Something I don't understand is if you are trying to make continuity between all aspects of the community, such limitations on forum names would do exactly the reverse, force some people's names to vary from forum to irc/game.
Well its great to here that Flayra is implementing this new system, but i would like to find out something, What happens to people who posted once 2 years ago and left?
I wanted the name Steel, but it was already registered... so i opted for the Troll at the end (Stupid stupid idea in hindsight, as i forgot that a troll is a loathed character in the forum e-world...)
So... would there be any chance of giving me the name Steel oh great Flayra?
ShockehIf a packet drops on the web and nobody's near to see it...Join Date: 2002-11-19Member: 9336NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
God, this will have such an impact on my Handle. *Grins*
Way to go Flay, look forward to being the UWE Shockwave instead of the NS Shockwave. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
good that i didnt add _ _`s to my name like on few otherplaces.
Oh and yes gj mate. When is this thingy coming tomorrow or 2days? <!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Is the lack of numbers a policy or technical issue? Personally, although I don't use them, I appreciate that for people like X5 or i'm lost (or 2 of 8, for that matter) the nubers are part of their name and they would like it to stay that way.
<!--QuoteBegin-CMaster+Nov 19 2004, 10:12 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (CMaster @ Nov 19 2004, 10:12 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Is the lack of numbers a policy or technical issue? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> this is exactly what i would like to know. even more, i get the feeling from this topic that the name we use on the forum should be our in-game name as well... i would like some clarity on this point as well, oh Great Master Of The One Game That Pwnz Them All
ShockehIf a packet drops on the web and nobody's near to see it...Join Date: 2002-11-19Member: 9336NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
<!--QuoteBegin-[c]oma+Nov 19 2004, 04:18 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> ([c]oma @ Nov 19 2004, 04:18 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-CMaster+Nov 19 2004, 10:12 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (CMaster @ Nov 19 2004, 10:12 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Is the lack of numbers a policy or technical issue? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> this is exactly what i would like to know. even more, i get the feeling from this topic that the name we use on the forum should be our in-game name as well... i would like some clarity on this point as well, oh Great Master Of The One Game That Pwnz Them All <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> *fluffles the other Decepticon*
I'm glad to see my name will be safe from changes <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
2. Rather than SDJAson... id like to be SDJason, as that random capitalized A is weird... but no biggie.. i can always bug a forum admin about it AFTER the switch.
<!--QuoteBegin-Swift Idiot+Nov 19 2004, 06:37 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Swift Idiot @ Nov 19 2004, 06:37 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Is that a space in my name or an underscore??<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> Mark your name with the mouse, copy it to the clipboard, paste it into a text editor.
Is having four numbers a bad thing <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/confused-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> or would i just become FiggyIsLeet?
Im excited ^^ Having names with numbers and symbols are kind of annoying when its arbitrary. I can understand like, x5, but the random number letter substitution is confusing to read.
I know some people prefer their game and forum names to be different (I know a fair few people that game under pseudonyms for various reasons) but for all the good reasons there are plenty of bad reasons too so I think the new system is a good thing.
However while removing unneccesary numbers is good some people have them in for a reason.
If you like I would be more than happy to take on the role of amending peoples names (presuming its only the relatively small list at <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/handle_analysis.html' target='_blank'>http://www.unknownworlds.com/handle_analysis.html</a> plus a few that were missed, I don't want to do the names for everyone on the forum but I presume most are happy with the name they've got).
The reason being at the moment, many of the new names are... well pretty daft to be honest. Would it not make more sense to loosen the restrictions but give mods the ability to amend someones name or, as is possibly more appropriate, give them the ability to warn an 'offender' of the 'appropriate names' rule and send an Email/PM with a list of alternative handles for them to pick or the offer of a new one they choose as long as it complies with the rules, if they don't reply within a day or two then a name gets picked automatically and all relevant details are sent to them.
Lets face it, while the forum will be big with a lot of people there will be relatively few changes necessary as most people will stay within the guidelines, those that don't will automatically earn a redflag (I presume you have a system like that to warn of potential trouble makers). It could be automated fairly easily, allow people to use numbers and extra capitals in their name ( AllUrHiveRBelongUs => AllUrHiveRbelongus is just silly, the name isn't offensive or difficult to read, its not 'shouting' in allcaps, its just got extra words in it, something that will happen if you have a large character limit).
It is always impossible to set decent limits that <b>only</b> allow appropriate names, and no others, there will always be some people who ignore what is 'decent' and trying to set limits just reduces choice for those people who are decent community members.
Again, I'm perfectly willing to spend some of my time helping people with their names if given permission, I've got plenty of time at work (I'm always a few days ahead of schedule so have to kill time, at least this would look like work from a distance <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->) and I really don't think it would take that long. I would just Email you a .txt every so often with the changes and it hopefully wouldn't be to difficult to amend the names on the UWE system.
