Blizzard Announces RealID System

[Mighty BOB! 5]

We don't usually bat an eyelash when a game's official forum undergoes a policy change, but we're making a special exception and batting harder than a mafia hitman against someone's kneecaps at Blizzard's decision to switch its forum over to a real ID system. In a nutshell, this means that in order to post on, say, the official World of Warcraft or StarCraft II forums, you’ll soon have to display your real name for all 11.5-million some-odd players to see.

 

"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," said Blizzard's announcement of the change.

 

"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."

 

...

 

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/bliz...ystem_comes_out

 

http://www.battle.net/realid/

 

 

As every other gaming blog is reporting, yesterday Blizzard dropped a bomb on us, unveiling their new plans for the future of the RealID feature.

 

...

 

My posting here isn’t to reiterate everything that’s been said before, but rather to tell a cautionary (and hopefully exemplary) tale of the very real dangers of this change. Buckle up, it’s quite a ride.

 

Early on in that thread, a toon by the name of Sikketh (from Thunderlord) posted the following:

I’m really not so sure about what’s so devastating about putting a name out. My real-life name is (removed). My cousins have problems finding me on facebook and social networks because when they try to search for me, there are hundreds of results. Your real-life name is very likely not going to be unique.

 

I don’t see how knowing someone’s name can turn into knowing everything about them. I welcome anyone to come to me where I work, then, if you can figure it out by my name, and ask me about my WoW characters.

 

Or call my cell phone, it will be on. Throwing myself out there.

I may be a decent human being, but it’s nigh-impossible for me to resist a dare like that. I set to work.

 

With just his first and last name and his wow toon’s name, I was able to find his twitter, facebook, home address, home phone number, work address, work phone number and parent’s names. The whole process took about 20 minutes.

 

...

 

http://seewhatyoudidthere.com/2010/07/07/r...e-internet-age/

http://seewhatyoudidthere.com/2010/07/08/r...th-your-dollar/

 

 

The ironic part of this is that in their RealID FAQ it says this:

We respect the privacy of our players and recognize the importance of providing a secure environment for them. You can find out how Blizzard safeguards user information by reading our Online Privacy Policy.

When it is quite blatantly the opposite, since they revealing private information with this system for all forum users. (To reiterate, the service will be optional in-game, but will soon be mandatory on their forums.)

 

 

This doesn't affect me since I don't use any of their services, but it is making me question whether or not I want to buy Starcraft II.

[Luk3us 63]

 

^^ ****s and giggles as it were.

 

 

 

As for the stalking issue. Seems there are better ways to cut down on the sheer bull**** that happens on the Blizzard servers without going down this road.

[Sonic 294]

"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."

Plus it ensures that your official forums show no signs of anyone bad mouthing your products. Essentially their official forums will serve as nothing but a giant advertisement for their games now.

 

Nice move Blizzard... real nice

 

I thought Blizzard was all about its community and it's fans?

[Nmenth 290]

Apparently Blizzard felt left out with all the other companies taking a dump on their customers and needed to get in on it too...

 

We are certainly not entering a golden age of gaming when the moronic companies make one bad move after another.

[Gben 20]

This doesn't affect me since I don't use any of their services, but it is making me question whether or not I want to buy Starcraft II.

 

Yep I had the same thought... I don't inhabit their forums so it's not a big deal... but it did give me pause when thinking about my SCII purchase.

[recover 2]

This is pretty ****ed up right here.

I wonder who makes these decisions since they clearly do not understand how the internet works.

[General Kane Nash 0]

So if I understand well Blizzard now has a way to show people's real identity outside the world?

 

Those are really great news, I like it, now we will know trolls' real identities and challenge them to say all their crap face to face, no more cowards hiding behind internet without having to deal with the consequences of their foul mouths. Now we will see who is brave enough to say bad stuff knowing they can meet the people who offended on the street.

Edited July 9, 2010 by General Kane Nash

[Inferno 22]

So if I understand well Blizzard now has a way to show people's real identity outside the world?

 

Those are really great news, I like it, now we will know trolls' real identities and challenge them to say all their crap face to face, no more cowards hiding behind internet without having to deal with the consequences of their foul mouths. Now we will see who is brave enough to say bad stuff knowing they can meet the people who offended on the street.

Yes, either that or the forums will go dead

[Nmenth 290]

Those are really great news, I like it, now we will know trolls' real identities and challenge them to say all their crap face to face, no more cowards hiding behind internet without having to deal with the consequences of their foul mouths.

Seriously? This is like amputating your legs because your shoe is on fire...

[Inferno 22]

Seriously? This is like amputating your legs because your shoe is on fire...

Hahaha, epic

[Sonic 294]

Yep I had the same thought... I don't inhabit their forums so it's not a big deal... but it did give me pause when thinking about my SCII purchase.

Its for their forums now but how long until they force it for in game users.... this is just the beginning.

[Doctor Destiny 41]

As soon as people start complaining and boycotting their forums and products, Blizzard will change their tune. They're no different than any other company: profits make the decisions.

[General Kane Nash 0]

I suspect a lot of people outhere is actually afraid of this because now every time they tray to troll there will be a chance someone will go look after them in real life, well, that's why you have to check what you say offline and be completly sure about taking responsability of what you say, now let's see if this can also apply to online life.

