World of Warcraft was my first MMORPG ever and I went the chick character. Never ever again...
Some people think the avatar is an extension of you and the number of times people assume you're a girl. I'm just playing a game!

PSO.....What a game......

I need that on the wii.

(episode 1 and 2-like, not the crappy universe and card thing)

studies have shown, that when male characters play with female characters, they get more into the game, and that they concentrate more, and do better. ;)

yup XD

After starting with a male character I had my first female character in SecondLife. People who knew me in real life thought I was totally messed up in the head (my ex-wife especially). I made several female characters in SL after that, each a little different. My MMO of choice right now is MapleStory where I have 6 female characters.
In SL I would have to agree that it was at least partially about looking at something I enjoyed for the many hours I played. But it was also partially because to get a good looking male character you had to be buff. I am not buff. I wasn't comfortable pretending I was buff. I felt I had to be all macho, which is harder for me to do than badly trying to act feminine.
I do get hit on a lot in MapleStory (it really is sad). I use it as a chance to remind the guys that it is just a game, anyone can be behind my collection of pixels, and that sex isn't everything.

I too prefer to play female characers in my MMOs. It's just a style choice. Oftentimes I find the male avatars to be quite ugly, or the females get some kind of stat bonus that meshes with the way I prefer to play (fast and agile characters).

I get made fun of sometimes, especially when I play with people that know me (it's worse because I'm in the Army and I'm expected to be some macho guy). But I don't care. I don't hide the fact that I'm male, either, usually, unless I REALLY want to fuck with some annoying kids head.

You're either kinda gay or kinda lonely. That's my take on it, anyway

My brother was a Hunewearl on PSO.
His nickname.... was "Sexy Legs".

Some people think the avatar is an extension of you and the number of times people assume you're a girl. I'm just playing a game!

I think some people are forgetting what the RP in MMORPG means >_>

True, but a role playing game is just that. You're only playing (although I know for some people the game is life). If someone goes a mage people don't expect they believe in magic crystals or are into fantasy things. If I go a dwarf does that mean I'm short in real life?

FONEWERL ftw!

I am the same, I play female characters almost ALWAYS when given the option, not because im some gender confused man, but because usually they are much more pleasing on the eyes when you spend X amount of hours playing...

Look for Mandariel (my female alterego) in most MMOs.

I usually just go for the cool looking badass guy when I can choose my character.

Oh and sync the "You're either kinda gay or kinda lonely" comment, well, kinda on the immature/ ignorant/ I want to feel cool by making fun of you for no reason- spectrum of commenting (the kinda stuff people say in Grade School and High School.) Just thought I'd let you know.

I tend to go for people who look/behave/are nothing at all like myself (except for my Mii). I figure I 'play' myself everyday in IRL, it's nice to play a different character when gaming.

Looking back at the characters I've played as, I'm guessing about half were male, half female, 90% were nothing like me.

Considering that the vast majority of characters I play as are all original creations of mine from other sources, the choice is simple for me:

Is the source persona male or female?

Makes things simpler and with such characters I know exactly what choices they'd make. Also helps when playing good and evil plotlines since the characters I play will make different choices.

I do agree female characters are cooler than male characters and I usually pick them in single player games. However MMO's are totally different.

If your character is female in the game, to me you are female in real life (one way or another). And when your manly voice is heard over Ventrilo, just know everyone is laughing at you.

LOL.

Deciding which gender to be for a game character is always a problem for me too. As with you McWhertor I would rather look at a sexy female human for the duration of my time with a given game, but when it comes down to the crunch I almost always go with the dude character.

Yes I'm that secure.

Pink Masterchief from Halo 2 multiplayer FTW.

Here's a different perspective:

I'm female. I tend to play as male characters online because having people hit on you is INCREDIBLY ANNOYING.

Also: like some of the fellows above, I like to play with the fact that gender is extremely amorphous online. It's interesting to see how people react to me while can only see my personality - without all the crap that's sometimes attached to being a girl.

To those who are annoyed that people assume you're a girl in real life if you assume a female character in a game: just call her "Klinger" and hope for the best. Otherwise, just accept the reality that most gamers are males, and men tend to be leery pigs.

I don't play any MMOs so I can't really comment but I wanted to say this - "Sterling Woodcock"? Seriously? That is awesome

I played as a mithra in FFXI, and the people I know in real life didn't give a shit about it. Hell, most of my other male friends use female avatars.

I'm in love with my Tiger Woods PGA Tour '07 female character.

When I was twelve, I used to have lines form in the local arcade attempting to beat me as Chun Li. Not only did I notice that no other guy would play Chun Li, Cammy or Vega (oh come on) but the fact that I, a male playing a female character, would make them all the more angry at losing.

My point? This neanderthal way of thinking would've even manifested itself if one of the two blocks in pong were pink. It almost makes me feel fortunate that I was always the one stuck playing the girl in Zombies Ate My Neighbors, because in a weird way it's helped me grow in ways that many of my old friends still have not.

