Blizzard scraps Real ID forum plans
Blizzard has announced that it has scrapped plans of rolling out Real ID features for forums.
Blizzard first announced the plans last week, but a public outcry ensued and Blizzard has been forced to abandon the idea - though only after trying to prove how well it would work. One Blizzard employee, by the forum name of Bashiok, revealed his real name. Blizzard fans then used his name to uncover a wealth of personal information about him as an illustration of how the community prized privacy.
"We've been constantly monitoring the feedback you've given us," said Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime, "As well as internally discussing your concerns about the use of real names on our forums. As a result of those discussions, we've decided at this time that real names will not be required for posting on official Blizzard forums."
"It's important to note that we still remain committed to improving our forums," Morhaime continued. "Our efforts are driven 100 per cent by the desire to find ways to make our community areas more welcoming for players and encourage more constructive conversations about our games. We will still move forward with new forum features such as the ability to rate posts up or down, post highlighting based on rating, improved search functionality, and more.
"However, when we launch the new StarCraft II forums that include these new features, you will be posting by your StarCraft II Battle.net character name + character code, not your real name. The upgraded World of Warcraft forums with these new features will launch close to the release of Cataclysm, and also will not require your real name."
"I want to make sure it's clear that our plans for the forums are completely separate from our plans for the optional in-game Real ID system now live with World of Warcraft and launching soon with StarCraft II. 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. And of course, you'll still be able to keep your relationships at the anonymous, character level if you so choose when you communicate with other players in game. Over time, we will continue to evolve Real ID on Battle.net to add new and exciting functionality within our games for players who decide to use the feature.
"In closing, I want to point out that our connection with our community has always been and will always be extremely important to us. We strongly believe that Every Voice Matters, and we feel fortunate to have a community that cares so passionately about our games. We will always appreciate the feedback and support of our players, which has been a key to Blizzard's success from the beginning."
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23 Comments
Discuss in the forums ReplyGood excuse. :)
Saying that, bit-tech could do with a couple interns to be their bitch and update the site over the weekend. :D
honestly, if people don't want others to know about them.... why do they tell the world every little detail on their facebook?
see lan support for sc 2
they listen when its cost effective
Zing! Haha.
Erm? Every discussion of RealID has made reference to Facebook, with the following assumptions:
1. Everyone has a facebook
2. Everyone has their full legal name as their facebook name
3. Everyone has completely disabled all security settings, allowing unrestricted access of their profile to everyone
NONE of which are true.
Not everyone has a facebook. Even if they do, their facebook name isn't always their full legal name, whether it be a shortened nickname or only using their last initial. And, even if they can be looked up by name, most people have the security settings such that they need to accept a friend request before allowing someone to view their profile.
That's a HUGE difference from having their full legal name posted on a forum, for anyone to be able to see.
I don't "tell the world every little detail" on my facebook. I show some inconsequential information to people who have friend requested me and who I have acknowledged as being someone I actually know and want to allow to access my information.
That's more of how the in-game RealID works, and I am fine with that. My legitimate friends can add me by my e-mail address, and people I talk to in-game can only see my gamer alias.
Is this your weekend job?
Aye. Being this handsome and interesting is a full time occupation.
Now it'll just be the usual; 14 year old "DaRkTeMpLaR82" calling me a faggot after I beat him.
PS: That Nvidia 460 ad running below is hillarious. DX11 done right..........
maybe when sc2 comes out and is threatened like this,lol