World of Warcraft maker to end anonymous forum logins

[Gray_Fox_86]

If DP required us to use our real names, I bet the trolling would drop. :shrug:

Well there are guys like Metalgear who can find anyone on DP and follow them around.....don't say a word to him or his brother about that.

 

[ReverendHellh0und]

Well there are guys like Metalgear who can find anyone on DP and follow them around.....don't say a word to him or his brother about that.

If you have evidence of this bring it up with the moderators, this is not tolerated around here..... period.

 

[rivrrat]

Show of hands: how many MMO players have or would wear custom clothing of their game to openly display that they personally play?

/raises hand.

/raises hand

I wear gaming t-shirts. Had many a convo struck up in stores and on the street because of it too. "Oh! You play such and such?? What server?" I don't understand why people would hide the fact that they play. Doesn't make sense to me. My bosses have played, co-workers, etc, etc.

 

[texmaster]

Oh, I agree. This is a horrible move. I am not defending it in the least, just trying to understand why. The kind of thing like the link I provided about the 16 year old girl being stalked by a WoW guildmate is a good example of why this is so bad.

Well you are making good points but you do understand I can't admit that.

And that last one is a very important point. The ability to track down people would be the biggest drawback to this new idea of theirs. Me personally it doesn't bother me as it would if I had kids that played online. Its opening the risk to predators and psychos. Anyone how has been stalked knows exactly what I'm talking about.

 

[Redress]

If DP required us to use our real names, I bet the trolling would drop. :shrug:

I also think it would effect the number of people who use the forum, possibly quite dramatically.

 

[rivrrat]

IMO this has little to do with curbing trolls through names and everything to do with using more direct control over your access.

They do this for buying/selling gold, also. It used to be that if WoW cough you buying gold, that particular account would be punished. Now that everyone is on BattleNet, every game account you posses is punished.

I'm positive there are other marketing forces at play, but there's my opinion on how trolls enter into the picture.

It's not that as much as it's the account hacking. At SOE that was such a huge issue that they were honestly scratching their heads over. There's little to be done to protect the user without restricting the user in some way. Account hacking costs the company money. Gold selling, not so much.

 

[rivrrat]

Ahhhh . . . I think my hope for humanity was just flushed a little.

People actually pay REAL money to have FAKE money in a game? I hope, while they're being fleeced and someone's pockets are getting fat with REAL MONEY that they're at least not paying 1:1

Yes. People play REAL money to decrease the amount of time it takes for them to achieve a goal. They pay REAL money to have more fun.

 

[Guy Incognito]

Personally, I think this is much ado about nothing. Nobody is forcing anybody to reveal their names online, it's part of the package for playing this game. If they're trying to reduce trolling, or "griefing," that's a legitimate purpose, and hey, they don't even need a legitimate purpose. If Blizzard is trying to make the game more marketable in Asia, good for them, they're making a smart business decision. Bottom line is, they're a private enterprise they can set the terms for their service. Hatuey said it best, "Don't like it, don't play."

 

[Laila]

Oh, I agree. This is a horrible move. I am not defending it in the least, just trying to understand why. The kind of thing like the link I provided about the 16 year old girl being stalked by a WoW guildmate is a good example of why this is so bad.

What's in a name?
Nice to know the CEO donated and raised money for Bush. :doh

This is why it is a bad idea and this is just some WOW players making a point.

 

[texmaster]

What's in a name?
Nice to know the CEO donated and raised money for Bush. :doh

This is why it is a bad idea and this is just some WOW players making a point.

Great link thanks

 

[Jerry]

It's not only a matter of a person showing their real name. It's also a matter of having to show the real name of your children and teenagers who play. I think for that reason alone, many parents will no longer allow their children and teenagers to play.

In a world of Facebook and similar, I just don't see the problem with using the name on a game forum regardless of the age. They already use it on so many other online outlets, what makes this media taboo?

 

[Jerry]

I imagine with regards to WOW having account information that is wholey different than your CC information could be problematic. I'm unsure however.

Jallman's the go-to guy for information about how Blizz handles CC info.