I've Emailed you this too just incase as a reply to your last one, hope your not too snowed under by the shower that must have resulted from this thread.
Let me see if I can respond to some of the issues in this thread:
- Please keep this thread on topic. This is an important and urgent issue and no one wants to read 1000 posts about Forlorn ;P
- Who's talking about stats? I'm just building a solid community base for the new site, which is building a solid base for the next game.
- Anyone that can't get ahold of me isn't trying very hard. You can always write me at my e-mail address, which is charlie@unknownworlds.com. I answer most e-mails. If I didn't respond to you in the past, I may have been stressed out or something, try again.
- The site migration is just being tested right now. I realize it's confusing to have that site up and seemingly active, but I'm going to blow away all the accounts again and re-import them before we go live. So whatever happens on UWE for the next day or two, will be lost shortly.
- I really really don't want to delete people's accounts, even if they are inactive for awhile. It's unfortunate that old members can tie up accounts like that, but right now, I'm looking to maintain and grow the community as much as possible, and don't like the idea of deleting members. This might change in the future when we have millions of users, but that's a problem I'll want to have. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
- Look at the <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/handle_analysis.html' target='_blank'>updated list</a>. Don't you think it would be so much better to have a community full of nice-looking handles? That said, I'm starting to consider allowing limited numbers of non-alphabetic characters, like one perhaps. That would allow people to use them expressively, without being an eye-sore.
- I do feel bad about people using the same handle in multiple games for years, and suddenly not being able to for NS. A lot of the motivation is so players can find each other easily, without it being difficult to enter. This is like domain names. Think of what a complicated mess it would be if they allowed all sorts of characters? Domain names offer hypens, but this naming scheme offers spaces, which I think is better.
I'm still thinking about this, but I need to make the final decision today or tomorrow latest, as we're going to start the migration to the new site then.
My take would be that allowing a number of two *pronounced as a number* is safe for everyone. So x5 would survive, while El1t3 would get clobbered. Coming from an IRC background here, so we had to be a little more lenient (hello 10K people and eight-char names).
I notice a fair number or the modified nicks involve clan tags in some format. I suggest it is a good idea to decouple clan/team/IRC affiliation from forum identity, but think there should be some way to add it on. Not sure what would work best for everyone... (sigs are easy)
So the other kamikaze gets baleeted? ^^ <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> I don't think that list is taking existing things into account, as you may notice at the top it says there are "9 clashes" an example being this <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> NSPlayer! => NSPlayer NSPlayer(2) => NSPlayer NSplayer233 => NSplayer NSPlayer5 => NSPlayer NSPLAYER911 => NSPLayer<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I have something to add. When UWE's games become widespread and the community expands, there's a great chance that this feature will end up being very restrictive and unpleasant for new people. Imagine how many people use the online name "Kamikaze" and already it's been taken.
YAY a new website, just when I was starting to fall away from the light of goodness I've come back to find a fresh new thing coming into the communitie.. so thats good... and I like the idea of not having people named things like 6hckn69dh running around.. that'll be nice
Comments
I wanted the name Steel, but it was already registered... so i opted for the Troll at the end (Stupid stupid idea in hindsight, as i forgot that a troll is a loathed character in the forum e-world...)
So... would there be any chance of giving me the name Steel oh great Flayra?
Ps great work you guys are doing, we all <3 you
Way to go Flay, look forward to being the UWE Shockwave instead of the NS Shockwave. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
- Shockeh
pronounced.. H.M.Z or just humz
Oh and yes gj mate. When is this thingy coming tomorrow or 2days? <!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Personally, although I don't use them, I appreciate that for people like X5 or i'm lost (or 2 of 8, for that matter) the nubers are part of their name and they would like it to stay that way.
this is exactly what i would like to know. even more, i get the feeling from this topic that the name we use on the forum should be our in-game name as well... i would like some clarity on this point as well, oh Great Master Of The One Game That Pwnz Them All
this is exactly what i would like to know. even more, i get the feeling from this topic that the name we use on the forum should be our in-game name as well... i would like some clarity on this point as well, oh Great Master Of The One Game That Pwnz Them All <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
*fluffles the other Decepticon*
2. Rather than SDJAson... id like to be SDJason, as that random capitalized A is weird... but no biggie.. i can always bug a forum admin about it AFTER the switch.
3. Once again... Flayra... you are god...
~Jason
Mark your name with the mouse, copy it to the clipboard, paste it into a text editor.
It just doesnt look the same....
