Okay, I talked to a friend who works in the industry and has some ESRB experience, and he talked to other people about it. The answer was that they weren't sure, but they believe any official addon that has a different rating would also change the rating of the base game (for parental control reasons).

They also said that Stardock should have an ESRB contact, so Boogie and crew can get a real answer if they need one.

Well, I dont know about anyone else here, but I don't exactly play a 4x game for the reason that all the female characters have nipples on them.  If E:WoM is going to be as easy to mod as has been stated, this shouldn't exactly be a problem for those of you who absolutely want them in the game.

But for the larger discussion about the ESRB, I think that a rating system is a good thing, although I would agree with what has been said here, that it all depends on what is rated and how it is rated.

I just want to know what's in it.  What they rate the game for in the end is of no consequence to me.

I'd rather see an organization that just measures the level of retard in the game to prevent me from

Well, I agree that we need some sort of rating system in the game world...... of course, one that actually makes SENSE would be appreciated.

A rating system that makes sense would use a multiple-axis system to show the different levels of things in different categories, and let people lock them out individually.

That of course is far too complicated for the morons that do the most complaining about this stuff, so what we wind up with is systems that try to distill everything down to a single age number. Such a level of simplification is ALWAYS going to be faulty in some way or another.

Some places are arse about tit (excuse pun).

It's perfectly acceptable to own a gun, or play violent games, but show a nipple and you are in big trouble.

It's Janet Jackson all over again

I can't believe we have a three page thread about nipples, haha.

I can't believe it's only three pages.

That's because no one's gone on a Man with the Golden Gun tangent, wanting third nipples for their bare-chested elite assassin units or a champion famous for shooting golden arrows and having three nipples.

I actually wonder if number is any factor in the ESRB ratings.... what would they say if somebody acrtually put that in a game?!

warhammer:age of reckoning  has quite a few boss monsters who are female and have six of them

Another strong vote for both male and - if you dare! - female nipples plainly visible in the game. As European I don't expect to have to worry about nudity censorship, but would rather think sales could increase this side of the Atlantic as a result!  

By the way, a question: can you choose the type of nipples of your Chaneller when launching a new game? 

That may be, but have mercy on us Yanks, please. We're sorry about the Freedom Fries already!

Well, that raises the question: are there going to be female channelers? (and other units for that matter)

Are nipples a key component to channeling ability?

All the units I have seen so far are male, but you never know..... we will probably have a female channe;er or two, the one on the cover is female (I think).

They are for this guy.

(yes, he is casting magic with his nipples)

that man holds one of the best "villian mustaches" ever.  Like give that dude a top-hat and I want to play him!

Looks like a man to me. Not everyone with long hair is female.

Gah!!  I'm going to see those images every time I close my eyes!!  Why, landy, why???    

If you want to keep nipples covered, then these are a must...

But chocolate pasties would melt darned quickly in battle, except perhaps when ice golems wear them or crazy bare-chested people are fighting in freezing weather.

Still, there's a Very Silly magic item idea in there somewhere--maybe Fuzogic's Entrancing Pasties, all who view them must save or stop what they're doing and try to nibble them...

Considering the nature of the previous post, that did not sound NEARLY as innocent as it regularly would.....

And Landi, if we ever meet, remind me that I owe you a kick in the groin for that last post.