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f13.net General Forums => World of Warcraft => Topic started by: AlteredOne on January 31, 2005, 10:26:23 AM



Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: AlteredOne on January 31, 2005, 10:26:23 AM
A guildmate was recently forced to change his name from "CerealKilla."  While I do admit that "killa" is fairly d3wdlike, it seemed like a harmless enough name.  

But then it occurred to me... Isn't it really rather silly to order that name changed, when 90% of the gameplay involves the ritual slaughter of large numbers of humanoids and/or beasts?  Whether we want to see it that way or not, do these games not force every player into the role of psychopathic serial killer at worst, ruthless vigilante at best?  Just because an NPC is labelled a "marauder" with a red name, who am I to be the judge and jury?

Cerealkilla may have been a silly name, even stupid, but can we all real look ourselves in the mirror and deny that our "grind" is nothing but mass murder?  Meanwhile, any other name changes you've witnessed?  Discuss.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: schild on January 31, 2005, 10:32:54 AM
His name was a silly mispelling of Matthew Lillard's character in Hackers (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113243/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxzZz0xfGxtPTIwMHx0dD1vbnxwbj0wfHE9aGFja2Vyc3xodG1sPTF8bm09b24_;fc=1;ft=21;fm=1). So he was violating more than one rule. Douchlike name AND named after a real character.

What's worse is that I didn't have to look up Hackers to know that.

Edit: BBCode is hard.


Title: Re: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Pineapple on January 31, 2005, 10:48:30 AM
Quote from: AlteredOne

Cerealkilla may have been a silly name, even stupid, but can we all real look ourselves in the mirror and deny that our "grind" is nothing but mass murder?  Meanwhile, any other name changes you've witnessed?  Discuss.


Dewdsp33k not allowed in names in WoW.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: AlteredOne on January 31, 2005, 10:57:57 AM
Ah, good to know about the character from "Hackers," afraid I missed that one.  As for "killa" being dewdsp33k, I think it might be borderline, but I'll trust your wisdom.  Does any intentional misspelling count?  I don't really care personally, but I am curious.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: schild on January 31, 2005, 11:06:33 AM
"Killa" is more ghetto-speak than d3wdsp3@k. Either way, bad taste should die.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Calantus on January 31, 2005, 11:15:35 AM
The naming policy is utterly rediculous. I can't go anywhere without seeing an inappropriate name. Normally I wouldn't even notice beyond "don't wanna group with him" but every time I see one I wonder how many people have copped name changes with names not even half as bad. I think you really have to thoroughly police things like this, or you have to decide to let anything but the absolute worst slid in non-rp servers. Someone came up to me and said that he was some guy that I had met before, then when I didn't remember him (we spent a long time together doing some deadmines runs) he said that his name was changed recently because it was apparently a swear word in some obscure language. Then I see someone like cooldude and just have to wonder.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Pineapple on January 31, 2005, 11:23:38 AM
Quote from: Calantus
Then I see someone like cooldude and just have to wonder.


The problem is a filter cannot catch all the ways a person can spell a name.

Lets see:
kewldood
kouldoowd
cooolduud
kuuldoodd

There arent enough GMs to actively patrol 600k+ people. So they rely on GM calls to take care of the situation. If someone files a complaint, then the GM's attention is drawn to that bad name.

Unfortunately there isnt really a way to report a bad name other than the "verbal harassment" ticket. So if I see a bad name I use that. The open ticket will eventually just disappear after a couple of days, and I stop seeing that name online. Not the best way, but it works.

I would not bother taking the time on a name like Cooldude personally. But I have reported really bad names.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Calantus on January 31, 2005, 11:58:35 AM
I know why it is the way it is. I could have told you 6+ years ago that this is how it was going to work... badly. That's why I have a problem with the name changes the way they are now. If you are going to change borderline/debatable names then you need to police it HARD. If you only want to get rid of the worst names then it is fine enough to do it via petition. The way they have it now mixes the worst of both worlds.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: HaemishM on January 31, 2005, 12:18:28 PM
The irony of changing a character name that sounds likd d3wdspeak in a game with NPC's named PIXEL for fuck's sake is beautiful.

Of course, one also has to realize that the only way to successfully police stupidiot names is to have someone approve every single name. For $15 a month, that won't happen, and even if it did, that person wouldn't know every single name that is a reference to something else.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Jayce on January 31, 2005, 12:26:24 PM
Quote from: HaemishM
For $15 a month, that won't happen, and even if it did, that person wouldn't know every single name that is a reference to something else.


I have often thought that it should be a human monitored process.  All it would take is a tool with lists of names of recently created characters and a GM to spend half a day each day clicking yes yes yes, no no no, needs review, needs review.

I bet there are a few GMs with downtime in offpeak hours or something.  There are thousands of names but at a name a second or so, it would be manageable.  There's 14,000 seconds in a four-hour stretch.  It would eliminate the very worst at least.  And the player would know within a few days if his name was (relatively) safe.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: pants on January 31, 2005, 12:50:36 PM
At least for a while there, new names were human monitored in EQ.  Mate of mine was a guide for a while, and I was over his place one day.  He was wondering along, and a popup would appear 'New character name : Bob' or something like that, with an approve/decline button.  Apparently that got sent to all online GMs/Guides for that server.

Of course, all it took was 1 Guide not really paying attention to click Approve to 'MastakillA' and he'd be in, but at least for EQ they had human eyes looking at the names.

What does this have to do with WoW?  Not an awful lot I guess, but for $9.89 a month Verant managed it.  Course that was with crazy volunteer labour.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: HaemishM on January 31, 2005, 01:08:43 PM
Exactly. Volunteer labor, which the UO lawsuit has appaerntly queered up for all time. But as a company if you REALLY want to make sure it's done right, you pay for it. Which means the consumer pays for it, and the consumer hasn't proven they'll pay for it. Yet.

If you think a $20/month MMOG subscription isn't coming down the pipe, you haven't been paying attention.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Paelos on January 31, 2005, 01:21:34 PM
Yes, considering AlteredOne and I are in the same guild, I happened to notice the name change as well. Of course, Cerealkilla, or CK as he's known to everybody had a name that did in fact violate the policy on two counts. His main point was he's had the name for a long time, just like I've had the name Paelos in every game for almost three years now. Still, longevity doesn't mean its not against the rules. "You're messing with my identity" doesn't fly.

I think the name is inoffensive and is probably at the bottom of my list of concerning names. Hell, there was a guy in the guild named Spunkmonkey at one point. That was very short-lived considering WE made him petition for a change, not Blizzard. Still, the fact that it even made it into the game is dumb.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Pineapple on January 31, 2005, 01:28:19 PM
Quote from: HaemishM

If you think a $20/month MMOG subscription isn't coming down the pipe, you haven't been paying attention.


Or we simply do with less service overall.

In the old UO days, GMs showed up to calls in person usually. I remember they didnt take all that long either really. Hell, some of the urgent calls had them there within a few minutes or even seconds.

Then we started getting canned responses. Then after that, we started getting tells from them directing us to web sites. Then after that, the help button itself started directing us to the web site first.

In WoW, almost everything listed in the help button will direct you to the web site. Only sexual/verbal harassment doesnt.

