WoW, BAD BAD IDEA

[eliyes]

So, I don't play World of Warcraft, but here's a little info that anyone who DOES play it, or indeed plays or intends to play any kind of similar MMORPG, should be aware of:

Blizzard, the company behind WoW, have a new rule about to be instituted, where anyone using their forums will have to post using their REAL first AND last names, where everyone can see. Their stated motive is to cut down on trolling. They are ignoring user protests and safety concerns -- but of course, Blizzard employees won't have to use their real names, because that's a company security concern.

wow_ladies have up an excellent post with links to reactions from the gaming community, statistics about stalking, and what mainstream news coverage there's been so far. I expect they will keep updating.

World of Warcraft is huge in the online gaming industry, and if they put this through successfully, others will follow their lead -- and not just games. As someone who has been stalked by someone I met on the internet -- someone who called my house and sent me a package in the mail -- any move to make my personal information MORE accessible to the internet at large strikes me as a BAD IDEA.

And if you think it's not likely to be a big deal, two things: read this screencap of a post on this subject on 4chan's /v/ board, especially noting the underlined bit and responses thereto, and then check out this blog entry detailing what happened when someone posted their name on the forums and found out just how easy it is to be found.

Penny Arcade's commentary.

Important ETA: WIN! \o/ They've backed off, finally.

Comments

[phoenix-anca.livejournal.com]

This is a good post and you should feel good.

Blizz, however, should feel bad.

[eliyes.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

They need to be hit with the clue-bat. This is completely ridiculous, and violates privacy laws in some user's countries!

[phoenix-anca.livejournal.com]

*hugs* They're getting smacked with clue bats, and shaking them off. Because that's just scaremongering, you know.

*continues to steam*

[gaffsie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, no one's going to abuse that. GENIUS!!1!11!

[eliyes.livejournal.com]

Of course not! Those nasty ol' trolls are too nice to do that!

The solution to perceived abusive behaviour of users against other users is NOT to make it EASIER.

[kermitdef.livejournal.com]

As far as I know, this only applies to the out-of-game online forums, which not many hardcore players care about. The in-game chatting is where most crap occurs, but they can't touch those cause our player names are "supposed" to be RP, and not real. No laws in any country are broken here. You sign-up, you agree to their rules. Period. I'm really sick of whiny net-brats who scream privacy violation when they aren't aware of the privacy regulations of the site they're on. As for miss "I got net-stalked" up in wow_ladies there, ANYONE can trace you through your net connection, your real name is not required. Guess what? This here LJ comment I'm making right now will be logged by their system, which includes my IP. Someone can trace that IP to the ISP and right to the city. They can go further depending on their skill. Back in the day, when I was in Toronto for a year, some kid tried to hit me with NetBus, an old trojan. I showed up at his door the next day. The end.

[phoenix-anca.livejournal.com]

People care about the forums when they have to use them - there are troubleshooting issues that can only be addressed there, for instance. GMs or phone reps will tell you to take your concerns there.

[nagaina-ryuuoh.livejournal.com]

...'Not many hardcore players care about'? Really? In which alternate reality do you dwell, where the Blizzard official forums are not a heavily trafficked part of WoW culture? The guild recruitment forums? The class forums?

Bluntly put: this is the worst decision Blizz could possibly have made with regard to the RealID system, attempting to not only instigate a buddy-buddy business relationship withe Facebook but FORCE their player-base to adopt it if they want to participate in several major, important functions of the forum community. Such as, oh, just to pick a random example, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT. Bluntly, if I choose to have a Facebook, that's my damned business and I get to pick my social circle. I do not need to have my, yes, entirely fucking unique personal identifier broadcast to every mouthbreathing grognard on the WoW forums.

[ladymoondancer.livejournal.com]

I'm glad they backed off because that is the stupidest fucking idea ever.

[eliyes.livejournal.com]

Isn't it just? Apaprnetly it was because they're getting in bed with Facebook.