agpc wrote on Jul 8, 2010, 00:32:
Really the only way Blizzard will change their mind is if enough people decide that they don't want to buy games from a company that makes decisions like this. Given that its opt in, I seriously doubt any governmental entity will intercede over the privacy issues.

on the contrary, if everyone who didn't to use real ID didn't buy the game, then ~100% of the people playing the game would be using realID, which means their system was a success, if people just buy the game (btw , I see it for 60 bucks, not 70, but I don't know where you're looking or where you live, of course. nor would I even if I had your name :)) and don't use the system then wouldn't it prove that it is something their isn't interest in? That's the way I look at it.

In terms of receiving feedback from outside of the forum, it's never been required to put feedback through the forum (though in the past and presently that has been the predominant venue for such things) and I imagine that is something they will improve upon,(as it already exists.)

And since real ID is an optional system, then the GMs could take steps to make sure their information wasn't public, and perhaps they might as a matter of company policy. GMs operate in game, community magaers operate on the forums, and thats why I didn't bring up GMs, as they weren't relevant to making my point or the conversation.

A loan officer at a bank doesn't operate under a fake name because they think some nutjob will assault them when they turn them down for a loan, is it a real threat, however small? probably, but they don't let it run their life.

Yeah Blizzard has been making bad decisions over the past year, but this one takes the cake. I was already on the fence about whether to buy SC2 given its $70.00 price tag, but after this there is no way I will buy a Blizzard game in the near future. I value the ability to post feadback about balance issues in a RTS game WITHOUT having to disclose my real name on the internet. This move, even if well intentioned, creates an appearance of impropriety with respect to collecting consumer information.

Really the only way Blizzard will change their mind is if enough people decide that they don't want to buy games from a company that makes decisions like this. Given that its opt in, I seriously doubt any governmental entity will intercede over the privacy issues. However, someone at Blizzard made a really bad decision and I will speak with my pocket book since using the forums to voice my displeasure could result in potential future employers (who don't exactly look highly on gamers) choosing not to consider me because I play a computer game.

If I were a female gamer, I would be disillusioned with Blizzard to say the least.

Well but a GM handles affairs that directly involve someone elses money, and in very sad cases a major life-investment, something Community Managers do not, i think any GM would be WELL advised to keep VERY quiet as to what their names are because a pissed off gold-farmer might know someone who knows someone in the mafia and then nobody is going to laugh anymore.

Granted, lots of ifs/whens but a system that is so obvious open to abuse is clearly a bad idea. Imo.

Particularly when this is required to submit bugs in the Forums it is no longer fun either.

Well to be fair, they had more than just his name to find out who he was, that's not to say it wasn't doable, but it made the job incredibly easier. people have known who the community managers are (real names) for quite some time, so nothing has stopped forum users in the past for digging up info, and those employee's don't have some turbulent real life BS because PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET KNOW THEIR REAL NAME, but when this guy issued a challenge he got exactly what he asked for, the correct way to prove the point is to implement the system and let it prove itself. I agree though, if Blizzard gave that employee the blessing to post then they should be embarrassed for not having thought through the implications of issuing said challenge, otherwise they should fire the genius who's bright idea that was.

Cutter wrote on Jul 7, 2010, 22:38:

The Canadian government would also need to get involved with things like facebook, myspace for also sharing information which people volunteer. which are also completely voluntary. NO ONE, at any point is REQUIRED to post or even look at the B.net forums, and anything that would interact in game is already been said to be completely optional.

They already have. One of the reasons that Facebook is changing its privacy settings isn't just the outcry from users, but from several governments saying they can't operate in their respective countries without those changes. You'd think Blizzard would learn from this.

And even ignoring other countries, the response has been overwhlemingly negative and it's just starting. Blizzard is wrong on this and they need to apologize and do a 180 in short order.

Right. rights are a concern of facebook, but not in the same terms that people are complaining about blizzard. They are different issues. the only reason I drew parralels is because just like facebook, its a completely optional part where you volunteer information.

In this case the only information being given on the forum is a name, something facebook isn't concerned with or involved with any rights concerns at all with. now if blizz goes beyond this then yes, that is something that would need to be addressed, but as is, I'd say legally they are fine.

It sends shivers down you spine? I think this is epic, what did he think was going to happen? Only completely DUMB AS BREAD people would openly post their name (if its unique) on a multi-million views forum and then wonder when 3 guys who know how to use google trace all info out of that name that they can on 4chan its already public knowledge and now he can have fun changing his telephone number and explain to his children why he just made their school life hell. And you can get lots of info from a unique name, but particularly from wifes/children who are less paranoid than the real guy.

So yeah, i think this perfectly demonstrates the point, if it even needs demonstrating that blizzard is dropping the ball epicly here. RealID is not security, its criminal negligence of privacy to the false promise of security.

They may as well say, "Players can choose not to participate in our community if they value their privacy." To that I say, fuck you, Blizzard.

But if any name can be registered, what's the damn point?

