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Zarhym hints at cross-realm raiding
In a recent player-created thread about cross-realm raiding on the official forums, Community Manager Zarhym popped in with seven enigmatic words: Zarhym We have some plans. They're good plans. source
New Blizzard community website, forums begin testing in November
The announcement came out this morning on the EU forums that Blizzard is getting ready to roll out its new community website and forums for World of Warcraft some time in early November. Anyone who has been to the community site for StarCraft 2 will already be aware of some of the new features including a more advanced forum system than what we have now. Features will include the ability to report a post for trolling or spam without changing pages, being able to see a quick summary of the thread by mousing over and letting players up- and down-rate responses. The current forums will be set as locked during the beginning of the transition and then will be completely removed toward the end. This means that if there are any old guides, posts or fun things from days of old that you want to see moved to the new forums, you should copy them to your own computer now. One thing that is curiously missing from the announcement is what alternative Blizzard has developed to its original Real ID forums concept since it was thrown out. StarCraft 2 has a centralized handle that is associated with your Battle.net login, and it is the same handle/avatar that's used for multiplayer games. Hopefully, they'll provide more details on issues like this as things start to lead up to the changeover. The full blue post is after the break.
Blizzard responds to common Real ID concerns
Nethaera (Blizzard community manager) posted answers to some of the common Real ID questions and concerns on the forums today. With the PR disaster that was Blizzard's original Real ID on the forums concept, a follow-up aimed at easing tensions in the community -- even after the retraction -- was to be expected. While Blizzard offered some good news on things people have been requesting, they also dodged other points for the moment in true Blizzard style. Some highlights from the announcement: no current plans for an online handle to be used in game with Real ID instead of your name feature to disable your name's appearance in Friends of Friends list coming around the time of StarCraft II plans for some sort of unique ID on the WoW forums The full announcement is after the break.
ESRB issues apology over email leak
Yesterday, we learned that the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) accidentally emailed the names of people who had complained about Blizzard's potential use of Real ID names on the official Blizzard forums. The ESRB has since sent out this apology: Yesterday we sent an e-mail to a number of consumers who wrote to us in recent days expressing their concern with respect to Blizzard's Real ID program. Given the large number of messages we received, we decided to respond with a mass e-mail so those who'd written us would receive our response as quickly as possible - rather than responding to each message individually, as is our usual practice. Through an unfortunate error by one of our employees, some recipients were able to see the e-mail addresses of others who wrote on the same issue. Needless to say, it was never our intention to reveal this information and for that we are genuinely sorry. Those who write to ESRB to express their views expect and deserve to have their contact and personal information protected. In this case, we failed to do so and are doing everything we can to ensure it will not happen again in the future. The fact that our message addressed individuals' concerns with respect to their privacy underscores how truly disappointing a mistake this was on our part. We work with companies to ensure they are handling people's private information with confidentiality, care and respect. It is only right that we set a good example and do no less ourselves. We sincerely apologize to those who were affected by this error and appreciate their understanding. Sincerely, Entertainment Software Rating Board I am glad that the ESRB apologized, and it is telling that they have also acknowledged how ridiculous the mistake was in light of the subject matter. Suffice it to say, good on the ESRB for not only apologizing but understanding the issues present over online privacy. Hopefully this whole debacle can be used as a teaching moment.
ESRB unintentionally exposes email addresses of people who filed complaints over Blizzard's Real ID system [Updated]
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/ESRB_exposes_emails_of_gamers_who_filed_privacy_complaints'; Update: The ESRB has since issued an apology. During the recent Real ID catastrophe on the forums, many players decided to appeal to an industry source that might have been able to sway Blizzard to change its mind. These players contacted the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) as a Better Business Bureau-type middleman in this situation with their concerns. The ESRB itself has championed such causes in the past with its Privacy Online program, which is designed to help companies meet various privacy laws like the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Since Blizzard recanted its decision about the forums, the ESRB faithfully followed up with those concerned. Unfortunately, in that followup email, the ESRB exposed individuals to a new set of privacy concerns. The letter and more information after the break.
Sunday Morning Funnies: Huff huff bing!