I bet someday most GMs will be doing their job from India. So while we may have to pay $20 a month someday, we are also going to get less personal service and more canned service. Players know how to find loopholes and love to grief. How do you think a MMOG playerbase will function in a canned overseas service environment?


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: sidereal on January 31, 2005, 02:23:16 PM
Quote from: Calantus
I think you really have to thoroughly police things like this, or you have to decide to let anything but the absolute worst slid in non-rp servers.


Why?
Every fixed name makes it incrementally better.  You don't have to get to them all to derive any benefit.  I'm happy they fix maybe 10% of them.  I wish they'd get to the other 90%, but that's no reason to give up on the ones they do fix.

I guess people can bitch that it's not 'fair' because they were one of the 10%.  That's like bitching that you got caught speeding when most people get away with it.  It makes you sound stupid.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Toast on January 31, 2005, 03:01:08 PM
I offer no sympathy. In fact, your guildmate should thank Blizzard for removing the childish dewdspeak from his name.

Strict enforcement of naming policies is one of the most popular GM actions available. Ironically, those who get their inane names changed generate a huge amount of whining and angst. There's always a disingenuous attempt to rationalize everything away.

Suck it up. Admit you suck at names and spare us all the sob story about how Blizzard kicked your dog and changed your name from Pwnzorcow.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: AlteredOne on January 31, 2005, 03:14:37 PM
Quote from: Toast
I offer no sympathy. In fact, your guildmate should thank Blizzard for removing the childish dewdspeak from his name.

Strict enforcement of naming policies is one of the most popular GM actions available.


Actually I'm not really complaining.  I just found the irony of our everyday MMO serial-killing an odd juxtaposition with the name change.  And it sparked a decent discussion of name enforcement policies, which is what I was aiming at :-P


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: sinij on January 31, 2005, 03:23:33 PM
Quote from: Toast
I offer no sympathy. In fact, your guildmate should thank Blizzard for removing the childish dewdspeak from his name.


Name nazi never lead to anything good. Just in this thread every posting name could be changed for one or another reason if it was WoW character name. Yours for example can be changed for being drug refference.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Sky on January 31, 2005, 03:31:39 PM
I think stupid names are stupid. Anything 'killa' is a stupid name. My nick Sky is stupid, but it's what people know me as.

I'm not sure what's worse, though, stupid names or intolerant douchebags hot to report them, because most name reporting I hear about is in retaliation to some supposed wrong. My warlock, Yuggoth, was reported by an entire guild because they got themselves killed by 'helping' him run from a train. Rather than let me die where I could grab my body and just let the mobs 'walk home', they jumped in and got wiped out. I told them to think twice before offering unasked-for assistance, and then I got several tells from their guild about my name. Ignored them all and haven't heard squat since.

Now, Captain A-Hole, I can understand :p

The downside is pretty big, too. Removal of the giant "I'm a retard, don't group with me" placard.

I wish there were a client-side naming device, so you could nickname people with names only you see. Like "Slowpoke" the healer or "Pincushion" the mage or "Moron" the....moron.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: chinslim on January 31, 2005, 08:47:41 PM
I've always hated name nazis and I thought they invented 'RP' servers to corral those uptight tightwads.

Games are about fun, and I bet 99% of 'inappropriate' names are personally funny for some reason to the creator.  People need to grow both a funny bone and some skin.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Jayce on February 01, 2005, 06:57:03 AM
Quote from: chinslim
I've always hated name nazis and I thought they invented 'RP' servers to corral those uptight tightwads.

Games are about fun, and I bet 99% of 'inappropriate' names are personally funny for some reason to the creator.  People need to grow both a funny bone and some skin.


The problem with this theory is that it breaks what little immersion there is to read some 12 year old's idea of a funny name, like Toiletmastah.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: ahoythematey on February 01, 2005, 07:05:22 AM
Nevermind the fact that the name policy in WoW is so vague that it is easily the most accessible tool for griefing another player, let's take into account that World of Warcraft is a game played on a moving picture box, a game that happens to have hundreds upon hundreds of well-documented references to pop culture and even other Intellectual Properties.

Your theory that somebody can be immersed in the gamelore of this particular MMO is shaky at best.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Mi_Tes on February 01, 2005, 07:18:01 AM
Quote from: Jayce
Quote from: chinslim
I've always hated name nazis and I thought they invented 'RP' servers to corral those uptight tightwads.

Games are about fun, and I bet 99% of 'inappropriate' names are personally funny for some reason to the creator.  People need to grow both a funny bone and some skin.


The problem with this theory is that it breaks what little immersion there is to read some 12 year old's idea of a funny name, like Toiletmastah.


As long as they stay away from any type of discrimination (racial/sexual) when naming and I could really care less.  Easy enough to ignore a name.  Besides, I got a giggle out of it, most likely because I have a 10 year old son and it sounds like something he would do.  ;)

Edit: Perhaps made funnier to me because he just overflowed the toilet yesterday morning and got shown how to use a plunger.  Going to suggest that or Plungermastah to him as a reroll tonight (all in good spirits of course).


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Sky on February 01, 2005, 07:25:27 AM
(http://forums.f13.net/images/avatars/151359858841fef4f1a9990.jpg)
Bwhaha!


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: HaemishM on February 01, 2005, 08:25:22 AM
Quote from: Sky
(http://forums.f13.net/images/avatars/151359858841fef4f1a9990.jpg)
Bwhaha!


Yes, I must agree wholeheartedly. A++ on the avatar choice there. Cute as the dickens!

RP Servers weren't invented for name nazis. They were invented so people who like low population servers could go and have silly retard slap-fights in general zone-wide chat with people who think that any mention of game mechanics in public chat is somehow breaking the very principle of role-playing.


Title: Re: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Mesozoic on February 01, 2005, 08:47:23 AM
Quote from: AlteredOne

But then it occurred to me... Isn't it really rather silly to order that name changed, when 90% of the gameplay involves the ritual slaughter of large numbers of humanoids and/or beasts?  Whether we want to see it that way or not, do these games not force every player into the role of psychopathic serial killer at worst, ruthless vigilante at best?  Just because an NPC is labelled a "marauder" with a red name, who am I to be the judge and jury?


The moral implications are even sweeter in CoH.  Some times "bad guys" are just standing on a street corner minding their own business when some asshole in tights lays into them with an assault rifle, leaving a pile of bodies in his wake before zipping off at superspeed.

Random Great Justice!


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Rasix on February 01, 2005, 10:32:11 AM
Quote from: chinslim
I've always hated name nazis and I thought they invented 'RP' servers to corral those uptight tightwads.

Games are about fun, and I bet 99% of 'inappropriate' names are personally funny for some reason to the creator.  People need to grow both a funny bone and some skin.


Here's the names I've reported:

BlackieMonkey
Orgasmdonor
Cameltoeman

I've let a lot of shit slide, but if I come across something racially offensive or sexually obscene; it's getting reported.  I'm not going to come down on people for generally crappy names on a non RP server.  I pondered petitioning "Fitshaced" yesterday but didn't.  If I likely have to explain the name to the CSR in detail, it's not worth doing.

