.

      Updated the post. :)

  • Raaagh

    5:23pm 1st Nov 2009

    from youtube :
    just letting u all know, ive try it, and if someone buys the game for u overseas then gifts it to u, u will get uncut? version, i did it last night, worked :)

    • OP noetix

      5:31pm 1st Nov 2009

      You can gift an international version but I don't know if those will be fixed down the track.

      People would accidentally get gifted gore versions & people might complain.

  • risbo

    5:25pm 1st Nov 2009

    I trust the dickheads on Youtube as far as I can throw them. So, as most of them are like 200kg monsters, I'm no hulk so I can't throw them very far.

  • mikey

    8:02pm 1st Nov 2009

    This heaps makes me want to play this game .. vomit

  • sbak

    This reply has been deleted by sbak

    • thrax

      8:09am 13th Nov 2009

      errrrrrrr..... there's no difference in the servers? Gore and no gore can play together in the same server (getting their proper experience each). Only dif is that if there's any censored players then the server stops spawning riot cops - so no idea what your team are doing, but one might suggest.... not a great deal? :)

      Nice writeup noetix, sounds so familiar... like a conversation I've had recently or something... :D

      Ris-bo, it works, myself and my whole team did the same method (used hotshield, USA, CA, 09210).

      If for some reason you're a procrastinating fail@life kinda person and still have the censored version when the game comes out... keep an eye on this thread (http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1009307).

      • OP noetix

        9:18am 13th Nov 2009

        haha.. I only wrote it up to save me explaining it over & over :)

        Thanks for the help :)

  • juggys

    3:48pm 14th Nov 2009

    Hey guys it works/ It also gives you the option to purchase the bundle of LFD 1 & 2 . If you purchase from Australia you dont get the bundle option, Plus you save $10 or so dallars. Good post buddy.

  • AKZam

    1:29pm 17th Nov 2009

    Hey guys. i cant get it to work! it all looks fine, but at the purchase page i get the following error "There has been an internal error initializing your transaction. Please contact support for assistance"

    has anyone else experienced this issue? Using hotspot shield and selecting UK with the details above. have tried with two diff cc cards and paypal. do i need a UK street address and phone number?

    Cheers

    • thrax

      3:11pm 17th Nov 2009

      Not to my knowledge. I personally used USA / CA / 90210 :)

      • AKZam

        4:22pm 17th Nov 2009

        hmm. i get the following error now. "Your billing address doesn’t look like it matches up with your current country. Please contact support for assistance or use a payment method registered to your current address." when using paypal i get through the whole process, but its like its matching my billing address in paypal to the address provided on the steam page and tweaking out...

        i dont understand why im having so many probs when no one else is. tried with and without the vpn - doesn't effect it. errors seem to be linked to address only. bugger! wanted to get in wilst preorder to save 10 bucks :(

        • thrax

          8:00am 18th Nov 2009

          Did you change the Steam Store URL to ?cc=US once you change the address? I'm betting not... It matches the Steam Store page you're looking @ to the billing details you enter.

  • jonnyblobby

    5:58pm 17th Nov 2009

    WEll, I'm not sure if it was just busy steam servers or something up with my download, but once it had gone to 100% ready and I tried to start the game, it wouldn't start decrypting I set my steam location to UK under settings, after rebooting steam it then decrypted the files, but decided to update after this. Back at 100% ready and starting the game just brought up a 'Decrpyting files' message again, changing back to australian download location didn't change anything but the game did 'try' to start from windows explorer instead of steam, then quit saying that it had to be launched in steam. so after a few more attempts and changing nowing, it eventually opened. Have tested a game and confirm that gore is a plenty using the above method to purchase from the UK steam store (it even gave me a uncensored demo that I tried before the full game was unlocked but this has disappeared now).

    I should add one more tid bit, when purchasing from the UK steam store using a UK VPN, I was not able to use PayPal as a purchase method, it kept giving me errors saying that the PayPal store must be in the same country. But was able to get it done using a Credit Card with the billing address set to the UK instead.

    Done

    • thrax

      8:02am 18th Nov 2009

      Highly anticipated released always choke Steam. I had to decrypt the files then restart Steam about 6 times before if started working - it's just how Steam is, nothing to do with how you purchased the game or your content mirror.

  • AKZam

    6:24pm 17th Nov 2009

    ok, but how do i get a billing address in the UK? arent these values checked against my card details at time of purchase? did u just make up a street address and phone number. getting to the point where i might just call my uncle n get him to buy it for me!

    • Forky

      7:34pm 17th Nov 2009

      Mabe as in the original post...?

