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. 

The only people I can see as thinking this is a good thing, are the people that actually troll for chicks in an mmorpg.  I could care less whether you're a male playing a female char or female playing a male char.  It makes no sense.  I guess we've all seen, at one time or another, gamers hitting on other gamers in an mmorpg.  I rolled a female char a while back and it wasn't long before some player was chasing me around asking for my a/s/l.  Pervs are pervs no matter what the environment.  They are just free to be uber pervs when they're anonymous.  Some though are curbed a bit by not knowing if the female char they want to flirt with is really a male.  For some it doesn't matter.  So doesn't this, if this rule is implemented here, just make it more difficult for female gamers to play without harrassment?  Now pervs know for sure that theres a female playing and will be more relentless.

There was no point to writing this article. It's just a rant.

Although the company's policy is clearly one-sided and exploitable, kudos to them for challenging the gender confusion/bending that is becoming more and more prevalent in society. It may be misplaced, but hey, at least someone is doing something to challenge this crap somewhere.

If it stops one kid from going down the path to cross-dressing and becoming confused about their sexual identity, then fantastic.

We don't need any more "men" with wombs who decide it's okay to have kids after a sex change operation, or "chicks with dicks".

Originally posted by hogscraper

 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. 

Yeah, it seems a lot of people here are unable to seperate the game from what is behind the screen, and instead take everything for face value. When I play mmos I just see a character as a player regardless of the gender. I will refer to that person under the toons pronouns until I find out either in vent or though them that they are of a different gender.
 

I also agree with you though I will also normally play female characters because they look better to me and have better animations. Playing a guys hoped up on steroids are not my idea of fun. I don't mind playing the male on the non-human races though such as the horde races from WoW, with the exception the blood elfs because of their manerisims. I figure if I am going to be looking at something for hundreds of hours might as well look at something apealing. I do think if they made male characters look a bit better then I would play them more often. I think that The Secret World might be a game I will have a hard time deciding which to play.

If the game offers "adult content" as in sex and violence themes then I can understand some measures in place but what I would do is ..

Allow all male and female to create an avatar of either sex

BUT

if they WISH to they can verify their gender this creates a basic FLAG that shows your gender was verified for whatever reason

OR

can continue to be unverifed of either sex

WHY

well this then caters for people that do want secruity doing kinky stuff online but doesnt affect the vast majority playing either. An option but not enforced basically.

Originally posted by hogscraper

 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.

Originally posted by Shohadaku

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.

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.

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.

Originally posted by Rabenwolf

Originally posted by Shohadaku

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.
 

Originally posted by Shohadaku

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 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.

Jon writes his best when he's riled.

Originally posted by dkzero

This is great!  Guys who play as girls piss me off more than anything in the mmo world.

Why, exactly?

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.

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.

Originally posted by Teala

Originally posted by Stradden

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.

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.

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.

Originally posted by Shalandar

Originally posted by Teala

Originally posted by Stradden

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.

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 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!!!