This week's list is long, so I'll get straight to the point! Note: If you're the artist of one of the comics on this list, please pass through the break for a special, clearly super secret club message. Out of World #21 (this missed the deadline last week). GU Comics: Dammit Greg. Also, Dammit Greg II and Dammit Greg III. Fourth Wall: This Happens a Lot More than it Should. [Thanks Coffinshaker!] Drunken Pirates Guild. I've linked the first one so you guys can catch up. [Thanks BladedDingo!] Torment of the Week: Unlikely. Also: Azarizotza's Interrogation. Coffin Comics: Goblin TV Commercial. Daily Quests: Insert Title Here. Travels with Tenthunders: Interview with Grief Chicken. LFG #371 and #372. Beyond the Tree: Captain on Deck. Also: Window of Opportunity. AFR: All Out of Character. Byron, the Tauren Rogue. Fail Druid! NPC: Night Bandit. Also: No Hugs for Holo's and Idle Chatter. Slash AFK: OP Troll. Also: Stanky. Tales from the Crossroads: Once Smitten Twice Wry. The Warcraft Hero in: First-Day Mage. Teh Gladiators: For Hoofrich! Click next for part 2. Dark Legacy Comics: Minty Scrambled Eggs. Guilded Age. Complex Actions: I Bet Chuck Norris Would Approve! Also, Ode to Gearing. Equinox vs. Marvah. Cru the Dwarf: Fruition. Also: Fever for the Flavor of Dissention. K's Grab Bag: Why Did They Even Make This a Pet? World of Warcraft, eh?: Making Progress. This week, I have devoted a special section to comic artists who chose to comment on the Real ID fiasco through their art. GU Comics: Jimmy McAlister. Penny Arcade: The Grim Curriculum. Nerf NOW!!: ID, Please. [Thanks for the tip, Cyclone Duke!] Ctrl+Alt+Del: Keep it Secret, Keep it Safe. Edit: A Troll by Any Other Name. [Thanks Blurgarian!] Slash AFK: Too Fast. (This isn't about the forums, but it is about Real ID). Experience Points: This ID Just Got Real.
The Daily Quest: Shh, the internet dragon is sleeping
Here at WoW.com, we're on a Daily Quest (which we try to do every day, honest) to bring you interesting, informative and entertaining WoW-related links from around the blogosphere. Is there a story out there we ought to link or a blog we should be following? Just leave us a comment and you may see it here tomorrow! Take a look at the links below, and be sure to check out our WoW Resources Guide for more WoW-related sites. The internet can breathe again. Earlier today Blizzard announced that they will not be requiring real names to post on the official Blizzard forums, and the blogosphere in response breathed a huge sigh of relief. Here's a whole mess of thank-you's and other notes regarding the decision from various bloggers: The Pink Pigtail Inn asks if the wounds can be healed. Empowered Fire is pretty giddy about the results. Achtung Panzercow says "Yub Yub." That's Ewok for "We won." Geek Girl Diva has a short and sweet note to Blizzard. Lorehound asks what we learned from all of this. Warcraftic discusses the Warcraft community and communication. Mana Obscura gives us their thoughts on the power of the fans. HuskyStarcraft recorded a video response to the notice about the decision. Can we go back to just killing internet dragons now? I think so.
Real ID nixed from Blizzard forums, Morhaime explains
Well, that was quick! Just as soon as Blizzard announced sweeping changes to its forum policy, company head Mike Morhaime took to those very forums to say, "real names will not be required for posting on official Blizzard forums." In a letter addressed to the Blizzard community, Morhaime says the company "has been constantly monitoring the feedback you've given us, as well as internally discussing your concerns about the use of real names on our forums," and thusly has come to the decision to not require real names. Outside of that change, Blizzard will still be implementing all other forum changes (detailed by our sister site WoW.com right here). That said, the opt-in Real ID system will still be implemented in forthcoming Blizzard titles. Morhaime explains: "We believe that the powerful communications functionality enabled by Real ID, such as cross-game and cross-realm chat, make Battle.net a great place for players to stay connected to real-life friends and family while playing Blizzard games." Further, he adds that "you'll still be able to keep your relationships at the anonymous, character level if you so choose when you communicate with other players in game." Additionally, the Real ID system is set to "evolve" as time goes on, with Battle.net getting "new and exciting functionality" for those of you "who decide to use the feature." Could that mean incentivized Real ID use from Blizzard? We're not sure just yet, but it certainly sounds like it. Check out the full message from Morhaime to the Blizzard community after the break.
Blizzard backs down on Real ID
"We've been constantly monitoring the feedback you've given us, as well as internally discussing your concerns about the use of real names on our forums. As a result of those discussions, we've decided at this time that real names will not be required for posting on official Blizzard forums." After what turned out to be a complete PR nightmare, the voices of the fans have been heard and the requirement for real names on Battle.net forums is not going to happen. Blizzard CEO and co-founder Mike Morhaime put the word out just a short while ago, but he had quite a bit more to say about Blizzard's plans for the future. Check out the full post on the World of Warcraft forums for all the details.
Mike Morhaime: Real names will not be required on official Blizzard forums
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Blizzard_Retracts_Real_Names_NOT_Required_On_Official_Forum'; In a move that is sure to generate just as much discussion as the initial decision itself, Mike Morhaime, co-founder and CEO of Blizzard Entertainment, has released a statement that says "real names will not be required for posting on official Blizzard forums." Morhaime says that Blizzard has been "constantly monitoring the feedback" given by the community and that they are "driven 100% by the desire to find ways to make our community areas more welcoming for players and encourage more constructive conversations about our games." The other upgrades to the forums will still apply, such as rating posts up or down and conversation threading. This will, no doubt, make many members of the community quite happy. The full statement (updated) after the break.