      "When you get to filling in your address, you will obviously need UK address details:

      * State: W12
* Postcode: 7TQ
* Country: United Kingdom (duh)

      Now you should have the International version linked to your account."

    • thrax

      8:05am 18th Nov 2009

      No, the values are not checked. It looks @ the steam store you're using (UK/US/AU etc) and then you're billing details country (in Steam) - and that's it. You DO NOT need a street address and phone number, just state/post code/country - for gods sake it was clearly outlined in the first post.

      I don't suggest using Paypal... any CC (mine is Visa) should work no problems. Try using a US VPN, changing url on steam store to ?cc=us and details to US/CA/90210.

  • Spencer

    9:20pm 17th Nov 2009

    Forky, thats not a street address or phone number. It asks for them at checkout. How did you guys test to see if the UK version works, its not released till the 20th.

  • anticensorship

    10:00pm 17th Nov 2009

    I'm having the exact same problem as AKZam. Tried Visa and Amex, to no avail. I think it may check that the CC is issued in the same country as what you're claiming in Steam shop.

    It surprises me that all you guys could do it so easily :S Did you use Visa as a payment method?

    • thrax

      8:05am 18th Nov 2009

      It surprises me people are having an issue and finding it difficult.

      • OP noetix

        8:39am 18th Nov 2009

        Doesn't surprise me :D

      • anticensorship

        1:27pm 18th Nov 2009

        Oh yeah, my bank declines my credit card payment because I'm a n00b at the intraweb...

        AKZam, good to hear it worked for you in the end, I might just keep trying through the US store.

  • AKZam

    11:20am 18th Nov 2009

    theres no need to be condescending guys - its not like we are stupid. did exactly the same process this morning, and bingo - just worked for some reason... cant explain why - but i didn't change anything since last night - aka it wasn't me, it must have been steam? used us store and Beverley Hills details is there any way to tell which version you have, just to check?

    • thrax

      6:43am 19th Nov 2009

      I wasn't being condescending, however "I'm doing it perfectly right and it's just not working.. for some reason" is hardly encouraging. What else can I say? I've seen this done many a time and always worked first go... Unless the systems change (which I find highly unlikely) then the only other explanation is user error. We all have dumb shit moment (I have plenty!), so don't take it as an insult like I think you're a moron or anything.

  • Spencer

    12:01pm 18th Nov 2009

    I seriously must be stupid because im getting asked for a billing address and phone number at the checkout page. sigh

    • OP noetix

      12:05pm 18th Nov 2009

      And you need to enter those details..

      Just don't put Australia lol.. see the guide for details.

  • Spencer

    12:26pm 18th Nov 2009

    Damn I finally get past checkout and my credit card information gets declined buy my credit card company. Fuck you commonwealth bank!

  • AKZam

    12:36pm 18th Nov 2009

    and yet the problem for me was that it seemed to be matching my billing details to my country details - as the error msg i started receiving later last night was exactly that - that my billing address didn't match my country or residence (not that that should even matter, for all they know im on holidays in the uk - cc cards work worldwide you know steam).

    but anyhow, it worked for me today, i did nothing different to last night - spencer if u were experiencing the same probs as me, just keep trying. not that it matters but i used google chrome in the end

    • Spencer

      1:25pm 18th Nov 2009

      Thanks, im now getting the same msg you did about an internal problem. oh well, perseverance is the key to success i suppose.

  • anticensorship

    1:34pm 18th Nov 2009

    "Your purchase has not been completed. Your credit card information has been declined by your credit card company."

    It seems that CBA checks that your billing address is the same as what is on your CC.

    I'll try that clickandbuy thing, since paypal doesn't work either...

    EDIT: Well spank me and call me Hillary, it worked in the end with Visa. Can't wait to play now.

  • The_Muffin

    9:47am 19th Nov 2009

    play-asia.com stocks it so you could get the boxed version legally too

  • sbak

    9:03am 20th Nov 2009

    Thanks Noetix worked first go. Just have to connect to IP in console as it shows all UK servers normally, not sure of any way to set it to australia. 2 other friends used this method and works fine all all aussie servers. thanks

    • sbak

      6:20am 6th Dec 2009

      Put sv_search_key 3FLNSW in the console and all 3fl servers will come up on your main screen.

  • sbak

    11:59am 20th Nov 2009

  • Barnsy

    12:29pm 22nd Nov 2009

    Doesn't seem to work for me, I'm getting the same as the other guys, credit card denied.

    • thrax

      1:15pm 23rd Nov 2009

      Use a regular everyday Visa... Dunno what else to tell ya :) I did it with my Visa debit card, which is a Greater Building Society (Newcastle based institution, so hardly a big name) card and it worked fine.

