You might want to learn more about female people, Turn-Me-On.

"Ok guys, REALLY not trying to be sexist here..."

You somehow confused perceived gender roles with game design. In the OP, you could probably replace all words like "women" and "feminine" with "game player" and "casual" and would not be able to tell any difference between the two, aside from the fact that the revised one sounds less offensive.

"Not trying to be sexist, but..." says every sexist person before they make a sexist comment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGjbmywaKMI&t=1m10s

Let us take this point by point, shall we?

1. Nick did not ragequit, he moved on to a different job. People do that from time to time, for both personal and professional reasons.

2. I would actually say "fairness" is more a masculine trait, especially in a competitive atmosphere. A football game, for example, where one team is just stomped into the ground play after play isn't entertaining to you is it? It isn't entertaining to either set of players, for one group they might as well just stand there and for the other they know their going to roll right over the other guys. So all parties involved want a level of fairness and a base level of skill so it is A: entertaining and B: competitive.

3. There are just as many men that want to look good as women. While it is more emphasized for women on a cultural level there are plenty of straight men (as I am pretty sure the OP will view anybody from the GLBT community as feminine... excuse me if I'm incorrect on that) that take the time to look good. Also... you'd be surprised how many guys get a kick out of dress up games.

4. Many MMO or multiplayer games have a chat filter. If anything OOO is more progressive because you can turn it off completely.

So I think you're obviously flawed theory holds about as much water as a boat with a giant heart shaped hole in it.

One other thing... when somebody says "I don't mean to sound racist, sexist, whatever" it means they do but don't want to admit to it, or is just a bad troll. Also, if you don't want to be seen as sexist than it is generally a good idea to not be so obviously sexist... "B-slapped with a well-manicured hand", just as an example. Now if you'll excuse me I have other things to do.

~Gwen

Everything in here is wrong but at least it made me giggle a bit.

I don't see what you mean by fairness, AT is unfair in LD and I honestly want it removed from there.

I haven't seen a good, new feminine costume in a while.

Your intentions don't matter because your post was still sexist (and a giant stretch from what you're implying, as others have already said). Also.

Quotes:
"Ok guys, REALLY not trying to be sexist here..."
"Before I get B-slapped by a well-manicured hand online..."
"... but awesome cosmetics is a feminine trait right? Like clothes or makeup or other things girls like"
"School teachers that are women usually enforce this quite often, as I learned."
"So basically, it seems like OOO is influenced by feminine traits..."
"girls are usually more artistic in school, usually present themselves more cleanly, etc. Stereotype, I know, but I wasnt trying to insult with it"
"My point was supposed to be that the female developers influence the game to take a route towards being more visually appealing and aesthetically versatile, as proven by the numerous cosmetic updates. Idk about you people, but I find that girls usually focus on making things look good moreso than guys."

Response:
I had a friend link me to this commercial about a year ago, when it first came out. My immediate response was to inform her that I know how to cook, knit, crochet, and sew. She was very surprised at finding this out. As a male, I was socially attacked for having these interests. My peers and extended family were more impressed when I picked up chainmaille, but the only difference I saw was using metal instead of fiber. I would like to say that it didn't shape my personal interests, but I only really do chainmaille and a bit of cooking today.

In my opinion, gender roles should be a thing of the past. The best way to get rid of them is to speak up against them. Quite a few others in this thread agree. We are speaking up against them.

my main point was that perhaps they were influencing the game towards being a more casual game rather than a competitive game

Wow, really...? You're gonna pull the "The developers ruined it because they made the game more accessible" card? Have you ever been a member of ANY other MMO community AT ALL?
Here's the deal. If I had an Ecto Drop for every single time someone has said this about an MMO, I would have more Ecto Drops than there are even in existance. And you're trying to use it to prove the gender of developers.

@Post 2
Mind elaborating?

Toxicyoccm is referring to the Gamergate ordeal, where sexism, personal attacks on a game developer, and corruption of the media became a huge topic of (often aggressive) discussion.

My point was supposed to be that the female developers influence the game to take a route towards being more visually appealing and aesthetically versatile, as proven by the numerous cosmetic updates.
p
Well you're completely off track. You've overanalyzed this so much you've missed the point. The game hasn't "taken a route" because that would imply that the content we already have is being replaced by something else.
Cosmetic updates being proof of the developers being female is just as absurd as saying "clothes designers are primarily female" which is not only untrue, but its blatantly far from the truth.
Cosmetic updates being so frequent is because people demand cosmetics on a regular basis (as anyone who browses the Suggestions subforum will know) and because cosmetic updates sell. If you make an update for a game, and that update suddenly brings in a LOT of cash for the game, aren't you going to try to release a similar update next time? It's a no-brainer, I'm pretty sure females aren't the only ones who can answer "yes" to that question.

