Player Features and Ideas Discussion

This seems like a very divided issue. Some want the ability to change your character name, some don't because of various reasons. I realize it has been debated a lot already but I want to bringing it up again so hopefully it gets some serious consideration. I just created this character and I didn't see any kind of warning alerting me to the fact that I would be stuck with the character name forever. There are many reasons why someone would want to change their name but here is my situation.

I started my main's account in 2008, i didn't have any experience with MMOs and didn't know what to expect with this game. I wanted to just try it and see what it was like and just accepted the first name that I typed in that was available. I was deployed at the time and had crappy internet so couldn't do much other than mining occasionally and updating skill training (actually I think I had my Mom do it for me lol). So after returning from deployment I had a year's worth of SP. I played on and off for a while. That's when I decided to change the stupid name I started with, but wait... it's impossible... WTF?... I thought it was weird at the time but not that big of a deal since I didn't play much. I kept playing on and off. Then there was a stretch of time when I had no life and no money so played a lot and started to see how crazy people get in this game, launching attacks on people's personal lives. I was never a victim of this but why risk it. I could live with a stupid name but my main's name is too close to my real name and people have figured it out. Call me paranoid but I just don't think it's worth it. I would like to return to the game but will not retrain the 3 years or so worth of SP, especially since within the next 3 years CCP will probably implement a name change feature and make me feel dumb for starting over. I tried starting over (which is the reason for this account not this character though) I thought maybe I would like a fresh start but I just can't do it.

Anyway, here is how I would implement the feature. Many of the ideas have already been put out there.

-First, assign everyone a short (less than 10 digits) alphanumeric pilot's license number that is searchable and identifies a person just like their character name. This number is permanent and will be issued 3 months before implementing name changing to allow players/corps to update their databases or whatever. This might also be a useful alternative to entering/ searching for a character with a long and ridiculous name.
-Create a reporting system where spies and scammers can be reported using their issued pilot's license number.
-The first name change will be allowed after 1 year of active subscription, every 3 years or more after the first name change (should know better by now).
- CCP should get paid for offering this service, $25 fee. Real life money, not isk or plex.
- 5 million or 10%, whichever is greater, SP loss penalty
- Standings, notes and employment history remains.
- New color or icon for standings to quickly identify people you wrote notes about on their Character information window. (not sure how I feel about this one)
- No alias history displaying previous names needed due to the issued pilots license number, although I would be OK with it.

Come on CCP, I don't plex my account, I'm a paying customer. Make this happen so I come back and give you money. We all know this will likely be a feature someday anyway. I remember when there was no skill training queue.

That's fine but I won't be playing. They should at the very least put a warning on the character creator that their name will literally be engraved in stone.

Sell your main and buy a character with a name you like.

While I agree with most of what you said eve is in fact just a game

Adolescense and stuff™ I may not mention here. And still people ask me why it took me 2 hours to come up with my character name.

Anyhow, I think CCP does in some cases allow a character name change and we already have a character id for the api which seems to be first thing serious alliances ask for.

(Noes, you can't have it and nope I won't join your "cause" and nope, I cannot be bribed.)

Ask them on the matter.

That's what I meant by "literally be engraved in stone". Didn't know that it was made of stainless steel.



I've petitioned it twice.



Did you read the post? I said that my main's name is too close to my real name and that's the primary reason for wanting it changed. Why would I say that and then go on the forums and use it. Besides its not active right now and hasn't been for a while. I tried starting over with this account but it's not going to happen and won't be renewing the subscription.

You guys are so set on every decision being permanent but who starts this game knowing what its like and expecting playing time to last years? In 2008 MMOs were fairly new concept to most people, hell most regular people today still don't know what an MMO is.

There is division on this subject. It's very simple.

Side One: name change is ok / wrong

Side Two: name change is not ok / right


I don't see CCP pandering to a small handful of players that desire a lack of accountablity for thier poor prior choices. As a matter of fact they have already weighed in on the matter with 'no recycling noob gank cat pilots for new ones w/ a clean sec status'. This clearly states that CCP stands behind both choice and consequences.


EDIT: to the OP - instead of trying to change the game in a significant way because of a mistake you made on day 1, I recommend opening a dialogue with CCP on an individual level. It seems worth it to you to have them hear the merits of your case. They'll either accept or decline your name change request and then you'll have to accept their decision - whichever way it turns out. I think a proper suggestion for a new feature would be to have CCP put some sort of cautionary note on the 'pick your name' screen warning newbros of your current dillema. I'm not sure the game needs that, but it is a reasonable suggestion on your part.

Good luck!

Quite stupidly done by you then... Even more untrustworthy, cause who the hell uses their real name, or anything close to that in a online game?

Did you escalate it to a senior GM?

I get why you want to change it. But you should also be able to see that making such a change to the entire game for a handful of similar incidents is not optimal.

Alternatively, if it is just the privacy issue....create an alt, transfer all your stuff to that alt, sell your main. Take the ISK and buy an equivalent character. Now you'll have the anonymity you desire. You may not have the most awesome name you want...but you'll have solved the privacy issue.

And as for crazies on the internet cyber stalking people it is not unique to this game, you can find it even in the most unlikely of places.

*yawn*

We have been hearing this tired line since 2004. EVE seems to do pretty well the DEVs focus on making the best possible feck-you-spaceship-economic-and-explosions-warfare game.
EVE doesn't seem to do pretty well when they focus on "safety and retention." In fact, the opposite seems to happen.


There are a plethora of reasons why vendors and manufacturers UTTERLY DESPISE customization and try to keep it to a minimum.

- it makes troubleshooting issues extremely hard (more customization makes problems harder to diagnose)... which is bad for you as a customer because something WILL go wrong sooner or later.

- it creates complexity where there probably shouldn't be, which increases the risk for something "breaking" and/or creates "bloat" further down the line.

- Complaints. For every person that wants more customizstion, there is someone else who wants less. If you add more customizable features, you may lose the people who just want a straight efficient "thing." Do the opposite and you lose people who want more customization.
You can't please both for technical reasons.