Change character(s) name(s)

[Belmonts]

It's been bugging me for a while so here it goes:

Since servers merged for whatever reason it happened, it seems that Square Enix blatantly didn't matter that we lost our favorite characters name, making us adding letters, omit them or just simply change the name. I'm sure there are people that got very upset because of that.

So my request is simple, because the Olympus aka SE didn't care whatsoever on forcing/making us change our character(s) name(s) on merges and also MANY of the characters names we want is on an account that is deactivated years ago (1 or 1 1/2 years or more) Make those names available to use again and we being able to pay a fee to change names.

I'm not asking for those accounts to be deleted, just that since it's so easy to them making us change our names we should be able to get a really cool name that a person that stopped playing 5 years ago (and probably don't think on coming back at all) be available again so players that we love the game and don't want a lolname can pick it.

If those guys come back they can have a name change like we all players had to do when we merged with other servers. So no data loss.

1 year and a half is reasonable but of course it can be longer.

Before troll begins also I'm pretty aware that changes like this can carry on other people being disagree (ppl stealing stuff and such) but hey, it's a free country lol. Also bs has happened before when we had to merge so is not big deal imo, people got used to, also f****rs and m***ns are everywhere, they shine again no matter they changed servers or made new chars.

P.S. I like my char's name btw, before some smart pants start with that ;)

[Tsukino_Kaji]

It's been bugging me for a while so here it goes:

Since servers merged for whatever reason it happened, it seems that Square Enix blatantly didn't matter that we lost our favorite characters name, making us adding letters, omit them or just simply change the name. I'm sure there are people that got very upset because of that.

So my request is simple, because the Olympus aka SE didn't care whatsoever on forcing/making us change our character(s) name(s) on merges and also MANY of the characters names we want is on an account that is deactivated years ago (1 or 1 1/2 years or more) Make those names available to use again and we being able to pay a fee to change names.

I'm not asking for those accounts to be deleted, just that since it's so easy to them making us change our names we should be able to get a really cool name that a person that stopped playing 5 years ago (and probably don't think on coming back at all) be available again so players that we love the game and don't want a lolname can pick it.

If those guys come back they can have a name change like we all players had to do when we merged with other servers. So no data loss.

1 year and a half is reasonable but of course it can be longer.

Before troll begins also I'm pretty aware that changes like this can carry on other people being disagree (ppl stealing stuff and such) but hey, it's a free country lol. Also bs has happened before when we had to merge so is not big deal imo, people got used to, also f****rs and m***ns are everywhere, they shine again no matter they changed servers or made new chars.

P.S. I like my char's name btw, before some smart pants start with that ;)1.) Be more original with names and this wont happen.
2.) After the last merger, wherein everyone pissed and moaned about thier own inability to put any forthought into thier own names, SE gave in and allowed those people a second chance at changing thier names.
3.) Those people have the same right to thier names as you feel you do. They were not the ones that got merged. Are you saing you have the right to take thier names that they had first away from them?
4.) Before anyone starts yammering about "I want a name change feature," SE already said no.

[Belmonts]

1.) Be more original with names and this wont happen.

Lol it is not a matter or being original or not, if that were the case, there won't be a lot of John's or Kelly's just to take an example on rl names, of course you can use "romaji-japanese" to make your in-game char name, but some other ppl like to use more common names. But yah, people can name his/her char "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa" and that is original and prolly won't have a clone name in other servers, lol. Or like RTM's smash-the-kb names like "Klkajskl".



2.) After the last merger, wherein everyone pissed and moaned about thier own inability to put any forthought into thier own names, SE gave in and allowed those people a second chance at changing thier names.

So, "SE gave in" ?? *gasps* then what happened with that "SE already said no" in your last statement ? :-o



3.) Those people have the same right to thier names as you feel you do. They were not the ones that got merged. Are you saing you have the right to take thier names that they had first away from them?

Yep yep, as SE had the right take other players right to keep their own names on merges, yup. Especially on accounts that has been ages deactivated.



4.) Before anyone starts yammering about "I want a name change feature," SE already said no.

If they say no, doesn't take my feelings and my right away to say I disagree. As you are entitled to say what you feel on this forum, yep is a free community. And if they "gave in" it means they are no deaf on players requests.

[Llana_Virren]

It isn't as easy as it seems.

Firstly, you've got AH history that would have to change to reflect the appropriate character (unless you're trying to hide your 3,500,000G purchase of a Flame Sword or something... <_<

The same problem with any signed armor.

Lastly, and probably most importantly, is what happens when the name you want to change to is already taken by someone else?

[Belmonts]

It isn't as easy as it seems.

Firstly, you've got AH history that would have to change to reflect the appropriate character (unless you're trying to hide your 3,500,000G purchase of a Flame Sword or something... <_<

The same problem with any signed armor.

Lastly, and probably most importantly, is what happens when the name you want to change to is already taken by someone else?

