Blizzard backs down over gamers using real names

Forkboy

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Sat Jul-10-10 03:37 AM
Original message

Blizzard backs down over gamers using real names

Following a barrage of criticism, World of Warcraft publisher Blizzard has backed down on the need for gamers to use their real names on its forums.

The firm's about-face comes three days after saying it would introduce the feature as part of its Real ID product.

Blizzard said the intention was to cut down on "flame wars" and heated online arguments started to cause trouble.

Within 24 hours of announcing the plan, Blizzard received more than 1,000 comments, mostly critical.

Hours before the change of heart, there were around 50,000 comments stretching over some 2,500 pages.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8806623.stm

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Chulanowa

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Sat Jul-10-10 04:27 AM
Response to Original message

1. Flame wars? Seriously?

I'm a WoW player. I frequent those forums. I also post here, I post over at a conspiracy site, I troll a right-wing board, and a religious debate forum.

Blizzard has NO idea what a "flame war" looks like. :rofl: when an argument becomes people threatening each other with bodily harm and you think it just might happen, THAT'S a flame war! (also it's an EMail to the FBI, but hey)

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jdp349

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Sat Jul-10-10 09:04 AM
Response to Reply #1

7. I dunno...

I've played WoW casually over the past few months and have even completed many of the end game raids. There is no community of people more malicious I think than the WoW community on the internet.

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Johonny

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Sat Jul-10-10 09:14 AM
Response to Reply #7

9. +1

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eShirl

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Sat Jul-10-10 04:54 AM
Response to Original message

2. too late Blizzard

I already used the money that would have gone to my canceled membership on pets and mounts in a similar but free-to-play mmorpg.

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Systematic Chaos

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Sat Jul-10-10 05:48 AM
Response to Original message

3. WoW was a boring game when I tried it back in 2006.

I can't imagine it being much better now.

EverQuest 2 is the one my wife and I love. It's just about impossible to run out of things to do in that game, and Sony does not force you to use your real name in their forums. The game isn't perfect, but it's definitely one of the most polished of all the existing MMOs.

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Mudoria

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Sat Jul-10-10 06:31 AM
Response to Original message

4. Played WoW for a short time after it was released

But never got above level 20. Too much PvE for me. I've stayed with Dark Age of Camelot since 2003 though. Hard to beat the three realm war that goes on there. It's become a niche game with a small subsciber base but it's still fun to kill the rivals from Albion and Hibernia. I think most gamer boards turn into flame and trolling fests. It's the nature of gaming and internet forums it seems.

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City of Mills

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Sat Jul-10-10 06:39 AM
Response to Reply #4

5. I'm on my third WOW trial account

Just checking out the game, playing different races and classes...of course you can only get up to level 20 with the 10 day trial accounts so when they expire I just start a new email/account. WOW is interesting, very detailed and expansive world. But to do anything you have to mindlessly grind for hours and hours. I can't imagine paying for that, it's like a job. I'll have to check out a private server to see some more of the endgame content; i can't imagine people playing to level 80 on that game. You must have to kill 800 million creatures and perform thousands of annoying quests to get there.

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meow mix

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Sat Jul-10-10 07:53 AM
Response to Original message

6. polictical discussions over "Trade Chat" can get quite heated

i know im striking the soft spots when the hate-whispers start, lol

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jdp349

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Sat Jul-10-10 09:06 AM
Response to Reply #6

8. You know why they call it Xbox 360?

Because when you get to the store you turn 360 degrees around and walk away!

... it's like throwing rocks at a bee hive.

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Marr

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Sat Jul-10-10 09:26 AM
Response to Reply #8

10. But if you turn 360 degrees, you're still facing the same direction.

Edited on Sat Jul-10-10 09:27 AM by Marr

Sorry to be that guy. :P

I know exactly what you're talking about, though. The X-Box Live community actually manages to make Bnet seem civil. The number of shouting, raging racists on that thing is insane-- and they helpfully pipe their microphone right into your living room.

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jdp349

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Sat Jul-10-10 01:30 PM
Response to Reply #10

12. I know that hehe

it's just one of the classic trolling lines that I've seen that'll make trade chat explode.

Making a statement that Samus is a man and the name of the hero in the Zelda series is Zeld and not Link also I pretty good ones.

I've been an on and off WoW player for quite sometime, what always brings me make is the people I think. Nowhere in the world is there such a perfect collision of so many malicious people.

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The Gunslinger

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Sat Jul-10-10 09:47 AM
Response to Original message

11. Actually Actiblizzard said they are not going to do it "at this time"

I 'm sure they will after Starcraft 2 and Cataclysm are released this year.

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