Blizzard are attempting to do what Valve did and combine all their games into one service, with social additions aswell. If there is any PC developer with any chance of replicating this well... it HAS to be Blizzard.

Seems like a perfectly fine idea to me. I can't imagine why someone would have to use a fake name anyway.

I don't mind. In fact, I like knowing exactly who I'm talking too.

Whats stopping people from not using their real names?  

Seems a bit intrusive but its only a name after all, I admire Blizzard for trying to establish actual communitys for their games. 
 
I wonder if this will mean I wont be banned on the wow forums anymore...

I'd love an internet where everyone has to use their real names. Stops jackasses and trolls pretty effectively, as they'd be labelled as idiots wherever they went.

 Oh well I do not go to that site or use their forums but it could spread to other sites which I am not okay with.  I rather not let the Blizzard forums know my name.

No problems here.  I'm fine with using my name.  Hey, look at that!  My name is my name here on Giant Bomb!! 
Although I do wonder how they're going to enforce it...I mean, am I allowed to say I'm Brad Pitt?  How are they going to prove you're you . . .

" I'd love an internet where everyone has to use their real names. "

" @Rinkalicous said:

" I'd love an internet where everyone has to use their real names. "

Then why didn't you use your real name when you picked a name here?  "

Next move: Credit card required!

As soon as a company expects me to surrender real life information which the entire community of fucktards can see, they can count on me not buying their product.

" @99X said:

" @Rinkalicous said:

" I'd love an internet where everyone has to use their real names. "

Then why didn't you use your real name when you picked a name here?  "

Rinkalicious is ultimately the better name. "

Seems pretty unnecessary to me, then again, why anyone in their right mind would post on the Blizzard forums is beyond me.

I don't understand how people can say they're ok with this. You are aware of how easy it is to find out where someone is living once they have your name right? What if some guy who holds some grudge against you on the forums/game decides to track you down and do some real life damage? I'm sorry, but if a company decides they don't want me to be AnonymousTrollMage #39583 then they can go fuck themselves because there's no way in hell I'm giving them information about my real life to share with all the weirdos on the internet.

so how far is this going? is it just people being able to see your first name? or will they know things like how old you are as well. if that's the case im not so sure about it, as i dont think the youngens should be copping flack just for being young, which i could see happening. maybe it should be you only give your real details if you are 18+?

" Seems like a perfectly fine idea to me. I can't imagine why someone would have to use a fake name anyway. "

at least this will weed out the forum trolls on the blizzard forums.

what Blizzard should do next is require everyone who wants to play their games go to Blizzard HQ and submit to a back round check and a DNA test to verify their identity, then Blizzard can implant a chip with a unique ID into them so that everyone playing Blizzard games can know who they are wherever they are.

" I don't understand how people can say they're ok with this. You are aware of how easy it is to find out where someone is living once they have your name right? What if some guy who holds some grudge against you on the forums/game decides to track you down and do some real life damage? I'm sorry, but if a company decides they don't want me to be AnonymousTrollMage #39583 then they can go fuck themselves because there's no way in hell I'm giving them information about my real life to share with all the weirdos on the internet. "

"As soon as a company expects me to surrender real life information which the entire community of fucktards can see, they can count on me not buying their product."

"what Blizzard should do next is require everyone who wants to play their games go to Blizzard HQ and submit to a back round check and a DNA test to verify their identity, then Blizzard can implant a chip with a unique ID into them so that everyone playing Blizzard games can know who they are wherever they are. "

At first this seems like a bad idea to me, but now I'm starting to think its a good idea. 
 
I probably trust Blizzard a hell lot more with my ID than some other sites.

This forum topic made me realize that I have never played a game made by Blizzard.

People don't act the same way when the aren't anonymous. It might be a good thing, it might be a bad thing. All we can say is it will be different.

"This forum topic made me realize that I have never played a game made by Blizzard. "

I don't think this means no screen names - just that your account has to be verified with real ID so they know who you are if they have to ban you for acting a dick or if you do something illegal / post something libelous.
 
On one hand it goes a bit far.  On the other hand, should be the most troll free forums ever.

Blizzard's trying their best to attach an awful service to a great game.

