Suggestion: Option to synch ingame @handle with forum display name

angrytarg · June 2015

Before people just raise their fingers and point out that it isn't possible: I know that. Read on. The PWE customer support officially encouraged me to open this thread

A few days ago, I asked customer support the following question:

angrytarg wrote:

Dear support team,

ever since the STO Cryptic/Atari forum was transfered to the PWE forum a lot of players are faced with a arc/forum name and in-game @handle discrepancy due to the need to create new user names. This often leads to confusion because one cannot find another player by the forum name in-game.

I'd like to ask wether it is possible to change the in-game @handle to the forum display named used in the PWE forums to create a better way of getting together with players from the forum.

In case this is (still) not possible I'd like to leave this as a suggestion to be considered for the future. I would welcome it if at one point we players were allowed a one-time in-game @handle change, especially if we are active in the forum community to improve recognition and easy socialization.

Cheers

Customer service replied:

PWE Customer Service wrote:

Hello,

Thank you for contacting us.

I understand that you want to have your handle name changed. Unfortunately, we only offer name changes under very specific circumstances. It can only be changed if the current handle is a security risk, or the name qualifies as a violation of our policies.

While this game is in full release, we appreciate your thoughts and the time you took to share them with us. We regularly compile this information and forward it to the developers for their consideration.

If you wish to discuss your feedback with the game community, we encourage you to do so on the official forums: http://sto-forum.perfectworld.com/

Please let us know if you have any other comments or suggestions to help improve the game!

For the above stated reasons, I hereby want to discuss the issue with the game community and also like to mark it as a suggestion to the devs to think about. If you support the proposal please reply to this thread or voice any other affiliated thoughts you have

dmt · June 2015

I support this, although you should be able to choose which to make dominant.

angrytarg · June 2015

dmt wrote: »

I support this, although you should be able to choose which to make dominant.

Sure, no problem ith that. And also, because you have to spell it out a few times ont his forum (not directed at you personally, mind you), it should of course remain optional

hypl · June 2015

I made a PWE account long before they bought Cryptic, and at the time for some odd reason you could only make a 4 character screen name. It wasn't a screen name between 4 to 16 characters. JUST 4. So when I merged it with my Cryptic account, I was stuck with hypl.

So I also approve of an option to change my display name. :P

jonsills · June 2015

sopwithsnipe wrote: »

My @handle was the same as my forum handle until PWE took over and forced me to change my forum handle when they merged Cryptic's Forum with theirs and told me I couldn't keep my original forum handle because it was already being used by me.

That's weird, because when I merged, I kept the handle I'd been using - that one over there <----. It's the same as my @handle, too, just to keep things simple. (Due to some testing I did on CO, I actually wound up with a couple of @handles, but I only post under this one just to keep things clear.)

angrytarg · June 2015

hypl wrote: »

I made a PWE account long before they bought Cryptic, and at the time for some odd reason you could only make a 4 character screen name. It wasn't a screen name between 4 to 16 characters. JUST 4. So when I merged it with my Cryptic account, I was stuck with hypl.

So I also approve of an option to change my display name. :P

Not to harp on your misfortune, but that made me laugh. It's so... random

The 4 letter username, I mean.

fatman592 · June 2015

Just make the cost of doing account name changes exorbitant, and a one time only thing. Or make all items unbound, so one could make a new account with a lot of cost handled. But make it so Cstore items and shop would need to be repurchased to make money. Or make a one time change a LTS feature only.

Lots of ways to make money on this, and there's definitely a demand.

angrytarg · June 2015

fatman592 wrote: »

Just make the cost of doing account name changes exorbitant, and a one time only thing. Or make all items unbound, so one could make a new account with a lot of cost handled. But make it so Cstore items and shop would need to be repurchased to make money. Or make a one time change a LTS feature only.

Lots of ways to make money on this, and there's definitely a demand.

That would for many people equal "taking away their name and then give it back with massive costs".

If they need to monetize it let Cryptic think about it. It's not the players' part to think about ways how they could spend even more money for services

fatman592 · June 2015

angrytarg wrote: »

That would for many people equal "taking away their name and then give it back with massive costs".