  • nativefig

    4:56pm 4th Dec 2009

    This didn't work for me. I tried from behind Hotspot Shield, using Paypal and a US billing address and I got the "Your billing address doesn’t look like it matches up with your current country. Please contact support for assistance or use a payment method registered to your current address." error that others have been talking about.

    So I decided to try without the VPN, but with the US billing address. The transaction when through fine but it sold the the censored version of the game. Needless to say I'm a little bit pissed off. So, for the sake of anyone who comes upon this thread via Google as I did, a tip: IT WILL NOT WORK WITHOUT A VPN. And it seems like there's a good chance Steam won't be fooled even if you do.

    • haymo

      5:57pm 4th Dec 2009

      Hey nativefig, you can crack it even if you buy the censored version:

      http://l4d2.epicwinrar.com/

      Enjoy.

      • nativefig

        6:24pm 4th Dec 2009

        Thanks for the tip but that hack doesn't work online unfortunately. I'm still waiting for a reply to my support ticket but it's looking like they only refund preordered games before their release. At the very least I'd like to get the emasculated version off my account so I can try again.

        Update: I think I've figured out why it didn't work for me. I got the URL wrong. I had http://store.steampowered.com/cc=us instead of http://store.steampowered.com/?cc=us. I should have known it wasn't working when the L4D2 page still said Low Violence Version, so it's my fault in the end. I was just getting so frustrated at that point I was willing to try it anyway.

        • thrax

          7:42pm 4th Dec 2009

          If in doubt, read and re-read the manual :P

          It's unfortunate you cocked it up, good luck with the support ticket though!

        • sbak

          4:15am 5th Dec 2009

          yer native nothing like slicing zombies heads off with a katana and have blood oooze down your screen it ruins the game. I actually know a guy in aus that brought the cencored version because it was to much. steam UK store works using a vpn and you should check your IP address location and make sure it says your in United Kingdom then go to steam page and purchase. We got a 4 pack last night and it works fine.

          • thrax

            5:33pm 5th Dec 2009

            WOW. Sounds like that guy is a fucking moron. Maybe you should tell him that there is a gore filter in multiplayer options to dull it down.

            On the topic of what ruins the game... I'm going to vote for the censored version NOT SHOWING WHEN THE FUCKING TANK IS ON FIRE. Game ruined.

            Uncensored version is the only way to go if you've got half a brain (as stated above, if you don't wan tthe gore you have the option to turn it down) - and 100% the only way to go if you're ever planning on competing in ladders etc.

        • haymo

          6:17pm 5th Dec 2009

          I think you can still play the crack version online uncensored as long as your playing on a server with no other censored games.

          • thrax

            7:02pm 6th Dec 2009

            Let me clarify... there are 2 versions. The censored and the uncensored. If you have the censored version and you use a hack to turn it into the uncensored version - then you cannot play online unless you're playing on a server with sv_pure 0 set (eg: a hacked up / cheats enabled server kinda thing).

            If you're talking about playing online with the censored (unaltered) and uncensored versions, then both happily play together, there is no difference on the server side.

    • nativefig

      2:21am 26th Dec 2009

      Update: IT WORKED! I just got a debit card recently so I thought I'd try with that instead of Paypal. I tried with a VPN at first and the transaction got denied by the bank. Tried again without the VPN and it went through no worries. When the transaction was denied initially I assumed it was because my address details didn't match up with the address on my card, but now it's looking more like it failed because my IP address location didn't match the card's address. This is actually what stopped me with the Paypal transaction as well.

      Anyway, moral of the story is: the VPN seems to cause more problems than it solves. I suspect most of the issues posted here have been caused by people using a VPN. It's not necessary guys, just make sure you get the URL right.

  • kiorto

    10:17am 6th Dec 2009

    Hi, wouldn't you only be able to play with people from the UK using your method? In online play, wouldn't it automatically select games from your country, and in this case it is the UK, as it assumes you'll have your best ping when playing with other people from the UK? 'Cause as I'm Australian, I'd have terrible ping when playing with UK people.

    • Pheus

      1:30pm 6th Dec 2009

      that's not how it works. it's based off your current ping, not the ping of the place where you bought it ...

      • kiorto

        1:56pm 6th Dec 2009

        So I'd probably join Aussie servers anyway because I'd have lowest ping with them?

        • thrax

          7:04pm 6th Dec 2009

          Correct. You will join AU servers mostly (though it's fairly buggy and you may end up with Californian or Japan servers sometimes, but this is an issue with the game design itself, nothing to do with how you buy it or where you're playing from).

