I wouldn't mind giving my first name, but not my full name

Or at least just the initials of the surname

I find it a bit overboard

Originally posted by Maleus666

Well, it  helps my decision for no more wait to play Diablo 3. Blizzard is burying the renown  owned along the yeras with good  games and the high quality with  bullshits. I bet tons of players will levae WoW after this decision by Blizzard.

I bet the opposite, I bet hardly any of them leave. Reinforcing the fact that gaming companies can get away with doing this, which will set up and open a doorway for all gaming companies to do it from now on.

This isn't the first controversial change Blizzard has ever made. How many people did they lose over the Sparkly horse cash shop shit? Not many at all, but if you watched the forums during  that timeframe would have thought the sky was falling chicken little.

Nope, this isn't going to change anything, it will go into affect, and the mindless addicted masses will soak it up like hot rays on a white beach.

Watch and see.

why everytime someone complaint they got only one options , leave the game or say nothing ?

you dont think that wrong ? if we show you 14 year old litle girl having sex in the tv ( totaly random but im high so )  , you can only cancel the cable and never watch the tv again ?

people can stay in the game AND COMPLAINT , they can do both and something realy wrong if the game company listen only when you leave the game like you say , btw you post pretty nice screen shot of the game with ur post  .

if anyone dont agree about the real id they can post in the internet ,  talk about it , and let everyone know about that , and that probably the best way to go , not just dont say anything and cancel ur subs lol .

seriously mmorpg.com alway try to make you think the way they want ( strangely that usualy the way blizzard want too )

and this way = no matter if you complaint you will dont leave the game so the complaint mean nothing .

seriously why we cant play the game and dont accept everything too ?

think people ! and sorry for my realy bad english i have learn it only from gaming and internet .

on further notice ... apparently you can disable Real ID through parental control nehow so no biggy really ...

Congratulations naysayers, you have been defeated.

http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=25968987278&sid=1

Banding together, rising up, and shouting our displeasure worked, as it should. Perhaps there is hope left for humanity after all.

Originally posted by Kothoses

In most walks of life you are correct however in the world of internet subscription gaming a mobilised and vocal section of the consumer base and POTENTIAL consumer base can effect change.  Blizzard need to hear loud and clear that this is unacceptable not just to current customers, but to potential future customers.

 

They have already alienated me from their forums after issuing me with a 4 day ban for saying "/bump for a nice group of people" on another guilds recruitment ad in our realm forums.  However with this system they have made sure I do not buy cata, do not re-new my wow sub and will not purchase starcraft 3 or diablo 3.  Its not what they are doing thats the issue, its that blizzard control the market, when they "try" something if it works most other mmos follow suit.

 

Now if they get away with this and sony and Cryptic follow suit, how long untill they are selling your data to third parties?

 

None of this would have been needed if they had managed their game community properly in the first place, instead of letting them act like little children in a sweet shop.

 

So no I will not be quiet about it, and neither should you, it was only through mass mobilization of the customer base that facebook backed down at all on their privacy issues, and its only through mass mobilization of customers old new and future that blizzard will back down.

 

Just to point out, that what I described above is exactly what happened.

And the result ladies and gentlemen?  So sorry mr Wood, but you were wrong, just like your writers were wrong with the "Customer is not always right" column and various other columns written to be apologists for corporate mmo makers greed.

Once again People power expressed its self in a way to effect change, learn from this.

You can quit, but the fact remains only countless other players will fill your shoes. Developers know this, they don't care about user retainment rate. They care about your wallet, and how much of it is going to them.

If they can't have your money, there is always another player from another mmo desperate enough to try it. Eventually players simply end up playing musical chairs for the rest of their mmo career.

people are addicted to games, and developers know it.

There is no stopping companies like blizzard from doing what they want, and with peoples addiction to these games, we are all "fucked".

I don't see much hope for change, we were raised, and molded, and shaped by our society, parents and outside pressures, to be this way.

While many may not agree to portions or all of this post, in this end we are just slave to the system, one way or another, through tv, food, games etc etc...

Don't believe me? Try living a day without tv, computers, cell phones, fast food, that new outfit.

Anyways... I really hope that people find a way to adapt to the system to be happy, cause you can't beat it, and you can't exist outside of it.

flame as you like, I understand if you don't understand the words I am saying.

cheers!