Thanks for replying ^_^

Database talking (and a decent db imo) doesn't have a name as the Key ID, I believe is the PoL ID or something. So it won't be as painful to do that. It duplicates easily.

Signed armor is not related/linked anymore with the character at very moment you end up crafting it, only sad thing would be that you will have to remake that gear again with the new name for your friends :) but i'm sure they can live with that, esp with HQ crafts hehe.

If the name you want is on an account that is active there is nothing you can do. Idea is for those accounts that has been gathering dust for years and years with names that other ppl would like to put on their chars. ^_^

[Dazusu]

Database talking (and a decent db imo) doesn't have a name as the Key ID, I believe is the PoL ID or something. So it won't be as painful to do that. It duplicates easily.


No database in the history of man has a string as Key ID. If it does, the entire technical department of said company should be fired.

Secondly, why would they need to change AH history, or signed items? Leave them as is. The same way they are left as-is when someone transfers server or quits the game.

There's absolutely no reason SE couldn't implement this, and if there are any reasons - none of them are logistical.

The only thing this proves is that SE aren't out to make a quick buck like people seem to suggest. If they were - this feature would fly like hotcakes.

[Daniel_Hatcher]

No database in the history of man has a string as Key ID. If it does, the entire technical department of said company should be fired.

Secondly, why would they need to change AH history, or signed items? Leave them as is. The same way they are left as-is when someone transfers server or quits the game.

There's absolutely no reason SE couldn't implement this, and if there are any reasons - none of them are logistical.

The only thing this proves is that SE aren't out to make a quick buck like people seem to suggest. If they were - this feature would fly like hotcakes.

Exactly.

All accounts are ID (number) based.

[zataz]

isn't the fact they dont want too/have too a good enouph reason?

[Belmonts]

No database in the history of man has a string as Key ID. If it does, the entire technical department of said company should be fired.

Lol, Yep pretty much, however, the point is that there are no restrictions whatsoever to not implement that.



Secondly, why would they need to change AH history, or signed items? Leave them as is. The same way they are left as-is when someone transfers server or quits the game.

Lol don't look at me on that one, there is no problem on that either.



There's absolutely no reason SE couldn't implement this, and if there are any reasons - none of them are logistical.
The only thing this proves is that SE aren't out to make a quick buck like people seem to suggest. If they were - this feature would fly like hotcakes.

I don't know if I agree with you on that one, SE whims comes and goes lol (we see it clearly on game tweaks and such), and actually they could of make some good profit out of it. Like world transfers. Not getting into details but, as you said, none of the restrictions they can meet are logistical/data related. Prolly tough at first to implement the code.

But if there are pancakes involved, I'm down lol.

[Belmonts]

isn't the fact they dont want too/have too a good enouph reason?

Who knows what happens on the Olympus gods' minds. We should ask the Oracle... (not the DB :P)

But if they "don't want" is a pretty lame reason imo.

[Llana_Virren]

Secondly, why would they need to change AH history, or signed items?

A few reasons, which may sound petty; however, hear me out:

1. AH history. Any in-game accessible sale log is dual purposed. For one, it shows who sold/bought what, and for how much. This is not simply for bragging rights, but also for accountability. Perhaps the influence of the AH system is lost in modern times, however typically speaking, if you are buying tens of millions of gil from the AH at a time, it is significantly impacting the economy; players and developers should have visibility on those actions and individuals.

By not changing history, mules can essentially tamper with the economy, and "vanish" under the guise of a witness-protection-program for the in-game Mob.

2. For signed items, my philosophy is this: although some people say "who cares, people can just recraft it" the point is that there WILL be players who will want their signed gear to carry over a name change. And this would effect -other- players' equipment. Just as people here say "who cares, just recraft it if it's an issue", there are others, like me, who say "who cares, just create a new character if you want a different name/race."

3. Player reputation--or lack thereof. If a name has been associated with labels of "terrible LS leader" or "total asshat noob" you want to be able to avoid those players in the future. How can you do so if players change their names unexpectedly? Your friends' list (and block list) are based on character names, not POL IDs. While POL IDs may be running in the background, you will not be able to immediately associate a player to his "new" name, which would have major implications.

---

All is fair in love and gil, but the moral of the story is that name changes (and race changes, which has been suggested on another thread) serve no meaningful purpose to the gaming community as a whole. With the exception of asthetics there is nothing to be gained by the man-hours spent on implimenting such a system. Let me be clear, I have nothing against the idea of a name change, however I do believe that players need to mature and realize that choices in-game have consequences, just like in meat-space. I think players have gotten used to the idea that you can read a FAQ that tells you every option to pick in dialogues to ensure you get the uberest, leetest item available... but we've come accustomed to not accepting our past choices when we cannot change them.

Just chalk this up as another consequence of your decisions, and the next game you play, you'll be more prepared to make a decision about character name, race, gender, height, and other attributes.

