Why Blizzard Are Using Real ID

Some would argue that forcing people to give out their real names, in a world where Facebook exists, is a terrible thing. Activision Blizzard think those people are idiots and are forging ahead with their plan to use Real ID for Battle.net (and presumably whatever subscription service they use for their other franchises). Put simply; this lets everyone see your real name.

You don’t need to have existed on the internet for long to realise that with just a name, your home address (or your parents’ address, or for that matter the address of anyone who has the same name as you) and phone numbers are just a quick Google away. But maybe all the nay-sayers are missing the point. There are some very rational reasons why Activision Blizzard would make this so.

To help boys meet girls
You know that girl you’ve been playing WoW with for the past few years? The one who’s blurry photo you found and you keep on your wall because when she stops dating that arse-hole Mike she’ll ask you on a date and you’ll get married and have sex? Well, now you can just look her up, be super cool and order her gifts from the internet! Or give her a call (if you’re not sure what to say, just listen to her breathing and asking “who’s there”, it’ll be a funny joke you two share on your honeymoon). Or maybe even pay her a visit, just to watch, nothing creepy. Or, if she’s a skanky ho who you didn’t like anyway so shutup, stab your pain away!

PR
With slowing growth, WoW is struggling to find more players, and with StarCraft 2‘s imminent release, now would be a good time for some advertising. With this latest move, the games are getting column inches all over the globe. Even the BBC have picked up on the story! And if there’s one thing we’ve learned from Dante’s Inferno, it’s that even when you’re being accused of promoting the inappropriate touching of women, all PR is still good PR.

To give other MMOs a chance
Whenever a new MMO comes out it is always likened to World of Warcraft. It’s inevitable every time. WoW just does it right. The game has become both the benchmark and the pinnacle. By forcing its users to use Real ID Acti-Bliz may be trying to force them away from WoW and on to other games. They want a fair fight and they’re happy to take the hit, for the good of the team.

Acti-Bliz will soon offer a paid-for anon service
It’s no secret that the company in charge of some of the world’s largest and most profitable games enjoys money. It’s also no secret they will do anything, if they think they can get away with it. So why not let users who want to stay nameless (though, if you’re innocent why hide? Hmm?) pay for the option? $5 maybe? Per month perhaps? Let’s make it $20 and boom, a whole new revenue stream has been created out of something people once took for granted. It’s the gaming-industry way.

World peace
Now the company has all the money in the world, maybe they just want to do good. Most people on Earth play either World of Warcraft or StarCraft, probably, and now they can see each other. World leaders who were once enemies will find themselves fighting side-by-side. World peace will finally be attained and it’s all down to the foresight and kindness Activision Blizzard gave the world.

God bless you Activison Blizzard.