Hot Topic - Strike 2 For Real ID

Hot Topic - Strike 2 For Real ID

Blizzard has just announced that they will be implementing Real ID on their official Forums site. Once it goes live anyone posting on the site will have their real first and last name displayed.

The first comment on the "Blue" thread (blue threads are official Blizzard communications) was "This is possibly the worst thing I've ever read in blue. "

The idea is that by requiring the use of real names, it will cut down on "flame wars, trolling, and other unpleasantness" but it has already led to a change in Blizzard policy. After a Blizzard representative voluntarily used his real name, he was almost immediately hacked and Blizzard was forced to change their employee policy, exempting them from using their last names due to "security risks." Apparently, they don't care about security risks to their customers. I don't use the official forums much anyway, as I much prefer the wowhead site instead. I will stop using official forums all together if they really put this in place.

There are already tens of thousands of responses to this one thread. Random perusing did highlight one in game issue that has nothing to do with security but would almost certainly create a lot of in game trouble. By using real names players will know if the toon is being played by a male or female. I can't even imagine the number of women that would be mercilessly harassed in this game once Blizzard "outed" them. Not to mention that this would give out the real names of minors who play the game. How many mothers or fathers would want their child's real name available on the internet?

This is a very bad idea, but Blizzard seems determined to make themselves into the Facebook for gamers. Ugh.