There are two camps here, people who pretend they are the character they are playing and people like me who pretend I'm watching a movie where I choose what happens. I usually make female avatars because if I have to stare at an ass all day I'd like it to not be a man's ass. If its a non-human I don't care but I usually don't play guy characters.
Stare at an ass? I play only male characters and I cant remember I ever stared at my avatars ass.
If you are playing an MMORPG to stare at your avatars ass then I think you have some issues.
This issue has nothing to do with knowing if someone is really a girl when you play. It's about invading peoples right to privacy because of a GAME! What business is it of any game company what someones true identity is. That's like McDonalds asking for ID to buy a hamburger.
Other then billing info a game company has absolutely no right to invade your privacy. This is WAAAAAY overstepping boundries.
Soon we will all have our RFID chips anyways and all transactions will already have our full ID info.
Wake up people. STOP accepting things like this or just bend over pull the wool over and "baaaaa" for your handlers.
Every person effected by that insane rule should leave and speak up with their cash. If NO person accepts this in that game, it will be overturned.
I truely hope people resist this. It's only 1 more step in a terrible direction our world is heading.
This issue has nothing to do with knowing if someone is really a girl when you play. It's about invading peoples right to privacy because of a GAME! What business is it of any game company what someones true identity is. That's like McDonalds asking for ID to buy a hamburger. Other then billing info a game company has absolutely no right to invade your privacy. This is WAAAAAY overstepping boundries. Soon we will all have our RFID chips anyways and all transactions will already have our full ID info. Wake up people. STOP accepting things like this or just bend over pull the wool over and "baaaaa" for your handlers. Every person effected by that insane rule should leave and speak up with their cash. If NO person accepts this in that game, it will be overturned. I truely hope people resist this. It's only 1 more step in a terrible direction our world is heading.
So wait, are you suggesting that people are being forced to purchase this mmorpg and have their privacy invaded? Really? Did you know the latest anti-piracy protection software does that already? Thats besides the point. Marketing... if a game sells its product and markets it with the idea that "guys are really guys and girls are really girls"... then is that wrong? Its their product, their marketing strategy, and for all you know, it is going after the exact target audience they desired. This can actually be a good thing for them. You seem to think of it as though someone is spying on you. On the contrary, it is a product that people do not have to buy if they dont like its marketing strategy and rule set. In this case the game is a play environment the developers created and the rules of that play environment are true to gender. That is the PLAY environment, it doesnt have to be for everyone.
Ok Not saying this isnt true but is there any even remotely credible source to this story. i cannot for the life of me figure out where this piece of news is coming from beyond that seriously questionable JLM Pacific Epoch story from 2007
This would seems to be based on a random forum post on 17173.com
Beyond that there seems to be only the same original story repeated ad nauseum on numerus sites.
I know some people assume the worst of those "Crazy Chinese Bureaucrats" but seriously given the absurdity of the whole webcam id thing one would expect a somewhat more sturdy source (like say from SHANDA or Aurora for example) for this before going on a rant about it.
Chinese culture is very very conservative when it comes to sex. Who knows, they may actually have a market for this strict guide line. Besides that, its there company their rules. If people don't like it they can show them that by playing a different game. The free-market works in some regards.
I play female characters, I dunno I never like the look of a bulky male character. If MMO's started doing this(which they won't besides this one instance) I just would'nt play since its about my enjoyment.
This issue has nothing to do with knowing if someone is really a girl when you play. It's about invading peoples right to privacy because of a GAME! What business is it of any game company what someones true identity is. That's like McDonalds asking for ID to buy a hamburger. Other then billing info a game company has absolutely no right to invade your privacy. This is WAAAAAY overstepping boundries. Soon we will all have our RFID chips anyways and all transactions will already have our full ID info. Wake up people. STOP accepting things like this or just bend over pull the wool over and "baaaaa" for your handlers. Every person effected by that insane rule should leave and speak up with their cash. If NO person accepts this in that game, it will be overturned. I truely hope people resist this. It's only 1 more step in a terrible direction our world is heading.
