In most walks of life you are correct however in the world of internet subscription gaming a mobilised and vocal section of the consumer base and POTENTIAL consumer base can effect change. Blizzard need to hear loud and clear that this is unacceptable not just to current customers, but to potential future customers.
They have already alienated me from their forums after issuing me with a 4 day ban for saying "/bump for a nice group of people" on another guilds recruitment ad in our realm forums. However with this system they have made sure I do not buy cata, do not re-new my wow sub and will not purchase starcraft 3 or diablo 3. Its not what they are doing thats the issue, its that blizzard control the market, when they "try" something if it works most other mmos follow suit.
Now if they get away with this and sony and Cryptic follow suit, how long untill they are selling your data to third parties?
None of this would have been needed if they had managed their game community properly in the first place, instead of letting them act like little children in a sweet shop.
So no I will not be quiet about it, and neither should you, it was only through mass mobilization of the customer base that facebook backed down at all on their privacy issues, and its only through mass mobilization of customers old new and future that blizzard will back down.
Just to point out, that what I described above is exactly what happened.
And the result ladies and gentlemen? So sorry mr Wood, but you were wrong, just like your writers were wrong with the "Customer is not always right" column and various other columns written to be apologists for corporate mmo makers greed.
Once again People power expressed its self in a way to effect change, learn from this.
You can quit, but the fact remains only countless other players will fill your shoes. Developers know this, they don't care about user retainment rate. They care about your wallet, and how much of it is going to them.
If they can't have your money, there is always another player from another mmo desperate enough to try it. Eventually players simply end up playing musical chairs for the rest of their mmo career.
people are addicted to games, and developers know it.
There is no stopping companies like blizzard from doing what they want, and with peoples addiction to these games, we are all "fucked".
I don't see much hope for change, we were raised, and molded, and shaped by our society, parents and outside pressures, to be this way.
While many may not agree to portions or all of this post, in this end we are just slave to the system, one way or another, through tv, food, games etc etc...
Don't believe me? Try living a day without tv, computers, cell phones, fast food, that new outfit.
Anyways... I really hope that people find a way to adapt to the system to be happy, cause you can't beat it, and you can't exist outside of it.
flame as you like, I understand if you don't understand the words I am saying.
Hahaha. This just shows the mentality of the average WoW gamer. QQ I'm gonna quit cuz I have to use my real name QQ. Seriously? My name is Brandon Erwin. Why would I care if you knew it? People just sound like a bunch of whining politicians. It's sad.
Originally posted by DAS1337 Hahaha. This just shows the mentality of the average WoW gamer. QQ I'm gonna quit cuz I have to use my real name QQ. Seriously? My name is Brandon Erwin. Why would I care if you knew it? People just sound like a bunch of whining politicians. It's sad.
Now that this is all over and John was proven wrong
REAL ID does not in any way verify that you are the person you claim you are. This is something that everyone needs to realise now. John Wood playing on his battlenet account could be 12 year old girl - or 90 year old alien. Cause Blizzard has no methods of verifying if you are actually the person that you claim you are.
So plz... Remember this - if you are talking to a 15 year old girl through REAL ID system. This could be 40 year old looney. That was the most dangerous part of this all. Blizzard claimed that ppl were actually talking under their own first and last name - when the company had no - and still has no way of verifying the true name of the user.
Continue to Play world of warcraft but refuse to use any portion/component of the game that requires the disclosure of your true name.
If I can keep my anonymity, or control it to a ceratin extent, then I'll continue playing. IF I have the option of showing in game friends and family my real name to chat and communicate, then that's not an issue. It would be exactly like Facebook. But if you tell me that my ability to use your OFFICIAL forums REQUIRES that I use my true name, then I won't be using that portion of your service.
I'm disapointed in Blizzard and I believe if this goes through, people WILL be hurt in real life. I won't partake in any of that.
On another note, I'm a professional, and I carefully guard who gets to see my name and where they can see it. I don't want future employers to google my name only to see all the posts I made for a game. I believe playing video games and being good at my job have nothing to do with each other. Future employers might think otherwise.
