City of Heroes

In case you didn't hear, Cryptic has changed their character saving policy regarding accounts which are inactive for 90 days. Here's the link:
http://www.cityofheroes.com/news/archives/2005/10/city_of_heroes_22.html

This is being warmly recieved by current players who are chomping at the bit to shanghai names that they have seen and would like to have. I guess this is what greases me most. Some of us were there on Day 1, stopped playing for whatever reason, but have continued monitoring the game in hopes that things would improve. This little move makes it a dead certainty Cryptic won't be getting my paltry $14.95 a month. Extortion is no way to win back players. Uninstalling now.

Remember, if you decide to renew your subscription after October 24, there is no guarantee that some bushwacker won't have latched on to the names of some of your characters.

So, in order to "keep" a name, you need to at least get to level 35 with that character, or keep an active account. Sounds good to me. How married could you be to a name of a character that you didn't get to level 35 on an account that's been inactive for over three months?

So to keep our names we have to pay while they f$%^ around with our characters? Screw that. They screwed me so far up my arse you can park a car up there now after all the changes to my Dark Armour character. I was there since beta just to reserve my damn name. Hes the only on currently above 35, but I have other characters that are in their 20s.

Anyone who played DA during issue 1/2/3/4 understands all the nerfs we went through, and understand the amoutn of time it took that template to level. Yet I leveled thinking that one day they would fix my character. Because I spent so much time on that character, others were shelved. Well after 3 screw ups on their behalf (how do you ruin an already perfect game?!), I took a break and said I would come back later. Now they are going to take away my character names? Cause thats what gonna happen.

I am an MMORPG hopper. My attention span for any game drops immesnly after 8 months play, so I start playing it on and off. Now COH demands that I play once every 3 months just to keep my other character names. They are VERY popular names too (not versions of exisiting characters though).

GRRR. Im conflicted. Ive been long supporting CoH. Even after they constantly ignored certain archtypes. I tried to be understanding, but this is just a way to rack in extra cash IMO. And its a GREAT IDEA. I think it will work. Just not sure if I am gonna go for it.

NCsoft just keeps moving up on my nazi list. They keep going like this and SOE will have to give up their crown :-/

Here is the exact text:
Starting 10/24/2005 the City of Heroes® and City of Villains™ character name policy will change. Names for characters under level 35 on game accounts that have been inactive for over 90 days will be changed to unreserved status. This means that those names will become available for new character names if picked by an active player. This policy is being enacted in order to free up character names based on player feedback

This is really odd timing though. To think they would also release this info right after the biggest incoming game change ever (Enhancement Diversification Nerf)

Personally, I think they are doing this to get extra money back from the former players who want to
save there heroes names. It seems to punish those who arent playing much (people who I would consider casual). There is a great deal of people wanting to play "fill_blank_named_character" I admit, but this is just another way for them to get a quick profit and in no way enhances the game.

Wouldnt you feel mad if you logged in to find someone stole your name? I mean, thats terrible.

Now granted, it isnt deleting your character, but its awfully close to deleting it as you get replaced
to GenericName23132 if you arent playing all the time.

Im a thumbsdown and not paying $15 dollars for this new feature. Also Im not buying City of Villains.
So there!

Blame the community for asking the request?
or blame the company that implemented delete name under level 35 request?

Asking is one thing, but to actually go forward with that request
is totally in the hands of the person who executed that plan. I can't blame the community because they arent the ones who actually implement these ideas.

Ah well.

So let me get this straight some of you are upset at a company deciding to take something away from you that you are not paying for? WOW. If I don't pay my car note the banker comes and takes it. If I don't pay my rent, I get kicked out of my home. If I don't pay to play the game they have every right to unreserve my characters name. On top of that they are giving me three months of not paying before the wipe the name, plus they will only do so if the character is below level 35.

STOP COMPLAINING.

It is extremely generous of them to give you the three months before unreserving. If they wanted they could take away your name the second you cancel your subscription.

So lets complain that they won't let my names sit there indefinately even though I am no longer playing the game. Grow up people. If you are not paying then you have NO right to complain about a game.

How can I be polite when someone responds like this.

No.

And I betting you want to steal someone elses name too as soon as this feature arrives.
Otherwise you wouldnt be arguing for it.