Notably, to report these names, you go under the "Physical harassment" (or is it verbal, I can't remember off hand).  This is quite appropriate because the names I just mentioned ARE harassment.  If their existence bothers you in a way that breaks the rules, they are open for change.  You can't petition the name "Rasix" because you don't like names that end in "x" because it's not breaking any rules.  Now if the name was "Diehonkeyx", you've got an open and shut case.

I don't petition all of the dumb names because I realize a few of things.  

People are stupid.  
People aren't creative.  
Blizzard games draw people that are both stupid and uncreative in staggering amounts.

I saw someone named "Undeadmage" the other day.  He was, now don't be shocked, an undead mage.  I think I said something to the effect of "Creativity takes another one in the ass" while on the boat with him.  I got an LOL or two and half of the boat (dumb names too) gave me the finger. He knew his name was dumb, I knew it broke the rules, but I just didn't care.  The guy seemed to be absolutely enveloped and enamored with his own hubris.  So, I just let it slide.

His name will be changed some day, when the CSRs aren't so busy with actual game breaking issues.  Hell, it took 2 expansions (about midway through velious) before SoE came down hard on EQ names.  All of the drug, compound words, obscenities and likewise starting disappearing like crazy and the boards exploded into an orgy of stupid.  I'm not going to feel a shred of pity when level 60 goofs get their names ninja'd right from them. They're breaking the rules, they know they're breaking the rules, yet they choose to do so anyhow. Fuck'em.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Jayce on February 01, 2005, 10:50:27 AM
Quote from: Rasix

Notably, to report these names, you go under the "Physical harassment" (or is it verbal, I can't remember off hand).  


I would think it's verbal.  If someone can physically harass me from WoW, I think it'd be prudent to quit.  That's a bit too much immersion ;)


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Rasix on February 01, 2005, 10:53:15 AM
Quote from: Jayce
Quote from: Rasix

Notably, to report these names, you go under the "Physical harassment" (or is it verbal, I can't remember off hand).  


I would think it's verbal.  If someone can physically harass me from WoW, I think it'd be prudent to quit.  That's a bit too much immersion ;)


Well, they actually have a section for each.  Physical I believe is training and stuff like following someone around and emoting crap at them.  Being an asshat through actions, not words.

Now that I think of it, offensive names are actually in verbal.

Ack, a serious answer to a funny.  I'm slipping.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: AlteredOne on February 01, 2005, 10:56:16 AM
Quote from: Jayce

I would think it's verbal.  If someone can physically harass me from WoW, I think it'd be prudent to quit.  That's a bit too much immersion ;)


I saw two people in Beta somehow using emotes to simulate humping while standing.  They kept doing it for hours in a newbie area.  I recall thinking that the emotes did not seem to auto-repeat like the dance does, hence somebody must be fantastically bored to be repeating the same emote chain endlessly.  

So, if somebody followed you around trying to simulate humping, that might count as "physical" harassment.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: WayAbvPar on February 01, 2005, 11:26:46 AM
If their name is so stupid it makes me pound my head on my desk in frustration, I consider that physical harrassment. I haven't petitioned any names in WoW yet, but I was a name nazi in DAOC. I generally play on RP servers for the express purpose of (hopefully) insulating myself from this kind of shit. If you are doing it just to piss me off, congrats. It took me 5 seconds to petition your dumb ass. The warm feeling I get when someone's idea of a clever name gets changed to Dxhrerehgin is worth my time.

Until I can actually stab someone in the face over the 'Net, petitioning their unacceptable names and refusing to group, assist, or in any other way interact with the fucktard names that don't actually violate the naming conventions are my only recourse.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Calantus on February 01, 2005, 02:16:14 PM
Quote from: WayAbvPar
I haven't petitioned any names in WoW yet, but I was a name nazi in DAOC. I generally play on RP servers for the express purpose of (hopefully) insulating myself from this kind of shit.


See that? That's called moving to an environment that suits you and not forcing your naming ideas on the masses. That's why I don't understand people who do this sort of shit on normal/pvp servers for borderline names. Get thee to a arrpee server, dickhead. It's even funnier when you get the quick "You name has been reported" from some name nazi from an entirely different goddamn server, like it breaks their immersion to see the name in the forums.

Rasix's name calls are the kind of thing that should be changed anywhere, but if mr Undeadmage wants to be unimaginative, why should I care? If I cared enough about that shit I'd go to an RP server. We saw a someone called Gandolf in /who one day and tracked him down to see if he was indeed a male, human mage. Which he was of course. He even had white hair. That's something I'd report on an RP server, but on a PVP server it's just not worth it.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: AlteredOne on February 01, 2005, 02:30:45 PM
Come to think of it, players with stupid but inoffensive names should be allowed to keep them.  Why?  Names like "Undeadmage" make it dramatically easier for me to recognize and avoid idiots, without even needing to speak to them.  Same with all the LOTR variant names.  It must have been fun for Alb/Mid stealthers in DAOC, ganking and taunting the numerous Hib elf rangers named "Legolaas."


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Bunk on February 01, 2005, 03:10:31 PM
I look at it the same way.  A stupid name to me is just a simple way to filter out the people I have no interest in playing with.

I just started my first character on WoW last night, played a couple hours. Didn't really see any bad names, so that was a good thing. Was greeted at the newbie drop by a girl in her underwear who was energetically emoting at everyone. "She" was easy enough to ignore. As was the 6th level ass who asked me to duel him five times in 10 seconds.

I am annoyed that I can't use any of my standard names though. Just too many damn people playing. At least its a fantasy game so Bunk becomes my fantasy alter ego Bunktavious (no one has ever stolen that name).


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: sinij on February 02, 2005, 10:03:29 AM
I strongly belive that if person want to name character kewld00d and run in search of 'fethers' they should be able to. Reporting and changing names should be saved only for extreme cases that show racial hate or sexual discrimination.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Rasix on February 02, 2005, 10:16:05 AM
Quote
                             
                          WALTER
               Fucking dog has fucking papers,
                         --Over the line!

               Smokey turns from his last roll to look at Walter.

                                     SMOKEY
                         Huh?

                                     WALTER
                         I'm sorry Smokey, You were
                         over the line, that's a foul.

                                     SMOKEY
                         Bullshit.  Mark it eight Dude.

                                     WALTER
                         Excuse me!  Mark it zero.  Next frame.

                                     SMOKEY
                         Bullshit. Walter! Mark it eight dude.

                                     WALTER
                         Smokey, this is not Nam.  This is bowling.  
                         There are rules.

                                     DUDE
                         Hey Walter come on, it's just--hey man
                         it's Smokey.  So his toe slipped over a
                         little, you know, it's just a game, man.

                                     WALTER
                         This is a league game.  This
                         determines who enters the next round-
                         robin, am I wrong?

                                     SMOKEY
                         Yeah, but I wasn't--

                                     WALTER
                         Am I wrong!?

                                     SMOKEY
                         Yeah, but I wasn't over.  Gimme the
                         marker, Dude,  I'm marking it an
                         eight.

               Walter takes out a gun.

                                     WALTER
                         Smokey my friend, you're entering a
                         world of pain.

                                     DUDE
                         Walter--man--

                                     WALTER
                         You mark that frame an eight, you're
                         entering a world of pain.

                                     SMOKEY
                         I'm not--

                                     WALTER
                         A world of pain.