My personal opinion on this matter

Wow you are such a smart player for figuring all of this out! I always thought it was because Sega is just a terrible company at managing its employees & allowing the three rings staff actually develop more content instead of focusing on two to three promos a month. Maybe...Sega is run by all female employees? I guess companies such as Pepsi, Oracle, IBM, and HP are pretty crappy as well since they have female CEO's...Thank you for your valuable point of view!

*Also just had a manicure yesterday so I might be inclined to backhand you jk...or am I?*

@Faeyd
That is a rather interesting question actually. Out of curiosity, of the people that commented, how many are actually women who got offended at this? Because I'll admit, I'm just some dude who felt like commenting.

aphrodite ends this this thread with a boom: 'violates the forum rules ;) '

case closed

Well that's disappointing.

Sigh.

This isn't feminism. If I had a penny for every time someone used that word wrong I'd have 6 pennies now.

Go back to whatever this is.

Don't even get me started on "ironic"

I'd say something funny but I'm only up to 12.

Owait I got one!!!!!1
"Females can shoot bullets too!"

Gah that was so bad I cringed.

So, what Halo's aim assist doesn't count?
If you want to bring an example about fairness, try thinking of an actual one first.

I will however agree to the hardcore "no swearing" policy that's being enforced to the point of absurdness.

You can even say smart*** without getting an ingame ban.

Which is kind of funny because by the ToS children under 12 aren't even allowed to play, so I'm really wondering what kind of children is this rule protecting.

There is a big difference between swearing at someone and swearing in general. I believe the rules are in place in order to make sure the former doesn't happen. Besides, coming up with creative censors is often a lot more fun!

Don't think it's about "protecting the children!" at this point anyways, it's for legal reasons.

This person seems like a troll, or just some kid who wants to start a bait.

Nobody with a serious argument would start by "not to be xxx but". You might as well tell us you have a mum too, she's female, right? See, totally not sexist.

Also, this thread has nothing to do with feminism, GamerGate and Social Justice Slacktivists, people bringing these up would only prove my point that the prime reason of this thread is to stir up a bait. We might want to stop coining these words as if they are relevant.

Now back on track, as much as I understand the motto of "don't feed a troll", I feel like responding to this giant bait in a semi-serious manner, without going completely off the rails and bringing in feminism and GamerGate into the huge blend. Let's stick to the points shall we?

So we know that Nick was the lead designer, and a guy. He ragequit in style. Ever since he left, we haven't had many combat-centered updates (gunner update would be the only possible one I can think of). There have been a TON of accessories and costumes released, however. Also, swearing in lockdown is ban-worthy (always has been I believe), and AT and other gear have not been sufficiently balanced (Black kat set).

First thing, Nick did not "ragequit", he simply moved to the next phase of his life. He's been working in this industry for years and it is his right to move on.

Nothing indicates a weak argument than contradicting yourself in one single phase. You mentioned that "we haven't had many combat-centred updates" and then followed up with the gunner update, which you believe to be one (and in my opinion, not so). How many would you like? How long has it been since the Gunner's Update? Most MMOs don't change much in terms of combat mechanics. Sure, new missions and new monsters, new weapons and new gear, but both of these are not really combat-centred. The reason I would still verify the Gunner's Update as a change in combat is because mechanics of some guns changed and OOO introduced a slight speed boost when charging guns.

As for the other two points, they will be elaborated later.

Keeping AT = promoting fairness, a feminine trait
There is no AT in games like Halo or similar games, which are usually seen as games for guys.

Halo doesn't have AT?
http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Auto-Aim

And how does AT promote fairness, and how is fairness associated with being feminine? Having AT default on is bad, and we all know it. AT doesn't help much in LD either, unless one is from the lag zone. It doesn't promote fairness, it just dumbs down certain aspects of game play, not to mention AT can be very useful in locking onto targets in PVE when cornering them. A good player has AT off for default, an elite player knows when to utilise AT and the P2Ws kill stuff with sparks.

