Blizzard to create forums using real name identifiers

from Sins Forums

Recently, as in this morning, Blizzard announced that with the launch of Starcraft 2 and World of Warcraft: Cataclysm that they would be launching new forums that required the use of real ID. This means all posts, including those by Blizzard moderators, will be identified with a real life(or possible fake, but I'll discuss that later) name.

Full Announcement

As you might expect, there has been a lot of debate since the announcement, including a 156 page(172 once I finished this post) long thread in the North American WoW forums.

WoW discussion thread

Is this not exactly what everyone tells you not do to on the internet? The given logic behind this decision is that if people are forced to reveal who they are than they will make higher quality posts. I agree it will probably reduce trolls a little, but just look at Facebook/Myspace to know people still troll when their identity is known. Which also brings me to the point, unless Blizzard is going to require people to link a credit card or some other form of identification with your account then you could easily just create an account with a false name. 

To me, this seems like a great way to drive away a large portion of the community while also opening up an easy avenue to real life harassment.

 

off-topic
61,793 views 14 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

So I need a drivers license to play online now?

Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top

it was up to 320 pages when I checked it just now

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting MichaelCook, reply 1
So I need a drivers license to play online now?

Not right now. But if Blizzard really wants to do this they will need a way to verify someones name or the whole thing is bogus.

Quoting DoomBringer90, reply 2
it was up to 320 pages when I checked it just now

Yea, the topic seems to be growing a page every 10 seconds or so. It's about a post a second.

Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

It's pretty shortsighted against abuses, as the realID system is in general. Fortunately I've never had any desire to deal with their forums since I spend way too much on ours as it is :p

Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top

I strive to meticulously prevent any connection between my RL identity and my online aliases.  There's no way I'm signing up for any Blizzard product with my real name now.

Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top

...and I hate Blizzard anyway.

Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top

Rethinking about my purchase of Starcraft II now, given the fact that you probably need to be connected to the web to play like C&C 4

Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

I've been following this on the GameFAQs boards, and I've only seen two possible reactions: "what's the big deal?" and "screw you, and your forums."

One of the events Myles may have missed was one of their forum moderators posting his real name to "prove" how safe it was. Within minutes the /b/ croud were publishing his phone number, address, names and ages of cohabitants, pictures of his house from google, etc. That topic has since been deleted, but I think the damage has ben done.

And then today came the revelation of a security fault in the RealID system that reveals your name EVEN IF you opt not to use the system in-game and never post on the forum.

Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting WIllythemailboy, reply 8
I've been following this on the GameFAQs boards, and I've only seen two possible reactions: "what's the big deal?" and "screw you, and your forums."

One of the events Myles may have missed was one of their forum moderators posting his real name to "prove" how safe it was. Within minutes the /b/ croud were publishing his phone number, address, names and ages of cohabitants, pictures of his house from google, etc. That topic has since been deleted, but I think the damage has ben done.

And then today came the revelation of a security fault in the RealID system that reveals your name EVEN IF you opt not to use the system in-game and never post on the forum.

I had seen that, but forgot to mention it. The really sad part is that at first they had the wrong address and phone number. So some poor guy not even related to it got harassed until the Mod said they had the wrong place, after which they found the correct one.

Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top

Well, it's hit msnbc, haven't looked at any other news services yet, but I'd imagine that they have it too.

Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Marvelous. So now the deranged militarist who wants to execute me for treason can find my home address..... or at least he could if I had not already started to boycott Blizzard for its RT"S" fixation a year ago.... this debacle is not endearing me to them in the least.

Reply #14 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

In my opinion, this Real ID is one gate way for stalking and harassed by others. Screen name like Bl4ckH4ck and wow gold are used to put a barrier to maintaining a separation between private life, public life, and work life. Its fine with me if there’s a option where they can strict the privacy control on user’s information whether users choose to post name or make a screen name.

Reply #15 from Sins Forums Top

Bad idea.

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.

Seriously?  LOL.

Security through obscurity is an illusion, however.  Your real life had better be able to take it.  I'd bet the vast majority of the playerbase couldn't really handle it.