Hahaha.  This just shows the mentality of the average WoW gamer.  QQ I'm gonna quit cuz I have to use my real name QQ.  Seriously?  My name is Brandon Erwin.  Why would I care if you knew it?  People just sound like a bunch of whining politicians.  It's sad.

Originally posted by DAS1337 Hahaha.  This just shows the mentality of the average WoW gamer.  QQ I'm gonna quit cuz I have to use my real name QQ.  Seriously?  My name is Brandon Erwin.  Why would I care if you knew it?  People just sound like a bunch of whining politicians.  It's sad.

This is why people don't want their names on the internet sir. Maybe you should STFU when you don't know what you're talking about:  http://seewhatyoudidthere.com/2010/07/07/realid-changes-the-very-real-ease-of-stalking-in-the-internet-age/

Now that this is all over and John was proven wrong :D

REAL ID does not in any way verify that you are the person you claim you are.  This is something that everyone needs to realise now.  John Wood playing on his battlenet account could be 12 year old girl - or 90 year old alien.  Cause Blizzard has no methods of verifying if you are actually the person that you claim you are. 

So plz... Remember this - if you are talking to a 15 year old girl through REAL ID system.  This could be 40 year old looney.  That was the most dangerous part of this all.  Blizzard claimed that ppl were actually talking under their own first and last name - when the company had no - and still has no way of verifying the true name of the user.

Continue to Play world of warcraft but refuse to use any portion/component of the game that requires the disclosure of your true name.

If I can keep my anonymity, or control it to a ceratin extent, then I'll continue playing.  IF I have the option of showing in game friends and family my real name to chat and communicate, then that's not an issue.  It would be exactly like Facebook.  But if you tell me that my ability to use your OFFICIAL forums REQUIRES that I use my true name, then I won't be using that portion of your service.

I'm disapointed in Blizzard and I believe if this goes through, people WILL be hurt in real life.  I won't partake in any of that. 

On another note, I'm a professional, and I carefully guard who gets to see my name and where they can see it.  I don't want future employers to google my name only to see all the posts I made for a game.  I believe playing video games and being good at my job have nothing to do with each other.  Future employers might think otherwise.

I won't take that chance....

Originally posted by LadyAlibi

Originally posted by Kyleran

Unlike John, my name is very unqiue and its far too easy for people to locate me therefore while he might not care, it matters a great deal to me.

 

I am in that boat too. If you type "Jon Wood" Facebook search, you probably have several to choose from. If you put my name in there, you get me. Just me.  If you google my name, everything that comes on the first several pages of hits is me and stuff I have posted under my own name. 

 

Re: People complaining and quitting:

I have noticed that some changes cause people to flee from a game-- I hate to bring it up anywhere, but there was that SWG NGE thing that seemed to cause a fairly large exodus. It doesn't even matter that the policy didn't change when those people left because it no longer applied to them. They go play other games and SOE doesn't get their money. 

On the other hand, back when EQ1 was still all the rage,  there were protests from time to time, in game and in the forums, and sometimes things got changed, but mostly they didn't. People would throw fits about problems with or changes to their classes, swearing they'd quit, but mostly they didn't-- they just switched to a different class. So, it does seem true that people will rant and froth all over the forums and in-game, but don't actually quit. 

 

SOE didn't listen to their own detriment.  They really caused the too early demise of EQ1 by not listening to their playerbase.  And when they did, it was too little too late because WoW hit the market and there was finally another game out that with enough to compete with them.  They didn't listen because they, in their minds, didn't have too.  Their was no competition for their money at the time.  I strongely feel that if they did, EQ would've lasted strongely at least 2-3 more years.  And sure, it's still around, but when the valve opened for people to leave, it was soon a floodgate.

Something like the whole RealID thing couldv've been that valve for SC2 and WoW.  And, no offense to OP, not everyone has a name where there are thousands of possibles.  Blizzard retracted the use of Real Name 'at this time' today and it's a good move.  It at least from a small standpoint says they listened.