[Inferno 22]

I suspect a lot of people outhere is actually afraid of this because now every time they tray to troll there will be a chance someone will go look after them in real life, well, that's why you have to check what you say offline and be completly sure about taking responsability of what you say, now let's see if this can also apply to online life.

Which also completely kills the freedom of speech.

[Nmenth 290]

I suspect a lot of people outhere is actually afraid of this because now every time they tray to troll there will be a chance someone will go look after them in real life, well, that's why you have to check what you say offline and be completly sure about taking responsability of what you say, now let's see if this can also apply to online life.

Would you like CNCNZ.com and any other forums you use to adopt their policy as well?

[Mighty BOB! 5]

I wonder who makes these decisions since they clearly do not understand how the internet works.

The general griping seems to be that it's probably some overlord on the Activision side (since you know, they're the new EA/Satan), not the Blizzard side. I don't think anyone has found any evidence to support that though.

 

 

[edit] As of 9:47AM pacific time today Blizzard has reversed their decision and will not be forcing mandatory use of real names on their forums.

 

 

Hello everyone,

 

I'd like to take some time to speak with all of you regarding our desire to make the Blizzard forums a better place for players to discuss our games. We've been constantly monitoring the feedback you've given us, as well as internally discussing your concerns about the use of real names on our forums. As a result of those discussions, we've decided at this time that real names will not be required for posting on official Blizzard forums.

 

It's important to note that we still remain committed to improving our forums. Our efforts are driven 100% by the desire to find ways to make our community areas more welcoming for players and encourage more constructive conversations about our games. We will still move forward with new forum features such as the ability to rate posts up or down, post highlighting based on rating, improved search functionality, and more. However, when we launch the new StarCraft II forums that include these new features, you will be posting by your StarCraft II Battle.net character name + character code, not your real name. The upgraded World of Warcraft forums with these new features will launch close to the release of Cataclysm, and also will not require your real name.

 

I want to make sure it's clear that our plans for the forums are completely separate from our plans for the optional in-game Real ID system now live with World of Warcraft and launching soon with StarCraft II. We believe that the powerful communications functionality enabled by Real ID, such as cross-game and cross-realm chat, make Battle.net a great place for players to stay connected to real-life friends and family while playing Blizzard games. And of course, you'll still be able to keep your relationships at the anonymous, character level if you so choose when you communicate with other players in game. Over time, we will continue to evolve Real ID on Battle.net to add new and exciting functionality within our games for players who decide to use the feature.

 

In closing, I want to point out that our connection with our community has always been and will always be extremely important to us. We strongly believe that Every Voice Matters, (http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/company/about/mission.html ) and we feel fortunate to have a community that cares so passionately about our games. We will always appreciate the feedback and support of our players, which has been a key to Blizzard's success from the beginning.

 

Mike Morhaime

CEO & Cofounder

Blizzard Entertainment

 

http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.h...87278&sid=1

Edited July 10, 2010 by Mighty BOB!

[Luk3us 63]

Well that didn't take long huh.

[Nmenth 290]

So after this incident, does Blizzard gain respectability for listening to the community or lose it for making such a stupid decision in the first place?

[Doctor Destiny 41]

So after this incident, does Blizzard gain respectability for listening to the community or lose it for making such a stupid decision in the first place?

Both. Respect for listening but a little shame for considering it.

[Luk3us 63]

They're come out worse for wear on this one me thinks. Even if things worked out for the better in the end.

[Guest Stevie_K]

I see an opportunity here to start a fan-community site.

I'm pretty sure many creeps away to the nearest community forums in order to keep their anonymity and only use the Blizzard forums as news feed.

[Sonic 294]

Once they shipped and sold millions of copies of Starcraft II they will probably then change their mind and go ahead with the RealID system after all. While they won't directly address it I bet they reversed there decision because it could harm potential sales of Starcraft II.

 

In the end I really don't give a ****. I don't play their games or post on the their forums. And if I ever consider buy Starcraft II it will be when the game is finished, not the "first part" they releasing soon.

 

I see an opportunity here to start a fan-community site.

I'm pretty sure many creeps away to the nearest community forums in order to keep their anonymity and only use the Blizzard forums as news feed.

There's already enough Blizzard/Craft based fan sites. Don't need another one.

[recover 2]

I just find it funny that they need the community to voice up to realize how dumb this decision was. Employees should have reacted.

 

The reason why this wasn't stopped internally may be related to this talk titled "Smile or Die":

[General Kane Nash 0]

Would you like CNCNZ.com and any other forums you use to adopt their policy as well?

 

Well that will not worry me really much bcs I am always very careful with what I say online, just as if I was talking in real life, I dont insult people and if I say something which will offend someone else it's bcs I am completly sure justice and the motivation to defend my cause is at my side, instead this would have forced some other people to be more careful about what they say, I take responsability of what I say, that's an important rule if you want to last a decent amount of time on this world.

[Nmenth 290]

Well that will not worry me really much bcs I am always very careful with what I say online, just as if I was talking in real life, I dont insult people and if I say something which will offend someone else it's bcs I am completly sure justice and the motivation to defend my cause is at my side, instead this would have forced some other people to be more careful about what they say, I take responsability of what I say, that's an important rule if you want to last a decent amount of time on this world.

But what you say online isn't really relevant. Trolls and pacifists and everyone in between alike would lose their anonymity.