If they need to monetize it let Cryptic think about it. It's not the players' part to think about ways how they could spend even more money for services

For me, whether a suggestion can make the company money is what determines viability. And yes, I'm sure they could figure out a good way to monetize just about anything in game.

My question though, what's the precedent for account name changes among other game companies. If it's a normal service, then the best argument may be for the company to be competitive and current in their services.

mirrorchaos · June 2015

angrytarg wrote: »

Before people just raise their fingers and point out that it isn't possible: I know that. Read on. The PWE customer support officially encouraged me to open this thread

A few days ago, I asked customer support the following question:

Originally Posted by angrytarg
Dear support team,

ever since the STO Cryptic/Atari forum was transfered to the PWE forum a lot of players are faced with a arc/forum name and in-game @handle discrepancy due to the need to create new user names. This often leads to confusion because one cannot find another player by the forum name in-game.

I'd like to ask wether it is possible to change the in-game @handle to the forum display named used in the PWE forums to create a better way of getting together with players from the forum.

In case this is (still) not possible I'd like to leave this as a suggestion to be considered for the future. I would welcome it if at one point we players were allowed a one-time in-game @handle change, especially if we are active in the forum community to improve recognition and easy socialization.

Cheers

Customer service replied:

Originally Posted by PWE Customer Service
Hello,

Thank you for contacting us.

I understand that you want to have your handle name changed. Unfortunately, we only offer name changes under very specific circumstances. It can only be changed if the current handle is a security risk, or the name qualifies as a violation of our policies.

While this game is in full release, we appreciate your thoughts and the time you took to share them with us. We regularly compile this information and forward it to the developers for their consideration.

If you wish to discuss your feedback with the game community, we encourage you to do so on the official forums: http://sto-forum.perfectworld.com/

Please let us know if you have any other comments or suggestions to help improve the game!

For the above stated reasons, I hereby want to discuss the issue with the game community and also like to mark it as a suggestion to the devs to think about. If you support the proposal please reply to this thread or voice any other affiliated thoughts you have

from the underlined, i think you took this email out of context with the automated response cut and paste feel good message like i get on swtor when i send out bug reports.

but that also underlined almost shown answers that the customer service team didnt even answer your question, it assumed you wanted to change your handle rather then displaying it between the game and forum.

now for security reasons even if such a thing was possible i would stop using the forum, period. because it would end up receiving all sorts of nastiness from in game to the forum, harrassment would increase and the naming and shaming policy pwe would violate by themselves by doing such a thing let alone the privacy policy stuff that ends up getting out to junk sites and gold spamming sites. thats a big no.

whamhammer1 · June 2015

jonsills wrote: »

That's weird, because when I merged, I kept the handle I'd been using - that one over there <----. It's the same as my @handle, too, just to keep things simple. (Due to some testing I did on CO, I actually wound up with a couple of @handles, but I only post under this one just to keep things clear.)

I have been on he same boat as Sopwithsnipe. Luckily, I Whamhammer1 was open. The login is the same as in game, but how the forum shows it is different (and ridiculous).

nadiezja · June 2015

After I came out as trans, I wanted to bring all my gaming accounts into line with my identity. I was rather surprised by the outcomes of that effort, both positive and negative. Microsoft changed everything over and, after a brief conversation with customer service, waived the usual fee for doing so, which was lovely. Nintendo did the same. Sony refused, and suggested creating a new account, though this new account wouldn't have any of the stuff from my old account (including my DCUO characters or PS4 trophies). A few other MMO vendors had similar responses.

Cryptic called my request asking for a "vanity" name change, and refused.

I haven't entirely forgiven them for that.

angrytarg · June 2015

mirrorchaos wrote: »

(...)

now for security reasons even if such a thing was possible i would stop using the forum, period. because it would end up receiving all sorts of nastiness from in game to the forum, harrassment would increase and the naming and shaming policy pwe would violate by themselves by doing such a thing let alone the privacy policy stuff that ends up getting out to junk sites and gold spamming sites. thats a big no.

The old forums - and pretty muche very forum from MMOs I know - uses the ingame name as the forum identidy without complications like you outlined above. This seems to be a "strawman" reasoning against this, more so given that I asked for the non-mandatory option.