So wait, are you suggesting that people are being forced to purchase this mmorpg and have their privacy invaded? Really? Did you know the latest anti-piracy protection software does that already? Thats besides the point. Marketing... if a game sells its product and markets it with the idea that "guys are really guys and girls are really girls"... then is that wrong? Its their product, their marketing strategy, and for all you know, it is going after the exact target audience they desired. This can actually be a good thing for them. You seem to think of it as though someone is spying on you. On the contrary, it is a product that people do not have to buy if they dont like its marketing strategy and rule set. In this case the game is a play environment the developers created and the rules of that play environment are true to gender. That is the PLAY environment, it doesnt have to be for everyone.
"if a game sells its product and markets with the idea that "guys are really guys and girls are really girls" then is that wrong?" But they aren't! Oh the girls are really girls alright but the guys maybe a guy OR a girl. Lesbian sex on-line anyone? I'm fast subscribing to the idea that some perv in the company got one of his eleven fingers burnt sticking it where it aught not to go in a Fantasy game. Pity he couldn't catch a virus doing it.
This issue has nothing to do with knowing if someone is really a girl when you play. It's about invading peoples right to privacy because of a GAME! What business is it of any game company what someones true identity is. That's like McDonalds asking for ID to buy a hamburger. Other then billing info a game company has absolutely no right to invade your privacy. This is WAAAAAY overstepping boundries. Soon we will all have our RFID chips anyways and all transactions will already have our full ID info. Wake up people. STOP accepting things like this or just bend over pull the wool over and "baaaaa" for your handlers. Every person effected by that insane rule should leave and speak up with their cash. If NO person accepts this in that game, it will be overturned. I truely hope people resist this. It's only 1 more step in a terrible direction our world is heading.
Privacy? Sorry but your gender is not a matter of your privacy, that is public information.
Besides it is their service and they have every right to ask you not to misrepresent your gender.
I don't understand the great need for some people to know whether or not I'm a guy or girl in real life. I have no desire to meet anyone in RL that I've met through playing an MMORPG. I have no desire to start an online relationship or cyber anyone in the game. I could be a sentient dog for all that matters. Nobody will ever know, because I'm not going to meet up anyway and since I'm married, I'm not even available to begin with. So what does it matter?
So to those people, all I can say is this. If you want to use a game as some sort of online dating service, fine with me, but don't come dictating what I can and cannot play because you're insecure about your own sexuality. If accidentally flirting with someone of your own sex while being pretty darn anonymous to begin with freaks you out that much, I suggest you just don't do it and completely ignore anyone who does. Oh and, given the high ratio of male-to-female in MMOs, you're better off looking elsewhere anyway (unless you're looking for a guy)... and no girl is going to fall for your epic raid gear and achievements... I can promise you that.
I'm a big ol' fluffy carewolf. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Great! now if they can weed out all the other dweebs with some kind of age check, maybe even a credit score to get rid of the trash, or maybe just getting rid of crossdressing guys will do the trick.
When I said i had "time", i meant virtual time, i got no RL "time" for you.
Conform to my point of view, otherwise I will force it! Yeah... and for all the American's supporting this policy... fantastic...
Chinese company acting Chinese... nothing to see here, and not really any loss, either.
Asians spend more time playing games so I can see how the convenience of killing electronic dragons while trolling for a real life mate might be an appealing concept... but not really.
I can't help but wonder how much harrassment and unwanted attention the in game females that are left will have to go through because of all of this.
Other Asian games have forced you to play whatever character your gender is, but to actually prove it via a webcam. That's completely insane. Just imagining all the weird stuff the developers could do... in game or out... that's some creepy stuff.
Good on Mr. Wood for taking a stand on the side of common sense, despite the overwhelming immaturity and lack of perspective of the opposition.
This week, MMORPG.com's Jon Wood takes a shot at a recent decision by a Chinese MMO company to ban all male players who choose to play female avatars. Women, it appears, are free to pose as men as much as their little hearts desire.
So let's rag on the female gender as if this is our fault. Also, what does playing a female toon, if you're a guy, have to do with gender specific issues. Guys have been playing female toons like forever. Any guys here ever play Tomb Raider? Thought so. Nobody thought anything of that did they. So why make a big deal out of this. If some frakked up company in China wishes to be stupid...let them. All this article is is sensationalism. Come on...this is not worthy of an article. This is kind of writing is to just get people riled up. ::sigh::
Is Jon Wood a pre-pubescent teen? He writes like one. ( "bewbs" "freakin" ect.)
What the hell, try a little professionalism else no-one will take you seriously--except other 13 year olds.
