I don't quite think I've ever seen a game series box art get so much attention as Left 4 Dead.  Last year we discussed in detail as the box art flip flopped and went through a few iterations.  Now with Left 4 Dead 2 on the horizon we thought all that would be past us for the four player cooperative shooter - but alas - that is not the case.

According to Ars Technica, the original Left 4 Dead 2 box art had chewed off fingers much like the thumb pictured above.  But the suits at the ESRB deemed it too graphic and asked for them to be replaced by...well...not chewed off fingers.  You can see the original artwork at Ars, you be the judge if it's too graphic for a zombie game.  

Read The Full Article: Left 4 Dead 2 Box Art Changed Due to ESRB Restrictions

I was actually surprised at the original Left 4 Dead cover, and even more so at the Dead Space cover.

No matter what the content of the game is, I think that the ESRB has a valid point in trying to keep objectionable content off of the cover if the game is going to be featured on department store shelves.

What makes the thumb so much different?

its probably just because they let it fly for the first game, they can't take it back now but they can object to the other 2 missing fingers... personally i like the one the boycotters came up with

There's only one possible explanation: They're zombies.


I do think that Smurphster likely nailed the real reason behind allowing the thumb, but not that fingers.

I would have preferred a paper sleeve and the true box art under that.

Yeah, me, too.

good call... but that'd eat into their profits and we don't want that now, do we?

Yeah their profits...

Did I mention I just got my rebate on L4D2 because I bought the first L4D? Yeah, I traded L4D in on Sunday. No hard feelings eh Valve?

17 bucks! Man that stung but it still beats the ten bucks I got from going from UT2003 to UT2004 back in the day which this L4D to L4D2 thing reminds me so much of.

Good thing that the All Fronts thing comes out soon.

There was some movie in which John Travolta said that movies are allowed to have one usage of the f-bomb and still not be rated R. Then he says "F$#@ that" and it's not used again in the rest of the movie, allowing the movie to keep its PG-13 rating.

Maybe there's a Rule of Thumb (har har) regarding missing digits on packaging. One thumb is okay, but any more is unacceptable?

Heh, I think Smurphster's explanation is the most likely.

haha.. good point, except i don't think video game ratings are as anal as movie ratings (yet). this could be setting the rule of... thumb. sorry couldn't resist