However, you may be right about the answer. Still, their copypasta answer told me to try the forums and maybe a dev stumbles in here. Wishful thinking, I know

Unknown · June 2015

This content has been removed.

angrytarg · June 2015

In addition, if you experience harassment in-game it's probably not because your names are the same in the forum and vice versa. Again, it used to be this way and is for a lot of games, so...

mirrorchaos · June 2015

repetitiveepic wrote: »

My @name and my forum handle are the same. I've gotten death threats on the forums and different messages of hatred and death wishes in game. I don't know what could be worse, but it hasn't bothered me at all. I'm not some kind of super man, if I can let the froth from the mouths of the wild dogs just slide off, anyone can.

In other words, I'd say your objection is no objection at all, speaking from personal experience.

Like the lady said, haters gonna hate hate hate hate hate. It can only bother you if you let it. Self control is the foundation of self respect.

from your point of view, but who knows how others would react, you cant tell me you speak for them, so i dont see anythin conclusive in what you wrote. people are different and the way they behave, you stated it yourself you got death threats over this, that alone is enough to confirm at the least there is an element of truth to the harassmment claim. know nows how many others could of gotten it let alone how they react.

angrytarg · June 2015

mirrorchaos wrote: »

from your point of view, but who knows how others would react, you cant tell me you speak for them, so i dont see anythin conclusive in what you wrote. people are different and the way they behave, you stated it yourself you got death threats over this, that alone is enough to confirm at the least there is an element of truth to the harassmment claim. know nows how many others could of gotten it let alone how they react.

But making the whole thing an option (that previously didn't exist, in Atari Cryptic your ingame handle was your forum name) would still leave it open to players to maintain the status quo. In my case I even would turn it around as my in-game handle is just named after my first character while my forum name originated in severe "disagreement" over the merger and politics that followed, but it grew on me

mirrorchaos · June 2015

angrytarg wrote: »

But making the whole thing an option (that previously didn't exist, in Atari Cryptic your ingame handle was your forum name) would still leave it open to players to maintain the status quo. In my case I even would turn it around as my in-game handle is just named after my first character while my forum name originated in severe "disagreement" over the merger and politics that followed, but it grew on me

even optional i dont see how it would change anything, if most players didnt want it and left it optional, what was the point in the change? and if its popular enough to cause trouble then what is gained from the trouble to follow? but what about your position, that it could work.

you clearly have an idea about what the good is in it, what is it? my mind honestly is not really workign right now, havent taken down morning coffee yet.

generalmoco · June 2015

*Looks at his forum name then looks at his actual @handle*
*Looks at his forum name then looks at his actual @handle*
*Looks at his forum name then looks at his actual @handle*
*Looks at his forum name then looks at his actual @handle*
*Looks at his forum name then looks at his actual @handle*
*goes back to sleeping*

bergins · June 2015

mirrorchaos wrote: »

you clearly have an idea about what the good is in it, what is it? my mind honestly is not really workign right now, havent taken down morning coffee yet.

Haven't read the first post in the thread yet, either, apparently. It spells out the advantages pretty clearly.

ever since the STO Cryptic/Atari forum was transfered to the PWE forum a lot of players are faced with a arc/forum name and in-game @handle discrepancy due to the need to create new user names. This often leads to confusion because one cannot find another player by the forum name in-game.

I'd like to ask wether it is possible to change the in-game @handle to the forum display named used in the PWE forums to create a better way of getting together with players from the forum.

As far as Cryptic instituting a policy of "naming and shaming" by making such a feature, rubbish. Granted, it has been a while since I set up my forum account, but I don't recall being given an option as to what my forum name would be, it just IS my @handle, and this was also how it worked pre-PWE. The only people who would be suddenly named and shamed are those who were changed by the switch to PWE, AND then VOLUNTARILY CHOSE to have their names changed. Even if I am wrong in my recollection, it would only effect those who VOLUNTARILY CHOSE to do so.

Of course, if I were some forumites, I'd also want to keep the lack of disrespect I showed to my fellow posters insulated from my ingame account, so I do see where you are coming from.

thunderfoot · June 2015

I dunno. I can see the good of this. As well as the bad things which could come from the OP's idea being misused.

And it would be misused, eventually.