Learn a little about how China views women, a bit about their politics and how women have been treated since the revolution. This is nothing new. I think the reality of Eastern politics met up with your politically correct ignorance and you flew off the handle. Reacted instead of researched. Get a grip.
Originally posted by Shalandar Is Jon Wood a pre-pubescent teen? He writes like one. ( "bewbs" "freakin" ect.) What the hell, try a little professionalism else no-one will take you seriously--except other 13 year olds.
I must say I found the writing style refreshing for a change and figured it was done on purpose to put some oomph behind it. To make it stand out and seem a bit ridiculous because... well, frankly... the whole thing is ridiculous to begin with.
I have seen the exact same writing style used on rare occasion in big national newspapers, so this is nothing new to me. I guess it's a matter of style, personal preference and how far someone has to go in order to grab someone's attention. If you're so concerned about professionalism though, I would suggest you leave out comments about 13 year olds. It comes across as being a very unprofessional argument since it's so utterly false to begin with.
I'm a big ol' fluffy carewolf. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
This week, MMORPG.com's Jon Wood takes a shot at a recent decision by a Chinese MMO company to ban all male players who choose to play female avatars. Women, it appears, are free to pose as men as much as their little hearts desire.
So let's rag on the female gender as if this is our fault. Also, what does playing a female toon, if you're a guy, have to do with gender specific issues. Guys have been playing female toons like forever. Any guys here ever play Tomb Raider? Thought so. Nobody thought anything of that did they. So why make a big deal out of this. If some frakked up company in China wishes to be stupid...let them. All this article is is sensationalism. Come on...this is not worthy of an article. This is kind of writing is to just get people riled up. ::sigh::
Is Jon Wood a pre-pubescent teen? He writes like one. ( "bewbs" "freakin" ect.)
What the hell, try a little professionalism else no-one will take you seriously--except other 13 year olds.
Learn a little about how China views women, a bit about their politics and how women have been treated since the revolution. This is nothing new. I think the reality of Eastern politics met up with your politically correct ignorance and you flew off the handle. Reacted instead of researched. Get a grip.
--Shane
Waste of space.
Riiiight. Because your comments sound so much more professional. I mean calling someone 13 or a "kid" shows your a pro! Fail. You also make it sound like it's ok for China to pull crap like this because they have a history of doing it. They don't. Hey maybe if those idiots didnt go around killing their baby girls like they did in ages past they'd have more women and they wouldnt need a "show us your boobs" policy in their MMOs to get women. Oh like any decent woman would put up with that anyway. So they fail once again.
ok, just read the article and the first couple of posts - so this may have been already stated, I'm not in the mood to read all 28 pages.
They say you have to prove your sexual identity on webcam - would that not constitute encouragement of internet porn? Especially male porn since it is only guys they are checking. I see several gay Chinese executives laughing about all the d*cks they are getting to see for free.
I hope they go out of buisness, I hope that this stupid company and their backwards pathetic ideals go down the drain as fast as possible. Its sad to see when the world moves backwards. I've never heard of a whole professional company that is homophobic, its shocking but at the same time to be expected. It saddens me to hear that sexism is on the rise again, women won their battle but it seems men have a battle to win of their own. Long live the freedom of expression!!!
I thought Jon Wood was going to prove his sex or become gender neutral in this thread. Now I'm totally disappointed, and I will continue to be disappointed until I hear that Jon has become a Ken doll.
Well MMO's are role-playing by nature so if a guy wants to play as a women I really feel like I have no right to tell them they can't. I feel like the MMO companies are over stepping their boundries by telling people this. A huge part of these games are fantasy and role playing is even in the genre description so I feel like artificial limitations like that are kind of cheapening and unfair. Now I have never cybered in an mmo game so maybe that's one of the reasons I don't care but I can see female toons getting harassed if guys know they are in fact female and that gender ambiguity could work in their benefit. Like I said though, if two people want to cyber or live their online life as the opposite gender I don't feel like it is my place to judge. Hopefully they keep it in tells though as I'd hate to stumble upon that conversation .
