Fans rage over Blizzard forum plans

[Rico]

So, it seems Blizzard (i.e. WOW) wants your real name on their forums very soon.  This is really a silly idea (IMHO).  Read on:

The internet is raging this afternoon over Blizzard's plans to put World of Warcraft users' real names on their official forum posts. The bastards.

The Diablo developer's revealed that, if you post on the version of its forum that will launch with the new StarCraft, your real name, rather than your username, will be shown.

It seems like Blizzard's looking to turn Battle.net into more of a social network than a competitive matchmaking service, as it says itself:

"It's important to us to create a new and different kind of online gaming environment - one that's highly social, and which provides an ideal place for gamers to form long-lasting, meaningful relationships. All of our design decisions surrounding Real ID - including these forum changes - have been made with this goal in mind."

Our colleagues at PC Gamer UK call the plans "foolhardy" and "asking for trouble".

"The gamers that live and breathe their service, at every level, from the bottom, to the super-hardcore pro-gamers, simply don't identify themselves by their real name when they play," the mag says. "They live by their identity or handle. Battle.net isn't a social network. It's a fight club.

"According to Blizzard's announcement, all StarCraft II and Cataclysm forums will display your real name. That means even the tech support forums. And the roleplaying forums. I'm not sure why I need to identify myself when I'm trying to figure out why Warcraft crashes. Or when I'm pretending to be a druid."

One angry reader said of the plans: "I don't want all the world to know my real name. More social it might be but it's very intrusive to my privacy... In this day and age when most social websites are being pushed for more privacy functions they decide to open it up in one of the worst possible way."

Frankly, we don't give a monkey's who knows our real names. We post stuff on the internet all day with our names on the bottom. But we can see how this could be a problem for MMO fans.

Any WoW players out there care to offer their two pence on this issue?

[ Source: PC Gamer ]


http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=254846

[billybob476]

Yeah this has been all over the place. For in-game I get it, it's meant for you and your close friends to play together. However a publicly accessible place like a forum is no place for it (not that I ever venture to the cesspool that is the official WoW forums).

[Rico]

See, even in-game to connect I don't really see the need.  If I want to play with a friend I just look up their character name.  I mean isn't the whole idea of a virtual world and an MMO to put on a new identity?  I see Blizzard changing their mind about this one.  Should make Blizzcon very interesting if this is still in place.

[billybob476]

The issue is that this isn't just for WoW, it's Battle.net-wide, you will have the same freidns list in WoW, Starcraft II, Diablo III and anything else Blizzard puts out. IMO they'll end up implementing a Battle.net screen name. My old WoW handle was billybob476 but that went away with the Battle.net integration, all we're identified by now is our emails (as you know).

[Rico]

Yep - across Battle.net.  But even an email ID is probably better than your real name.  And a handle type name even better.  Other game networks seem to work just fine like that.  This idea that "it makes you easier to find" is 100% true - and I think the problem too.  Most people like a little anominity when they game online - or do other stuff.  ;)

[billybob476]

I fully agree. This is not a good implementation especially with the recent privacy issues with Facebook still in people's minds.

[Rico]

I see this and other recent things online just ways for them to learn more and more about you in order to focus ads and targeted revenue making schemes.  All pointing to the day when the internet will be about as much fun as junk mail.  :(

[X]

I like it! It's not like people actually sign up to those sites using their real names anyway. I think taking some of the anonymity out of the internet will make people behave less like jerks. Too many people find it too easy to be insulting jerks while hiding behind their handles.

I know about 14 people that share my first and last name. Unless you have a truly unique name, it's just going to be a name. Most of my emails also use my name. I do it because I'm not going to be doing anything on the net that would damage my name.

I can't stress how much I like the idea because there is a HUGE difference in behavior when your name is attached to what you write.

[Bryancd]

I like it! It's not like people actually sign up to those sites using their real names anyway. I think taking some of the anonymity out of the internet will make people behave less like jerks. Too many people find it too easy to be insulting jerks while hiding behind their handles.

I know about 14 people that share my first and last name. Unless you have a truly unique name, it's just going to be a name. Most of my emails also use my name. I do it because I'm not going to be doing anything on the net that would damage my name.

I can't stress how much I like the idea because there is a HUGE difference in behavior when your name is attached to what you write.

Wait a minute! Is your name Chris or JustX?!!! ;)

I have always used my actual name on all internet forums. I hide from no man. :)

[X]

I like it! It's not like people actually sign up to those sites using their real names anyway. I think taking some of the anonymity out of the internet will make people behave less like jerks. Too many people find it too easy to be insulting jerks while hiding behind their handles.

I know about 14 people that share my first and last name. Unless you have a truly unique name, it's just going to be a name. Most of my emails also use my name. I do it because I'm not going to be doing anything on the net that would damage my name.

I can't stress how much I like the idea because there is a HUGE difference in behavior when your name is attached to what you write.

Wait a minute! Is your name Chris or JustX?!!! ;)

I have always used my actual name on all internet forums. I hide from no man. :)

LOL Actually both! X (pronounced either X or Chris depending on her mood) is a nick name that someone calls me ... Most sites need 4 or more characters to create a user name. So I added the just part because I only wanted Just the X.

Also, the BBC also picked up this story.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/10543100.stm

[Rico]

Just a first name is quite a bit different from giving out your full, real name.  I've used nicknames or handles but have always tried to only say online what I would have no trouble saying in person.  I know many people don't operate like that.  But again, this isn't about any of that, in my opinion.  This is about them learning more and more about you.  And that I do have a problem with.  I pay them to play an online persona - that is part of the appeal of gaming and MMO's.  Anyway, it will be interesting to see what comes of this.

[Bryancd]

RAD1701...I just realized those are your initials, duh. :)

[Rico]

RAD1701...I just realized those are your initials, duh. :)

Yep - that was one of the first user names I came up with for online stuff way back in the day.  Still use it quite a bit.  Easy to remember and usually unique enough for most places.

[X]

It seems from the article that this change is only in regards to posting on the Forums. If that's the case, those that don't want to be known has the option of not posting. Better some order than them shutting the boards down completely due to flame wars.

[billybob476]

...and anyone that has been on the official forums will attest they are not the friendliest of places. I think it's been 3 or 4 years since i've posted there.