                                     SMOKEY
                         Look Dude, I ... this  
                         is your partner--

                                     WALTER
                         HAS THE WHOLE WORLD GONE CRAZY?  AM
                         I THE ONLY ONE HERE WHO GIVES A SHIT
                         ABOUT THE RULES?  MARK IT ZERO!

               The Pomeranian is excitedly yapping at Walter's knee, making
               high body-twisting tail-wagging leaps.

                                     DUDE
                         They're calling the cops, man,
                         put the piece away.

               Walter points it at Smokey's head.

                                     WALTER
                         MARK IT ZERO!

                                     DUDE
                         Walter put the piece away.

                                     SMOKEY
                         Walter--

                                     WALTER
                         YOU THINK I'M FUCKING AROUND HERE?

               Walter primes the gun.

                          MARK IT ZERO!!

                                     SMOKEY
                         All right!!  It's fucking zero!
                         You happy, you crazy fuck?

                                     WALTER
                         It's a league game, Smokey!



Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: WayAbvPar on February 02, 2005, 10:18:01 AM
If  I could shoot the offenders instead of just petitioning them, I would pay $30 a month!


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Mesozoic on February 02, 2005, 10:37:54 AM
Quote from: Calantus

See that? That's called moving to an environment that suits you and not forcing your naming ideas on the masses. That's why I don't understand people who do this sort of shit on normal/pvp servers for borderline names.


Players don't get to decide what is good and what is not.  The company does.  Players are not capable of forcing any name on anyone.  The company is.  All a player can do is say "I think this is a violation" and the CSR makes the call.  So in the end its really the company enforcing its own rules.  

The company doesn't have the time to track down each and every character for every possible variation of "analranger," so they let players call each other out.  And if the company has the time to pursue the potential violation and make that call, then they do so.  There's absolutely nothing wrong with that, on any server.  Did the CSR make a bad call?  His fault. Cry to him.

PC gamers are so accustomed to in-game decisions (hits and misses, loot, quest requirements, character options) being made by a program on a strictly logical, digital, predictable manner that any interference by human "common sense" is a de facto outrage.  Any judgement call by any person on any subject is fascism.

Grow up.  You named your character 4ss-kn1ght.  You lose.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Calantus on February 02, 2005, 11:46:56 AM
Quote from: Mesozoic
Quote from: Calantus

See that? That's called moving to an environment that suits you and not forcing your naming ideas on the masses. That's why I don't understand people who do this sort of shit on normal/pvp servers for borderline names.


Players don't get to decide what is good and what is not.  The company does.  Players are not capable of forcing any name on anyone.  The company is.  All a player can do is say "I think this is a violation" and the CSR makes the call.  So in the end its really the company enforcing its own rules.  

The company doesn't have the time to track down each and every character for every possible variation of "analranger," so they let players call each other out.  And if the company has the time to pursue the potential violation and make that call, then they do so.  There's absolutely nothing wrong with that, on any server.  Did the CSR make a bad call?  His fault. Cry to him.

PC gamers are so accustomed to in-game decisions (hits and misses, loot, quest requirements, character options) being made by a program on a strictly logical, digital, predictable manner that any interference by human "common sense" is a de facto outrage.  Any judgement call by any person on any subject is fascism.

Grow up.  You named your character 4ss-kn1ght.  You lose.


Where is the dispute? Did I not say that offencive names should be changed? My issue is with so called "immersion breaking" names being changed. There are specific RP servers for people who want to immerse themselves in the game, so why are there even rules against such names on normal servers?


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Rasix on February 02, 2005, 11:58:33 AM
I didn't post that quote for my health.  It's against the rules. You lose.  END OF STORY.

You can have issues with it all you want, it doesn't change reality.  There's a game world with a set of rules you agreed to.  If you are in violation of the rules, expect some day to be punished.  

Personally, I'd just rather them tatoo a nice message into the forehead every jackass that can't create a non stupid, non offensive name.  If I click on "Undeadmage", it should have a tooltip next to him that says "CREATIVITY NOT INCLUDED" or "WARNING: TOON MAY BE STUPIDER THAN THEY APPEAR".


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Mesozoic on February 02, 2005, 12:02:09 PM
Quote
There are specific RP servers for people who want to immerse themselves in the game, so why are there even rules against such names on normal servers?


Thats a question for Blizzard to answer.  I think they would tell you that they expect certain ground rules to be followed on all servers.  

But my point is that whether or not a player opts to petition a given name is not the problem.  The "problem," if there is one, lies with the company naming policy.  Too many times, players who take issue with naming policies decide to shit on other players.  Its a weird mislocated blame that seems pervasive.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Jayce on February 02, 2005, 12:04:56 PM
Perhaps there should be "dewd" servers.  If you have a retarded name you get the choice of having it changed, or being transferred.

There, everyone is free to utilize the "word" u, and have any names they like, except racially/sexually/etcerally charged ones.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Calantus on February 02, 2005, 02:01:58 PM
Quote from: Mesozoic
Quote
There are specific RP servers for people who want to immerse themselves in the game, so why are there even rules against such names on normal servers?


Thats a question for Blizzard to answer.  I think they would tell you that they expect certain ground rules to be followed on all servers.  

But my point is that whether or not a player opts to petition a given name is not the problem.  The "problem," if there is one, lies with the company naming policy.  Too many times, players who take issue with naming policies decide to shit on other players.  Its a weird mislocated blame that seems pervasive.


Yes, on reflection my arguments did tend to move more towards placing blame on the player, whereas I started with the intent of saying how stupid it was to have the policy. But if you think about it, it's obviously a policy that's come about due to percieved player preference, and that is where I have to say the preference is bizarre due to there being a viable alternative to normal servers.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: murdoc on February 02, 2005, 02:34:44 PM
If someone doesn't want to group with me because they don't like my characters name, then I probably wouldn't want to group with that uptight asshole anyways. I'm tired of grouping with either idiots or people who treat the game as a job. Have some fun people... yeesh.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Rasix on February 02, 2005, 02:44:24 PM
If being named "Elfbearlips" (actual name on my server) makes you happy, so be it.

I wouldn't drop a group if someone with a retarded name joined.  I wouldn't exactly run to join a group headed up by "Sideshowbob" (actually, that's not bad, maybe "Tanis" or "Drizzet" is worse) either.  Then again if my friends picked dumb names I'd force them to reroll.  

It's good to have fun and be loose. But it's equally important in a way not to cringe every time you look at the screen.  Hell, I'm still getting used to one of my friends playing a female toon and he's been playing it for 59 levels.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Toast on February 02, 2005, 02:45:37 PM
Quote
that is where I have to say the preference is bizarre due to there being a viable alternative to normal servers.


RP server rule sets go far beyond restricting idiotic, "immersion-breaking" names. The unique rp rule set does not appeal to most players whereas the naming policy does.

