Blizzard Demands Your Real Name for Forums
Last month Blizzard revealed a new feature for World of Warcraft, StarCraft II, and other games that will utilize Battle.net. Called Real ID, this voluntary service creates a "friends list" of sorts that provides the real names of players, their army of characters, and the ability to see what they're currently doing on Battle.net. Real ID even provides a cross-game, cross-realm chat client.
Now Blizzard has revealed that it will also be requiring those who post on the forums to use his or her real name – no more screen names to hide behind for those who find trolling a pleasing pastime.
The official forums have always been a great place to discuss the latest info on our games, offer ideas and suggestions, and share experiences with other players -- however, the forums have also earned a reputation as a place where flame wars, trolling, and other unpleasantness run wild. Removing the veil of anonymity typical to online dialogue will contribute to a more positive forum environment, promote constructive conversations, and connect the Blizzard community in ways they haven’t been connected before. With this change, you’ll see blue posters (i.e. Blizzard employees) posting by their real first and last names on our forums as well.
We also plan to add a number of other features designed to make reading the forums more enjoyable and to empower players with tools to improve the quality of forum discussions. Players will have the ability to rate up or rate down posts so that great topics and replies stand out from the not-so-great; low-rated posts will appear dimmer to show that the community feels that they don’t contribute effectively to the conversation, and Blizzard’s community team will be able to quickly and easily locate highly rated posts to participate in or to highlight discussions that players find worthwhile.
There was a story about someone playing an online game. They didn't like that fact that the other person was continuously killing them (using a hack they claimed). Therefore, using the person's in-game ID, they tracked the person down in real life and killed them. This was in Germany or something.
Anyway, point is, this has nothing to do with your intended actions (i.e. you don't have to be flaming/trolling). This has everything to do with how some lunatic on the internet interprets your actions. Imagine pissing off the wrong person with your zergling rushes. They can tie your character to your account, which will have your real name. Then bam, goodbye cruel world. There are many unstable people in the world, and the last thing I want is some Diablo-playing psychopath to hunt down my family because I looted the awesome shield before he could.
Generally the opinions expressed by those who don't want to be associated with the opinion are worthless.
(maybe all forums should have a filter where you can simply turn off anyone who uses an alias and never see their comments)
Nobody would really do that if the game forum is used properly like sharing of ideas, troubleshooting help, etc.. not trashtalking, trolling, and bashing other players.
Just more ways to Facebook stalk people. I believe Newton's fourth law was: "Regardless of the forces of inertia or gravity, trollers will troll."
Here's the thing. Your invasion of privacy is allowing you to say whatever the hell you feel like saying without any consequence. I say, stop whining and grow up. That is something I would say to your face. 2nd, no one will be murdering anyone.. if everyone is vulnerable. It's kind of like the Swiss. Everyone goes to Military School... everyone receives a weapon... everyone keeps their weapon. NOW, go check out their crime rate. Anyway, Blizzard is doing something 100% right.
Seriously, you need your real name everywhere else in the world, so I fail to see this as a problem. If you don't like it, don't post.
Apparently, you forget that some people are THREATENED when they post opinions that other people don't like. Personally, I've been threatened with death more than 10 times when talking about 'touchy' subjects on the internet.
I would prefer if they made it so you had one forum name instead of your real name. In the end this will help out alot though.
Blizzard 1 - Blizzard Forum Posters 0
There was a story about someone playing an online game. They didn't like that fact that the other person was continuously killing them (using a hack they claimed). Therefore, using the person's in-game ID, they tracked the person down in real life and killed them. This was in Germany or something.
Anyway, point is, this has nothing to do with your intended actions (i.e. you don't have to be flaming/trolling). This has everything to do with how some lunatic on the internet interprets your actions. Imagine pissing off the wrong person with your zergling rushes. They can tie your character to your account, which will have your real name. Then bam, goodbye cruel world. There are many unstable people in the world, and the last thing I want is some Diablo-playing psychopath to hunt down my family because I looted the awesome shield before he could.
Oddly all I hear are people whining about their names being used. I see very few people actually asking how usernames are going to be verified. I wasn't actually thinking about it until just now but yeah I'm guessing a CC would be mandated. I can't say as I really support that but I do (at least in some ways) support the RealID approach.
Maybe it will cut back on some of the hazing, false bravado and other BS that goes along with some forums or at least it might make people think twice about some of the stuff they post...then again (looking at my FB page) maybe not.