On a somewhat off topic side note I was doing an Iron Tower run in AOC recently with five female toons and myself. Four of which had mics so they were indeed women while the fifth claimed to have none so I couldn't verify one way or the other. The first boss you encounter is female and charms you and all five of them got charmed, with me just escaping in time. That's six women against me if you include the boss chasing after me and beating on me for the duration of the charm which looked hilarious and opened up the dialogue for some very entertaining though sexist conversation between all of us with me certainly on the tale end of all of their jokes and them getting the brunt of my humor. It really can be a wonderful thing to have exchanges and encounters like this with the opposite gender as women can sometimes bring a very different, and in this case very funny, perspective to such encounters. It is certainly a raid I will remember for a long time and they all seemed very nice, were funny and it's certainly the first time that it's happened to me in a video game. The key here is that everyone was respectful yet not very politically correct which is the, imo, ideal atmosphere for such things. Not raunchy or mean spirited but definitely not work place humor. Being the only guy certainly was fun, and to those looking for attention in the digital world, perhaps even enviable but I still think that people should be allowed to play how they feel. Just my 2 cents.
Originally posted by Teala So let's rag on the female gender as if this is our fault. Also, what does playing a female toon, if you're a guy, have to do with gender specific issues. Guys have been playing female toons like forever. Any guys here ever play Tomb Raider? Thought so. Nobody thought anything of that did they. So why make a big deal out of this. If some frakked up company in China wishes to be stupid...let them. All this article is is sensationalism. Come on...this is not worthy of an article. This is kind of writing is to just get people riled up. ::sigh::
*ahem*
What?
Can I ask, honestly, whether or not you actually read the article?
No kidding guys have been playing female toons forever. I know I have. This article was written to point out how stupid this particular policy actually is. I'm making a "big deal" out of it because it's completely outrageous. Many news sites picked up on this story and I wanted to use my column this week to rant about how stupid it was.
I could see your complaint if the article had been written from the perspective of : hey, what a great idea... but it wasn't.
Why is it outrageous? Many things in life ask you to specify your gender, be it applying for a job or play amateure football. Why would a competetive video game be any different?
It is not politically correct but I dont see what is so outrageous about it.
It does not say that male, female, gay, straight, black, white cannot play. They simply say dont misrepresent/hide your true gender.
Well you see the problem with your view point is that you are not applying for a job or playing amateur football. We are talking about mmoRPG. Yes the RPG stands for roleplaying game. Set in on a real pen and paper rpg game session or go to a roleplaying game convention like GenCon and you will see that the whole thing of not allowing a player to play a character of an opposite sex is ridiculous.
You are not misrepresenting anything because you are playing a roleplaying game. Otherwise like other people pointed out you would be misrepresenting yourself by playing a mage when you don't really cast spells. Or being an orc when you are not.
I think at the heart of the matter is that people for some reason think that these games double as an online dating service. There are companies that are good at finding someone a date. These people need to start going to those sites instead of soliciting other players.
People really need to get a life and stop obsessing over what someones real life sex is. I could care less. If they are cool to group with and are nice in general that is all I care about.
About time they put this kind of thing into games, for far to long we have strayed for the word of the lord and people need to stop this perversion that if cross gender playing, we were made this way by our lord and this is the way we should be view by the world, I'm all for it perhaps DNA testing keyboards, or always on Webcams so there will be no taking pic of there girlfriend as a way around it.
Ok ok I'm joking someone get these guys a big cup of STFU and wave bye bye to there game as it sinks into the pit of games that will never get played.
The only reason for this is so that the CSR's can cyber knowing that it is a girl, I would LOVE to see the transcript of the guy that got burnt SO bad that they want to put this kind of ruling in
Thanks for the LOL will spread this one far and wide
Comments
Stare at an ass? I play only male characters and I cant remember I ever stared at my avatars ass.
If you are playing an MMORPG to stare at your avatars ass then I think you have some issues.
My gaming blog
This issue has nothing to do with knowing if someone is really a girl when you play. It's about invading peoples right to privacy because of a GAME! What business is it of any game company what someones true identity is. That's like McDonalds asking for ID to buy a hamburger.
Other then billing info a game company has absolutely no right to invade your privacy. This is WAAAAAY overstepping boundries.
Soon we will all have our RFID chips anyways and all transactions will already have our full ID info.
Wake up people. STOP accepting things like this or just bend over pull the wool over and "baaaaa" for your handlers.
Every person effected by that insane rule should leave and speak up with their cash. If NO person accepts this in that game, it will be overturned.
I truely hope people resist this. It's only 1 more step in a terrible direction our world is heading.
