Chinese Company Drops the Banhammer on MMOG Gender Bending

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Chinese Company Drops the Banhammer on MMOG Gender Bending

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Posted October 28th, 2009 by Martuk

Gender bending can get you banned in China.

I'm sure we all know some people that choose to play the opposite sex in an MMOG. Some guys just like the look of female models better and some women play male avatars to avoid getting harassed, but Aurora Technology, Chinese MMOG company, has dropped the banhammer on this activity. Some of the games impacted by include Aion, Dungeons and Dragons Online, and Company of Heroes. Proof of gender is even being required via webcam. This isn't the first time the company has taken this stance as it has banned players in the past for the same reason.

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.

Should companies have the power to regulate what you play in an online game? Let us know what you think on our forums.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Martuk

So what would you guys do if this became practice in the US and Europe? I know we have readers from both as well as a few other places.

I doubt they could get away with it in the US (to this extent, aka the webcam bit), however I know at least two F2P game sets your avatar to the gender you pick when setting up the account. One of them is Battleswarm, the other I can't remember.

Quote:

So what would you guys do if this became practice in the US and Europe?

I would stop playing MMO's. You take away my choice and I'll take away my money.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngryBeaver

I would stop playing MMO's. You take away my choice and I'll take away my money.

That was pretty cliche there beaver. I kinda liked it.

Funny how most cliches are true.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngryBeaver

You take away my choice and I'll take away my money.

Agreed

I'm betting one of their head honchos thought they were setting up a date with a girl when they were flirting with that toon and were a little miffed when a G.I.R.L. showed up at their door.