Let's try another angle here. Blizzard owns the online world, its lore, and the experience it seeks to impart to players. As the ultimate power in managing the play experience, they have every right to tweak what players can name themselves as they see fit. The greater good and the greater play experience should always come first.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: sidereal on February 02, 2005, 03:00:31 PM
My three-year-old plays (sorta. . I move him around and he tells me where to go and mashes the combat buttons), and I let him create characters and name them.  I don't think 'Bonyleg' (Undead Warrior), 'Bluefish' (Elf Druid), 'Stegasaurus' (Troll Shaman), or Hugu (Orc Warlock) are that bad, and if your names are dumber than a 3 year old child's, that's probably a good opportunity to do some soul searching.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: murdoc on February 02, 2005, 03:07:26 PM
A friend of mines 2 yr old daughter named his Tauren Shaman 'Moosegellar'. We have NO IDEA how she came up with that name but it's far more creative than any that I use.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Calantus on February 02, 2005, 03:42:51 PM
Quote from: Toast
Let's try another angle here. Blizzard owns the online world, its lore, and the experience it seeks to impart to players. As the ultimate power in managing the play experience, they have every right to tweak what players can name themselves as they see fit.


Don't bother. I've heard so many variations on this argument that I couldn't even begin to count the times. So here is the refutation, short and sweet because if you don't get it, it's not worth expanding:

Just because they have every right to do something, does not mean I can't say what I think about what they have done.


PS: I'm not annoyed at you, just tired of the argument.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: WayAbvPar on February 02, 2005, 04:50:00 PM
A 3 year old naming his characters is one thing (pretty cute, actually). A semi-functional adult who thinks he is FAR more clever and funny than he actually is (by a few orders of magnitude) naming his character something stupid because he is A) too unimaginative to come up with anything even VAGUELY appropriate and B) too fucking lazy to use a name generator is another thing.

I see it as a window into their drab little world. If they can't be bothered to invest 2 minutes in coming up with a character name they could be associated for YEARS in some cases, then they are probably going to be some sort of deficient who will either get me killed in a group, roll for every item that drops regardless of how well it suits another group member, blather repeatedly in group chat about inanities, or (most likely) all of the above,and I have no interest in associating with them in any fashion.  I also wish them some sort of vague ill will.

Beat THAT run-on sentence with a stick.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Riggswolfe on February 02, 2005, 05:05:53 PM
I have zero sympathy for people who name their characters something childish or retarded. I generally don't report them unless it's a way of striking back at them for some other offense. (If your name is CerealKilla and you ninja loot the chest I'm clearing to, expect to be reported for your name).

I'm like the others. I wouldn't play/group with somebody named CerealKilla or any of the other retarded names. My guild wouldn't allow them into the guild and frankly I wouldn't be in a guild that supported people that are that damn stupid.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Trippy on February 02, 2005, 10:42:31 PM
Quote from: WayAbvPar
I see it as a window into their drab little world. If they can't be bothered to invest 2 minutes in coming up with a character name they could be associated for YEARS in some cases, then they are probably going to be some sort of deficient who will either get me killed in a group[...]

On a related note it always amused me that Verant never forced "Tigole", whose full name in EQ was "Tigole Bitties" (yeah I know really clever, ha ha, those are the kinds of names we made up in high school), to change his name. At Blizzard he is still using that same name (though without the last name part, obviously) and now whenever I see him post, I'm always reminded of his juvenile locker room EQ name, so WayAbvPar is totally on the mark -- be careful what you name yourself.

Edit: Added the missing "name" after "full".


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Signe on February 02, 2005, 10:54:25 PM
Horizons had a policy regarding naughty names.  I remember a post about it once by a developer named Smeglor which made me giggle.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: AlteredOne on February 03, 2005, 06:26:12 AM
Quote from: Riggswolfe

I'm like the others. I wouldn't play/group with somebody named CerealKilla or any of the other retarded names. My guild wouldn't allow them into the guild and frankly I wouldn't be in a guild that supported people that are that damn stupid.


I think that's a bit of an overreaction.  CK is one of the oldest members of the guild, way back from UO days.  He kept that name from game to game.  Although I agree that the name is silly, he has never behaved as a d3wd, and I think it's a bit excessive to jump to conclusions.  While stupid names are certainly a good warning sign, I'll always give somebody credit if they prove they're intelligent.  Even the best players can choose dorky names, sometimes!


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Mesozoic on February 03, 2005, 06:37:29 AM
Quote from: Signe
Horizons had a policy regarding naughty names.


I bet the devs personally checked names for their entire playerbase.

In about 20 minutes.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Signe on February 03, 2005, 07:08:12 AM
Horizons is expecting a rush of subscribers ANY MINUTE NOW!  They are hiring in anticipation!  I understand it pays between 20K and 24K annually.  You get to work in lovely downtown Tempe Arizona, too.  What a deal!

Quote
02-01-2005 2:57 PM   Replies: 1  
   
   01 Feb 2005, 2:57 PM  
 Amadan-AE

 Joined on 10-11-2004
Posts 13

  Tulga Games Job Opening: Customer Service
 
 
  Hey all,

I just wanted to let you know that we have an opening for a position to become a CSR here at Tulga games. Below is a list of the job description. If you are interested in this position please feel free to apply by sending your Resume to resumes@tulgagames.com


Duties performed:

Identify, evaluate and prioritize user questions, problems and complaints and formulate plans of resolution or a work-around whenever possible.
Maintain and restore customer satisfaction, as well as teaming with other support and/or development teams as required.
Perform problem analysis, problem determination, and recommended resolutions to the development team for customer reported problems.
Enter new problems into the bug tracking system and track their resolution.
Escalate issues internally, follow up on escalated issues and provide feedback to end-user.
Help build a knowledge base of known problems and their resolution.
Assist in the testing of new developments and upgrades; master the use of product and stay a*** of new features and functionality released.
Interface with QA and developers to ensure customer product enhancement requests are made.
Keep managers, customer service peers, and QA appropriately informed of problems and progress.
 

Requirements:

Strong customer service skills to support interaction with end users in a pleasant, professional, and courteous manner.
Ability to articulate ideas clearly and concisely in a variety of settings, adjusting the message to match the audience.
Understanding of gaming applications, system architecture, and testing requirements.
PC skills with Windows NT, 2000, XP and MS Office.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, positive attitude and the ability to work well with others.
 

Skills:

Must be detail and process oriented and have strong troubleshooting and problem solving skills.
Should possess excellent diagnostic skills, attention to detail and ability to “think on your feet”.
Proficiency with multi-tasking, prioritization, and meeting deadlines.
Ability to recognize recurring or related issues that users consistently report.

Amadan
Customer Support Lead
Tulga Games


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Paelos on February 03, 2005, 08:20:23 AM
What's the severence package like?


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: AlteredOne on February 03, 2005, 08:24:16 AM
Tempe here I come!  I knew a Mormon from Tempe -- he showed me pictures of his hot sisters, maybe there's more like them.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: HaemishM on February 03, 2005, 09:17:26 AM
Quote from: Trippy
On a related note it always amused me that Verant never forced "Tigole", whose full in EQ was "Tigole Bitties" (yeah I know really clever, ha ha, those are the kinds of names we made up in high school), to change his name.


I've known of Tigole for years, and never knew that was his last name. What a fucking retard.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: WayAbvPar on February 03, 2005, 09:19:21 AM
Quote from: HaemishM
Quote from: Trippy
On a related note it always amused me that Verant never forced "Tigole", whose full in EQ was "Tigole Bitties" (yeah I know really clever, ha ha, those are the kinds of names we made up in high school), to change his name.