[Sarick]

1.) Be more original with names and this wont happen.
2.) After the last merger, wherein everyone pissed and moaned about thier own inability to put any forthought into thier own names, SE gave in and allowed those people a second chance at changing thier names.
3.) Those people have the same right to thier names as you feel you do. They were not the ones that got merged. Are you saing you have the right to take thier names that they had first away from them?
4.) Before anyone starts yammering about "I want a name change feature," SE already said no.

THey don't have any right to a name if they don't play the game anymore. Existing customers should be placed before 8 year old accounts that don't even play anymore. I'm not talking about recently quit I'm pointing out the players that haven't been playing since before the mergers. There needs to be a name purge for players that haven't been on game in years. Followed up by a methoud to restore original names.

[Llana_Virren]

So when those players come back, how are they going to reaquire their original name? Why should they lose their rights automatically while you retain yours until a time of your chosing?

You chose your own character's name. Deal with it.

On a side note, how do you even know that a character's name is taken from an 8-year old non-active character? It could be a mule for all you know.

[Belmonts]

A few reasons, which may sound petty; however, hear me out:

You are more than welcome to express your thoughts and I really appreciate em.



1. AH history. Any in-game accessible sale log is dual purposed. For one, it shows who sold/bought what, and for how much. This is not simply for bragging rights, but also for accountability. Perhaps the influence of the AH system is lost in modern times, however typically speaking, if you are buying tens of millions of gil from the AH at a time, it is significantly impacting the economy; players and developers should have visibility on those actions and individuals.


Not quite, as I stated before, regardless of your game char name there is an ID for your account and each char, so i should't be a problem that if you are the char "A" with the ID "300" relate it with your new "B" name. Not impossible to do and even also can be paid for that.



By not changing history, mules can essentially tamper with the economy, and "vanish" under the guise of a witness-protection-program for the in-game Mob.


All changes that can be made on some ppl benefit can be used to abuse. Making mules and disappear em is nothing new. In fact, if you have to pay a reasonable fee for the name change it will be less expensive to delete a mule and make it again with a total different name and keep scamming others, lol.

Again it is not a matter of who screws over who, is a simple way to get something it might be lost in time cus one guy named a mule/main/whatever and then deactivated his/her account for years.



2. For signed items, my philosophy is this: although some people say "who cares, people can just recraft it" the point is that there WILL be players who will want their signed gear to carry over a name change. And this would effect -other- players' equipment. Just as people here say "who cares, just recraft it if it's an issue", there are others, like me, who say "who cares, just create a new character if you want a different name/race."


There will be ppl who care and ppl who doesn't care yep yep. But again, when you end a crafted item with a sign on it, it becomes an object with no relation with the char that made it. Is like you made a document with your name on it and then you decided to change your name 3 years later. You have to delete/scratch that document to make it related with your new name and it never will be the same.

On simpler words if you world transfer, someone got your name while gone and you come back after 90 days and had to change your name, will be absurd to expect all the signed stuff you made will sync with your new name.



3. Player reputation--or lack thereof. If a name has been associated with labels of "terrible LS leader" or "total asshat noob" you want to be able to avoid those players in the future. How can you do so if players change their names unexpectedly? Your friends' list (and block list) are based on character names, not POL IDs. While POL IDs may be running in the background, you will not be able to immediately associate a player to his "new" name, which would have major implications.


Prolly I didn't say it clear and loud, idiots/m***ns/f*ckers will exist on every server as they exists on rl, they can transfer, make another char and they won't change lol, but they will shine anyways and ppl will identify 'em this is nothing new at all. This can give em another way to hide, yeah, but they already had tons of another options to hide, but at the end of the day they end up being the same.
---


All is fair in love and gil, but the moral of the story is that name changes (and race changes, which has been suggested on another thread) serve no meaningful purpose to the gaming community as a whole. With the exception of asthetics there is nothing to be gained by the man-hours spent on implimenting such a system. Let me be clear, I have nothing against the idea of a name change, however I do believe that players need to mature and realize that choices in-game have consequences, just like in meat-space. I think players have gotten used to the idea that you can read a FAQ that tells you every option to pick in dialogues to ensure you get the uberest, leetest item available... but we've come accustomed to not accepting our past choices when we cannot change them.

Just chalk this up as another consequence of your decisions, and the next game you play, you'll be more prepared to make a decision about character name, race, gender, height, and other attributes.

When servers merged we didn't had much of a choice lol, and tbh I'm happy with my chars names I'm talking for many of my friends who really made their choice on their own servers and with the names they wanted/had-to-deal-cus-it-wasn't-avaliable-anymore as you kindly state. But then, BAM! for w/e reason server merged and your name you choose is taken and you had to swallow it and change yours cus someone else had it.

Ok, sh*t happens and if someone else got it and is in an active account you got owned lol. But this is for [accounts that been forever deactivated with names that can get used by ppl who actually plays the game.

[Belmonts]

So when those players come back, how are they going to reaquire their original name? Why should they lose their rights automatically while you retain yours until a time of your chosing?


