Character name can't be hidden.

[RAIST]

Typically when a dispute over virtual property makes it's way to the courts, it gets settled out of court, so no judgement is rendered, so there aren't many precedents to follow. There was a case in China though where a guy sued to have stolen items returned and the judge ordered they be restored, holding the company liable due to their poor security that facilitated the theft. Found 9 page PDF of an essay published in a law journal on virtual property rights that may be an intersting read, mentions the case in China and a few others that didn't get judgements, but puts forth some interesting food for thought on the issues:

Online Role Play Games - The Legal Response

Edit: grr.. brain fart.. made the hyperlink backwards and it was directing to the title of the essay and displaying the URL. Should look and work right now.

[Jingizu]

Man, what a bunch of babies. You play a game, you use the OFFICIAL forum OWNED by the company that OWNS the game, so, what's the big deal? I really don't see how this is a problem anyway. This is the web, and who's 'real' on the web? You play with a cartoon image of an imaginary character in an imaginary world and you treat an official linkage as a violation of privacy. It's a GAME, it's NOT real life. It's not like they are asking you to display a photo of yourself and your SS#.

[Daniel_Hatcher]

Man, what a bunch of babies. You play a game, you use the OFFICIAL forum OWNED by the company that OWNS the game, so, what's the big deal? I really don't see how this is a problem anyway. This is the web, and who's 'real' on the web? You play with a cartoon image of an imaginary character in an imaginary world and you treat an official linkage as a violation of privacy. It's a GAME, it's NOT real life. It's not like they are asking you to display a photo of yourself and your SS#.

Blah blah!

Seriously, people should have the right to pick whether they want their details shown or not. It should not be up-to SE to decide if they want this to happen or not.

[Elexia]

Don't troll if you're scared to be caught.

[Byrth]

Don't have trolled if you were going to be such a pussy about being caught.

ftfy, and that's basically what this whole debate comes down to, as far as I can see.

Honestly, I'm a little shocked that SE is going this route. JPs are much more attached to their anonymity than NAs.

[Atomic_Skull]

ftfy, and that's basically what this whole debate comes down to, as far as I can see.

Honestly, I'm a little shocked that SE is going this route. JPs are much more attached to their anonymity than NAs.

There's probably a sh*tstorm going down over on the JP forums that dwarfs this one.

[RAIST]

Don't troll if you're scared to be caught.

some trolls actually thrive on the discourse, so this may actually encourage them.

[Daniel_Hatcher]

Don't troll if you're scared to be caught.

That has little relevance, it's more to do with the fact SE have said we're going to be giving details of you away on the internet because we know them without an option to opt-out if you want to.

All SE have done here is allow people that bully others on this forum already now have their character details to do it in game, well done SquareEnix.

[Dallas]

BG is already plotting their revenge on anyone who would dare play melee SMN against their decree:

http://www.bluegartr.com/threads/105...ta-(06-23-2011)

[RAIST]

BG is already plotting their revenge on anyone who would dare play melee SMN against their decree:

http://www.bluegartr.com/threads/105...ta-(06-23-2011)

Interesting how I got singled out in that thread:

Apparently, RAIST visited forums but never picked up on all the advice to use NoScript/AdBlock when the hacking activity was at its peak. As Karbuncle mentioned in that thread, linking in-game characters to forum accounts isn't a major account risk. The biggest risks come from visiting ad-supported FFXI sites without NoScript/AdBlock (despite best efforts, a few dirty ads will always sneak through) or sharing account info and passwords with friends. I've had my character linked to FFXIAH for years without an issue.

I could see a reason for outrage if SE forced us to link our actual names and personal information to forum accounts, but I have no issue with linking forum accounts with in-game accounts (I've never associated my RL name with my FFXI character's name online anyways). Also, many posters use their in-game names.

All in all, I have no problem with this change. It might discourage the actual trolls and posters who go full retard (read: Dallas) and separate these posters from the people interested in actual discussion.

That person didn't know anything about me, and just assumed I didn't have any security in place. That laptop that got attacked was a company's laptop, with security installed from government offices as it was required to be able to work on their servers and networks remotely and locally on their networks. Crap happens...no matter how good the security practices may be, stuff can sometimes get through--especially when a new attack first kicks off. Otherwise you wouldn't be getting updates to some software every 4 freaking hours at times.

Just more evidence of how disrespectful people can be sometimes. Spin it any way you like, this decision from SE is going to have some level of negative impact for the community from the simple fact some people are uncomfortable with it. Whether you agree with those people's position or not for whatever reason you may have, the simple fact remains that some people don't like it, and will not want to take part in the forums because of it.