If Blizzard wasn't the personal beef curtain for Bobby over at Activision, I'd imagine they would've done a steam system eventually, but without real names as the vector of information available to the public.
I'm kind of upset they're going to sell my name and possibly my address to advertisement companies. This worries me way more than not ever posting in the forums again.
bowen on
not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
All of the stuff done to show how dangerous "realID" will be was actually largely in part because those people all had open Facebooks or were friends/spouses of people with open Facebooks.
RealID, however, being that first vector of information.
The more information you have, the more information you can search for.
I would say more than half of those people that got "exposed" wouldn't have had anything found on them if it wasn't for Facebook. Knowing someones name that doesn't use Facebook doesn't pull up a lot of information (not using something like DMV database).
All of the stuff done to show how dangerous "realID" will be was actually largely in part because those people all had open Facebooks or were friends/spouses of people with open Facebooks.
RealID, however, being that first vector of information.
The more information you have, the more information you can search for.
I would say more than half of those people that got "exposed" wouldn't have had anything found on them if it wasn't for Facebook. Knowing someones name that doesn't use Facebook doesn't pull up a lot of information (not using something like DMV database).
Ironic how they want to link B.NET with facebook, isn't it?
bowen on
not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
0
HenroidMexican kicked from Immigration ThreadCentrism is Racism :3Registered Userregular
Henroid since you were too lazy to pull it up even though I told you it was ten pages back here it is.
The entire industry has been moving toward monetizing whatever they can with video games. It's not just Activision or Blizzard doing this. There's pretty much good odds Blizzard would've done plenty of that shit on their own.
That's a big assumption, where are the signs?
Eh, stuff like EA's project $10 (which isn't a bad thing, unless you always buy used games I guess), THQ (I think it was THQ) copying that plan but only for $5 (and there's other developers doing it, I'd have to track down that list), the micro-transaction market is starting to bloom up in MMO (I think DDO made the first successful case for it that didn't make it seem abusive, so now you've got like FFXIV working on a similar system), etc.
It's just the way the world operates. But anyway.
talking about this part
There's pretty much good odds Blizzard would've done plenty of that shit on their own.
but nice try
My response to that is what you quoted; the industry likes to make money and everyone has taken steps to do it. Blizzard could've ended up doing this stuff of their own accord. Sorry for suggesting that?
I hate the fuck out of Bobby Kotick, but the guy doesn't operate like a fucking ninja, behind the scenes. He's really fucking bold in his, "Yeah I just want to make money" agenda if you guys haven't noticed. If he was behind this shit, he would've fucking said so. Because he's a [silly goose] like that and it makes me want to cuff him.
I have a good idea where this was going. Why? Because they announced on their corporate website the merger of Battle.Net with facebook. The "On the forums" approach was a hamfisted attempt to curtail trolling (a bad one at that) but, more importantly, it stinks of the whole viral approach facebook takes to online identification of people and their staunch opposition to virtual and assumed identities.
Isn't it already linked? I haven't had a facebook since freshmen year of college, so I must not be able to see it if it is in game.
This way => but not this way <==>.
So facebook knows your wow, but wow doesn't know your facebook. I'd imagine they want that to change so they can capitalize on it. And, add in some nifty features for a few players that want to utilize it.
Why they can't just do that without involving real names, or real names on the forums is beyond me.
bowen on
not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
Henroid, if you seriously think that things aren't intrusive until they have people physically sitting in your living room holding a gun to your head, I've got about five business major friends who would love to get to know you very well.
Facebook hasn't caused me any grief. No website, no service, I've signed up for has ended up filling my email inbox, or my account page, or my home mail box with bullshit. My phone hasn't rang all day with people wanting to sell me shit.
How is it that I've avoided all this shit yet still use things that make people targets of it?
Henroid on
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reVerseAttack and Dethrone GodRegistered Userregular
Isn't it already linked? I haven't had a facebook since freshmen year of college, so I must not be able to see it if it is in game.
This way => but not this way <==>.
So facebook knows your wow, but wow doesn't know your facebook. I'd imagine they want that to change so they can capitalize on it. And, add in some nifty features for a few players that want to utilize it.
Why they can't just do that without involving real names, or real names on the forums is beyond me.
I would assume it's because the boss guy over at Facebook is a big ol' nutter.