However, I don't think it's because they wanted to, I think they thought it over in terms of money.  Some people left, lots of people cancelled pre-orders from stores and from them directly.  Enough outcry about it on their forums where people posted names and 5 minutes later, there were lots of personal histories, addresses, etc...  Though some of it not readily available ot the average person, but put into the hands of people that would use that information, it could be dangerous.  I firmly believe that if they went through with RealID+real names, at least 25% of SC2 sales would evaporate, and probably 10-15% of the WoW population would leave.  And when you talk about 10-15% of the WoW population, in terms of the financials, it's really straight out of the bottom line of profits, because servers won't shut down, thus overhead costs won't lessen.  It directly effects Blizzards profits, and for them, that really is the issue.

Lots of exciting things are happening over at LotRO, which is a much better game anyways.

Originally posted by Kothoses

Originally posted by Kothoses

In most walks of life you are correct however in the world of internet subscription gaming a mobilised and vocal section of the consumer base and POTENTIAL consumer base can effect change.  Blizzard need to hear loud and clear that this is unacceptable not just to current customers, but to potential future customers.

 

They have already alienated me from their forums after issuing me with a 4 day ban for saying "/bump for a nice group of people" on another guilds recruitment ad in our realm forums.  However with this system they have made sure I do not buy cata, do not re-new my wow sub and will not purchase starcraft 3 or diablo 3.  Its not what they are doing thats the issue, its that blizzard control the market, when they "try" something if it works most other mmos follow suit.

 

Now if they get away with this and sony and Cryptic follow suit, how long untill they are selling your data to third parties?

 

None of this would have been needed if they had managed their game community properly in the first place, instead of letting them act like little children in a sweet shop.

 

So no I will not be quiet about it, and neither should you, it was only through mass mobilization of the customer base that facebook backed down at all on their privacy issues, and its only through mass mobilization of customers old new and future that blizzard will back down.

 

 

 

Just to point out, that what I described above is exactly what happened.

 

And the result ladies and gentlemen?  So sorry mr Wood, but you were wrong, just like your writers were wrong with the "Customer is not always right" column and various other columns written to be apologists for corporate mmo makers greed.

Once again People power expressed its self in a way to effect change, learn from this.

People screamed about other changes as well. How do you know many did not do just as Jon Wood has stated to do? Maybe many many voiced their concerns and then did quit. Maybe in the past people only made their voice heard and did not actually quit. Who knows what drove them to change their minds.

There was also people sending letters to companies that advertise on Blizzard's website. Maybe they got worried and contacted Blizzard. We can't know for sure what caused the withdraw. I believe Jon Wood could be right.

I think an outspoken player base required Blizzard to re-assess the situation. The loud and wide ranging effect of the outspoken masses reached major media markets and their accounting of the player base's sentiment help lend weight to the situation. When the general populace starts to hear about interent security issues their ears perk up and they take notice. Blizzard had to take notice. When a large piece of the player base calls for game change and it doesnt reach the major media and therefore people that dont play MMOs, the power of the player bases is less significant.

For this issue Mr. Wood was wrong, in most other cases, he would be right.

I love WoW.  I've had some good times in that game. I've since anceled my subscription, but I plan on resubscribing when Catalysm hits, since I've got like 5 free months saved up from the WoW Visa card I got.

I really don't mind all the non-combat pets. I even got some myself. I even got the sparkly horse mount, which I think is really cool.

So yeah, maybe I'll see some of ya in-game on Cataclysm.

An article says "don't rant, act!" and gets followed by ranting... ironic...

Is it that important for you people to lash at each others opinions?

Is it hard to accept the fact that there are other viewpoints on the globe?

Do you even think that stating opinions here has a ounce of importance?

And yet people are so riled up.

Humanity is a strange bunch...

sure says dont rant yet he says basicly if you dont like it leave. Thank God Blizzard dont talk childish. And update the review.  There is no forums ID.

Originally posted by Reianor

An article says "don't rant, act!" and gets followed by ranting... ironic...

Is it that important for you people to lash at each others opinions?

Is it hard to accept the fact that there are other viewpoints on the globe?

Do you even think that stating opinions here has a ounce of importance?

And yet people are so riled up.

Humanity is a strange bunch...

Opinions stated on the official forums and other media made Blizzard cancel the implementation of RealID, so yes opinions voiced here can have an effect.

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First, I'd like to say that while I can appreciate the massive storm of hate that has poured down on Blizzard since this announcement was made, both on their official forums and on third party forums like ours, I honestly don't think that this is going to get the job done.

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LOL... 1 day later...