Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Revisiting anonymity in our games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/enter-at-your-own-rift-revisiting-anonymity-in-our-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/enter-at-your-own-rift-revisiting-anonymity-in-our-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/enter-at-your-own-rift-revisiting-anonymity-in-our-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Rift Ascended
It seems like ages ago, but back in July of 2010, Blizzard shook the MMO world with the announcement of RealID. You probably recall the firestorm, but the long and short of it is that Blizzard was planning to make all posts in the forums display each poster's real-life first and last name. The protests against it were so loud that Blizzard backed down from the move and life resumed as usual.

The intend was to integrate social media into Blizzard games, particularly Facebook, but it became a huge can of worms because it forced everyone who wanted to post on the forums to reveal their true names. But social media is continuing to grow, and there are lots of ways that game companies have made use of it. In this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, let's look at Trion's approach and revisit the idea of anonymity in MMOs.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Revisiting anonymity in our games

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Revisiting anonymity in our games originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anonymityblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmententer-at-your-own-rifteqeverquestfacebookfeaturedkaren-bryanprexusreal-idrealidriftriftconnectsocial-mediasonySony-Online-Entertainmenttriontrion-worldstwitterwowWed, 14 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you protective of your alts?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/the-daily-grind-are-you-protective-of-your-alts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/the-daily-grind-are-you-protective-of-your-alts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/the-daily-grind-are-you-protective-of-your-alts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The other day I realized that EverQuest II's website makes my alternate characters viewable to anyone who knows the name of my main. SOE theoretically gives me the option to toggle the public access functionality on each of my characters, but they're viewable by default (and there's currently a website bug that prevents my profile from being edited).

Character lookups aren't unique to EQII of course. Titles as diverse as Lord of the Rings Online, World of Warcraft, and EVE Online pipe in-game information to external websites all the time. What is unique, though, is forcing players to divulge the names of their alts -- even though in this case it's unintended. Though SOE has been polite enough in support ticket communications, its insistence that it can't fix its own website (and thus allow me the option of turning off the public profiles), leaves a bit of a sour taste in my mouth.

For today's Daily Grind, tell us about your feelings on alt anonymity. Did you know (and do you care) that SOE broadcasts your alts for the world to see? What are your feelings on the practice as it relates to other MMORPGs?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are you protective of your alts? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternate-charactersaltsanonymityeq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iifantasygame-discussiongamer-discussionmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicssoeSony-Online-Entertainmenttdgthe-daily-grindThu, 09 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Have you been discriminated against in game?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/14/the-daily-grind-have-you-been-discriminated-against-in-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/14/the-daily-grind-have-you-been-discriminated-against-in-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/14/the-daily-grind-have-you-been-discriminated-against-in-game/#commentsFiled under: , ,

One of the uglier aspects of gamer culture is the tendency to breed, shall we say, a lack of tolerance and respect for those who are "not us." The general anonymity of the online world can bring the worst out in some, with little to check these attitudes unless contrary peer pressure is summoned.

So at the risk of reopening old wounds, today we want to ask if you have ever been discriminated against in an MMO based on who you were, what you believed or what you represented. Maybe you felt the sting of ageism as you were shut out of a guild due to being "too young" for the group. Maybe your feminine voice on Vent changed how players treated you -- and not in a good way. Maybe your ethnicity, sexuality, faith, sense of humor, fashion style or cat/dog preference netted you a cold shoulder from the community. Or maybe -- and this is far-fetched -- you've been discriminated against solely because of your lackluster gear or less-than-optimal character build. Hey, it happens (or so the legend goes).

Have you been discriminated against in game? Pipe up, and let's sew those old wounds shut once and for all!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Have you been discriminated against in game? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ageismanonymitydiscriminationface-it-dogs-are-bettergear-discriminationone-of-these-is-not-like-the-othersopiniontdgthe-daily-grindventriloWed, 14 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GamersFirst promoting anonymity in response to Blizzard's Real ID system]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/08/gamersfirst-promoting-anonymity-in-response-to-blizzards-real-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/08/gamersfirst-promoting-anonymity-in-response-to-blizzards-real-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/08/gamersfirst-promoting-anonymity-in-response-to-blizzards-real-i/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Unless you have sealed yourself away from the internet for the past few days, the odds are good that you've heard about Blizzard's decision to make the Real ID service mandatory for forum usage. The result was the sort of enormous fiasco that makes the phrase "PR nightmare" sound far too gentle. And if that wasn't enough injury, GamersFirst is adding a bit of well-deserved insult with its newest promotion -- which re-affirms how important the option of staying anonymous really is while offering a new home for those packing up and leaving Casa de Azeroth.