Isn't it already linked? I haven't had a facebook since freshmen year of college, so I must not be able to see it if it is in game.
This way => but not this way <==>.
So facebook knows your wow, but wow doesn't know your facebook. I'd imagine they want that to change so they can capitalize on it. And, add in some nifty features for a few players that want to utilize it.
Why they can't just do that without involving real names, or real names on the forums is beyond me.
I would assume it's because the boss guy over at Facebook is a big ol' nutter.
Well he deserves some nuts in his ice cream. If you know what I mean.
bowen on
not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
0
reVerseAttack and Dethrone GodRegistered Userregular
Isn't it already linked? I haven't had a facebook since freshmen year of college, so I must not be able to see it if it is in game.
This way => but not this way <==>.
So facebook knows your wow, but wow doesn't know your facebook. I'd imagine they want that to change so they can capitalize on it. And, add in some nifty features for a few players that want to utilize it.
Why they can't just do that without involving real names, or real names on the forums is beyond me.
I would assume it's because the boss guy over at Facebook is a big ol' nutter.
Well he deserves some nuts in his ice cream. If you know what I mean.
No, I am unable to decipher the meaning of this cryptic statement in relation to your posting history, please elaborate.
Isn't it already linked? I haven't had a facebook since freshmen year of college, so I must not be able to see it if it is in game.
This way => but not this way <==>.
So facebook knows your wow, but wow doesn't know your facebook. I'd imagine they want that to change so they can capitalize on it. And, add in some nifty features for a few players that want to utilize it.
Why they can't just do that without involving real names, or real names on the forums is beyond me.
Because Mark Zuckerberg has the greatest tool at his disposal to make cash off knowing your information and doesn't give a fuck about anyone's privacy concerns in his quest. 26 years old, 4 billion net worth.
Bikkstah on
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CorehealerThe ApothecaryThe softer edge of the universe.Registered Userregular
Henroid since you were too lazy to pull it up even though I told you it was ten pages back here it is.
The entire industry has been moving toward monetizing whatever they can with video games. It's not just Activision or Blizzard doing this. There's pretty much good odds Blizzard would've done plenty of that shit on their own.
Which wasn't the argument, but good attempt at trying to sidetrack.
Isn't it already linked? I haven't had a facebook since freshmen year of college, so I must not be able to see it if it is in game.
This way => but not this way <==>.
So facebook knows your wow, but wow doesn't know your facebook. I'd imagine they want that to change so they can capitalize on it. And, add in some nifty features for a few players that want to utilize it.
Why they can't just do that without involving real names, or real names on the forums is beyond me.
I would assume it's because the boss guy over at Facebook is a big ol' nutter.
Well he deserves some nuts in his ice cream. If you know what I mean.
No, I am unable to decipher the meaning of this cryptic statement in relation to your posting history, please elaborate.
Like. I'll pull my pants down, and smear my penis all over his ice cream. If you know what I mean.
bowen on
not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
The purpose of online gaming in general and MMOs in specific is escapism.
No the purpose is to have fun.
For some people it's not fun knowing that strangers now know your name.
Yeah, it's fun to play together with guildmates for 6 years then cancel your account over night because they might know your real name.
:winky:
Huh what.
What people were upset about primarily was the forum thing.
People still don't like the friends-of-friends seeing your real name because that's essentially beyond your managing capacity (unless you want to tell your friends to un-friend someone), but I haven't seen many (or any) threats to cancel accounts over the friend stuff in this thread.
There were plenty of links in this post to gaming blogs with letters to blizzard, etc etc in which the authors begged to have the forum thing reversed because all of their friends were quitting.
Except that, you know, that's not the same thing as:
Henroid, if you seriously think that things aren't intrusive until they have people physically sitting in your living room holding a gun to your head, I've got about five business major friends who would love to get to know you very well.
Facebook hasn't caused me any grief. No website, no service, I've signed up for has ended up filling my email inbox, or my account page, or my home mail box with bullshit. My phone hasn't rang all day with people wanting to sell me shit.
How is it that I've avoided all this shit yet still use things that make people targets of it?
Funny, I found facebook to be a massive pain in the ass. I know it's a crazy idea, but those people I want to know my real name know it because I told them. Not because it helps a company make more money.
You're using the 'it's not that big of a deal' argument again. Which is a bad argument, since it's not trying to say it's not a problem, just that you personally (which is hardly objective) don't find the problem to be 'a big deal'. Well, some of us do, fancy that.