Costumes/Things that look pretty = feminine trait
-Low or no functionality, but awesome cosmetics is a feminine trait right? Like clothes or makeup or other things girls like

What do you have against looking good? Listen, OOO is a business, a business needs to survive, in order to survive a business needs to make money, and what makes OOO the most money? People who play LD all the time and whine about weapons such as the Mixmaster or people who purchase prizeboxes? It is OOO's interest, as a business, to make money, to keep the servers up and to survive. OOO is releasing monthly prizeboxes simply because this is the best way they have found out to make money. It in not a "feminine trait" for a business to make money, let alone business are not human therefore have no gender. I really want to call you [no personal attacks please].

As for clothes and make-up, guys like those as much as girls, at least for clothes. It is natural for humans to appear the best, and mostly to attract or to gain validation from the opposite sex. This is not true as not everyone is straight but the majority is. Therefore we all tend to gear ourselves up to appeal to our counterparts. Why do you think women like make-up and most men want a six-pack? For fun? Or because they want validation from others? Not necessary from the opposite sex. Wanting to look good is a human trait, not a feminine one.

"No swearing, there are children about" mentality = feminine trait
-School teachers that are women usually enforce this quite often, as I learned. Even more so in a game for kids (13+)

A school is usually comprised of boys and girls, which is a large pool of fish. Some children don't want to swear and are very uncomfortable with others who do swear. Therefore, to not offend any children, it is in the teacher's best interest to promote a profanity free classroom in general. This likely changes in high school where the kids become more mature, therefore the teacher would loosen up such policies. Your experience means nothing, you would need to backup your claim with scholarly studies that have been peer-reviewed.

Usually, the older generation are less exposed to egalitarian concepts, and they usually swear less while there are girls around. This is because gender stereotypes are ingrained in the older generation, as they are not exposed to egalitarian concepts like the younger generation. This is not a feminine trait, you would also find out that most people who enforce this sort of language patrol are older.

Now, why are they usually female?
According to this: http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.PRM.TCHR.FE.ZS 87% teachers are female. This therefore implies that for each teacher who enforce language patrol, 87% of the chance they are a female. You have committed a fallacy of composition by calling that a feminine trait.

Source
Profanity and Gender: a diachronic analysis of men's and women's use and perception of swear words | Michael Gauthier - Academia.edu. 2015. Profanity and Gender: a diachronic analysis of men's and women's use and perception of swear words | Michael Gauthier - Academia.edu. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.academia.edu/2962962/Profanity_and_Gender_a_diachronic_analys.... [Accessed 01 May 2015].

Please refer to the conclusion.

So basically, it seems like OOO is influenced by feminine traits, which could explain why AT, unbalanced gear that looks cool, and player complaints seem unimportant to them. It could also explain why they release cool-looking new accessories and costumes very frequently.

So basically, I have disproved your arguments and your conclusion is thus bollocks. OOO is a company, therefore influenced by the tendency to survive in the market by making more and more money. This is why they release promotions that appeal to people. The BK set in my opinion is beyond ugly to use a costume but the best for PVE, and it is balanced as far as I can tell. A Voltaic Tempest would easily distract the BK player due to the huge negative resistance drawback, a Venom Veiler would easily turn the BK user into a T1 Scuttlebot because of the negative poison. While players with insane UVs might be able to cope with the drawback, it is just because this world is never fair and SK is a free mmorpg. It's their money that brought them privilege. Freeze however won't be able to stop be a BK user as the user is already susceptible to other types of damage and most defensive-offence bombs.

Since you called this "unbalanced gear" cool, your argument is based on your own perspective but fails to include other's input. Not everyone thinks the same way as you do obviously, therefore this final claim can be discarded easily as well.

Here, hope this thread ends.

COPPA applies to the sharing of personal details such as name, age, date of birth, sex, location, etc for children under the age of 13 on the Internet - not cursing.

There is a big difference between swearing at someone and swearing in general... Don't think it's about "protecting the children!" at this point anyways, it's for legal reasons.

Ah okay, I had assumed you were still on the swearing topic from the post in question. I agree with you that it makes the forum a friendlier place. Learned something today while researching that law too~

I was hoping to get some insight as to why updates that added things to gameplay have stopped, or even slowed down.
I say because we have very few developers on staff and that Three Rings has more games than just SK to work on.

In other news we'll likely be getting more vanguard missions sometime in the very near future.

Guys... the OP's last post was a fortnight ago, which was only 7 hours after the original post. (The hit-and-run characteristic being very troll-like)
This thread is dead, has been for a while despite Ellthan's attempt at necroing it. Discuss the reasoning for the chat filters on another thread, please.