I've known of Tigole for years, and never knew that was his last name. What a fucking retard.


I never knew it either. If that doesn't totally make my point for me, nothing will.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Signe on February 03, 2005, 09:26:06 AM
Quote from: Paelos
What's the severence package like?


It's likely they don't have the money to provide a perk like that.  You'll  have to sever your own package.  You'll probably be too depressed to make it work, anyway.

Good luck with the application! ;)


Edit:   Sorry.  It's laundry day.  Bad me.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Calantus on February 03, 2005, 10:59:27 AM
This was a name change post that just made me laugh out loud. The new names are so craptastic he is reporting them himself.

Here (http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.aspx?FN=wow-general&T=1189375&P=1)

For teh lazy:

Quote
GM's taking special interest in me?

Account Name: EVILBULLY
Server(s): Laughing Skull
Old Character/Pet Name: Evilbully, Prettygirl, Princeess
New Temporary Character/Pet Name: Stlerionwe, Zaoheonienie, Ruzzaohianna

could someone tell me how ALL my accounts are against the naming policy and why GM Boctoon is picking on me?


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Mesozoic on February 03, 2005, 11:25:42 AM
/t Zaohoenienie hey, need help?
No such character is online at this time
/t Zaoheonieine hey, want to group?
No such character is online at this time
/t Zoaheonienie hey, want help with that quest?
No such character is online at this time
/t Zaoehonienie hey, want some free money?
No such character is online at this time

Fuck it!


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Trippy on February 03, 2005, 11:34:40 AM
Quote from: WayAbvPar
Quote from: HaemishM
Quote from: Trippy
On a related note it always amused me that Verant never forced "Tigole", whose full in EQ was "Tigole Bitties" (yeah I know really clever, ha ha, those are the kinds of names we made up in high school), to change his name.

I've known of Tigole for years, and never knew that was his last name. What a fucking retard.

I never knew it either. If that doesn't totally make my point for me, nothing will.

From his "retirement" message (search on Bitties):
http://www.legacyofsteel.net/newspro/archives/arc21.html

It turns out though, that he may have had to change his name at some point by somebody so I may be wrong about that. When I first heard of LoS he was still just "Tigole Bitties" in screenshots but if you look through the archive (which isn't complete) you'll see he's named "Tigole the Silent" (Best of the Best title?). I don't know if he was "forced" to include the title or if he preferred it that way but he obviously continued to refer to himself in many of his news updates by his original full name.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: WayAbvPar on February 03, 2005, 11:35:09 AM
I want to buy GM Boctoon a beer. The douchebag who got his names changed got exactly what he deserved. If I were running things, I would give him a week suspension for bitching about it =P


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Krakrok on February 03, 2005, 01:52:45 PM
Name nazies are closet griefers. When all other forms of grief have been mitigated you'll still be able to petition people's names and claim they are offensive.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Mesozoic on February 03, 2005, 02:01:27 PM
Quote from: Krakrok
Name nazies are closet griefers. When all other forms of grief have been mitigated you'll still be able to petition people's names and claim they are offensive.


But again, no player gets to be judge, jury, or executioner of character names.  No claim of offense does anything at all - unless the CSR agrees, in which case its either the fault of the player with the shitty name or the fault of the company for its policy.  At worst, the petitioner is griefing the CSR for the .5 seconds it takes him to decide that a complaint is frivolous.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: WayAbvPar on February 03, 2005, 02:44:29 PM
Quote from: Krakrok
Name nazies are closet griefers. When all other forms of grief have been mitigated you'll still be able to petition people's names and claim they are offensive.


Why is it such a fucking burden to use the name generator if you are too mentally crippled to come up with a suitable name? By naming your character something annoying and retarded, YOU are the griefer for anyone who can see you nametag. All the name nazis are doing is assisting the GMs in making the game world more fun (or at least less eye-gougingly irritating) by enforcing THE CODE OF CONDUCT THAT YOU CLAIM TO HAVE READ (and agreed to) WHEN YOU LOG IN TO THE FUCKING GAME.

If you MUST name yourself something that passes for clever in your midden heap of a mind, have the common courtesy to keep yourself to the 'regular' servers so I can avoid you by choosing an RP server.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Pineapple on February 03, 2005, 03:03:39 PM
Quote from: Krakrok
Name nazies are closet griefers.


Go onto some unmoderated internet game and chat with BuTTSuffA, BaLLzONChiNN, and CaptNtaiNT in their clan [+- $laP-DE-a$$ -+] and tell me these d00ds dont need a smackdown when they bring that garbage to WOW.

It is about keeping retardation to a minimum in a place that has an actual subscription fee. Without people paying the fee, the game dies. Stupid names taint what people think about the game, and they stop paying that much sooner.

It is also a teen rated game, isnt it? If they want to keep that rating, they have to police the retards.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Kail on February 03, 2005, 04:43:19 PM
Quote from: WayAbvPar

Why is it such a fucking burden to use the name generator if you are too mentally crippled to come up with a suitable name?


In my experience (which I haven't heard echoed anywhere else, so maybe I'm way off base), the random name generator only has maybe fifty names per race anyway.  I made a lot of characters on a number of servers, and a lot of randomly generated names were often already taken even on low population servers.  The ones that weren't were generally female names (e.g. "Elaine") or bizarre fifteen letter things with four "M"s and a silent "Q".

Personally, if someone wants to use a name like "l33td3wd" or whatever, and he's not on a roleplaying server, I say, fine.  Whatever.  If names were the only thing breaking immersion in this game, that would be one thing, but they're not.  Even if these names are less "creative" (which is arguable), I don't see why uncreative people shouldn't be able to use whatever name makes them happy (barring, y'know, the usual suspects of sex/race/whatever offeisive terms).  Most of my character names were derived from ticking the random name generator until I found a name I liked and then changing a letter or two until I got one that wasn't taken; if that's supposed to somehow lend itself to a better game experience or whatever, I didn't feel it.

I know there are some names that ought not be allowed in-game.  I have no problem with these being axed.  However, Blizzard's naming policy is really, really broad, and invalidates almost any combination of letters I can think of.  "Moosegellar" is cute and all, but if someone wanted to be an ass about it (and, I don't want to shock anyone, but I've heard rumors that such people do exist) they could make a valid claim that it violates the naming policy (reference to a mythological character, for example).  It's not going to offend anyone, but it's still against their policy.  It does seem a lot like something that attracts closet griefers like flies.  I might not be able to hit that Orc who just insulted me with my sword, but I can still piss him off by reporting that his name means "vagina" in Klingon or whatever.

I just don't see how the naming policy generates more positive benefits than negative ones.  If there were some way to filter out all the idiocy from the other chat, then yeah, this might be an issue worth pursuing, but putting the l33tsp34k outside the brackets rather than inside doesn't seem to accomplish much, aside from angering the player who can't use the name he wants.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Signe on February 03, 2005, 04:53:20 PM
The random name generator has been responsible for the names Terd, Vyrel, Sicotic and something that sounds just like "In Yer Arse" when you say it out loud.  Well, the last one was the result of a GM name change but I understand they use the generator when they change them.