Add in mistaken identity problems and it might get worse. I am repeatedly mistaken for another Thunderfoot who has a YouTube channel. It has happened here as well. First time, I politely explained I wasn't that guy. Fiftieth time I got really rude in a PM. Now, I just ignore the whole thing and don't bother even acknowledging such.

If Cryptic wants to do this because some people want it, fine. If they then decide to monetize it, okay. But when or if they do, I think I'd follow Mirrorchaos' lead and stop coming here at all. I'd probably stop playing STO as well.

I have been a victim of identity theft in the past. It was very time consuming and very expensive to right all of that. As in fifteen months and US $2,500.00. As a result, I am very very reluctant to go near anything which has even the slightest smell of being misused this way. My good name (and my credit rating) is too valuable and too important to me to come within a light year of what appears to me to be the STO version of a vanity plate.

mirrorchaos · June 2015

bergins wrote: »

Haven't read the first post in the thread yet, either, apparently. It spells out the advantages pretty clearly.

As far as Cryptic instituting a policy of "naming and shaming" by making such a feature, rubbish. Granted, it has been a while since I set up my forum account, but I don't recall being given an option as to what my forum name would be, it just IS my @handle, and this was also how it worked pre-PWE. The only people who would be suddenly named and shamed are those who were changed by the switch to PWE, AND then VOLUNTARILY CHOSE to have their names changed. Even if I am wrong in my recollection, it would only effect those who VOLUNTARILY CHOSE to do so.

Of course, if I were some forumites, I'd also want to keep the lack of disrespect I showed to my fellow posters insulated from my ingame account, so I do see where you are coming from.

you dont not speak for angry targ, besides thats part of it, there is more to a reason then one side anyway.

apsciliara · June 2015

As somebody whose forum name is in sync with her in-game account name, I think this is a great idea, as long as it's kept optional for those that want to segregate their in-game and forum identities, yes. No reason to deny others features that you don't need.

bergins · June 2015

mirrorchaos wrote: »

you dont not speak for angry targ, besides thats part of it, there is more to a reason then one side anyway.

I wasn't speaking for anyone but myself, and as I've said to you before, if you don't want people responding to your comments to a particular person, you really need to not post your comments on an open forum. Yes, there is more than* one reason to a side, but you presented your reason and then asked for the already stated reasons for the "pro" side.

*The word you are looking for is "THAN." Than/Then is one of those grammar bid that gets to me, and you are the biggest consistent offender here. Can we donate money to get you a tutor of something?

angrytarg · June 2015

"Identidy theft", "Harassment", "credit rating" - are we even talking about the same thing?

Only thing I am talking about is giving the option to change our ingame @handle to the name our forum accounts use (which still isn't your account name. Remember, the name used to log-in, deal with billing etc. is another name completely different from the @handle!). Which is the normal way things work anyway, the circumstance that some users have different forum names from their @handle is only due to freak accidents, basically, since 2012. Prior to that, and usually, the official game forum of an MMO always uses the same name - I cannot remotely understand why this leads to speaking of identidy theft, credit ratings and harassment?

Of course, if I get hostile on the forums people might recongize me in-game and take it there, which is something they shouldn't and then you can ignore them (I know very well that there are no GMs in-game to take care of that). But it has been this way before. Hell, at one time forum private messages were linked with in-game mail and it was a great feature.

I don't say peoples concerns are wrong or anything, but I really cannot grasp why this is even brought up, especially since we are not talking about mandatory forced changes of anything.

mirrorchaos · June 2015

bergins wrote: »

I wasn't speaking for anyone but myself, and as I've said to you before, if you don't want people responding to your comments to a particular person, you really need to not post your comments on an open forum. Yes, there is more than* one reason to a side, but you presented your reason and then asked for the already stated reasons for the "pro" side.

*The word you are looking for is "THAN." Than/Then is one of those grammar bid that gets to me, and you are the biggest consistent offender here. Can we donate money to get you a tutor of something?

if you wish to continue your point, i would suggest you leave that grammar TRIBBLE in the bin. im not gonna pick it up again, nor do i care about it.

yreodred · June 2015

As long as everyone can choose to do it or not, i don't see any reason against it.

Suggestion: Option to synch ingame @handle with forum display name

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