Although is unlikely that players come back after 2 or more years I def agree that they can return to the game. And yes after that long they will lose the right to use that name and they will have to change it accordingly if someone took it.
Even that happens if the player is on a shutdown server and he/she came back, they will get owned if the name is already taken in the new server lol.



You chose your own character's name. Deal with it.


When servers merged we were forced change our chars names, why should players have to swallow it quietly?, you are entitled to tell ppl to deal with it as I am entitled to not agree with the way ppl had to deal with this forced name change. Since it was our choice to had a name and not our choice that servers got merged and, therefore, had to adjust the char names.



On a side note, how do you even know that a character's name is taken from an 8-year old non-active character? It could be a mule for all you know.

It doesn't matter if its a mule or a main, neither our business to know the owner's name of those chars, there are DB triggers and flags that automatically can do all that job and release those names. Esp if they have been deactivated a DB flag turns on, so is np to do identify old deactivated accounts.

[Yinnyth]

So my request is simple, because the Olympus aka SE didn't care whatsoever on forcing/making us change our character(s) name(s) on merges and also MANY of the characters names we want is on an account that is deactivated years ago (1 or 1 1/2 years or more) Make those names available to use again and we being able to pay a fee to change names.

That is... far from being the simplest request I have ever seen made, but putting that aside, I see no reason a person shouldn't be able to pay the same fee they pay for a server transfer in order to change their character name. As long as the money goes into making FFXI a better game, I'll put up with Platinumknight getting a new name, but still calling any person he /checks "an RMT assclown". Ahhhh, the good old days before he got banned for harassment...

[Dazusu]

1. This is not simply for bragging rights, but also for accountability.


No one is accountable to other players. SE have tools to allow them to track these things by account ID. Doing it by character name would be slow and tedious.




By not changing history, mules can essentially tamper with the economy, and "vanish" under the guise of a witness-protection-program for the in-game Mob.



Delete and Create new character?




2. For signed items, my philosophy is this: although some people say "who cares, people can just recraft it" the point is that there WILL be players who will want their signed gear to carry over a name change.



There's a line.




like me, who say "who cares, just create a new character if you want a different name/race."



Your credibility for a serious debate just took a hike.




3. Player reputation--or lack thereof. If a name has been associated with labels of "terrible LS leader" or "total asshat noob" you want to be able to avoid those players in the future.



Such features normally have a 90 day limit. If someone if that bad of an asshat, they might find keeping up a ruse for 90 days pretty though. If they turn over a new leaf, what's your problem with it?

[Daniel_Hatcher]

So when those players come back, how are they going to reaquire their original name? Why should they lose their rights automatically while you retain yours until a time of your chosing?

You chose your own character's name. Deal with it.

On a side note, how do you even know that a character's name is taken from an 8-year old non-active character? It could be a mule for all you know.

They left the game, priority should be with active players.



A few reasons, which may sound petty; however, hear me out:

1. AH history. Any in-game accessible sale log is dual purposed. For one, it shows who sold/bought what, and for how much. This is not simply for bragging rights, but also for accountability. Perhaps the influence of the AH system is lost in modern times, however typically speaking, if you are buying tens of millions of gil from the AH at a time, it is significantly impacting the economy; players and developers should have visibility on those actions and individuals.

By not changing history, mules can essentially tamper with the economy, and "vanish" under the guise of a witness-protection-program for the in-game Mob.

2. For signed items, my philosophy is this: although some people say "who cares, people can just recraft it" the point is that there WILL be players who will want their signed gear to carry over a name change. And this would effect -other- players' equipment. Just as people here say "who cares, just recraft it if it's an issue", there are others, like me, who say "who cares, just create a new character if you want a different name/race."

3. Player reputation--or lack thereof. If a name has been associated with labels of "terrible LS leader" or "total asshat noob" you want to be able to avoid those players in the future. How can you do so if players change their names unexpectedly? Your friends' list (and block list) are based on character names, not POL IDs. While POL IDs may be running in the background, you will not be able to immediately associate a player to his "new" name, which would have major implications.

---

All is fair in love and gil, but the moral of the story is that name changes (and race changes, which has been suggested on another thread) serve no meaningful purpose to the gaming community as a whole. With the exception of asthetics there is nothing to be gained by the man-hours spent on implimenting such a system. Let me be clear, I have nothing against the idea of a name change, however I do believe that players need to mature and realize that choices in-game have consequences, just like in meat-space. I think players have gotten used to the idea that you can read a FAQ that tells you every option to pick in dialogues to ensure you get the uberest, leetest item available... but we've come accustomed to not accepting our past choices when we cannot change them.

Just chalk this up as another consequence of your decisions, and the next game you play, you'll be more prepared to make a decision about character name, race, gender, height, and other attributes.

EVERY account and character is linked to an ID number, not name. The name is accessed via the ID number.

For Example:

ID
1112

Name
John Doe

They then reference the ID: 1112 to get the name: John Doe and display that instead, using a name both slows down a search and also is bad design if for example they do a server merge. The amount of server lag you'd get for all the used names being edited through every history in the game would shut the servers down.