Unlike John, my name is very unqiue and its far too easy for people to locate me therefore while he might not care, it matters a great deal to me.
I am in that boat too. If you type "Jon Wood" Facebook search, you probably have several to choose from. If you put my name in there, you get me. Just me. If you google my name, everything that comes on the first several pages of hits is me and stuff I have posted under my own name.
Re: People complaining and quitting:
I have noticed that some changes cause people to flee from a game-- I hate to bring it up anywhere, but there was that SWG NGE thing that seemed to cause a fairly large exodus. It doesn't even matter that the policy didn't change when those people left because it no longer applied to them. They go play other games and SOE doesn't get their money.
On the other hand, back when EQ1 was still all the rage, there were protests from time to time, in game and in the forums, and sometimes things got changed, but mostly they didn't. People would throw fits about problems with or changes to their classes, swearing they'd quit, but mostly they didn't-- they just switched to a different class. So, it does seem true that people will rant and froth all over the forums and in-game, but don't actually quit.
SOE didn't listen to their own detriment. They really caused the too early demise of EQ1 by not listening to their playerbase. And when they did, it was too little too late because WoW hit the market and there was finally another game out that with enough to compete with them. They didn't listen because they, in their minds, didn't have too. Their was no competition for their money at the time. I strongely feel that if they did, EQ would've lasted strongely at least 2-3 more years. And sure, it's still around, but when the valve opened for people to leave, it was soon a floodgate.
Something like the whole RealID thing couldv've been that valve for SC2 and WoW. And, no offense to OP, not everyone has a name where there are thousands of possibles. Blizzard retracted the use of Real Name 'at this time' today and it's a good move. It at least from a small standpoint says they listened.
However, I don't think it's because they wanted to, I think they thought it over in terms of money. Some people left, lots of people cancelled pre-orders from stores and from them directly. Enough outcry about it on their forums where people posted names and 5 minutes later, there were lots of personal histories, addresses, etc... Though some of it not readily available ot the average person, but put into the hands of people that would use that information, it could be dangerous. I firmly believe that if they went through with RealID+real names, at least 25% of SC2 sales would evaporate, and probably 10-15% of the WoW population would leave. And when you talk about 10-15% of the WoW population, in terms of the financials, it's really straight out of the bottom line of profits, because servers won't shut down, thus overhead costs won't lessen. It directly effects Blizzards profits, and for them, that really is the issue.
In most walks of life you are correct however in the world of internet subscription gaming a mobilised and vocal section of the consumer base and POTENTIAL consumer base can effect change. Blizzard need to hear loud and clear that this is unacceptable not just to current customers, but to potential future customers.
They have already alienated me from their forums after issuing me with a 4 day ban for saying "/bump for a nice group of people" on another guilds recruitment ad in our realm forums. However with this system they have made sure I do not buy cata, do not re-new my wow sub and will not purchase starcraft 3 or diablo 3. Its not what they are doing thats the issue, its that blizzard control the market, when they "try" something if it works most other mmos follow suit.
Now if they get away with this and sony and Cryptic follow suit, how long untill they are selling your data to third parties?
None of this would have been needed if they had managed their game community properly in the first place, instead of letting them act like little children in a sweet shop.
So no I will not be quiet about it, and neither should you, it was only through mass mobilization of the customer base that facebook backed down at all on their privacy issues, and its only through mass mobilization of customers old new and future that blizzard will back down.
Just to point out, that what I described above is exactly what happened.
And the result ladies and gentlemen? So sorry mr Wood, but you were wrong, just like your writers were wrong with the "Customer is not always right" column and various other columns written to be apologists for corporate mmo makers greed.
Once again People power expressed its self in a way to effect change, learn from this.
People screamed about other changes as well. How do you know many did not do just as Jon Wood has stated to do? Maybe many many voiced their concerns and then did quit. Maybe in the past people only made their voice heard and did not actually quit. Who knows what drove them to change their minds.