Henroid, if you seriously think that things aren't intrusive until they have people physically sitting in your living room holding a gun to your head, I've got about five business major friends who would love to get to know you very well.
Facebook hasn't caused me any grief. No website, no service, I've signed up for has ended up filling my email inbox, or my account page, or my home mail box with bullshit. My phone hasn't rang all day with people wanting to sell me shit.
How is it that I've avoided all this shit yet still use things that make people targets of it?
Henroid, if you seriously think that things aren't intrusive until they have people physically sitting in your living room holding a gun to your head, I've got about five business major friends who would love to get to know you very well.
Facebook hasn't caused me any grief. No website, no service, I've signed up for has ended up filling my email inbox, or my account page, or my home mail box with bullshit. My phone hasn't rang all day with people wanting to sell me shit.
How is it that I've avoided all this shit yet still use things that make people targets of it?
Funny, I found facebook to be a massive pain in the ass. I know it's a crazy idea, but those people I want to know my real name know it because I told them. Not because it helps a company make more money.
You're using the 'it's not that big of a deal' argument again. Which is a bad argument, since it's not trying to say it's not a problem, just that you personally (which is hardly objective) don't find the problem to be 'a big deal'. Well, some of us do, fancy that.
Facebook as a stand alone entity is not the problem and neither is RealID and neither is the fact that your first and last name show up on an internet forum. They are all ingrediants that when mixed together can cause some pretty fucktastic consequences.
Mutilate on
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HenroidMexican kicked from Immigration ThreadCentrism is Racism :3Registered Userregular
edited July 2010
Let me try to get my opinion on this in a concrete sense.
If Real ID launches as it is stated to now, I would use it in a limited fashion. Some real life friends I wouldn't trust to add to the list, some internet-made friends I wouldn't trust to the list. But from both groups, there are some I trust. I already provided the anecdotal situation in my life where advertising hasn't intruded upon my life, and by doing things in the same manner as I have I'll probably avoid it from Blizzard too.
What I would prefer happen with Real ID is if it allows for a global alias to be used for the friend function. Creating a Facebook-ish type of service isn't a bad idea, it's just an idea, and you don't have to participate. I would prefer if friends of friends didn't have access to your info. If that stays, I would have to be that much more careful with regard to things. I already avoid friend-collectors on Facebook, even if I was actually friends with people in the past.
I don't believe this to be the ninja-like operation of Bobby Kotick's schemes, because he's rather upfront about his scheme and that's what makes him the hate-able person that he is - he's bold, and ends up getting away with it for a time. I think the industry is moving in that direction on its own anyhow. At worse, the Activision influence made it happen faster for Blizzard.
Henroid, what happens if you're only allowed to use the RealID system if, and only if, you've merged it with a facebook account that's been active for at least 3 months?
Henroid, what happens if you're only allowed to use the RealID system if, and only if, you've merged it with a facebook account that's been active for at least 3 months?
I'm one of those people that doesn't necessarily have a problem merging my real life with my online life. For me, personally, it's not that big a deal. My best friend is the opposite - she doesn't want those two things to cross. So I understand the position. If I didn't, that best friend probably still wouldn't be present for me. :P
So what would happen is some people wouldn't use Real ID despite its bangin' features.
Maybe a 3rd party will develop a program to achieve the same goals without the hassles, in the form of in-game mods.
Henroid, what happens if you're only allowed to use the RealID system if, and only if, you've merged it with a facebook account that's been active for at least 3 months?
Then you don't use RealID and you play keep playing Blizzard games without it?
What about if SC2 requires RealID to be active on your account to play online?
Then I don't play SC2 online. You still have a choice in the matter regardless of how one-sided it may seem at the end of the day neither Blizzard or Activision can force you to play their games and by doing so somehow put your personal saftey at risk.
Mutilate on
0
HenroidMexican kicked from Immigration ThreadCentrism is Racism :3Registered Userregular
Then you don't use RealID and you play keep playing Blizzard games without it?
What about if SC2 requires RealID to be active on your account to play online?
What about if we stop discussing the what ifs because people will confuse it for fact, or it just might needlessly rile them up more about this? Let's stick with what is.
Henroid, what happens if you're only allowed to use the RealID system if, and only if, you've merged it with a facebook account that's been active for at least 3 months?