Having an ID and then getting the name via it means they don't have to lag the server so much.

[Llana_Virren]

No one is accountable to other players.

Which is why no one should have to give up an old account name, even an inactive one just to humor your whim.


Your credibility for a serious debate just took a hike.

I just repeated your argument back to you. You want to have a new character name... make a new character. Why should development time be wasted on implementing something as trivial as a name change, when there are more important issues, like modifying NM resistances, job changes, etc.?


Such features normally have a 90 day limit. If someone if that bad of an asshat, they might find keeping up a ruse for 90 days pretty though. If they turn over a new leaf, what's your problem with it?

If you bothered reading the -rest- of my post, you'd see I don't have a problem with it. My problem is that there are more important things that should be worked on, than to argue about old accounts having all the cool names taken.

[Belmonts]

That is... far from being the simplest request I have ever seen made, but putting that aside, I see no reason a person shouldn't be able to pay the same fee they pay for a server transfer in order to change their character name. As long as the money goes into making FFXI a better game, I'll put up with Platinumknight getting a new name, but still calling any person he /checks "an RMT assclown". Ahhhh, the good old days before he got banned for harassment...

No saying it should be the $25 we pay for world transfer (don't remember the exact fee tho) but a reasonable fee that covers the implementation/data edit. And GM keep banning people who harass, just they tend to hear jp player-base more lol. j/k :P

And I totally agree that the money should be put to improve the game ^_^b

[Belmonts]

Which is why no one should have to give up an old account name, even an inactive one just to humor your whim.


Really I'm thinking over the guys who choose a good char name, played 4-5 years ago for like 3 months and quit for good. But again is making me to put a time-limit without any research whatsoever on the DB info. But pretty sure I'm not exaggerating that they are plenty of those cases.



You want to have a new character name... make a new character. Why should development time be wasted on implementing something as trivial as a name change,

Because is not a matter of making a new char with a new name, is to be able to get names that are lost forever in a deactivated account that is, probably, never going to be activated again.

Point is really.
* If it does exist and is on an active account = you're screwed and you must rename/make a new char and as you kindly stated, we deal with it.
* If it does exist on a long ago deactivated account = sorry, but that name should be available again.



when there are more important issues, like modifying NM resistances, job changes, etc.?

Oh I can't be more agree with you on that, but honestly this service implementation shouldn't be an excuse/reason for SE to be as lazy/slow with the in-game stuff that is necessary. Even they can/are pipe-lining a lot of stuff so should't be a problem at all. ^_^

[Sarick]

So when those players come back, how are they going to reaquire their original name? Why should they lose their rights automatically while you retain yours until a time of your chosing?

You chose your own character's name. Deal with it.


I choose my name before anyone on my original server. In fact, mine was the first version across all severs. All my SE stuff dealing with the game was linked to that name both internal and external. I have the same SE mail, handle etc. that is across ALL servers. The fact that I was moved to another server with an inactive player who's just locking up my name isn't my fault. I joined the game with an original name that wasn't taken until after someone copied me.

It's silly that you think they should get rights in your above quote. They don't pay/play anymore so they aren't renting the rights to use that name. If they come back it's simple. Make them change their name, after all they're the ones who quit not me. Why should the paying customer get treated equal to one that isn't?

[svengalis]

This has been brought up quite a few times, I don't think SE has responded yet but I to would like a name change service.

[Belmonts]

This has been brought up quite a few times, I don't think SE has responded yet but I to would like a name change service.

That is why we need to speak up so they can hear us. At least we can try. ^_^

[Llana_Virren]

Sarick, I do not have an issue with the idea of a name change. My issue is the way in which the suggestion is being brought up.

SE has, in the past, given items to players for "returning to FFXI." The idea is that you reward loyalty, yes, but you also want to maintain good relations with former players so as to keep them "in the pool" so to speak for future games/installments.

I'm turning into a broken record here, but I do not have an issue with the idea of a name-change option. However, I think that this should be considered without the additional intent of removing character names from other accounts, whether they are active or not. Yes, you are still paying/playing, and I'm sure you feel like you've accomplished a lot in the years you have played; I simply do not subscribe to the idea that name-changing is such a critical, over-due adjustment, that it warrants the steps being suggested.

Find a way to impliment a name-change option without affecting other accounts, and I'll gladly jump on board.

[Sarick]

Sarick, I do not have an issue with the idea of a name change. My issue is the way in which the suggestion is being brought up.

It only takes a single ping-pong ball to start a chain reaction when you throw it into a room full of loaded mouse traps.



SE has, in the past, given items to players for "returning to FFXI." The idea is that you reward loyalty, yes, but you also want to maintain good relations with former players so as to keep them "in the pool" so to speak for future games/installments.

Quitters aren't loyal if they quit in the first place unless it's because an act of god. Maintaining good relations with the non-paying customers over paying customers is like paying yourself to laugh. These players gave up on the game and could care less about their names at this point. The players who are still playing that where forced into changing their names do care though and therefore should be given the chance to keep their names over someone who may never return.