" @RsistncE said:

"As soon as a company expects me to surrender real life information which the entire community of fucktards can see, they can count on me not buying their product."

 
and the having a 'Real ID' is also completely optional.  "

"That be wrong.  SC2 Beta even required your main Blizzard ID be your Real ID, you NEED a Real ID to even use Blizzard games and future Blizzard games now.   "

As some of you who play WoW (lol) 

" @KaosAngel said:

"That be wrong.  SC2 Beta even required your main Blizzard ID be your Real ID, you NEED a Real ID to even use Blizzard games and future Blizzard games now.   "

Really? That's kinda fucked. I got the idea it was entirely optionally when I read about the service from their website: http://us.battle.net/realid/?rhtml=y      Also quoted from their site: "Real ID is a completely voluntary and optional level of identity that keeps players connected across all of Battle.net "  I didn't see anything on their site saying Real ID was required for any sort of service. That's awfully suspect. "

I was for it in the beginning but looking at it from a more professional perspective, if potential employers search your name before an interview and the first thing that shows up is that you play a lot of blizzard games, that could negatively impact your ability to get that job. I understand this may not happen with most employers but is it worth taking that risk.

I just worry about the potential security problems that opens up.  Way more hacking incidents incoming, for sure.  Lots of people don't keep the rest of their personal private information secure, and a full name can be enough to get the rest.

I've screwed around with the real ID stuff that is live in wow right now and it isn't bad, how it works is your normal friends list is there but on top of that you can enter your real friends email that is their sign in name for the battle.net account. once you add that friend they have to accept it on their end then you can see what game and details about that game. the trick is their name in the friends list is the name that is on the battle.net account, the full name "John Doe". the normal friend list features are there but this stuff is on top of that.  
 
I'm lovin this idea. the thought of fewer troll threads on an official game forum is a tempting thought, no more trolls making a pointless argument and backing himself up by posting on other characters on that same account. PLUS, think of all the teenagers who's account is under a parents name.  some bad mouthed kid on a forums talking crap under the name "Sally" 

They are doing it to "fix" or atleast try to fix the horrible troll and flame war issues that ruin the Blizzard forums. Im all for it, people are less likely to be dicks when they cant hide behind a level 1 alt. Hell, lets get that on GB. I would gladly use my name on here(because Im not paranoid and I also dont act different from how I do offline).

What's going to happen the first time someone tracks down a forum member using the person's first and last name posted on the forums?  If 4chan can do it, anybody can.  I also feel sorry for the female forum members considering this is basically a soft ban on them unless they want to risk harassment by other people.  What people don't realize is ANYBODY can look at the forums...that's the problem, not people being held accountable for their actions.  And people saying "Don't like it?  Don't post!" forget that the technical support boards are also attached to these forums so good luck troubleshooting things.

" What's going to happen the first time someone tracks down a forum member using the person's first and last name posted on the forums?  If 4chan can do it, anybody can.  I also feel sorry for the female forum members considering this is basically a soft ban on them unless they want to risk harassment by other people.  What people don't realize is ANYBODY can look at the forums...that's the problem, not people being held accountable for their actions.  And people saying "Don't like it?  Don't post!" forget that the technical support boards are also attached to these forums so good luck troubleshooting things. "

Introducing accountability to the internet, it's about time.

" Introducing accountability to the internet, it's about DAMN time. "

This definitely struck me as a bit intrusive when I first read it, but after giving it some time to settle I really don't see the problem.  Hopefully this will weed out all of the ridiculous trolling that goes on over there, tough I doubt it; some people just aren't going to care.  Anyone legitimately concerned about their privacy can simply stay away from the forums.  There's no reason to go there anyway, unless you want to be trolled or need to catch up on the latest blue posts.  The latter of those doesn't require any posting, so hey, problem solved.

" People don't act the same way when the aren't anonymous. It might be a good thing, it might be a bad thing. All we can say is it will be different. "

Good, gets rid of the trolls.

 
I have zero issue with this.  I will still be trolling their forums with anonymity and I hope the people reading them.  Have fun trying to pronounce my name.  I would never talk with most of that community in real life.  They are the worst gaming community out there. 
 
But this wont really stop that anyway.  Since most WoW trolls are at a point of insanity.  From playing the same game for over 5 years.
 
IMO, I see this as a financial move.  WoW's popularity has been waning for a while now.  The devs are just doing what they do best.  Trying to keep people addicted to a shitty fuckcluster of a game.  Because they know that the second something new comes out, everyone we go pay for that instead.  
 
I am sure that all the FFIV trailers and chatter have nothing to do with this move.  ;  )   
 
 

so why do that? if they really wanted to get trolls and flamwars out they can just banned people. this could be a bad identity theft could happen from that. there are people that steal people's accounts in games like WoW. it could lead to identity theft from seeing the person's name.