But anyway I use game time cards, so no problem.

 

[Aunt Spiker]

Yes. People play REAL money to decrease the amount of time it takes for them to achieve a goal. They pay REAL money to have more fun.

Just how much money do people put into these types of games?
Just how many other things should they be doing with their money and time instead?
How many of these people are otherwise flat broke?

You know what - I don't even really want to know the answer to these questions. . . I think my mind is better off as is - ignorant on teh subject.

 

[Ikari]

What's in a name?
Nice to know the CEO donated and raised money for Bush. :doh

This is why it is a bad idea and this is just some WOW players making a point.

That's kinda creepy. Kinda like stalking and ill intent sort of stuff. But I guess if everyone on WoW had their real names, it could happen. People do often get pissy at each other for no good reason. And there's a lot of people out there with far too much time on their hands.

 

[American]

Maybe we'll finally learn what Redress' true gender is. :lol:

 

[Ikari]

Just how much money do people put into these types of games?
Just how many other things should they be doing with their money and time instead?
How many of these people are otherwise flat broke?

The answer to your question is simple. None of your damned business. You're not these people, it's ain't your money or your time; so why would you even care? Try to look down on someone cause they pay for a MMOG or spend a lot of time playing games, who cares what they do so long as they ain't hurting anyone else. You're not better than them because you don't play, you're not worse than them because you don't play. Sheesh

 

[Laila]

That's kinda creepy. Kinda like stalking and ill intent sort of stuff. But I guess if everyone on WoW had their real names, it could happen. People do often get pissy at each other for no good reason. And there's a lot of people out there with far too much time on their hands.

It is very creepy and why I oppose it.
Blizzard already has our names, why do millions need to see it as well?
This wasn't done with ill intent but it can happen.

Some sicko on /1 at Undercity just started praising this change because he will finally be able to see a girl in his guild's photo.

 

[Jerry]

I was literally just reading my favorite game blog which is talking in depth about this(Broken Toys, written by a guy who works on games). The consensus: this will end up causing troubles, but since a tiny percentage of players actually post on their message board, it's not going to cost Blizzard subscriptions.

One interesting thing from the comments though:

RealID Changes; The Very Real Ease of Stalking In The Internet Age. « What You Did There; I See It.

To make a long story short, guy on the Blizzard board posts his real name, which is a very common name, and challenges any one to find him in real life. It took 20 minutes before he got called at work by some one who found him.

Did she thank the person who searched for her for visiting her facebook and twitter? I mean the reason it was so easy to find her is that she was already putting herself out there. She was already telling the world the color of her walls and her activities on the 4th. It wasn't some big secret.

If it were me I would have a link to my toon's Armory right on my facebook page, and I would link to my Facebook from any guild site....so what's the big deal?

I mean, these are social networks, the whole point is to make yourself available so that folks can find you. That's why you're there. Don't go to the prom and cry when you're asked to dance.

 

[Jerry]

Just how much money do people put into these types of games?

Around $1,000 for a new computer than can run the more high-end game content without problems, $100 for the client software, $15 per month for access. Blizzard itself sells some in-game items, such as non-combat pets for $25, Authenticators for $6, tee-shirts, mugs....and then there's the WoW card game, some of which have codes you can redeem in-game for in-game items.

If you wanted to buy all the gold one toon would need to power level, get all the riding skills (for epic dragon mounts, etc) and outfit the toon with decent gear to start raiding, you're easily looking at another $500+.

Just how many other things should they be doing with their money and time instead?

Don't know, don't care.

How many of these people are otherwise flat broke?

Not very many that I've ever met. For a long time I was a member of the guild Old n Grumpy. The average member was either retired or secure in their career. It's not that they were wealthy, but paying for the game wasn't a problem. They had their kids in the guild, too.

 

[Redress]

Did she thank the person who searched for her for visiting her facebook and twitter? I mean the reason it was so easy to find her is that she was already putting herself out there. She was already telling the world the color of her walls and her activities on the 4th. It wasn't some big secret.