This doesn't seem like that big of a deal, and I am a very private person.

Then again, I've had my real name and email listed on my Blues profile page for years.

http://jeremystar.blogspot.com/2010/07/realid.html

I like the idea. Most of the privacy concerns are bullshit. Anyone with half a brain and a clue can find out more about you than your real name already. If privacy was such a big fucking deal, then we'd all be doing something about the government in our respective countries (most of us, anyway) and we're not. It all boils down to people being ignorant, or people not wanting to take responsibility for their bullshit online.

The Canadian government would also need to get involved with things like facebook, myspace for also sharing information which people volunteer. which are also completely voluntary. NO ONE, at any point is REQUIRED to post or even look at the B.net forums, and anything that would interact in game is already been said to be completely optional.

They already have. One of the reasons that Facebook is changing its privacy settings isn't just the outcry from users, but from several governments saying they can't operate in their respective countries without those changes. You'd think Blizzard would learn from this.

And even ignoring other countries, the response has been overwhlemingly negative and it's just starting. Blizzard is wrong on this and they need to apologize and do a 180 in short order.

this post from the wow forums sums it up perfectly:

I, The poster. Am at least one of the following.

- a woman
- a minor
- a member of an ethnic minority
- a person of alternative sexuality
- a transgendered person
- a person with a unique/uncommon name
- a person who has been harassed/stalked
- a person in an information-sensitive profession
- a person who may be Google searched by co-workers/employers/potential employers
- a person who may be Google searched by mates/potential mates
- a person who is concerned about account security
- a person who is uninterested in online social networking
- a person who does not fit any of these categories but who is nonetheless concerned for him/herself or for the welfare of others

and I oppose RealID for one or more of these reasons:

- It is a threat to personal safety.
- It is a threat to personal security.
- It will not eliminate/significantly reduce trolling.
- It should be optional; choosing between risk and silence is not truly “optional”.
- Unified tags/handles provide the same effect with minimal risk.
- World of Warcraft is not Facebook.

If this decision persists, I will do one or more of the following:

- Refrain from posting on these forums.
- Seriously reconsider my subscription.
- Cancel my subscription.
- Cancel my subscription should RealID be made mandatory in-game
- Will not purchase future Blizzard titles until RealID is removed.
(end of quote)

Enahs wrote on Jul 7, 2010, 22:11:
I see no reason why everybody is so upset about this. It is nothing but a way for them to capture the social networking market.

How is it any different then Facebook or MySpace, or whatever the popular ones are now. If you have an account on there, people can see your name! OMG! Your name! Your name is not private information!

maybe you should try reading to understand whats going on then. you cannot post on the forums at all without your real name being attached, even tech support or customer service. any realid friend added automatically shares its list with the additions friends list without your permission and there are no privacy controls at all.

if you dont think a name is a big deal then even blizzard disagrees with you as one employee deleted his facebook account and changed his phone number after boasting that it was totally safe and that your name is no big deal to share.

no one cares why blizzard is doing it. i dont care that this is their way to capture social networking market share because its a shitty effort.

This comment was edited on Jul 7, 2010, 22:25.

I see no reason why everybody is so upset about this. It is nothing but a way for them to capture the social networking market.

How is it any different then Facebook or MySpace, or whatever the popular ones are now. If you have an account on there, people can see your name! OMG! Your name! Your name is not private information!

i guess this is the result of their little facebook deal from awhile ago, this forum troll cleanup stuff is just a smokescreen.

Except on the WoW forums, you can't just register with any name; the account you've been using for years has your real name attached to it and it can't be changed.

Players can read the forums anonymously, but they just don't give a shit what you have to say and aren't interested in your feedback on their products unless you post your name for everyone else along with it.

I bet all of you are swell friends to have in real life, it's your friends I worry about!

Blizzard would never do something this stupid. This is Activision.
I knew nothing good would ever come of that merger.

The only effect this will have is to kill the official forums and drive everyone to 3rd party forums. I used to lurk the official WOW forums at work, back when I played WOW, and I would rarely post anything under my main character's name, much less my full real life name.

They're trying to turn the Blizzard forums into Facebook and it won't work. They're two different things.

any moment you add a realid friend, their friends list gets access to yours and vice versa. so basically it automatically creates links and gives out personal information if you elect to use the service at all. this optional service will see them sued or worse, they will cause someone actual injury in real life by facilitating a crime. how about listening to the 3000 pages of player feedback on the forums and shitcanning this pr nightmare?

this is the only thing in the world that would stop me from buying sc2. congrats blizzard, didnt think it was possible but you made me want to avoid your games. it takes a lot of shit to do that considering how addictive and well made they are. guess ol bobby has more influence there than they said.

This Real.id just keeps creeping in more and more, where does it stop ?

Well for me it stops here. I have canceled my Starcraft 2 order. I have been wow free for 10 months and have no plans of coming back and I won't be touching Diablo 3.

This comment was edited on Jul 7, 2010, 21:45.