Male gamers playing the Chinese game King of the World will no longer be able to pose as a female character.

The game's developer reportedly has instated a ban on gender fakers and is requiring anyone who controls female avatar to verify her gender via webcam. There is no word on how they will prevent gamers to use a photo or female friend to prevent to avoid the check.

28 Sep 2007

A more fundamental question also remains unanswered: why is it wrong for a male to have a female avatar? And why is that more wrong than, say, an avatar with unrealistic body parts.

Pictures: Marge Simpson ventures into the online game 'Earthland Realms' in the "Marge Gamer" episode. In the bottom picture, gamers (all resembling characters from the cartoon) celebrate the slaying of Bart Simpson's avatar