There was also people sending letters to companies that advertise on Blizzard's website. Maybe they got worried and contacted Blizzard. We can't know for sure what caused the withdraw. I believe Jon Wood could be right.
I think an outspoken player base required Blizzard to re-assess the situation. The loud and wide ranging effect of the outspoken masses reached major media markets and their accounting of the player base's sentiment help lend weight to the situation. When the general populace starts to hear about interent security issues their ears perk up and they take notice. Blizzard had to take notice. When a large piece of the player base calls for game change and it doesnt reach the major media and therefore people that dont play MMOs, the power of the player bases is less significant.
For this issue Mr. Wood was wrong, in most other cases, he would be right.
I love WoW. I've had some good times in that game. I've since anceled my subscription, but I plan on resubscribing when Catalysm hits, since I've got like 5 free months saved up from the WoW Visa card I got.
I really don't mind all the non-combat pets. I even got some myself. I even got the sparkly horse mount, which I think is really cool.
So yeah, maybe I'll see some of ya in-game on Cataclysm.
sure says dont rant yet he says basicly if you dont like it leave. Thank God Blizzard dont talk childish. And update the review. There is no forums ID.
An article says "don't rant, act!" and gets followed by ranting... ironic...
Is it that important for you people to lash at each others opinions?
Is it hard to accept the fact that there are other viewpoints on the globe?
Do you even think that stating opinions here has a ounce of importance?
And yet people are so riled up.
Humanity is a strange bunch...
Opinions stated on the official forums and other media made Blizzard cancel the implementation of RealID, so yes opinions voiced here can have an effect.
First, I'd like to say that while I can appreciate the massive storm of hate that has poured down on Blizzard since this announcement was made, both on their official forums and on third party forums like ours, I honestly don't think that this is going to get the job done.
Glad to see the mmorpg.com did not buckle under and do the "i'm a fanboi routine" this time around. Less fanbois make better forums and better games. Kudos to you mmorpg.com!
And not that I ever agree with childish ranting, for the information of "Jon Wood", these styles of ranting have gotten so many class changes done. Not just class changes either. PVP changes, gear, etc. Blizzard are notorius for listening the the whine, that is, if it comes in a big enough package of subscribers. God help them if they slip to 10.9 million subscribers.
Point is mute now since they backed off their decision.
I understand why they were thinking of doing it. Now days people are too comfortable behind an anonymous avatar saying whatever they like about whatever, true or not. "I'm not gods gift to computing, but I play one on the internet". If you have nothing to hide then most likely you wouldn't worry about using your real name.
As far as the argument goes about a nut job hunting you down based on your real name, I very much doubt it. Real names are required in every day life and many things throughout the internet. If someone really wanted to hunt you down, they could, even without your real name.
Stop acting childish on the forums (and games in general in many cases) and companies wont have to threaten to do this kind of thing. Of course most of the people who play WoW are children so I guess that is what we have to expect.
I'm not an IT Specialist, Game Developer, or Clairvoyant in real life, but like others on here, I play one on the internet.
Point is mute now since they backed off their decision.
I understand why they were thinking of doing it. Now days people are too comfortable behind an anonymous avatar saying whatever they like about whatever, true or not. "I'm not gods gift to computing, but I play one on the internet". If you have nothing to hide then most likely you wouldn't worry about using your real name.
As far as the argument goes about a nut job hunting you down based on your real name, I very much doubt it. Real names are required in every day life and many things throughout the internet. If someone really wanted to hunt you down, they could, even without your real name.
Stop acting childish on the forums (and games in general in many cases) and companies wont have to threaten to do this kind of thing. Of course most of the people who play WoW are children so I guess that is what we have to expect.
In any case, as much as I agree that using real names would curb stupid and childish behaviour, I would worry about privacy issues. Then again, I would sooner not post on the forums then quit the game (if I were still playing). I don't necessarily want any jack ass knowing my real name and such.