SHOHADAKU
So wait, are you suggesting that people are being forced to purchase this mmorpg and have their privacy invaded? Really? Did you know the latest anti-piracy protection software does that already? Thats besides the point. Marketing... if a game sells its product and markets it with the idea that "guys are really guys and girls are really girls"... then is that wrong? Its their product, their marketing strategy, and for all you know, it is going after the exact target audience they desired. This can actually be a good thing for them. You seem to think of it as though someone is spying on you. On the contrary, it is a product that people do not have to buy if they dont like its marketing strategy and rule set. In this case the game is a play environment the developers created and the rules of that play environment are true to gender. That is the PLAY environment, it doesnt have to be for everyone.
Ok Not saying this isnt true but is there any even remotely credible source to this story. i cannot for the life of me figure out where this piece of news is coming from beyond that seriously questionable JLM Pacific Epoch story from 2007
This would seems to be based on a random forum post on 17173.com
Beyond that there seems to be only the same original story repeated ad nauseum on numerus sites.
I know some people assume the worst of those "Crazy Chinese Bureaucrats" but seriously given the absurdity of the whole webcam id thing one would expect a somewhat more sturdy source (like say from SHANDA or Aurora for example) for this before going on a rant about it.
Just sayin..
Chinese culture is very very conservative when it comes to sex. Who knows, they may actually have a market for this strict guide line. Besides that, its there company their rules. If people don't like it they can show them that by playing a different game. The free-market works in some regards.
Games:
Currently playing:Nothing
Will play: Darkfall: Unholy Wars
Past games:
Guild Wars 2 - Xpiher Duminous
Xpiher's GW2
GW 1 - Xpiher Duminous
Darkfall - Xpiher Duminous (NA) retired
AoC - Xpiher (Tyranny) retired
Warhammer - Xpiher
I play female characters, I dunno I never like the look of a bulky male character. If MMO's started doing this(which they won't besides this one instance) I just would'nt play since its about my enjoyment.
So wait, are you suggesting that people are being forced to purchase this mmorpg and have their privacy invaded? Really? Did you know the latest anti-piracy protection software does that already? Thats besides the point. Marketing... if a game sells its product and markets it with the idea that "guys are really guys and girls are really girls"... then is that wrong? Its their product, their marketing strategy, and for all you know, it is going after the exact target audience they desired. This can actually be a good thing for them. You seem to think of it as though someone is spying on you. On the contrary, it is a product that people do not have to buy if they dont like its marketing strategy and rule set. In this case the game is a play environment the developers created and the rules of that play environment are true to gender. That is the PLAY environment, it doesnt have to be for everyone.
"if a game sells its product and markets with the idea that "guys are really guys and girls are really girls" then is that wrong?" But they aren't! Oh the girls are really girls alright but the guys maybe a guy OR a girl. Lesbian sex on-line anyone? I'm fast subscribing to the idea that some perv in the company got one of his eleven fingers burnt sticking it where it aught not to go in a Fantasy game. Pity he couldn't catch a virus doing it.
Privacy? Sorry but your gender is not a matter of your privacy, that is public information.
Besides it is their service and they have every right to ask you not to misrepresent your gender.
My gaming blog
i think this policy gonna last a couple weeks max, otherwise people will probly move to another game lol
I don't understand the great need for some people to know whether or not I'm a guy or girl in real life. I have no desire to meet anyone in RL that I've met through playing an MMORPG. I have no desire to start an online relationship or cyber anyone in the game. I could be a sentient dog for all that matters. Nobody will ever know, because I'm not going to meet up anyway and since I'm married, I'm not even available to begin with. So what does it matter?
So to those people, all I can say is this. If you want to use a game as some sort of online dating service, fine with me, but don't come dictating what I can and cannot play because you're insecure about your own sexuality. If accidentally flirting with someone of your own sex while being pretty darn anonymous to begin with freaks you out that much, I suggest you just don't do it and completely ignore anyone who does. Oh and, given the high ratio of male-to-female in MMOs, you're better off looking elsewhere anyway (unless you're looking for a guy)... and no girl is going to fall for your epic raid gear and achievements... I can promise you that.
I'm a big ol' fluffy carewolf. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Jon writes his best when he's riled.
Why, exactly?
Frank 'Spankybus' Mignone
www.spankybus.com
-3d Artist & Compositor
-Writer
-Professional Amature
Great! now if they can weed out all the other dweebs with some kind of age check, maybe even a credit score to get rid of the trash, or maybe just getting rid of crossdressing guys will do the trick.