However, I think that this should be considered without the additional intent of removing character names from other accounts, whether they are active or not.[/B] Yes, you are still paying/playing, and I'm sure you feel like you've accomplished a lot in the years you have played; I simply do not subscribe to the idea that name-changing is such a critical, over-due adjustment, that it warrants the steps being suggested.

Why do you think it's unimportant? Just because you don't care about something doesn't indicate it's okay. The non-playing customers names are like usable telephone numbers. You can only have so many in one area code. Clearly if they keep those names reserved over a long period they aren't helping the community. In my case they did something far more destructive. They moved me to another area code, then let someone who didn't pay for service several years keep my personal number that I paid to personalize.


Find a way to impliment a name-change option without affecting other accounts, and I'll gladly jump on board.

Why would it matter if you jumped on board? My complaint is people got name jacked or they've had their names reserved for delinquent accounts when the severs merged. Honestly, with a straight face I can say these names most likely have no immediate value to their original owners. With all these delinquent accounts it's not like any good original names are left to began with. So, by saying you support the name-change option without affecting other accounts you've placed an infeasible wall on your point of view. It's like consciously saying I support sleepwalking while unconscious.

We can't underestimate the limits of another persons emotional attachment if we ourselves can't understand what that value is to others. Names do have meaning and value if they didn't then people wouldn't invest the time to personalize in one they can appreciate.

The quitters don't care about their old name if they've been gone a year or more why should you? I know one thing, I still want my original name back. Hopefully, this at least is worth something in the eyes of the people reading this post. For those that still disagree they fail to realize returning players aren't super attached to the game anyway as such, can more easily choose a new identity or even start over.

[Llana_Virren]

Ok, so this will be my last post on the matter; you're obviously not appreciating any point of view other than your own, because you're so personally impacted by a forced name-change that you are unwilling to see any other viewpoint on the matter.

Despite your suggestion that I don't care because it doesn't affect me, the position I have maintained is that forcing someone else to change their name so that you can get yours back is hypocritical, and therefore stupid.

I'll point this out below, although I doubt you'll read it.


Quitters aren't loyal if they quit in the first place unless it's because an act of god. Maintaining good relations with the non-paying customers over paying customers is like paying yourself to laugh. These players gave up on the game and could care less about their names at this point. The players who are still playing that where forced into changing their names do care though and therefore should be given the chance to keep their names over someone who may never return.

You're suggesting that some sort of "authority" bordering on an inquisition party, round up all these allegedly inactive accounts and figure out if they quit due to an act of God? You do not even know if the character name you want is taken by an active member or not, or if it is a mule. You're reaching out for a possibility that the name you want is not being used.

If you (or another player) was forced to do a world-merge (and really, you should have foreseen this if you've ever played an MMO over a long period of time), you have no way of knowing how long that other player has been playing the game. You're suggesting that this is somehow an on-going, rampant issue, and it isn't one. If the name-change option brought up here was not attached to some sort of inquisition then I could see the benefit. As of right now, however, it is looking like the deranged rantings of a crime-less "victim."


Why do you think it's unimportant? Just because you don't care about something doesn't indicate it's okay. The non-playing customers names are like usable telephone numbers. You can only have so many in one area code. Clearly if they keep those names reserved over a long period they aren't helping the community. In my case they did something far more destructive. They moved me to another area code, then let someone who didn't pay for service several years keep my personal number that I paid to personalize.

Again, me, me, me. This issue affected you so horribly that you're convinced something must be done to repair this horrible injustice. Get. Over. Yourself. You don't even know that the character who has "your name" quit, or how long they've been a playing member. So while you're over here lighting torches and raising pitchforks, some poor, helpless soul has no idea how angry you are at them for something as insignificant to game-play as a character name. Did having to change your character name irreparably damaged the content of the game for you?


Why would it matter if you jumped on board? My complaint is people got name jacked or they've had their names reserved for delinquent accounts when the severs merged. Honestly, with a straight face I can say these names most likely have no immediate value to their original owners. With all these delinquent accounts it's not like any good original names are left to began with. So, by saying you support the name-change option without affecting other accounts you've placed an infeasible wall on your point of view. It's like consciously saying I support sleepwalking while unconscious.

Emphasis added, because you're using opinion to support fact, instead of fact to support opinion. Interestingly, it shouldn't matter if I jumped on board. But if my opinion on the matter carried such little weight, you wouldn't be so inclined to try and persuade me (and others) that you're a victim of some crime-less circumstance.

Your sleepwalking example indicates how handicapped your understanding of my viewpoint is, so let's try this one more time: my point of view is no more (or less) reasonable (or unreasonable) as yours. You are incapable of allowing me to disagree with you, despite my efforts to be civil and respectful in my opposing view. So, Nice_Mode is off.