Executive director Tracy Spaight pulled no punches in a statement on the matter -- "It is an unwarranted intrusion to player privacy to force [players] to disclose their real world identity." The team behind Sword 2, War Rock, and Knight Online (among others) is offering special bonus items until August 9th to players who register in War Rock or Sword 2 with the promotional code StayAnonymous. It's the first public response regarding this debacle we've seen from the industry, but odds are good that it won't be the last. And who doesn't like to get free things just for remaining anonymous?

MassivelyGamersFirst promoting anonymity in response to Blizzard's Real ID system originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anonymityblizzardf2pfree-to-playgamersfirstid-failidentityknight-onlineprivacyreal-idsword-2sword-of-the-new-worldswotnwar-rockThu, 08 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[When crafting community, little goes a long way]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/21/when-crafting-community-little-goes-a-long-way/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/21/when-crafting-community-little-goes-a-long-way/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/21/when-crafting-community-little-goes-a-long-way/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Yes, that looks like a typo in the subject line and it ought to be "a little goes a long way." It isn't. Little itself goes a long way in making a community, as discussed in this recent post by Eric Heimburg. Speaking from his experiences both on Asheron's Call 2 as a producer and Aion as a player, his core contention is that smaller communities decrease anonymity and make politeness far more common for interactions among strangers.

One of the core reasons behind this is the question of reliance. The community of group-based games tends to be stonger than that of games where you can be almost wholly independent, since you rely upon others to work with you. By way of contrast, examine some of the behavior found in World of Warcraft's random dungeon tool, where you find yourself working with people whom you're statistically unlikely to ever see again.

One of the laments about solo-friendly games is the death of community, and while that's not altogether true, Heimburg's post certainly makes a number of compelling points. Well worth examining if you're interested in building a community or just in the ways groups develop.

MassivelyWhen crafting community, little goes a long way originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acac2aionanonymityasherons-callasherons-call-2blizzardcommunitycommunity-buildingelder-gameeric-heimburgmannersncsoftpolitenessturbineworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 21 Jan 2010 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[An Identity of Imagination...]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/05/an-identity-of-imagination/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/05/an-identity-of-imagination/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/05/an-identity-of-imagination/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Being anonymous is par for the course when it comes to the Internet. When approaching any kind of online community for the first time, the very first given task is usually to pick a whole new name, and even without thoughts of deliberate anonymity, it can be very difficult to actually be yourself. Common real names, such as James or Mary or John or Linda, are likely to have already been chosen as login names a long time ago and the nature of the database means duplicates are rarely allowed. A more unique name is needed when signing up, and so almost everyone begins to create for themselves an online persona.

In the world of MMOs, the idea of not being oneself becomes even more integral. The player is more than merely a user name attached to forum posts or comments, and is a mighty adventurer too! This presents even more choices; physical attributes, choice of class and profession, even an invented racial background, and with each choice, the opportunity to precisely recreate the real world self diminishes. A game might only provide two different 'light brown' hair styles for male humans, none of which resemble the player's real hair in the slightest. The player has to pick something however, in order to get on and play, and with each choice a made-up version of ourselves is increasingly realised.

This other self, comfortably detached from the consequences of a real life existence, can be a liberating thing, but can also be a source of troubles and difficulties all of its own. Just how much anonymity is good for us, and what makes us hide ourselves online?

Continue reading An Identity of Imagination...

MassivelyAn Identity of Imagination... originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anonymitydaedalus-projecteve-onlinefreerealmsroleplayingworld-of-warcraftFri, 05 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Social networking meets MMOs at Avatars United]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/03/social-networking-meets-mmos-at-avatars-united/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/03/social-networking-meets-mmos-at-avatars-united/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/03/social-networking-meets-mmos-at-avatars-united/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Social networking already intersects with gaming through GAX Online, but there's a newer MMO-centric community that's growing in popularity. Combine the anonymity of being identified only as your avatar with a way to connect with gamers across many MMOs and virtual worlds, and you've got Avatars United. It's like Facebook for your virtual personas.

Avatars United has found favor with a number of EVE Online players, according to an interview in the most recent issue of E-ON; EVE players account for roughly 40 percent of the sign-ups. Certainly part of the draw is that Avatars United makes use of EVE Online's API, allowing character data to be displayed along with the other features you've come to expect from a social networking space. Namely -- messaging, blogging, photos, and video. Avatars United isn't just a site for EVE gamers though, and is seeing growing popularity with players from the entire gamut of major MMO titles out there, ranging from Age of Conan to World of Warcraft.

Continue reading Social networking meets MMOs at Avatars United

MassivelySocial networking meets MMOs at Avatars United originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 03 Aug 2008 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananonymityaocapiarsgeekavataravatars-unitedblizzardccpccp-gamese-onenemy-unknowneveeve-onlinefacebookfantasyfuncomgaxinterviewssci-fisocial-networkingvirtual-worldsworld-of-warcraftwowSun, 03 Aug 2008 09:45:00 EST