If it were me I would have a link to my toon's Armory right on my facebook page, and I would link to my Facebook from any guild site....so what's the big deal?

I mean, these are social networks, the whole point is to make yourself available so that folks can find you. That's why you're there. Don't go to the prom and cry when you're asked to dance.

For you, it would not be. That does not mean it is not a problem for many others. Where this scares me is that a very large portion of WoW's playerbase are not yet adults. Having them be forced to have their real name put out there where any one can see it, in order to post on a message board(and where much good information is available, and is a great place to ask questions) is scary, especially since parents will largely be ignorant of all this. It's easy to say it's their job as a parent, but if a parent does not play an MMO, are they even going to know enough to ask the right questions to protect their children?

 

[Zyphlin]

I am not defending Blizzard. I think this is awful. But understand that Facebook is big(biggar than Blizzard), Facebook games are the fastest rising gaming market right now, and you can understand why Blizzard is doing this. RealID in it's whole is very Facebooklike, and they are simply following Facebooks model to the hilt.

Honestly, I don't understand why Blizzard is doing this.

I understand why Activision is doing this.

This is so adverse to th stylings of Blizzard that gaming fans have known for nearly 2 decade, the company that would take profit hits by holding off on games for a year because they didn't want to put out a subpar product and screw over the players.

/raises hand

I wear gaming t-shirts. Had many a convo struck up in stores and on the street because of it too. "Oh! You play such and such?? What server?" I don't understand why people would hide the fact that they play. Doesn't make sense to me. My bosses have played, co-workers, etc, etc.

....but don't you work in the Video Game industry?

That's like having a conversation about sex toys with your boss at the porn store.

If DP required us to use our real names, I bet the trolling would drop. :shrug:

I'd have to stop posting here if we did that. I work in the government and do not need a cursory search of my real name turning up multitudes of my posts concerning political opinions (of which I generally don't speak on at work) let alone diving down into posts from the basement.

 

[rivrrat]

Just how much money do people put into these types of games?
Just how many other things should they be doing with their money and time instead?
How many of these people are otherwise flat broke?

They put in as much as they want. What they SHOULD be doing with their money is for them to decide. I have no idea how many are otherwise "broke".

The monthly fee to play the game is $15, after you've purchased the game itself for like $50 I think, plus expansions.

 

[rivrrat]

....but don't you work in the Video Game industry?

That's like having a conversation about sex toys with your boss at the porn store.

I used to, but I don't any longer. My boss at the DoD played Everquest, though. My boss at Humana played WoW. It's really not as obscure as you seem to think.

 

[Redress]

Honestly, I don't understand why Blizzard is doing this.

I understand why Activision is doing this.

This is so adverse to th stylings of Blizzard that gaming fans have known for nearly 2 decade, the company that would take profit hits by holding off on games for a year because they didn't want to put out a subpar product and screw over the players.

I will give you that it seems very unBlizzardlike, if you consider the Blizzard of old, but this is the kind of thing that has been happening last couple years, whether because of Activision's management or not I dunno.

Activision games to bypass consoles - News at GameSpot

During a 45-minute presentation today at the Deutsche Bank Securities Technology Conference in San Francisco, Activision Blizzard CEO Robert Kotick covered a substantial amount of ground. For one, the executive explained how he expects Activision games--specifically Guitar Hero--to bypass consoles altogether. The executive also showed off animation technology he hailed as the future of storytelling in games, pegged the next generation of consoles as being two years out or more, and explained openly why he wants a company culture infused with skepticism, pessimism, and fear.

 

[Jerry]

For you, it would not be. That does not mean it is not a problem for many others. Where this scares me is that a very large portion of WoW's playerbase are not yet adults. Having them be forced to have their real name put out there where any one can see it, in order to post on a message board(and where much good information is available, and is a great place to ask questions) is scary, especially since parents will largely be ignorant of all this. It's easy to say it's their job as a parent, but if a parent does not play an MMO, are they even going to know enough to ask the right questions to protect their children?

See there's a reason scripture tells us not to be ignorant of satan's devices. Parents need to keep up on technology. If you have children you can't afford to live in a cave.