Outside of APB, this is the closest game I can think of : http://www.play.net/mo/

No offense Seargent, but  your question is invalid because the starting assumptions are incorrect. Knowing many female gamers (including my current girlfriend and every one of my ex's), women playing men is not uncommon. While some females (like males) are uncomfortable playing outside of their gender because it can get weird, many women do play males.

I've asked, out of curiosity, of the female ones that mostly or sometimes play males: The usual response is no different than that of the males that play females. They'd rather look at a guy while playing.

One of the RPers I know always played guys, and she'd have women hit on her and tell me about it if it was particularly amusing to her. I told her it was mean spirited to not identify herself OOC as a female, but she didn't listen to me.

Anyway, it really is not uncommon. These misogynistic "lol no gurls on internets" Neanderthals would be shocked to know how many "dudes" they are playing with are actually women.

Fun Fact:

There has been some informal research that was done on Table Top Games (Not MMOs) on players playing opposite gender characters, but I think it holds up there for MMOs. it was interesting, and as far as a general rule holds to be very true: When straight people make opposite gender characters, they generally come in three flavors. They are:

A) Ideal Boyfriend/Girlfriend - The kind of person they'd like a long term relationship with.

B) Fantasy Lover - Someone they'd be attracted to in an animalistic way, but isn't pleasant to think of in a long term fashion.

C) Outrageous Character - Usually based on someone/something in fiction, extreme personalities, or a crazy idea they've had that works for a specific gender best.

There are exceptions, of course, but the groups I read that did this seem to find this common theme. I did a little survey as well and found it to be true in my personal circle as well. This applies to both men and women.

Again, this is for table top gaming, but I think it works for MMOs too.

The perfect MMO would ditch the class system entirely in my opinion. It's outdated, and in my experience, far less fun than picking cool abilities I like to make my own character. I want to make my own character, not use the abilities someone else wants me to have in their class they designed.

Yes, skill systems can be hard to balance on one level, but it's not impossible (well, in regards as much as 'complete' balance is ever possible, since elements of it can be subjective) and the returns are worth it. On another level, assuming you have a smart series of rules and systems, balancing skills by and of themselves is less complex than making a well-oiled one-trick-pony-machine-thing of a class. Granted, when you can mix and match, people can create "odd builds". But any good skill system should have a "respec" feature that lets people make adjustments and fine-tune their fun little creation.

As for balance in general: It helps if you don't use unnecessarily arcane formulas and have a simple but robust system that relies on more straightforward calculations. Just because a computer can process ridiculous formulas in half a nanosecond doesn't mean you have to use them.

I really do believe that most mmorpgs could use more revealing outfits for the males.

I'm glad to see Blades and souls agreed with me on that one, but I believe many more mmorpgs could really learn from lineage 2.

/discuss
 

Just about every one of AoC's ads is sexist. What do you expect from a game whose one of two selling points is "Female breasts! Lookie!" To be fair, the other selling point, cutting off people's heads, is something we all can enjoy.

But then again, they aren't the only ones with sexist ads, if you just glance at most of them. To be clear, I'm not against "sexy" ads, but double standards are really unacceptable. When the female character is hyper-sexualized and the male is head-to-toe armored, that is sexist. But if they are both fully armored or both wrapped in bondage gear, then it' s okay.

Not to mention it only reinforces the (false) stereotpye that only males enjoy games. While you will find more males playing games, the reasoning for that stems entirely from cultural preconceptions - as in, it's "okay" for guys to play video games as part of accepted culture. Which is why many a young gamer girl has had to steal, borrow, or otherwise bogart the video game console or gaming computer their parents bought for her older brother, who may not be a real gamer and only use it to play Halo and Grand Theft Auto.

And MMORPG.Com is really not shy about being sexist themselves on occassion, nevermind the ads (which, to be fair, if I owned a successful site like this, I'd probably have to run at least some of them). They had a front page link to that "Booth Babes" nonsense awhile back too, as if that is news. I had thought E3 had given up that crap, but apparently the prebuscent male and wasted frat boy demographic is just too tantalizing!

It's just sort of sad. And not in the Old Yeller way.

I'll be interested in seeing more information on this game come out as beta progresses and users are allowed to talk about it.