When I said i had "time", i meant virtual time, i got no RL "time" for you.
Conform to my point of view, otherwise I will force it! Yeah... and for all the American's supporting this policy... fantastic...
Chinese company acting Chinese... nothing to see here, and not really any loss, either.
Asians spend more time playing games so I can see how the convenience of killing electronic dragons while trolling for a real life mate might be an appealing concept... but not really.
I can't help but wonder how much harrassment and unwanted attention the in game females that are left will have to go through because of all of this.
Other Asian games have forced you to play whatever character your gender is, but to actually prove it via a webcam. That's completely insane. Just imagining all the weird stuff the developers could do... in game or out... that's some creepy stuff.
Good on Mr. Wood for taking a stand on the side of common sense, despite the overwhelming immaturity and lack of perspective of the opposition.
Read Your Sex: Prove It or Lose It!
So let's rag on the female gender as if this is our fault. Also, what does playing a female toon, if you're a guy, have to do with gender specific issues. Guys have been playing female toons like forever. Any guys here ever play Tomb Raider? Thought so. Nobody thought anything of that did they. So why make a big deal out of this. If some frakked up company in China wishes to be stupid...let them. All this article is is sensationalism. Come on...this is not worthy of an article. This is kind of writing is to just get people riled up. ::sigh::
Is Jon Wood a pre-pubescent teen? He writes like one. ( "bewbs" "freakin" ect.)
What the hell, try a little professionalism else no-one will take you seriously--except other 13 year olds.
Learn a little about how China views women, a bit about their politics and how women have been treated since the revolution. This is nothing new. I think the reality of Eastern politics met up with your politically correct ignorance and you flew off the handle. Reacted instead of researched. Get a grip.
--Shane
Waste of space.
I must say I found the writing style refreshing for a change and figured it was done on purpose to put some oomph behind it. To make it stand out and seem a bit ridiculous because... well, frankly... the whole thing is ridiculous to begin with.
I have seen the exact same writing style used on rare occasion in big national newspapers, so this is nothing new to me. I guess it's a matter of style, personal preference and how far someone has to go in order to grab someone's attention. If you're so concerned about professionalism though, I would suggest you leave out comments about 13 year olds. It comes across as being a very unprofessional argument since it's so utterly false to begin with.
I'm a big ol' fluffy carewolf. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Read Your Sex: Prove It or Lose It!
So let's rag on the female gender as if this is our fault. Also, what does playing a female toon, if you're a guy, have to do with gender specific issues. Guys have been playing female toons like forever. Any guys here ever play Tomb Raider? Thought so. Nobody thought anything of that did they. So why make a big deal out of this. If some frakked up company in China wishes to be stupid...let them. All this article is is sensationalism. Come on...this is not worthy of an article. This is kind of writing is to just get people riled up. ::sigh::
Is Jon Wood a pre-pubescent teen? He writes like one. ( "bewbs" "freakin" ect.)
What the hell, try a little professionalism else no-one will take you seriously--except other 13 year olds.
Learn a little about how China views women, a bit about their politics and how women have been treated since the revolution. This is nothing new. I think the reality of Eastern politics met up with your politically correct ignorance and you flew off the handle. Reacted instead of researched. Get a grip.
--Shane
Waste of space.
Riiiight. Because your comments sound so much more professional. I mean calling someone 13 or a "kid" shows your a pro! Fail. You also make it sound like it's ok for China to pull crap like this because they have a history of doing it. They don't. Hey maybe if those idiots didnt go around killing their baby girls like they did in ages past they'd have more women and they wouldnt need a "show us your boobs" policy in their MMOs to get women. Oh like any decent woman would put up with that anyway. So they fail once again.
ok, just read the article and the first couple of posts - so this may have been already stated, I'm not in the mood to read all 28 pages.
They say you have to prove your sexual identity on webcam - would that not constitute encouragement of internet porn? Especially male porn since it is only guys they are checking. I see several gay Chinese executives laughing about all the d*cks they are getting to see for free.
Just my opinion.
nice
) but what they will do with the female that plays as male ? i know lots of girls that plays as boys and they have male characters.
I'm the best , and any one knows that
I hope they go out of buisness, I hope that this stupid company and their backwards pathetic ideals go down the drain as fast as possible. Its sad to see when the world moves backwards. I've never heard of a whole professional company that is homophobic, its shocking but at the same time to be expected. It saddens me to hear that sexism is on the rise again, women won their battle but it seems men have a battle to win of their own. Long live the freedom of expression!!!