The name generator is stupid, too.  Maybe I'll start selling appropriate MMOG names on eBay.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: stray on February 03, 2005, 05:43:49 PM
I'd be happy to make more rp friendly names if I knew how...How do you people come up with some of that shit anyways?

CoH is a different story, but in most of these other games, I'm clueless. Name generators suck, and I usually find myself resorting to just a normal word. Would that be considered "d00dish" (sp -- "dewdish"?) as well?


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Krakrok on February 03, 2005, 05:46:18 PM
Quote from: WayAbvPar
Go onto some unmoderated internet game and chat with BuTTSuffA, BaLLzONChiNN, and CaptNtaiNT in their clan [+- $laP-DE-a$$ -+] and tell me these d00ds dont need a smackdown when they bring that garbage to WOW.


I didn't claim griefing people with stupid names was wrong. You et al. assumed that.

If someone wants to sit at the spawn point for new characters in CoH or WoW or whatever and petition every new character name they find offensive they can. And it is griefing. So what.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Riggswolfe on February 03, 2005, 07:23:11 PM
Quote from: AlteredOne


I think that's a bit of an overreaction.  CK is one of the oldest members of the guild, way back from UO days.  He kept that name from game to game.  Although I agree that the name is silly, he has never behaved as a d3wd, and I think it's a bit excessive to jump to conclusions.  While stupid names are certainly a good warning sign, I'll always give somebody credit if they prove they're intelligent.  Even the best players can choose dorky names, sometimes!


Name yourself something stupid you're automatically assumed to be someone not worthy of me spending time with. Sorry.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Trippy on February 03, 2005, 07:26:01 PM
Quote from: Stray
I'd be happy to make more rp friendly names if I knew how...How do you people come up with some of that shit anyways?

Well there is the in game name generator though like Kail and others have said, the WoW one is pretty crappy. There are also "fantasy name generators" you can find on the Net though I don't like using those myself since the names those come up with are usually either gibberish (psuedo-random letters strung together), impossible to pronounce out loud (an issue with today's voice communcation), or very difficult to spell/type. So my current preference is to use names that are basically the opposite of the above:
  • Short without any weird letter combos like capital "eyes" next to lower case "els" so that they are easy to type
  • Recognizable as a name (not some random string of letters) but not a common American first name
  • Easy to pronounce if you were to say them out loud[/list:u]So to find names these days I like to look through Internet baby name lists, especially ones that include non-American names until I find something I like that matches the above criteria. With the names from other languages/countries you can also try to find a name that translates into something appropriate for your character. This of course only works if you are playing on a server where that language isn't used on a regular basis, otherwise it looks kind of silly.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Calantus on February 03, 2005, 08:34:17 PM
I go with sounding out the names I make. First I start with a sylable that sounds alright for the start of a name, then try different sylables on the end of it until I find a combo that sounds like a name. Other times I take a word and modify/mangle it until it sounds alright (which will often make is sound nothing like the seed word). Calantus for instance came from a combo of celcius IIRC. Also non-prominent and indistinct names from fantasy books are often good too.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Riggswolfe on February 03, 2005, 09:07:04 PM
One method is to take a real life name and subtly change it usually be changing a couple of letters.

So Martin becomes Martyn.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: schild on February 03, 2005, 09:36:00 PM
Quote from: Riggswolfe
So Martin becomes Martyn.


Or Anthony becomes Anfernee.

Joke? HAHA? Anyone?


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Riggswolfe on February 03, 2005, 09:40:32 PM
Quote from: schild
Quote from: Riggswolfe
So Martin becomes Martyn.


Or Anthony becomes Anfernee.

Joke? HAHA? Anyone?


I liked you better when you were Kramer.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: schild on February 03, 2005, 09:46:05 PM
So did I.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Rasix on February 03, 2005, 09:46:15 PM
Quote from: schild
Quote from: Riggswolfe
So Martin becomes Martyn.


Or Anthony becomes Anfernee.

Joke? HAHA? Anyone?


You have become better at subtle racism (45).  (I know it's a joke, but i'm a liberal asshole. I can't resist!)

This topic is about played out. Anyone got anything interesting left to say?  

I'll try, my name I got from EQ's random name generator.  Before I was using variations on a second/third tier Dragonlance character.  It took me a long time to actually become creative enough to pick a name that wasn't instantly recognizable by 50% of the nerd population.

So, there's hope for the less creative among us.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Riggswolfe on February 03, 2005, 10:06:22 PM
Quote from: Rasix
Quote from: schild
Quote from: Riggswolfe
So Martin becomes Martyn.


Or Anthony becomes Anfernee.

Joke? HAHA? Anyone?


You have become better at subtle racism (45).  


My original suggestion came from some Dungeon Master talking about how he named lots of NPCs. He found it easier to make small changes to real world names than to try to make totally new names.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: blindy on February 04, 2005, 07:45:02 AM
Quote from: Signe
The random name generator has been responsible for the names Terd, Vyrel, Sicotic and something that sounds just like "In Yer Arse" when you say it out loud.  Well, the last one was the result of a GM name change but I understand they use the generator when they change them.


In DAOC when I was creating my druid I couldn't think of a name, so I hit the the random name button a few times until it generated one I settled on: Fuabag.  I kept that name because it could be interpreted as an insult, and that amused me.  And then I added the last name "Anurlildawgto".  I don't know if anyone ever reported me, but certainly I never heard from any GMs or had my name changed.  So, I guess using the random name generator doesn't necessarily prevent questionable names.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Mesozoic on February 04, 2005, 08:36:55 AM
Quote from: Krakrok

If someone wants to sit at the spawn point for new characters in CoH or WoW or whatever and petition every new character name they find offensive they can. And it is griefing. So what.


How is it griefing?  In a perfect world, wouldn't every name be looked at by a real live CSR to nix names that violate the policy?  You still seem to think that the petitioner has some kind of power over names.  All they can do is ask that a CSR do his job.

You might say that its a waste of the CSR's time, but in a crunch the CSR can let name petitions go to concentrate on more critical issues.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: kaid on February 04, 2005, 09:22:24 AM
I myself like planetsides way of dealing with it. If I am driving my tank and I get accidentally blinded by somebody with 6 x's in their name I tend to run over them.

I would never intentionally run over a teammate but I have a rare medical condition where if your name has more than 4 x's in your name I tend to get blury vision and swerve all over in your direction.


kaid


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: stray on February 04, 2005, 09:46:23 AM
Are you arguing that Planetside has to have some kind of "lore" to keep up with too? I mean, I don't really care for "4 x's" in a name either, but really, what's the "correct" way to name a character there?


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: WayAbvPar on February 04, 2005, 10:14:45 AM
In a manner that suggests there is a slight chance that you aren't a drooling imbecile?


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: kaid on February 04, 2005, 11:42:19 AM
My only naming guideline in planetside is don't blind me with weird capitalization or multiple x's. If I do get blinded by a name like there is a good chance I may swerve and "accidentally" run that person down.

kaid


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Murgos on February 04, 2005, 12:10:05 PM
Quote from: Stray
Are you arguing that Planetside has to have some kind of "lore" to keep up with too? I mean, I don't really care for "4 x's" in a name either, but really, what's the "correct" way to name a character there?


Apparently, the 'correct' way to name your character in planetside is in the way in which you are least likely to get run over by a tank.