Since this is essentially GTA Online, I have a feeling I won't be the only one!

Well, for the record I agree with you, but more so in the general sense that females in general are over-sexed in MMOs. And then that is only really a problem because of the double standard when the men are fully clothed and look like crap. Though at least the male characters in the Korean games are attractive and not gorilla-like man-beasts. Eurasian or any other race, it doesn't matter, at least they don't look like cavemen. They still wear x10 more clothes then the women do, though.

That said, and I mean this sincerely, don't you think you're coming off a little arrogant in this post? It takes a staggering level of hubris to think that males are going to "wank", as you put it, after meeting you. If you'd tone down the self-references and stick to the point, I think your overall message would be made more clear and more difficult to dismiss.

And it would be a shame for someone to dismiss it because of tone, since you do indeed have a very valid point.

Just my thoughts.

Originally posted by Ozarumon

So I have a hobbie and my hobbie is playing WOW, its great for something to get away with and I do have an 80 and one of the main healers in my raid guild, we are almost finished clearing 25 man. We raid a lot and usually the raids and what not gearing up my character has been getting between me and my GF. Today I think was the last straw when she came over and she was kissing on my neck and what not and I told her could she atleast give me 30 mins, because we were in the middle of a boss fight.

 

She got mad and left she said this was the last straw it was either her or the game, what do i do?

Seriously? Dump her and get a gamer-girlfriend. Why get involved further with someone who doesn't understand your interests? You shouldn't have to sacrifice what you enjoy for a significant other. It is obvious she just does not understand.

So, find someone who does.

Originally posted by noobzor

first i know where you got your avatar better hope i dont throw you prinny squad.

Dooooood! You're killing us off!? Everybody, run!!

Looks good. Worthy of at least a try since its not a WoW clone or PvP twitch fest.

Really liked how they laid it all out in the Abilities section (indirectly) why classes are stupid. If you let people choose abilities and do it right, people can build the vanilla classes you see in other games but people with more intelligence and/or creativity can invent their own builds and enjoy them. Their study programs in the University sound like templates, which are the answer to people's complaints that they like the defined roles of classes. For all six of you who do, great, skill systems let you build vanilla class structures just fine. It just doesn't force everyone into your box you find so cozy and the rest of us find boring.

As for "flavor of the month" builds, well there are also unbalanced classes. People are still gonna bitch no matter what. That's a stupid counter-argument: always has been, always will be.

I like real turn-based combat, like it Atlantica. Done right, turn-based combats require the most strategy, while twitch-systems rely on mouse-fu. Which isn't a display of anything but reflex training. More of real-turn based, please.

Classic MMO combat, real-time-with-refresh, is okay. Some is done better than others. It's the standard, so I'm used to it. Oh, and its NOT TURN BASED! Turn-based purists know this.

Twitch combat: as far as I'm concerned, save it for when I play games like Grand Theft Auto. It works there.

Prinny Squad!

Originally posted by KaltesHerz

I'll use good ol UO as an example.

When UO split into Trammel and Fellucca all the whiney ass Pvp'rs went off on how it killed pvp and how so many people were pvp'rs.

Well if that's the case, then why didn't all you tough guy pvp'rs stay in Fella? It's because all you really meant to say was that all the Pve'rs who wanted nothing to do with you losers went to Trammel and you had nobody to grief.

That's basically the breakdown of all pvp.

Excellently put. Most PvPers don't want a fight. They want a griefing target.

I'm not a huge FPS fan, but it looks like this game may be fun to try for a bit. If I may, some questions for the experts and new arrivals both:

What features does it offer that make it worth play ing over a free game? An FPS is an FPS, is it not?   

Also (I'm only interested in playing Infantry) I read that you need to be rank 3 to be one of the SMG guys, how long does that take? Single shot rifles are a snooze!

Are there population concerns? I read some conflicting info on this.

Thanks for any info!

Originally posted by Squal'Zell

Originally posted by PrinnySquad

PvPers are an extreme minority. Anyone who is not in denial knows that, heck, most PvPers themselves will actually acknowledge it. I say that as a minority myself, being an RPer.

But minority that they are, if they band together on a few select hardcore PvP games they can provide a healthy population and acceptable revenue for the company running the game.