Just when I thought the MMO industry couldn't sink any lower, Blizzard comes out and does this. Ha! So much for a reputable company.
"I have only two out of my company and 20 out of some other company. We need support, but it is almost suicide to try to get it here as we are swept by machine gun fire and a constant barrage is on us. I have no one on my left and only a few on my right. I will hold." (First Lieutenant Clifton B. Cates, US Marine Corps, Soissons, 19 July 1918)
In any case, as much as I agree that using real names would curb stupid and childish behaviour, I would worry about privacy issues. Then again, I would sooner not post on the forums then quit the game (if I were still playing). I don't necessarily want any jack ass knowing my real name and such.
I firmly believe that this whole RealID thing has far less to do with controlling trollish behavior on the forums, and much more to do with long-term goals to integrate with Facebook. As another poster said (and I'm paraphrasing), "Forcing people to post using their real names to prevent trolling is like using a nuclear weapon to kill a cockroach. After the dust has settled, all you end up with is dead people and stronger cockroaches."
If you want to control trolling, force people to create a forum login ID which is tied to their account. They can only post using that ID. Then, if they insist on being a troll, you simply ban them from the forums. Monitoring the forums for abusive behavior may be a time-consuming task, but (again, as somebody else pointed out) Blizzard has a vast pool of willing volunteers who would gladly spend a few hours each day (or week) policing the forums for them.
The point is that there are many efficient, less intrusive methods to control forum activity available to them. *IF* that was the true intent of this proposed change. Which, as I've already stated, I do not believe.
I firmly believe that this whole RealID thing has far less to do with controlling trollish behavior on the forums, and much more to do with long-term goals to integrate with Facebook. As another poster said (and I'm paraphrasing), "Forcing people to post using their real names to prevent trolling is like using a nuclear weapon to kill a cockroach. After the dust has settled, all you end up with is dead people and stronger cockroaches."
If you want to control trolling, force people to create a forum login ID which is tied to their account. They can only post using that ID. Then, if they insist on being a troll, you simply ban them from the forums. Monitoring the forums for abusive behavior may be a time-consuming task, but (again, as somebody else pointed out) Blizzard has a vast pool of willing volunteers who would gladly spend a few hours each day (or week) policing the forums for them.
The point is that there are many efficient, less intrusive methods to control forum activity available to them. *IF* that was the true intent of this proposed change. Which, as I've already stated, I do not believe.
Who knows, maybe they were never going to do that; they just wanted a bunch of people to give them good ideas as to what to do. So they dropped a bomb and listened to people's suggestions...cheaper than hiring "experts" in the field. =P
I think the sheer amount f posting in the official WoW forums would be an extremely daunting task to efficiently monitor. Even with "volunteers", you would have to monitor the activities of these would-be do-gooders. Let's not forget that people can and will complain about volunteers and how they are being biases and all that non-sense. Reminds me pretty much of why I rarely post on forums anymore, unless it's part of a community/topic I enjoy posting on.
In most walks of life you are correct however in the world of internet subscription gaming a mobilised and vocal section of the consumer base and POTENTIAL consumer base can effect change. Blizzard need to hear loud and clear that this is unacceptable not just to current customers, but to potential future customers.
They have already alienated me from their forums after issuing me with a 4 day ban for saying "/bump for a nice group of people" on another guilds recruitment ad in our realm forums. However with this system they have made sure I do not buy cata, do not re-new my wow sub and will not purchase starcraft 3 or diablo 3. Its not what they are doing thats the issue, its that blizzard control the market, when they "try" something if it works most other mmos follow suit.
Now if they get away with this and sony and Cryptic follow suit, how long untill they are selling your data to third parties?
None of this would have been needed if they had managed their game community properly in the first place, instead of letting them act like little children in a sweet shop.
So no I will not be quiet about it, and neither should you, it was only through mass mobilization of the customer base that facebook backed down at all on their privacy issues, and its only through mass mobilization of customers old new and future that blizzard will back down.
Just to point out, that what I described above is exactly what happened.