  • kiorto

    9:42pm 6th Dec 2009

    Sorry for asking this, 'cause I've seen other people ask this question and they get flamed and without a useful answer. But when I go to purchase the game it asks for the following: Billing address, Country, City, State or Province, Phone number and Zip or Postal code along other things. But all this guide says is: State: W12 Postcode: 7TQ Country: United Kingdom (duh) And so I just left the Billing Address and Phone Number blank and clicked 'Continue' but it say'd I need fix the highlighted fields (including the Billing Address and Phone Number in which I left blank). So what am I suppose to do? Make up and address and phone number? Find some random persons address and number who is living in the UK and use that?

    One other thing. Someone above said that they couldn't use PayPal because the store is set in the UK. I however can use PayPal. So it looks suspicious that I can still use PayPal but others can't. Makes me think I mightn't be doing the right thing (however I have followed EVERY step) But besides that, I'm on the UK Steam site I believe...

    • thrax

      11:13pm 6th Dec 2009

      I'm too tired to come up with a witty and overly elaborate insult... so I'll go straight on to the useful part...

      Fill in your actually, real address details, then just change the fields outlined in the guide. The error you're getting is because they are blank - blank = error. You need to have informaiton in there, however it is only the Country / State / Post Code which is cross-checked. For example (just incase you still don't get it) - When I made my purchase, all my true and correct details were already saved from the numerous other Steam purchases I have made. From this I just altered the Country/City/Post code (once I was on the US Steam store of course) and away I went.

      • I didn't use Paypal, so I will not / cannot comment on anything to do with it - My suggestion is use a Visa.
      • UK or US steam store work - Noetix used UK, I used US
      • You wanna MAKE SURE you're on the Steam store you want, or you'll end up with censored. They key is the URL (http://store.steampowered.com/?cc=UK)

  • xvart

    8:13pm 9th Dec 2009

    Ok having serious issues getting a refund from steam for this, even though as I see it they breach a number of advertising laws eg:reduced violence, the game is reduced detail, the violence is still the same, visual impact is reduced. Steam is claiming that the tiny writing that you miss on the page is sufficient to screw you to the wall.

    • Raaagh

      This reply has been deleted by noetix

    • thrax

      12:48am 10th Dec 2009

      More or less :P It's fairly common rule that Valve will refund games while in demo (such as both L4D's were for some time), but once it's released you've got dick all chance.

      BL shoulda got in earlier :P

  • kiorto

    11:49am 10th Dec 2009

    Is it safe to use my current Steam account? 'Cause I'm thinking there might have been a place in the creation of my account where I selected my country as Australia that could stuff me up in this process. If so, should I create a new steam account just to run my Left 4 Dead 2? Or will my main Steam account work fine?

    • thrax

      5:52pm 10th Dec 2009

      Christ, you fucking guys.

      Yes, guy, your main Steam account will work perfectly fine. It DOES NOT LOOK AT YOUR ACCOUNT SETTINGS. It works purely off the 'country you purchase it from'. The idea of the guide it to use wonderful technologies to trick the Steam store into thinking you're in the US (or UK) when you buy it, thus being assigned a US (or UK) cd key embedded in the game - which .... da-dah .... tell Steam to play the game uncensored. I mean that in a literal sense, even the uncensored version download the censorship data, and when you launch the game and authenticate to the Steam cloud it looks at your CD key and tell it which version to play.

      This is why the hacks and changing app ID's etc don't work online, because if you alter the app ID it won't auth to the Steam cloud - and if you hack the core files to get gore you'll authenticate and then get VAC banned for altering core files :P

      • xander85

        This reply has been deleted by xander85

        • thrax

          1:57pm 15th Dec 2009

          Steam haven't changed shit. See the post below? Still works fine. It's not exactly a 'bug', it's been known for years (this method is how Germans got uncensored TF2).

          My thoughts are that you've either connects to a US VPN and then done UK details, or you're trying to buy through Steam app instead of a web browser, or you haven't changed the Steam store URL to /cc?=US.

          You're missing something.

  • fenix849

    3:06am 13th Dec 2009

    Process as described in the op worked perfectly for me, also used the trial vpn account.

  • xander85

    2:00pm 15th Dec 2009

    ok i got it, but how do i know its the correct version or not?

    • thrax

      3:55pm 15th Dec 2009

      Run the game and start killing shit with the melee weapons. After a good few bashings you'll have blood spray up the screen... other than that look for things like corpses.. blood... flying limbs... burning zombies when you throw a molotov.... all these wonderful things are removed from the Australian version.

Nested Replies Flat Replies
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