I'll be trying Earthrise to support class-less gaming, but I despise PvP. Plus the other features are too good to not justify giving it a try. First gank-squad that comes by though, I'll quit, no regrets, don't care how awesome the rest of it is. I don't need the childish antics or posturing. That will ruin any interesting mechanics or fun content.

Then, later on when/if they start floundering for money and relax the hangman's noose of FFA-full-loot-PvP, I'll be back if it's a good game. They may never do that if it's a PvPer paradise that calls the whole base home or if the other features are so good that enough PvErs are willing to suffer through it to enjoy said other stuff. Time will tell.

Remember though, Ultima gave it up. There is a reason for that ~

From the Prinny Squad, With Love

 

if you are wondering alone, looking like you may have something of value, it is kind of expected that you may find a gorup of hunters who will just go and kill you and take your belongings, (as long as there is a consequence to them for doing it) it is part of the game

Sure, it is part of the game. You are 100% correct and I can't argue that. It's techincally valid.

Which is why I kinda don't want to play the game, because I find that incredibly stupid, childish, boring, un-fun, and potentially frustrating. And did I mention stupid?

That said, I'll still give it a try. And like I said: Some people enjoy that. More power to them. But first time it happens to me, I quit.

To be clear, this isn't some lame threat with "Do this or I quit." I don't expect them to cater to me. I know what it is going into it. I'm just laying out my opinion, since this is a forum for that kind of stuff.

And like I said: Other than that glaring feature, and some serious combat concerns, the rest sounds really good.

Cheers!

PvPers are an extreme minority. Anyone who is not in denial knows that, heck, most PvPers themselves will actually acknowledge it. I say that as a minority myself, being an RPer.

But minority that they are, if they band together on a few select hardcore PvP games they can provide a healthy population and acceptable revenue for the company running the game.

I'll be trying Earthrise to support class-less gaming, but I despise PvP. Plus the other features are too good to not justify giving it a try. First gank-squad that comes by though, I'll quit, no regrets, don't care how awesome the rest of it is. I don't need the childish antics or posturing. That will ruin any interesting mechanics or fun content.

Then, later on when/if they start floundering for money and relax the hangman's noose of FFA-full-loot-PvP, I'll be back if it's a good game. They may never do that if it's a PvPer paradise that calls the whole base home or if the other features are so good that enough PvErs are willing to suffer through it to enjoy said other stuff. Time will tell.

Remember though, Ultima gave it up. There is a reason for that ~

From the Prinny Squad, With Love

Oh okay, thanks! I guess I learned something today!

Originally posted by Noggin

Originally posted by MikeTheSaint

I dunno about this, Hello Kiddy Online. This game sounds like a haven for all the nonses and groomers out there.

What exactly is it in the opening post that you 'dunno about'?

You're asking about that part!? Was I the only person who didn't know what a nonse and a groomer was before reading this?

Is that new slang, British slang, or from that TV show about pedophiles?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/APB_(video_game)

Very average, but pretty much what I expected.

For those who are looking at the next evolution of The Formula, this may be a great game for you.

As someone whose sick of The Formula, I'll have to pass on this one. That's just me, though.

I find twitch combat systems to be less entertaining, but if you like them, the ones listed by a copule people so far are good.

I value combat systems that are more based on strategy than how fast you wave your mouse. I'm going to list three of my favorites, and I'm ONLY commenting on the combat, not the other virtues/vices of the games:

The Matrix Online has a great interlock combat system. The ranged combat should have been better integrated into it, as it behaves like standard fare (unless you interlock with a gun in hand). Essentially there are a number of basic "automatic attacks" in which you trade blows with an opponent. Each basic attack type has a status effect attached that affects the character and may create openers for certain special moves you can activate.

The up and coming Atlantica Online has a very nice turn-based combat system. It starts out simple, but gets very complex. Different characters and their attacks affect different amounts of characters and you can hire mercenaries to augment your party and determine your overall theme for fighting.

Darkwind: War on Wheels is more of a strategy/RPG hybrid where you control a gang of characters rather than one, also has a good combat system. Characters and vehicles have hit-locations and you can damage engines, blow off character's limbs, etc. There is a phase where you determine where you're driving, who you're shooting at, and then it resolves when the turn ends.