And the result ladies and gentlemen? So sorry mr Wood, but you were wrong, just like your writers were wrong with the "Customer is not always right" column and various other columns written to be apologists for corporate mmo makers greed.
Once again People power expressed its self in a way to effect change, learn from this.
People screamed about other changes as well. How do you know many did not do just as Jon Wood has stated to do? Maybe many many voiced their concerns and then did quit. Maybe in the past people only made their voice heard and did not actually quit. Who knows what drove them to change their minds.
There was also people sending letters to companies that advertise on Blizzard's website. Maybe they got worried and contacted Blizzard. We can't know for sure what caused the withdraw. I believe Jon Wood could be right.
Did you read what Mr Wood typed?
He didnt say do both, he said simply quit? Fact is simply quitting alone isnt enough, a customer base has more power over a corporate entity than they would have you believe, same as the populace has power over its government. Enough of either rising up and the big fish is cooked so to speak.
The way the protest against real ID was handled, both directly and visibly and behind the scenes with snail mail letters of protest and contact of corporate partners is exactly the way to go with this kind of thing.
No publicity is bad publicity though, which is why I still believe the whole thing was a carefully managed feint by blizzard..... lets see if any other mmos were announcing anything important this week.... oh yes just one or two......
Comments
Just to point out, that what I described above is exactly what happened.
And the result ladies and gentlemen? So sorry mr Wood, but you were wrong, just like your writers were wrong with the "Customer is not always right" column and various other columns written to be apologists for corporate mmo makers greed.
Once again People power expressed its self in a way to effect change, learn from this.
You can quit, but the fact remains only countless other players will fill your shoes. Developers know this, they don't care about user retainment rate. They care about your wallet, and how much of it is going to them.
If they can't have your money, there is always another player from another mmo desperate enough to try it. Eventually players simply end up playing musical chairs for the rest of their mmo career.
people are addicted to games, and developers know it.
There is no stopping companies like blizzard from doing what they want, and with peoples addiction to these games, we are all "fucked".
I don't see much hope for change, we were raised, and molded, and shaped by our society, parents and outside pressures, to be this way.
While many may not agree to portions or all of this post, in this end we are just slave to the system, one way or another, through tv, food, games etc etc...
Don't believe me? Try living a day without tv, computers, cell phones, fast food, that new outfit.
Anyways... I really hope that people find a way to adapt to the system to be happy, cause you can't beat it, and you can't exist outside of it.
flame as you like, I understand if you don't understand the words I am saying.
cheers!
Hahaha. This just shows the mentality of the average WoW gamer. QQ I'm gonna quit cuz I have to use my real name QQ. Seriously? My name is Brandon Erwin. Why would I care if you knew it? People just sound like a bunch of whining politicians. It's sad.
This is only the beginning...
Now that this is all over and John was proven wrong
REAL ID does not in any way verify that you are the person you claim you are. This is something that everyone needs to realise now. John Wood playing on his battlenet account could be 12 year old girl - or 90 year old alien. Cause Blizzard has no methods of verifying if you are actually the person that you claim you are.
So plz... Remember this - if you are talking to a 15 year old girl through REAL ID system. This could be 40 year old looney. That was the most dangerous part of this all. Blizzard claimed that ppl were actually talking under their own first and last name - when the company had no - and still has no way of verifying the true name of the user.
Continue to Play world of warcraft but refuse to use any portion/component of the game that requires the disclosure of your true name.
If I can keep my anonymity, or control it to a ceratin extent, then I'll continue playing. IF I have the option of showing in game friends and family my real name to chat and communicate, then that's not an issue. It would be exactly like Facebook. But if you tell me that my ability to use your OFFICIAL forums REQUIRES that I use my true name, then I won't be using that portion of your service.
I'm disapointed in Blizzard and I believe if this goes through, people WILL be hurt in real life. I won't partake in any of that.