Sounds like a fairly intuitive system to me,


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Strazos on February 04, 2005, 07:20:07 PM
Is it really so difficult to come up with a good name? I know some games, like EQ, have random name generators...

Is it some coincidence that usually....the more stupid the name, the more stupid the player?


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: ahoythematey on February 05, 2005, 02:54:37 PM
My policy on naming my characters is pretty simple:  I generally want every individual that I encounter in an MMO to die in real life, so I typically treat them like shit.  I center my character names around the general concepts of anger, bitterness, and deception, since I hate the players, their presence is a lingering annoyance, and I pretty much lie to them whenever asked a specific question.

As an aside, somebody in my friends list had their named changed from Lagolas(and we doubt the person reporting it even got the humor) to something stupid and unmemorable.  Another apparently had their name, Travisty, reported, which seems particularly odd to me since it is basically their real name with two extra letters tacked on the end to make it "witty", if you will, and yet when they submitted Travesty as the new name it fucking flies.  What the fuck?

Oh, and every differently spelled version of LotR characters we report now, not because our thin veil of IMMERSION!!!!!!111 is broken by it, but because we are through leaving well enough alone after all the assholery we've experienced in these few months of bullshit in this generally deteriorating shithole of a game.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: murdoc on February 05, 2005, 03:34:03 PM
Quote from: ahoythematey
My policy on naming my characters is pretty simple:  I generally want every individual that I encounter in an MMO to die in real life, so I typically treat them like shit.  I center my character names around the general concepts of anger, bitterness, and deception, since I hate the players, their presence is a lingering annoyance, and I pretty much lie to them whenever asked a specific question.


Good thing you're subscribing to a MMORPG. Why the fuck do you even play the game? Just curious, because to me any person who hates WoW and other players this much, yet still pays a subscription fee every month is a bigger fucking moron than any Night Elf hunter named Gandelf.

I can actually kind of understand the hatred for the way some people name their characters. I can understand why some people appeal every name that disturbes their sensitive gaming experience. But to hate something this much, yet still pay for it simply boggles my mind.


Title: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: ahoythematey on February 05, 2005, 07:00:55 PM
Years of dealing with the sorts that populate Blizzard games and MMOs have made me this way.  I guess my best answer to why I pay that fee every month is, "because I'm broken?"

My honest answer, however, is simply that I enjoy a great deal of the game, but every aspect that I like seems to be under assault by catasses who should've stayed in Everquest or FF XI, by name-nazis who should fucking stick with LARPing and Pen and Paper if other players names are that significant to them, and by the dev team itself, which seems inept at their best and deliberately self-destructive at their worst.


Title: Re: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: murdoc on February 07, 2005, 07:28:31 AM
Well, that was a much more civil answer than I expected and I can actually understand your reasoning. I've also found that there seems to be a small percentage of people I will add to my friends list in games like this that aren't part of my small circle of rl friends. I think it 2+ years of DAoC I only added 3 people to my friends list that I didn't know beforehand.



Title: Re: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Righ on February 07, 2005, 08:12:46 AM
 Folks on the WoW forums were wailing about an NPC called "Black Slayer", crying racial offense by proxy. I taunted:

You should all go and get upset about a proper offensive name. I offer you a chance to "Plugger Spazzring" optionally with a "Ribbly Screwspigot" for extra pleasure.


Title: Re: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Riggswolfe on February 07, 2005, 08:21:58 AM
I saw that post. Ironically, the OP was only joking and trying to make an ironic point. However, it seems alot of people, particularly the "I'm a minority so I'm automatically a victim" crowd took it very seriously.


Title: Re: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Paelos on February 07, 2005, 10:07:48 AM
I don't care what color you are on the other end of your computer in an MMOG. Leave that racial bullshit in the real world. Here, you're still a dirty night elf.


Title: Re: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: WayAbvPar on February 07, 2005, 10:28:52 AM
Quote
Just curious, because to me any person who hates WoW and other players this much, yet still pays a subscription fee every month is a bigger fucking moron than any Night Elf hunter named Gandelf.

Hey now- let's not go THAT far. It is obvious that no one is a bigger moron than Gandelf. Or deserves to die in a more horrific manner. Over and over.


Title: Re: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: murdoc on February 07, 2005, 10:38:19 AM
I feel a little bit of shame when I admit that I laughed when a NE named Gandelf ran by.


Title: Re: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: penfold on February 07, 2005, 02:21:08 PM
Ill use adjectives (Sharper the rogue), or real world items.

or trademarked brands (Coproxamol)

or drug references (jackherrer,silverhaze, redrizla)

or popular curry dishes (Prawnkorma, Keemanan, Saagaloo)

or british swearwords and insults (Bollox the trol)

It all depends on if i know the naming policy will be enforced, and how strictly. Not been petitioned yet, so guess been lucky enough not to have bumped into anyone to anal.


Title: Re: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: WayAbvPar on February 14, 2005, 10:48:17 AM
For the record, I petitioned my first name the other day -some fuckstick called his character Aqualung. I might have let it go, but he WOULD NOT STFU in the General channel (I had the misfortune of having to travel through the Barrens, which is seemingly where all the stupid congregates on the Horde side.



Title: Re: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Righ on February 14, 2005, 12:41:49 PM
If he had called himself "Thick as a Brick" I'd have had more respect. He probably has Locomotive Breath. Etc.


Title: Re: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Signe on February 14, 2005, 01:12:56 PM
I could murder a curry right now.


Title: Re: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Sky on February 14, 2005, 03:34:50 PM
Doesn't he know that the frilly panties run in Lineage 2, not WoW?


Title: Re: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Morfiend on February 14, 2005, 04:31:17 PM
To try and revive this thread in to some thing worth reading...

I think the whole idiot names as good warning of idiot players doesnt apply so much in WoW. I think this is due to the fact the game has brought a lot of first time MMOG players, and they dont know any better. They have mostly played FPS shooters and stuff like that, where silly names are totally accetable.

Example. Some of the really cool guys in my guild, have some of the silliest names. We actually, made them group with us a bunch of times before letting them join, and ran them through more strict application proccess, just due to their names. A few examples.

In the guild we call them the food squad, cause for some reasion a bunch of them named themselves after food.

Tenderloin
Doublemeat
Pasta
Potatosocks

I was very lery about having people in my guild with these names, but now Im glad I did, cause all four of these guys became great members.


Title: Re: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Polysorbate80 on February 14, 2005, 04:38:55 PM
...or trademarked brands (Coproxamol)

or drug references (jackherrer,silverhaze, redrizla)...

Ever read "A Very Offensive Weapon" by David Drake?  All the elves are named after anti-depressants.


Title: Re: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: WayAbvPar on February 15, 2005, 10:00:15 AM
They could the second coming of Robot Jesus as players and people; if their name makes me want to sharpen the end of my keyboard so I can drive it into my eyes, no group, no guild.


Title: Re: Controversial WoW names...
Post by: Train Wreck on February 15, 2005, 10:18:14 AM
I feel a little bit of shame when I admit that I laughed when a NE named Gandelf ran by.

I felt the same way when I snickered about a guy named Ravenloc Peniuskoc in EQ.  He seemed so normal for the first 20 levels.