That said, I've played female characters for years, even in MMOs, but don't categorize me with anyone whom repeatedly refers to the "I'd rather look at a girl's ass" defense. That's not too much more progressive in thinking than the "lol u fag" prosecution. It's fine if it's true, but please don't use it to argue your point. It's like arguing for gay rights because you like lesbians in your porno.

I usually roll a fem, whether I'm playing a game where I'm looking at my character or not. I'm just more fond of females than I am of males, and the idea of a female kicking all kindss of ass tickles me just right.

And of course more often than not they look cute too. =P

"Why? Simple really. If I'm going to look at a character for ten to forty hours (or a hundred, as I did in Phantasy Star Online), it had better be something I'm fond of looking at"

Thats EXACTLY why I choose female characters.... I'm not especially fond of the male buttocks (esp. enough to have it front and center in my screen for hours upon hours) but many players apparently are. Its all aesthetics for me.

:P

I've played both genres on NWN, for me it's the same experience.

BTW, from which game is the "girl in armor" picture taken ?

Female characters for me too, and it doesn't matter if it's online or not. Even if the game doesn't have an avatar to look at. I just love the reactions I get from people who constantly get their ass kicked by "jessica14".

Actually when I think about it I have on several occasions chosen names like that when driving go-cart or similar stuff in RL for that exact reason. If I end up on top of todays list with a guy-name I'm only some other guy. But if it's a girl teenager that is above you on the list it is a lot harder to take.

I'm totally with Synch here. I've picked female characters in games since approximately forever, I think just because I was uncomfortable with this aggressive male stereotype. A female character's more of a cipher that lets me act however I want. It's kinda ironic, since I suspect women have to deal with more gender pressure to conform than us guys in RL. However, as a guy, that doesn't stress me out at all when I'm roleplaying.

Nowadays, I'm slowly leaning more towards male characters. Anything with voice comm or that's very tightly linked to real life, like say the Sims, will see me playing with male characters. On the voice comm front, I'm quite happy telling people I'm crossdressing anyway, but see La Sepultura's comment. Not everyone's cool with it, and if you can't keep it from em until they know you better, I find it's less hassle to drop the front.

Totally reminds me of this warlock in my old guild called Britney. Big beefy hairy trucker man, was just amusing. I tend to split my characters reasonably evenly though I'd say that there's a slight lean towards female characters.

I do both. ;) Partially because it is a eye candy needed at times, and sometimes when you play as a female, and your in a TS guild, it get awkward....

KOTOR's my favorite though, their is a chance for it to turn into a nice jedigirl on jedigirl love fest, plus the 'butt swaying action' alone makes that game a joy to be a girl.

But, I really don't see how this is gender bending per say. I've done tabletop role playing as a female and constantly re-roll toons as girls. Often times due to different story lines and different ways of doing things. I'm playing through Bloodlines once more right now as a Girl just to get see new stuff. Is it Gender Bending? In the strictest sense yes, but as long as your comfortable with it, there is nothing wrong at all here.

Unless your on Second Life.......

I always play as women in any game I can. There's the solid, sensible reasons - in FPS, I like to believe that regardless of hitbox size, using a slimmer, smaller female character makes opponents TRY harder to hit me; in RPG's, I like looking at a womans ass for hours instead of a mans.

But honestly, more than those reasons, I just like playing as women. Probably I have gender issues. Male characters always seem boring to me, and half the time I'd like to reach in the screen and punch them in the face. The only time it stops working for me is when she starts flirting or getting into bed with male teammates for story purposes - or female ones for that matter. You know what someone needs to make? And RPG where you specify your actual sex and sexual preference first, THEN choose the sex of your character.

I find it interesting how when a guy plays a female character its seen as wrong/weird/gay, but what about the other way around? Most of my female friends like to play male characters. To them, the characters look cool, manly, or whatever. And I dont think anyone cares about girls playing guy characters.

I play whatever to me suits the idea of the character I'm wanting to make, my characters usually are pretty much equally divided between the sexes, In WoW, my hunter is a male dwarf, rogue is a female gnome, mage is a female human, paladin is a dwarf male, when I make a warrior, and shaman (when the exp comes out) the warrior will probably be female, and the shaman, whichever model I think suits the class better.

its also a bit more rare to see the ugly races be females rather than the pretty races. In everquest for example, my female halflings were better treated than my female wood elves.

I usually play women in RPG's. Sure, I'm not a woman in real life, but neither am I a Paladin nor do I say dragons for a living.

But primarily in MMORPGS for two reasons:
1) I would rather look at a female hiender for hours on end than a mans.

2) Guys will give female avatars special considerations. Guys will give a cute avatar weapons, suits of armor and first picks of loot and all sorts of other crap just for having the avatar in the same instance. And who doesn't like free stuff?