On another note, I'm a professional, and I carefully guard who gets to see my name and where they can see it. I don't want future employers to google my name only to see all the posts I made for a game. I believe playing video games and being good at my job have nothing to do with each other. Future employers might think otherwise.
I won't take that chance....
SOE didn't listen to their own detriment. They really caused the too early demise of EQ1 by not listening to their playerbase. And when they did, it was too little too late because WoW hit the market and there was finally another game out that with enough to compete with them. They didn't listen because they, in their minds, didn't have too. Their was no competition for their money at the time. I strongely feel that if they did, EQ would've lasted strongely at least 2-3 more years. And sure, it's still around, but when the valve opened for people to leave, it was soon a floodgate.
Something like the whole RealID thing couldv've been that valve for SC2 and WoW. And, no offense to OP, not everyone has a name where there are thousands of possibles. Blizzard retracted the use of Real Name 'at this time' today and it's a good move. It at least from a small standpoint says they listened.
However, I don't think it's because they wanted to, I think they thought it over in terms of money. Some people left, lots of people cancelled pre-orders from stores and from them directly. Enough outcry about it on their forums where people posted names and 5 minutes later, there were lots of personal histories, addresses, etc... Though some of it not readily available ot the average person, but put into the hands of people that would use that information, it could be dangerous. I firmly believe that if they went through with RealID+real names, at least 25% of SC2 sales would evaporate, and probably 10-15% of the WoW population would leave. And when you talk about 10-15% of the WoW population, in terms of the financials, it's really straight out of the bottom line of profits, because servers won't shut down, thus overhead costs won't lessen. It directly effects Blizzards profits, and for them, that really is the issue.
Lots of exciting things are happening over at LotRO, which is a much better game anyways.
People screamed about other changes as well. How do you know many did not do just as Jon Wood has stated to do? Maybe many many voiced their concerns and then did quit. Maybe in the past people only made their voice heard and did not actually quit. Who knows what drove them to change their minds.
There was also people sending letters to companies that advertise on Blizzard's website. Maybe they got worried and contacted Blizzard. We can't know for sure what caused the withdraw. I believe Jon Wood could be right.
I think an outspoken player base required Blizzard to re-assess the situation. The loud and wide ranging effect of the outspoken masses reached major media markets and their accounting of the player base's sentiment help lend weight to the situation. When the general populace starts to hear about interent security issues their ears perk up and they take notice. Blizzard had to take notice. When a large piece of the player base calls for game change and it doesnt reach the major media and therefore people that dont play MMOs, the power of the player bases is less significant.
For this issue Mr. Wood was wrong, in most other cases, he would be right.
Gaming since Avalon Hill was making board games.
Played SWG, EVE, Fallen Earth, LOTRO, Rift, Vanguard, WoW, SWTOR, TSW, Tera
Tried Aoc, Aion, EQII, RoM, Vindictus, Darkfail, DDO, GW, PotBS
I love WoW. I've had some good times in that game. I've since anceled my subscription, but I plan on resubscribing when Catalysm hits, since I've got like 5 free months saved up from the WoW Visa card I got.
I really don't mind all the non-combat pets. I even got some myself. I even got the sparkly horse mount, which I think is really cool.
So yeah, maybe I'll see some of ya in-game on Cataclysm.
An article says "don't rant, act!" and gets followed by ranting... ironic...
Is it that important for you people to lash at each others opinions?
Is it hard to accept the fact that there are other viewpoints on the globe?
Do you even think that stating opinions here has a ounce of importance?
And yet people are so riled up.
Humanity is a strange bunch...
sure says dont rant yet he says basicly if you dont like it leave. Thank God Blizzard dont talk childish. And update the review. There is no forums ID.
Opinions stated on the official forums and other media made Blizzard cancel the implementation of RealID, so yes opinions voiced here can have an effect.
LOL... 1 day later...
(Akiraosc)
Glad to see the mmorpg.com did not buckle under and do the "i'm a fanboi routine" this time around. Less fanbois make better forums and better games. Kudos to you mmorpg.com!