Henroid, what happens if you're only allowed to use the RealID system if, and only if, you've merged it with a facebook account that's been active for at least 3 months?
How in the world did we make this jump?
The jump to conclusion mat has been heavily in play in this thread for a while now.
Henroid, what happens if you're only allowed to use the RealID system if, and only if, you've merged it with a facebook account that's been active for at least 3 months?
How in the world did we make this jump?
It was hyperbole. Though, judging from their comments over the past week, I'd guess was their (read Kotick's) ultimate intention.
bowen on
not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
0
HenroidMexican kicked from Immigration ThreadCentrism is Racism :3Registered Userregular
Henroid, what happens if you're only allowed to use the RealID system if, and only if, you've merged it with a facebook account that's been active for at least 3 months?
How in the world did we make this jump?
It was hyperbole. Though, judging from their comments over the past week, I'd guess was their (read Kotick's) ultimate intention.
Which people opted to prove that intention via "companies like making money" which is dubious.
Henroid, what happens if you're only allowed to use the RealID system if, and only if, you've merged it with a facebook account that's been active for at least 3 months?
None of that is worth having a facebook. That can all be accomplished with Ventrilo or AIM, both of which can be done with aliases.
3/5 of that list, yes. The real bulk is those middle two, that's where I can see them trying to strong arm a lot of people into using and linking to realID. And really, after Tuesday's announcement, you're going to honestly say that'd be out of character for them to strongarm people into doing something to make them money?
bowen on
not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
Currently you can attach a WoW Armory app to your Facebook and link it with your Battle.net ID to get your characters showing on your Facebook as well as automatic Achievement spam for whatever type of achievement you want to allow and gear updates for gear above an ilvl you provide. This has existed for a while now.
What they plan to do with SC2 is allow you to tell Battle.net your Facebook account which will then go through your Facebook friends and see if any of those are Battle.net users as well and add them to your friends list.
Now I might be missing something (probably likely) but that's all the Facebook bullshit I've heard in regards to Battle.net. I don't see how either of them are offensive in any way.
Henroid, what happens if you're only allowed to use the RealID system if, and only if, you've merged it with a facebook account that's been active for at least 3 months?
None of that is worth having a facebook. That can all be accomplished with Ventrilo or AIM, both of which can be done with aliases.
3/5 of that list, yes. The real bulk is those middle two, that's where I can see them trying to strong arm a lot of people into using and linking to realID. And really, after Tuesday's announcement, you're going to honestly say that'd be out of character for them to strongarm people into doing something to make them money?
It's much less strong arm and much more carrot on a stick-ing. People who don't think it's a good idea to associate their real name with WoW are not going to be swayed by optional features.
As in, group/raid with your realID friends from different servers?
Well that's the whole point, I was implying that the realID would add in the ability for all of that with realID friends. I can see this as a very real possibility and an alternate implementation to how they'd achieve "LFD" for raids.
The realID system is larger than just facebook, but what it entails with facebook is kind of what worries me, and the viralness of facebook's "rules and regulations" for who and what uses it and how they use it is really concerning. Like I said, I very much doubt this had anything to do with South Korea or anything else other than Facebook said, "look you guys have to do this because fuck escapism and fake identities."
bowen on
not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
Blizzard: RealID is just for friends and family. It's entirely optional.
Blizzard: RealID is required to post on the forums(making it slightly less optional and not just for family and friends).
So what's next......
Well they've got this nifty Facebook integration thingy coming(which is entirely optional...for now) but the code for it doesn't appear to be securely locked down(see: rumors of scripts being able to datamine info in-game currently). It sounds like they're setting this up so they can datamine a lot of useful info(for what exactly remains to be seen) but this isn't something I want 3rd parties having access to. It's bad enough Blizzard(and by extension Kotick) are going to be making use of this info.
Blizzard concerning privacy:
Should I be concerned about the privacy settings on my Facebook account?
Both Blizzard Entertainment and Facebook take the security of personal information very seriously.
Except....they don't. See Blizzard's problems with account security and the fact they even considered the idea of using real names to post on the forums in the first place. If they were as serious about privacy as they claim that idea never would have made it past the suggestion box.