I thought Jon Wood was going to prove his sex or become gender neutral in this thread. Now I'm totally disappointed, and I will continue to be disappointed until I hear that Jon has become a Ken doll.
Well MMO's are role-playing by nature so if a guy wants to play as a women I really feel like I have no right to tell them they can't. I feel like the MMO companies are over stepping their boundries by telling people this. A huge part of these games are fantasy and role playing is even in the genre description so I feel like artificial limitations like that are kind of cheapening and unfair. Now I have never cybered in an mmo game so maybe that's one of the reasons I don't care but I can see female toons getting harassed if guys know they are in fact female and that gender ambiguity could work in their benefit. Like I said though, if two people want to cyber or live their online life as the opposite gender I don't feel like it is my place to judge. Hopefully they keep it in tells though as I'd hate to stumble upon that conversation
.
On a somewhat off topic side note I was doing an Iron Tower run in AOC recently with five female toons and myself. Four of which had mics so they were indeed women while the fifth claimed to have none so I couldn't verify one way or the other. The first boss you encounter is female and charms you and all five of them got charmed, with me just escaping in time. That's six women against me if you include the boss chasing after me and beating on me for the duration of the charm which looked hilarious and opened up the dialogue for some very entertaining though sexist conversation between all of us with me certainly on the tale end of all of their jokes and them getting the brunt of my humor. It really can be a wonderful thing to have exchanges and encounters like this with the opposite gender as women can sometimes bring a very different, and in this case very funny, perspective to such encounters. It is certainly a raid I will remember for a long time and they all seemed very nice, were funny and it's certainly the first time that it's happened to me in a video game. The key here is that everyone was respectful yet not very politically correct which is the, imo, ideal atmosphere for such things. Not raunchy or mean spirited but definitely not work place humor. Being the only guy certainly was fun, and to those looking for attention in the digital world, perhaps even enviable but I still think that people should be allowed to play how they feel. Just my 2 cents.
Hah, so the Chinese are basically saying "Tits or GTFO"?
-iCeh
*ahem*
What?
Can I ask, honestly, whether or not you actually read the article?
No kidding guys have been playing female toons forever. I know I have. This article was written to point out how stupid this particular policy actually is. I'm making a "big deal" out of it because it's completely outrageous. Many news sites picked up on this story and I wanted to use my column this week to rant about how stupid it was.
I could see your complaint if the article had been written from the perspective of : hey, what a great idea... but it wasn't.
Why is it outrageous? Many things in life ask you to specify your gender, be it applying for a job or play amateure football. Why would a competetive video game be any different?
It is not politically correct but I dont see what is so outrageous about it.
It does not say that male, female, gay, straight, black, white cannot play. They simply say dont misrepresent/hide your true gender.
Well you see the problem with your view point is that you are not applying for a job or playing amateur football. We are talking about mmoRPG. Yes the RPG stands for roleplaying game. Set in on a real pen and paper rpg game session or go to a roleplaying game convention like GenCon and you will see that the whole thing of not allowing a player to play a character of an opposite sex is ridiculous.
You are not misrepresenting anything because you are playing a roleplaying game. Otherwise like other people pointed out you would be misrepresenting yourself by playing a mage when you don't really cast spells. Or being an orc when you are not.
I think at the heart of the matter is that people for some reason think that these games double as an online dating service. There are companies that are good at finding someone a date. These people need to start going to those sites instead of soliciting other players.
People really need to get a life and stop obsessing over what someones real life sex is. I could care less. If they are cool to group with and are nice in general that is all I care about.
About time they put this kind of thing into games, for far to long we have strayed for the word of the lord and people need to stop this perversion that if cross gender playing, we were made this way by our lord and this is the way we should be view by the world, I'm all for it perhaps DNA testing keyboards, or always on Webcams so there will be no taking pic of there girlfriend as a way around it.
Ok ok I'm joking someone get these guys a big cup of STFU and wave bye bye to there game as it sinks into the pit of games that will never get played.
The only reason for this is so that the CSR's can cyber knowing that it is a girl, I would LOVE to see the transcript of the guy that got burnt SO bad that they want to put this kind of ruling in
Thanks for the LOL will spread this one far and wide