Left 4 Dead 2 cover rejected by ESRB

I am generally supportive of the ESRB, as I believe the group provides a number of valuable services to the games industry and to parents. In addition to rating all retail releases in the U.S. and Canada, the non-profit organization works with public officials to promote its letter-based ratings system. All this to ensure that kiddies, tweens and teens play games that are appropriate for their age. Though, as we all know, young ones still manage to get their mitts on violence-laden titles.

Now, I rarely deride the ESRB because it's comprised of hard-working individuals who, among other things, want to shield children from naughty things like boobs, booze and swear words. However, I am baffled as to why the organization would reject this Left 4 Dead 2 cover art, yet OK this one. The only difference between the two pics is that the banned art features a hand with three digits gnawed off, instead of just a thumb. The edit would seem to suggest that the ESRB found the original concept to be too grotesque. That, or the group harbors a sinister grudge against thumbs.

My question is, why was an edit mandated? The first cover was a bit gruesome, but nasty enough to get shot down? It wasn't like the photo had blood squirting from the hand, or a bone jutting out from the palm. A bloody, gnarled hooker is one thing, but a hand? Really?

Besides, is the newer version really that much better? I mean, it still has a zombie-gnawed paw front and center. Perhaps I just have a steel stomach, but the whole situation seems a bit silly to me.

In the end, I doubt many gamers will care about the change. Box art is nice to look at, but really, it's just box art. The game itself will be far more important.

For those planning to pick up the Louisiana-flavored sequel this November, Ars Technica writer Ben Kuchera has reported that the game's code will not require any edits due to objectionable content. Splendid. I can already hear the chainsaws purring.

Source: Ars Technica