People in my guild know my RL gender and don't care. If someone tries to come on to me I just PM: "Dude. I have a dick." and it's usually over. (And if that turns them on I blacklist them.)

Synch, I have the same feelings, but from the flip side. I'm female and I usually hate to play female characters when I RP.

I feel as if I can be one of two types of female characters: the stereotypical healer (standard female cliche) or the stereotypical fighter/aggressive mage (cliche reaction to the healer). Both of them make me uncomfortably aware of my sex, so I choose to play a guy instead.

The exceptions are when RPing is low, classes are tied to a specific sex (Diablo), or the male models are just too ugly.

I always play as a male, and when given the chance, rename him to "Pal". Yes, I AM the hero!

When I first started playing City of Heroes (the only MMORPG I've really liked) I made a guy, but found it was easier to team with a gal, a seven foot tanker as skinny and big boobed as I could make her with glam hair and wearing military garb, well, the guys were too creepy. Then I made Betty Gunbot, as small as possible and wearing a full face helmet, I get no hit-ons by creeps, and was a very excellent assistance blaster until, well, I lost interest. Not even sure my machine will run the new stuff, though, hey, I might pick it back up in the Winter.

I play female characters more often than not, mainly for the same reason-- I would rather look at a shapely form. and in WoW, the male characters are particularly bulky. That means you're easier to target in PvP.

In most MMORPGs (actually, in most games in general that offer you a selection), I will usually go with the female gender of character over the male, if only because it's better to look at, as many of the arguments here have been made.

Granted, the only MMORPG I've ever played was WoW (and that didn't last long), and the male models were just too bulky for the classes that I wanted to play. Females are slender and small, harder to target and hit, and more attuned to the magical and stealth classes I'm drawn to, even though I know that size and shape have no bearing on your character in the game beyond how it he/she looks. Plus, as someone has already said, in terms of stat bonuses for specific genders, females usually tend to get them in magic and stealth anyway.

It's a style of play, and if it's gender-bending in any way, then it's only in the most extreme of cases, at least as I've seen. Do most players see this as gender-bending? I mean, do you guys remember the whole Male Blood Elf fiasco? Blizzard changed the avatar of the Male Blood Elf to please (from what I've read, at least) an uproar on their forums from the players. They used to have a small frame and looked more feminine then they do now (I'm sure you can Google it if you're more interested). Are male players really that afraid to play a female (or even feminine looking) character?

*sigh* I don't know. People can be so insecure.

Huh. In all the years I've been gaming, I've never voluntarily used male characters. Of course, I've also never played any games where it made a whole lot of difference (I'm still trying to figure out where these guys are that supposedly give different, better attention to female avs). Staring at my character for hours while I'm gaming's never been an issue. I usually just play whatever's closest to my style and hope for the best.

There are male-to-female voice mods for Ventrilo and other software packages.

(Does that answer the main question here?)

Interestingly, as a girl, I would never dream of playing a guy on WoW. Not because I have anything against the idea--I often played guys in the MUDs of the 90s--but the choices for guys are awful. As Synch says, to be a guy you have to be buff. WoW doesn't GIVE you another option. Which I kind of resent, because six-packs don't do much for me, and I'd much rather play a skinny little geek with a scrumptious rump than any sword-wielding ass-kicking barrelgut. But hey, I'm a female gamer...what game exec cares what I think is hot?

Sorry to interrupt the gender issue support group going on here, just wanted to say that your excuses are awfully flimsy, and to not expect that other people will buy what you're selling just because your friends and family led you to believe that they're cool with it. They're friends and family, that's practically in the job description.

Svetlana, that is what I hate most about WoW also. I want my rogue to be skinny and agile. I soooo wanted to make a Blood Elf Rogue until they redid the models to make them have more muscles.

And also to the "if I gotta stare at something all day" excuse. Why are you staring at your model? I play all male characters and my eyes are rarely on him. Especially in PvP. I bet males playing females are the ones wiping us in raids. Are they staring at their character all the time instead of doing their job?

svetlana:

Amen Sista. The guys in WoW so far look like they couldn't touch their toes without ripping straight through their shirts. And though that would be funny for a while, I'd still rather have the option for a smaller, svelte male body type.

Then come to think of it, you don't get much choice when it comes to female body types either. It's short and rotund, or tall and hourglass. Oh well, at least they acknowledge it in the human female's joke about clothes.

I usually pick the girl because they were so rare in the beginning, (gooo chun li!), so now it's habit, and I rarely stray from my gender.

Even though RL preferences lean toward well-toned, broad-shouldered types, I find girls more attractive in game. Aside from FFXI with hot male elves, game designers make their men ridiculously beefy, which doesn't work for me.

To anyone who knows about the male gaze theory, do you think that this is more a matter of control and domination rather than a deep rooted need to express themselves femininly?

Metroid is my favorite game series, but I'm not sure I feel much connection to Samus as an avatar. I have a female character in Second Life (which I've only played a couple hours) and I feel the same about that character too.