FaceBook CEO concerning privacy: http://www.businessinsider.com/well-these-new-zuckerberg-ims-wont-help-facebooks-privacy-problems-2010-5
Zuckerberg: Yeah so if you ever need info about anyone at Harvard
Zuckerberg: Just ask.
Zuckerberg: I have over 4,000 emails, pictures, addresses, SNS
[Redacted Friend's Name]: What? How'd you manage that one?
Zuckerberg: People just submitted it.
Zuckerberg: I don't know why.
Zuckerberg: They "trust me"
Zuckerberg: Dumb f*cks.
So yea, I'd be concerned about privacy.
This is just the beginning though.
"There is no better opportunity to launch this strategic initiative than through the launch of StarCraft II," said Kotick on the call. "The Battle.net platform is an investment in the future of gaming, and an opportunity that we are uniquely positioned to capitalize on."
"On the Blizzard side, [we need to] really be figuring out things like the StarCraft business model for the future, with in-game advertising and sponsorship, [which have] really not been something that has moved the dial for anybody in the videogame industry, but that we think presents tremendous opportunity for the future," said Kotick, according to Next-Gen.
"[Blizzard] has been thinking about how StarCraft, because it is a short-session experience, can actually be the model for in-game advertising and sponsorship and tournament play and ladder play for the future."
"Mr. Kotick: I think our audiences are clamoring for it. If you look at what they're playing on Xbox Live today, we've had 1.7 billion hours of multiplayer play on Live. I think we could do a lot more"
"Our gamers are telling us there's lots of services and innovation they would like to see that they're not getting yet. From what we see so far, additional content, as well as all the services Blizzard is offering, is that there is demand from the core gamers to pay up for that.”
You can see right here he's thinking about how he can reinvent the wheel and sink his greedy fingers into a piece of the social networking and advertising pies(among other things). This isn't about what gamers want or what's good for the industry. This is about what he wants. He wants his own Xbox Live/Steam type of service(and WoW's 11.5 million subscriber fanbase probably seems like fruit ripe for the plucking). He wants micro-transactions and premium downloadable content that customers are forced to pay for. He wants a piece of the Facebook pie. He wants royalties and kickbacks and to be integrated into everything like some parasite.
He wants everyone to rely on his service and he wants a quarter every time someone uses it.
It's not enough to be a successful video game publisher producing blockbuster games and making tons of money. He's decided he wants to be King of the Hill.
I think he fancies himself the Bill Gates of the gaming industry. He's ruthless enough....but he's not nearly as innovative or brilliant.
You could argue well, that's just good business except the man doesn't know when to quit. He doesn't know where the line is drawn.
"We've had the same office since forever, and we just replaced the duct tape on the carpet because it became a trip hazard down the stairs. And that took five years to get done. So we are thrifty in the areas where frankly, the consumer* doesn't see value. There are many areas where we are making massive investments to improve the gamer experience, and then there are areas where we think it's not worth it. So we don't have a company gym, cafeteria, and valet parking."
*His bit about the customers not seeing the value is PR schtick. Actually he's the one who doesn't see the value in taking care of his employees. I bet he has the same attitude towards his customers....he doesn't care. All he sees are dollar signs. I've seen this same callous attitude towards employees in a variety of jobs. If you want to get the most out of employees it's a good idea to treat them well. Happy employees are far more productive and loyal.
"Tippl also said that he wasn’t concerned about how gamers would react to having to pay for additional features."
Time and again Kotick and Tippl have displayed an arrogant and condescending attitude towards their customer base.
Mr Kotick thinks he can do no wrong. He has a Vision™ and he's proven he'll do just about anything to make it happen.....including treating employees like slave labor and strip mining companies and grinding them into the dust. His ethics and morals...well, he doesn't have any. He's a deplorable man.
I'd be extremely wary of anything concerning RealId or this proposed Facebook integration at this point. This is far from over.
Posts
I'm kind of upset they're going to sell my name and possibly my address to advertisement companies. This worries me way more than not ever posting in the forums again.
I would say more than half of those people that got "exposed" wouldn't have had anything found on them if it wasn't for Facebook. Knowing someones name that doesn't use Facebook doesn't pull up a lot of information (not using something like DMV database).
Ironic how they want to link B.NET with facebook, isn't it?
My response to that is what you quoted; the industry likes to make money and everyone has taken steps to do it. Blizzard could've ended up doing this stuff of their own accord. Sorry for suggesting that?