And not that I ever agree with childish ranting, for the information of "Jon Wood", these styles of ranting have gotten so many class changes done. Not just class changes either. PVP changes, gear, etc. Blizzard are notorius for listening the the whine, that is, if it comes in a big enough package of subscribers. God help them if they slip to 10.9 million subscribers.
(Akiraosc)
My question is this:
Will this carry over to wow armory where you do character searches - possible that will reveal your real name too???
Strange article as you don't actually explain what this program is. Google it is, but there should have been something here about it!
Point is mute now since they backed off their decision.
I understand why they were thinking of doing it. Now days people are too comfortable behind an anonymous avatar saying whatever they like about whatever, true or not. "I'm not gods gift to computing, but I play one on the internet". If you have nothing to hide then most likely you wouldn't worry about using your real name.
As far as the argument goes about a nut job hunting you down based on your real name, I very much doubt it. Real names are required in every day life and many things throughout the internet. If someone really wanted to hunt you down, they could, even without your real name.
Stop acting childish on the forums (and games in general in many cases) and companies wont have to threaten to do this kind of thing. Of course most of the people who play WoW are children so I guess that is what we have to expect.
I'm not an IT Specialist, Game Developer, or Clairvoyant in real life, but like others on here, I play one on the internet.
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=25968987278&sid=1
Explained there....^^^
In any case, as much as I agree that using real names would curb stupid and childish behaviour, I would worry about privacy issues. Then again, I would sooner not post on the forums then quit the game (if I were still playing). I don't necessarily want any jack ass knowing my real name and such.
Just when I thought the MMO industry couldn't sink any lower, Blizzard comes out and does this. Ha! So much for a reputable company.
"I have only two out of my company and 20 out of some other company. We need support, but it is almost suicide to try to get it here as we are swept by machine gun fire and a constant barrage is on us. I have no one on my left and only a few on my right. I will hold." (First Lieutenant Clifton B. Cates, US Marine Corps, Soissons, 19 July 1918)
I firmly believe that this whole RealID thing has far less to do with controlling trollish behavior on the forums, and much more to do with long-term goals to integrate with Facebook. As another poster said (and I'm paraphrasing), "Forcing people to post using their real names to prevent trolling is like using a nuclear weapon to kill a cockroach. After the dust has settled, all you end up with is dead people and stronger cockroaches."
If you want to control trolling, force people to create a forum login ID which is tied to their account. They can only post using that ID. Then, if they insist on being a troll, you simply ban them from the forums. Monitoring the forums for abusive behavior may be a time-consuming task, but (again, as somebody else pointed out) Blizzard has a vast pool of willing volunteers who would gladly spend a few hours each day (or week) policing the forums for them.
The point is that there are many efficient, less intrusive methods to control forum activity available to them. *IF* that was the true intent of this proposed change. Which, as I've already stated, I do not believe.
Who knows, maybe they were never going to do that; they just wanted a bunch of people to give them good ideas as to what to do. So they dropped a bomb and listened to people's suggestions...cheaper than hiring "experts" in the field. =P
I think the sheer amount f posting in the official WoW forums would be an extremely daunting task to efficiently monitor. Even with "volunteers", you would have to monitor the activities of these would-be do-gooders. Let's not forget that people can and will complain about volunteers and how they are being biases and all that non-sense. Reminds me pretty much of why I rarely post on forums anymore, unless it's part of a community/topic I enjoy posting on.
Did you read what Mr Wood typed?
He didnt say do both, he said simply quit? Fact is simply quitting alone isnt enough, a customer base has more power over a corporate entity than they would have you believe, same as the populace has power over its government. Enough of either rising up and the big fish is cooked so to speak.
The way the protest against real ID was handled, both directly and visibly and behind the scenes with snail mail letters of protest and contact of corporate partners is exactly the way to go with this kind of thing.
No publicity is bad publicity though, which is why I still believe the whole thing was a carefully managed feint by blizzard..... lets see if any other mmos were announcing anything important this week.... oh yes just one or two......