Just found this article while browsing the web.

 

As of a month ago, a Chinese MMO company has started banning accounts of male players that play female characters in their game. Only a few news sites outside of China have picked up on the ruling.

 

Aurora Technology, a subsidiary of MMO giant Shanda that publishes many MMOs in China, including AION, Dungeons & Dragons Online, and Company of Heroes Online, started requiring players of their MMO King of the World, to start proving their gender via webcam. The rule, which was first announced in late September, seems to apply only to male players playing female characters and not the reverse.

 

There was no further explanation of the ruling, although the headline on the Pacific Epoch site says it is an attempt to rein in transsexuals in games.

 

In a more recent take on men playing women in video games, the author makes some broad generalizations, including that men like watching their lithe female avatars from behind, or that "a man would want to play a female character is often evidence enough for many in the online community to label someone a homosexual."

 

What the [bleep], china? Not only they are being homophobic, but also are making generalizations on the gamer community.

Don't the chinesse MMO companies have anything better to do?

 

Some more stuff I found:

 

Now, only female players can play female characters, and theyre required to prove their gender via a webcam. Females wanting to play males are still allowed though.

 

EDIT: just realized this is old news, but I think this is relevant and has discussion value.

Along with major double standards and sexism and generalization of gamers, and not to mention the fact that china is already screwed up when it comes to the internet. Wtf indeed, but then again this isn't the first time china has tightly controlled things unnecessarily.

mmoRPG ROLE PLAYING GAME

Should people wanting to be wizards also have to prove their abilities by casting spells on webcam? You know, to prevent satanists or something.

I rarely play as a guy on games, but rules (even one sided ones) on things like this are just stupid.

Even through the serious prejudges in this situation, one cannot refrain from giggling from the quick, split-second, stereotypical reading of the title.

Even through the serious prejudges in this situation, one cannot refrain from giggling from the quick, split-second, stereotypical reading of the title.

I was thinking that too. I think they were saying a chinese MMO company banned it, not china itself. Cuz, otherwise we could be starting topics like:

"UK bans swearing" Because jagex censors most language.

You have terrible reading comprehension.

 

So what if one company is doing this? Of all the things that happen in China, the one you're most worried about is dudes not being able to pretend to be wizards with vaginas? Really?

I lol'd HARD.

 

Their concern is valid. Lord knows how many people look for 'love' on MMO's. I guess the wrong guy missed Ackbar's memo.

 

I think it should be up to the game itself to enforce this rule, not the Chinese government. That way some games can maintain their "role playing" aspect, and others will be filled with honesty. And a lot more male characters.

I think it should be up to the game itself to enforce this rule, not the Chinese government. That way some games can maintain their "role playing" aspect, and others will be filled with honesty. And a lot more male characters.

 

 

Well, it's not China that banned it, it's the game company. I wonder how the company can tell if a user is male or female?

I think it should be up to the game itself to enforce this rule, not the Chinese government. That way some games can maintain their "role playing" aspect, and others will be filled with honesty. And a lot more male characters.

 

 

Well, it's not China that banned it, it's the game company. I wonder how the company can tell if a user is male or female?

 

They have to go on webcam to prove they're female.

 

I wonder if a wig and a bit of blush would fool them.

Doesn't a company have better things to do?

 

As for this...

including that men like watching their lithe female avatars from behind

I always assumed that this is what a majority of men liked doing either way. Plus if you're going to be there for 10+ hours...

Wow, well at least we now know whether that girl is really a girl :P

 

But seriously, come on? Its an RPG. Maybe some people like to have girl avatars (and yes, maybe they do actually play the game with them :lol:).

Change the title. It's a company, not China genius.

What's to prevent a male someone from getting their sister or a female friend to pose on the webcam for them...?

A broomsticks' what now !?

If males are not allowed to play as females, then it makes more sense that females are not allowed to play as males.

 

China MMO companies are sexist.

 

At least I play Runescape. No rule enforcements there.

If males are not allowed to play as females, then it makes more sense that females are not allowed to play as males.

 

China MMO companies are sexist.

 

At least I play Runescape. No rule enforcements there.

Well, I think it's more of a logistics problem that makes them not check for girls playing as guys. That would require them to manually check every single person to sign up, rather than only a small percent.

If males are not allowed to play as females, then it makes more sense that females are not allowed to play as males.

 

China MMO companies are sexist.

 

At least I play Runescape. No rule enforcements there.

Well, I think it's more of a logistics problem that makes them not check for girls playing as guys. That would require them to manually check every single person to sign up, rather than only a small percent.

Still, it's like saying every male will play as a female. I don't and I'm pretty sure there are many others that don't.

 

Besides, what's wrong with males playing as females? It's just different pixels.

If males are not allowed to play as females, then it makes more sense that females are not allowed to play as males.

 

China MMO companies are sexist.

 

At least I play Runescape. No rule enforcements there.

Well, I think it's more of a logistics problem that makes them not check for girls playing as guys. That would require them to manually check every single person to sign up, rather than only a small percent.

Still, it's like saying every male will play as a female. I don't and I'm pretty sure there are many others that don't.

 

Besides, what's wrong with males playing as females? It's just different pixels.

Once again, people are always paranoid over video games. If they can believe Counterstrike = Mass shootings, then they can assume males playing as females are perverts/homosexuals.

Also, this method is flawed as hell. Just get someone to pose for you. :wall:

Well this makes.. little to no sense. China is having with with being sexist then, it seems. :mellow: One rule for one party, the same for another. Though this rule shouldn't exist at all..

half the woman in runescape would have been banned if Jagex was that Chinese company. lol

half the woman in runescape would have been banned if Jagex was that Chinese company.

More then that.

half the woman in runescape would have been banned if Jagex was that Chinese company.

More then that.

More than even that. But I digress. Chinese companies like this tend to be horrible anyway, and the MMOs they manage is probably garbage too. And I looked at the first link, all they're doing is publishing. They should have ABSOLUTELY NO BEARING WHATSOEVER on how players play the game. I'd expect these rulings to be carried out by the MMO developers themselves, not some no-name publisher.

More than even that. But I digress. Chinese companies like this tend to be horrible anyway, and the MMOs they manage is probably garbage too. And I looked at the first link, all they're doing is publishing. They should have ABSOLUTELY NO BEARING WHATSOEVER on how players play the game. I'd expect these rulings to be carried out by the MMO developers themselves, not some no-name publisher.

Even though I'm in China right now, I totally agree with you. Chinese gaming companies are crap, with their "iQue" Nintendo ripoff and other fakes.

Quote

Now, only female players can play female characters, and theyre required to prove their gender via a webcam. Females wanting to play males are still allowed though.

 

This says it all. It's all a ploy to get women on cam.

Now, only female players can play female characters, and theyre required to prove their gender via a webcam. Females wanting to play males are still allowed though.

 

This says it all. It's all a ploy to get women on cam.

 

Hahahaha, hadn't thought about it that way =D>