I support any idea to improve FFXI, the game play, content, or player relations. I do not, however, support any effort to prioritize player "loyalties" due to jobs levelled, time played, or time joined. I understand that when your world got merged, you had to change your name. For the sake of my argument, this could have been because you moved OR because the character on the world you were moving to had been playing longer. Making someone else change their name for your own agenda is not a suggestion for FFXI improvement. It's selfish, hypocritical, and shows that you are more worried about the name of your character than the world in which you play it.


We can't underestimate the limits of another persons emotional attachment if we ourselves can't understand what that value is to others. Names do have meaning and value if they didn't then people wouldn't invest the time to personalize in one they can appreciate.

But in your effort to regain your own name, you're automatically assuming that anyone else with your name has less, or no attachment to the name themselves. Are you really this obtuse to the arrogance of that argument?


The quitters don't care about their old name if they've been gone a year or more why should you? I know one thing, I still want my original name back. Hopefully, this at least is worth something in the eyes of the people reading this post. For those that still disagree they fail to realize returning players aren't super attached to the game anyway as such, can more easily choose a new identity or even start over.

You've done enough to demonstrate how no one else cares about their name but you. This is your white whale, Captain Ahab, and the only way to break this obsession is to get over it, or quit the game while you're ahead. Because if you're still this butthurt about your character name, you're in need of serious help. You have suggestions for how everyone else can do something different except for you. And for that reason I'm done trying to be a part of this meaningless debate.

[Reiterpallasch]

It's a shame we can't get SE to seriously consider a paid name change service, all because the retarded 'special people' always have to bombard every thread about it with their endless QQing.

Contrary to popular belief, their isn't some huge hoard of rich dbags willing to constantly pay money to change their name just to @#$% with you.

[Trisscar]

I would like to see Namingway implemented too. And then I would like to every single person with a populistic 'cool sounding' name be forced to use that service or face the ban stick. All joking aside, where do I go to to return my character's name back to her original one?

[Meyi]

"Be more creative"... hmm...

Sometimes, people just happen to create the same name twice. Such as, my name Meyi came from a language I've been creating, yet there is a Meyi on Carbuncle, Lakshmi, Ragnarok and Ramuh, and several other Meyi* names on other servers. As far as I'm aware, there is no tie of Meyi and Final Fantasy, and as far as I'm aware, it's not a common word of some existing language. Provided it is a simple four letter name, I don't find it to be a common name. If I lost the name, I would feel a part of my identity was lost, and might not feel connected enough to my character to even want to play him anymore. My connection to the game is already unstable.

However, I know I'd be very devastated to lose the name "Romidiant". It's the name of my Adventuring Fellow, it's now the name of my Alchemy mule, and I've come to be very attached to the name. I've had it for years. Being forced onto another server where my names may already exist, and therefore forces me to change character names I've become attached to, is wrong. I got lucky when I was forced from Seraph to Bismarck; I only had to change the name of a taru mule (Kinky to Kinkypoo). But I know there are other servers with my characters' names on them, and I don't want to lose them.

The only way to "be more creative" is to keyboard smash. The more characters, the lower the probability of someone else having the same combination as you. And who wants Sdfjkghfghb for their name?

Learn to have some compassion for people... some sympathy...

[Sarick]

Ok, so this will be my last post on the matter; you're obviously not appreciating any point of view other than your own, because you're so personally impacted by a forced name-change that you are unwilling to see any other viewpoint on the matter.

Like I said before you have no attachment so you can't understand.


Despite your suggestion that I don't care because it doesn't affect me, the position I have maintained is that forcing someone else to change their name so that you can get yours back is hypocritical, and therefore stupid.

It's not stupid, I've pointed out that these players quit the game anyway. QUIT. GAVE UP, LEFT, DIED IN GAME, GONE.

Seriously, what are you thinking. How am I taking someones name if they quit? SE knows if the player is paying or not they also know how long ago they've quit. The telephone number example I wrote shows how selectively you've ignored logic. The developers know for a fact if a player quit or not. Stop trying to make it look like the players don't know old unused names aren't being recycled. The players on this game aren't idiots.


You're suggesting that some sort of "authority" bordering on an inquisition party, round up all these allegedly inactive accounts and figure out if they quit due to an act of God? You do not even know if the character name you want is taken by an active member or not, or if it is a mule. You're reaching out for a possibility that the name you want is not being used.

Looks like you've misinterpreted my act of god as judgement for who should/shouldn't have their names removed. Unfortunatly, the meaning is totally opposite. Very nice method of twisting things though in a quote. Its a comparison for people who unwillingly quit vs who where forced to quit IE. died. I can't pull numbers out of my rear but most of the players who quit didn't because they had too. It's higher probability they got sick of the game and moved on. It wouldn't matter anyway in my book they stopped paying for a pre-determoned duration just like a phone number those numbers should be recirculated. If you rent a storage area and stop paying they auction off the storage area it reclaim it for a paying customers.