I hate the fuck out of Bobby Kotick, but the guy doesn't operate like a fucking ninja, behind the scenes. He's really fucking bold in his, "Yeah I just want to make money" agenda if you guys haven't noticed. If he was behind this shit, he would've fucking said so. Because he's a [silly goose] like that and it makes me want to cuff him.
It's been in development for two months.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2010/05/blizzard-and-facebooks-friendly-social-networking-deal-launches-with-starcraft-ii-/1 [May 5, 2010]
This way => but not this way <==>.
So facebook knows your wow, but wow doesn't know your facebook. I'd imagine they want that to change so they can capitalize on it. And, add in some nifty features for a few players that want to utilize it.
Why they can't just do that without involving real names, or real names on the forums is beyond me.
"This is less like you got some peanut butter in my chocolate and more like you pooped in my ice cream."
Facebook hasn't caused me any grief. No website, no service, I've signed up for has ended up filling my email inbox, or my account page, or my home mail box with bullshit. My phone hasn't rang all day with people wanting to sell me shit.
How is it that I've avoided all this shit yet still use things that make people targets of it?
I would assume it's because the boss guy over at Facebook is a big ol' nutter.
Well he deserves some nuts in his ice cream. If you know what I mean.
No, I am unable to decipher the meaning of this cryptic statement in relation to your posting history, please elaborate.
Because Mark Zuckerberg has the greatest tool at his disposal to make cash off knowing your information and doesn't give a fuck about anyone's privacy concerns in his quest. 26 years old, 4 billion net worth.
I just read that article.
Starcraft 2 Map selling.
This whole fucking industry is so fucking stupid.
Like. I'll pull my pants down, and smear my penis all over his ice cream. If you know what I mean.
But whatever.
Oh, wait.
Funny, I found facebook to be a massive pain in the ass. I know it's a crazy idea, but those people I want to know my real name know it because I told them. Not because it helps a company make more money.
You're using the 'it's not that big of a deal' argument again. Which is a bad argument, since it's not trying to say it's not a problem, just that you personally (which is hardly objective) don't find the problem to be 'a big deal'. Well, some of us do, fancy that.
You must have purchased "Lifelock"
Facebook as a stand alone entity is not the problem and neither is RealID and neither is the fact that your first and last name show up on an internet forum. They are all ingrediants that when mixed together can cause some pretty fucktastic consequences.
If Real ID launches as it is stated to now, I would use it in a limited fashion. Some real life friends I wouldn't trust to add to the list, some internet-made friends I wouldn't trust to the list. But from both groups, there are some I trust. I already provided the anecdotal situation in my life where advertising hasn't intruded upon my life, and by doing things in the same manner as I have I'll probably avoid it from Blizzard too.
What I would prefer happen with Real ID is if it allows for a global alias to be used for the friend function. Creating a Facebook-ish type of service isn't a bad idea, it's just an idea, and you don't have to participate. I would prefer if friends of friends didn't have access to your info. If that stays, I would have to be that much more careful with regard to things. I already avoid friend-collectors on Facebook, even if I was actually friends with people in the past.
I don't believe this to be the ninja-like operation of Bobby Kotick's schemes, because he's rather upfront about his scheme and that's what makes him the hate-able person that he is - he's bold, and ends up getting away with it for a time. I think the industry is moving in that direction on its own anyhow. At worse, the Activision influence made it happen faster for Blizzard.
Edit:
Let me elaborate on potential features:
X-server talking
X-server grouping
X-server raiding
X-game talking
X-game voice chat
What about if SC2 requires RealID to be active on your account to play online?
I'm one of those people that doesn't necessarily have a problem merging my real life with my online life. For me, personally, it's not that big a deal. My best friend is the opposite - she doesn't want those two things to cross. So I understand the position. If I didn't, that best friend probably still wouldn't be present for me. :P
So what would happen is some people wouldn't use Real ID despite its bangin' features.
Maybe a 3rd party will develop a program to achieve the same goals without the hassles, in the form of in-game mods.
How in the world did we make this jump?
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/
I write about video games and stuff. It is fun. Sometimes.
Then I don't play SC2 online. You still have a choice in the matter regardless of how one-sided it may seem at the end of the day neither Blizzard or Activision can force you to play their games and by doing so somehow put your personal saftey at risk.
