Will Activision kill Blizzard?

[MrPopo]

They already did kill Blizzard. Real ID in Starcraft II and WoW, and the in-game real money auction house in Diablo III. Blizzard is dead to me.

We already discussed the auction house. Explain to me how the optional in-game feature of the Real ID is a problem.

It's not really optional. I bought Starcraft II, signed up and then saw that my real name was being used for cross game chat. I mailed them to complain, and asked if they could change the name to something else. They completely refused. I was forced to use my real name.

So I had no choice but to never play Starcraft II again. Blizzard didn't give a flying fuck about me and my privacy concerns. Fuck that bullshit. I won't support such a horrible company like that.

I made a post about it on the Battle net forums and all of the idiots there bashed on me like crazy! It was really disgusting. They really insulted me for caring about real names and privacy. I felt like I was the only sane man in a room full of raving lunatics.

Do you use a fake name when you meet people face to face? Why should online interactions be different from face to face interactions?

[Jmustang1968]

They already did kill Blizzard. Real ID in Starcraft II and WoW, and the in-game real money auction house in Diablo III. Blizzard is dead to me.

We already discussed the auction house. Explain to me how the optional in-game feature of the Real ID is a problem.

It's not really optional. I bought Starcraft II, signed up and then saw that my real name was being used for cross game chat. I mailed them to complain, and asked if they could change the name to something else. They completely refused. I was forced to use my real name.

So I had no choice but to never play Starcraft II again. Blizzard didn't give a flying fuck about me and my privacy concerns. Fuck that bullshit. I won't support such a horrible company like that.

I made a post about it on the Battle net forums and all of the idiots there bashed on me like crazy! It was really disgusting. They really insulted me for caring about real names and privacy. I felt like I was the only sane man in a room full of raving lunatics.

I believe that stance has changed some. I don't think your real name is shown to everyone anymore, but the handle or name you used to sign up and/or email does.

They were trying to encourage better forum etiquette on the forums by making people no longer anonymous. They failed to realize the potential backlash and consequences outside of the game it could mean for the customers.

I am pretty sure they have revised the policy to allow more privacy.

[equalsign]

I don't think so. If anything Blizzard will destroy itself. I hear again and again that Blizzard's recent decisions that have been so unpopular with fans have been their own. In earnest, I think people think to well of Blizzard. They got a ton of money and now they're evil. Surprise surprise.

[Jmustang1968]

Why should online interactions be different from face to face interactions?

Privacy and security reasons. You could piss off some guy by beating him game or taking his loot, then he could find out where you live or who you are and attempt to get even in real life.

[Inazuma]

Do you use a fake name when you meet people face to face? Why should online interactions be different from face to face interactions?

I can choose to use whatever the fuck name I want when meeting someone face to face. Sometimes I actually use internet names with real life people, instead of real names. I like having the option.

When I signed up for a Battle net account, it asked for my real name, and it also asked for a username. I assumed that the real name would just be used for the account info, and the username is what would be used in games. I was wrong, and when I asked them to change the in-game name, they refused.

[J T]

Do you use a fake name when you meet people face to face? Why should online interactions be different from face to face interactions?

I don't make my name known to everyone offline. Online, I don't have much of a choice if I have to have a Real ID and post on a public forum.

[Inazuma]

I believe that stance has changed some. I don't think your real name is shown to everyone anymore, but the handle or name you used to sign up and/or email does.

They were trying to encourage better forum etiquette on the forums by making people no longer anonymous. They failed to realize the potential backlash and consequences outside of the game it could mean for the customers.

I am pretty sure they have revised the policy to allow more privacy.

I used to think this too. I remember hearing about Real ID and there being a massive fucking backlash on the forums and then Blizzard stopped doing it. It was after this that I bought Starcraft II, thinking that Real ID wasn't an issue anymore. Sadly, it still is.

You are forced to use your Real ID name in order to do cross game chat, along with some other chat and buddy list type features. It also displays your Real ID name very large inside the menus of Starcraft II. So if you wanted to make a Youtube video or something, it would show your real name.

[AmishSamurai]

Chalk this up as one of the few times Inazuma and I agree. I use my real name here because of B/S/T, but it's not something I feel obligated to throw around everywhere. Also, I give out fake names all the time at Starbucks, even though they see my real name on my debit card. Sometimes you just feel like being a Miguel, y'know?

[MrPopo]

Chalk this up as one of the few times Inazuma and I agree. I use my real name here because of B/S/T, but it's not something I feel obligated to throw around everywhere. Also, I give out fake names all the time at Starbucks, even though they see my real name on my debit card. Sometimes you just feel like being a Miguel, y'know?

Sure, I understand not introducing yourself to every stranger on the street. But giving a fake first name at Starbucks?

[ZenErik]

Its fun to use fake names since they are supposed to call out the name with your drink.