If you (or another player) was forced to do a world-merge (and really, you should have foreseen this if you've ever played an MMO over a long period of time), you have no way of knowing how long that other player has been playing the game. You're suggesting that this is somehow an on-going, rampant issue, and it isn't one. If the name-change option brought up here was not attached to some sort of inquisition then I could see the benefit. As of right now, however, it is looking like the deranged rantings of a crime-less "victim."

The player base isn't stupid. Based on one of the post above I think it's clear where you stand. Anyone with minor understanding of the game could determine if a player is active or not. First look at the AH history, all players who are active have an ah history even mules. Secondly, send them mog mail. If that player is active then in the course of one year they should've checked the mog mail at least once. If you've ever seen bounty hunters you'd know that you can check and see if someone is active by placing a small piece of tape on the doorways. This is the same technique here if you mail them something and they're active they'll either return to sender or pick it up ESPECIALLY if they're a mule and it's money.

SE knows if players are active but the methods above are pretty darn accurate for detecting account activity. Since they can tell if an account is active it's not the detection methods that are the issue. It's the reserved names that are owned by inactive accounts. I can make a character deactivate the account and try to make another character with the same name on another account. You know what happens. The name is still reserved. << this...


Emphasis added, because you're using opinion to support fact, instead of fact to support opinion. Interestingly, it shouldn't matter if I jumped on board. But if my opinion on the matter carried such little weight, you wouldn't be so inclined to try and persuade me (and others) that you're a victim of some crime-less circumstance.

I happen to realize you're a Japanese player and from your logic you may have more say in the matter then your info leads people to believe on this forum. We can't over or underestimate who's behind the screen on the other end right?


Your sleepwalking example indicates how handicapped your understanding of my viewpoint is, so let's try this one more time: my point of view is no more (or less) reasonable (or unreasonable) as yours. You are incapable of allowing me to disagree with you, despite my efforts to be civil and respectful in my opposing view.

In your point of view unused names from 2002-2012 should remain reserved. How can you call me handicapped at understanding your point of view when this is fact? I realize there is an issue here that you again want to ignore. So many original names are being reserved that even if the FEATURE in this topic was added no one would have a decent opportunity to select a good name because so many are reserved already.


I support any idea to improve FFXI, the game play, content, or player relations. I do not, however, support any effort to prioritize player "loyalties" due to jobs levelled, time played, or time joined. I understand that when your world got merged, you had to change your name. For the sake of my argument, this could have been because you moved OR because the character on the world you were moving to had been playing longer. Making someone else change their name for your own agenda is not a suggestion for FFXI improvement. It's selfish, hypocritical, and shows that you are more worried about the name of your character than the world in which you play it.

You're defending the luck of the draw. This has already been addressed in previous post on this topic. No one who's actively playing a character is included or would be forced to give up their names. I'm talking about the reserved names that are delinquent. The ones that also restrict new players from creating accounts with spiffy names. It's no wonder why your such an activist about this. You seem to think I'm placing the player rights of who got the name first as the one that should overrule another ACTIVE players names. NO NO NO NO, I thought I was clear this is because "INACTIVE accounts" have names reserved that not only caused players forced name changes but also the ones are restricting the name pool from being recycled.

The name I lost was because of a reserved name. It's selfish of the company to reserve names for non-paying customers when the bread and butter loyal players who support the game get sloppy seconds. Yes, think about it closely, the non-subscribers get to keep their names on unused accounts while the people who feed the developers table are forced to choose whatever wasn't used in the pool already. The paying customer isn't a random person off the street who plays another MMO, they put cash into this game.


But in your effort to regain your own name, you're automatically assuming that anyone else with your name has less, or no attachment to the name themselves. Are you really this obtuse to the arrogance of that argument?

Oh yea, I had a previous character that I created on the server back in 2003 but used a gold pass on another key code to move to unicorn 2 days after I created that one on a trial account. No FFXIAH listing what so ever. That character might just be mine.

Oh, wait I must be the one who had a reserved name on this server blocking myself from having my own name.

I agree with myself, if I'm not paying for the game then I shouldn't get to keep my name. That name should be put back into the usable names. If I haven't been playing for a year or more then I wouldn't be active so goodbye reservation. This is beyond me wanting my name back it's an issue that affects others both new and old. You fail to realize there is an issue here.


You've done enough to demonstrate how no one else cares about their name but you.

If you think so, but then again I've heard a lot of players just quit because of it. Seeing as you're new to these forums you may not have been around when the first merger caused several respected very popular players (across all worlds) to quit. Yes their names where taken. I guess there are a few things you don't know that precede this forum.

This is why I've been debating with you. I'd like the ability for name changes but, the restrictions you pointed out several post ago show you don't have a clue about how broken the name situation is in the first place. If you do you sure as heck don't care how players have to make compound names or auto-name to get something useful. The name change system wouldn't help the game very much with the list of reserved names being so bloated. Multiple worlds merged and millions of players came and went since the launch. It's obvious that those reserved names aren't helping the game at this point.