What about if we stop discussing the what ifs because people will confuse it for fact, or it just might needlessly rile them up more about this? Let's stick with what is.
its called steam.
None of that is worth having a facebook. That can all be accomplished with Ventrilo or AIM, both of which can be done with aliases.
The jump to conclusion mat has been heavily in play in this thread for a while now.
It was hyperbole. Though, judging from their comments over the past week, I'd guess was their (read Kotick's) ultimate intention.
Which people opted to prove that intention via "companies like making money" which is dubious.
3/5 of that list, yes. The real bulk is those middle two, that's where I can see them trying to strong arm a lot of people into using and linking to realID. And really, after Tuesday's announcement, you're going to honestly say that'd be out of character for them to strongarm people into doing something to make them money?
Cross-server raiding, uh, no thanks.
I'm sorry, "X-server realID grouping/raiding."
What they plan to do with SC2 is allow you to tell Battle.net your Facebook account which will then go through your Facebook friends and see if any of those are Battle.net users as well and add them to your friends list.
Now I might be missing something (probably likely) but that's all the Facebook bullshit I've heard in regards to Battle.net. I don't see how either of them are offensive in any way.
It's much less strong arm and much more carrot on a stick-ing. People who don't think it's a good idea to associate their real name with WoW are not going to be swayed by optional features.
As in, group/raid with your realID friends from different servers?
Well that's the whole point, I was implying that the realID would add in the ability for all of that with realID friends. I can see this as a very real possibility and an alternate implementation to how they'd achieve "LFD" for raids.
The realID system is larger than just facebook, but what it entails with facebook is kind of what worries me, and the viralness of facebook's "rules and regulations" for who and what uses it and how they use it is really concerning. Like I said, I very much doubt this had anything to do with South Korea or anything else other than Facebook said, "look you guys have to do this because fuck escapism and fake identities."
Blizzard: RealID is required to post on the forums(making it slightly less optional and not just for family and friends).
So what's next......
Well they've got this nifty Facebook integration thingy coming(which is entirely optional...for now) but the code for it doesn't appear to be securely locked down(see: rumors of scripts being able to datamine info in-game currently). It sounds like they're setting this up so they can datamine a lot of useful info(for what exactly remains to be seen) but this isn't something I want 3rd parties having access to. It's bad enough Blizzard(and by extension Kotick) are going to be making use of this info.
Except....they don't. See Blizzard's problems with account security and the fact they even considered the idea of using real names to post on the forums in the first place. If they were as serious about privacy as they claim that idea never would have made it past the suggestion box.
So yea, I'd be concerned about privacy.
This is just the beginning though.
You can see right here he's thinking about how he can reinvent the wheel and sink his greedy fingers into a piece of the social networking and advertising pies(among other things). This isn't about what gamers want or what's good for the industry. This is about what he wants. He wants his own Xbox Live/Steam type of service(and WoW's 11.5 million subscriber fanbase probably seems like fruit ripe for the plucking). He wants micro-transactions and premium downloadable content that customers are forced to pay for. He wants a piece of the Facebook pie. He wants royalties and kickbacks and to be integrated into everything like some parasite.
He wants everyone to rely on his service and he wants a quarter every time someone uses it.
It's not enough to be a successful video game publisher producing blockbuster games and making tons of money. He's decided he wants to be King of the Hill.
I think he fancies himself the Bill Gates of the gaming industry. He's ruthless enough....but he's not nearly as innovative or brilliant.
You could argue well, that's just good business except the man doesn't know when to quit. He doesn't know where the line is drawn.
*His bit about the customers not seeing the value is PR schtick. Actually he's the one who doesn't see the value in taking care of his employees. I bet he has the same attitude towards his customers....he doesn't care. All he sees are dollar signs. I've seen this same callous attitude towards employees in a variety of jobs. If you want to get the most out of employees it's a good idea to treat them well. Happy employees are far more productive and loyal.
Time and again Kotick and Tippl have displayed an arrogant and condescending attitude towards their customer base.
Mr Kotick thinks he can do no wrong. He has a Vision™ and he's proven he'll do just about anything to make it happen.....including treating employees like slave labor and strip mining companies and grinding them into the dust. His ethics and morals...well, he doesn't have any. He's a deplorable man.
I'd be extremely wary of anything concerning RealId or this proposed Facebook integration at this point. This is far from over.