Im excited ^^
Having names with numbers and symbols are kind of annoying when its arbitrary. I can understand like, x5, but the random number letter substitution is confusing to read.
However while removing unneccesary numbers is good some people have them in for a reason.
If you like I would be more than happy to take on the role of amending peoples names (presuming its only the relatively small list at <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/handle_analysis.html' target='_blank'>http://www.unknownworlds.com/handle_analysis.html</a> plus a few that were missed, I don't want to do the names for everyone on the forum but I presume most are happy with the name they've got).
The reason being at the moment, many of the new names are... well pretty daft to be honest. Would it not make more sense to loosen the restrictions but give mods the ability to amend someones name or, as is possibly more appropriate, give them the ability to warn an 'offender' of the 'appropriate names' rule and send an Email/PM with a list of alternative handles for them to pick or the offer of a new one they choose as long as it complies with the rules, if they don't reply within a day or two then a name gets picked automatically and all relevant details are sent to them.
Lets face it, while the forum will be big with a lot of people there will be relatively few changes necessary as most people will stay within the guidelines, those that don't will automatically earn a redflag (I presume you have a system like that to warn of potential trouble makers). It could be automated fairly easily, allow people to use numbers and extra capitals in their name ( AllUrHiveRBelongUs => AllUrHiveRbelongus is just silly, the name isn't offensive or difficult to read, its not 'shouting' in allcaps, its just got extra words in it, something that will happen if you have a large character limit).
It is always impossible to set decent limits that <b>only</b> allow appropriate names, and no others, there will always be some people who ignore what is 'decent' and trying to set limits just reduces choice for those people who are decent community members.
Again, I'm perfectly willing to spend some of my time helping people with their names if given permission, I've got plenty of time at work (I'm always a few days ahead of schedule so have to kill time, at least this would look like work from a distance <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->) and I really don't think it would take that long. I would just Email you a .txt every so often with the changes and it hopefully wouldn't be to difficult to amend the names on the UWE system.
I've Emailed you this too just incase as a reply to your last one, hope your not too snowed under by the shower that must have resulted from this thread.
#cri.ogenics = cut?
#cri.ogenics = cut? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
He quit a longggg time ago :o
- Please keep this thread on topic. This is an important and urgent issue and no one wants to read 1000 posts about Forlorn ;P
- Who's talking about stats? I'm just building a solid community base for the new site, which is building a solid base for the next game.
- Anyone that can't get ahold of me isn't trying very hard. You can always write me at my e-mail address, which is charlie@unknownworlds.com. I answer most e-mails. If I didn't respond to you in the past, I may have been stressed out or something, try again.
- The site migration is just being tested right now. I realize it's confusing to have that site up and seemingly active, but I'm going to blow away all the accounts again and re-import them before we go live. So whatever happens on UWE for the next day or two, will be lost shortly.
- I really really don't want to delete people's accounts, even if they are inactive for awhile. It's unfortunate that old members can tie up accounts like that, but right now, I'm looking to maintain and grow the community as much as possible, and don't like the idea of deleting members. This might change in the future when we have millions of users, but that's a problem I'll want to have. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
- Look at the <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/handle_analysis.html' target='_blank'>updated list</a>. Don't you think it would be so much better to have a community full of nice-looking handles? That said, I'm starting to consider allowing limited numbers of non-alphabetic characters, like one perhaps. That would allow people to use them expressively, without being an eye-sore.
- I do feel bad about people using the same handle in multiple games for years, and suddenly not being able to for NS. A lot of the motivation is so players can find each other easily, without it being difficult to enter. This is like domain names. Think of what a complicated mess it would be if they allowed all sorts of characters? Domain names offer hypens, but this naming scheme offers spaces, which I think is better.
I'm still thinking about this, but I need to make the final decision today or tomorrow latest, as we're going to start the migration to the new site then.
plus some names look ugly with the last letter not being capital while the rest are.
I notice a fair number or the modified nicks involve clan tags in some format. I suggest it is a good idea to decouple clan/team/IRC affiliation from forum identity, but think there should be some way to add it on. Not sure what would work best for everyone... (sigs are easy)
Chris
[edit: can't type]
So the other kamikaze gets baleeted? ^^
So the other kamikaze gets baleeted? ^^ <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I don't think that list is taking existing things into account, as you may notice at the top it says there are "9 clashes" an example being this
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> NSPlayer! => NSPlayer
NSPlayer(2) => NSPlayer
NSplayer233 => NSplayer
NSPlayer5 => NSPlayer
NSPLAYER911 => NSPLayer<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
>_>
ummmmm? how about just Figgy?......
I have something to add. When UWE's games become widespread and the community expands, there's a great chance that this feature will end up being very restrictive and unpleasant for new people. Imagine how many people use the online name "Kamikaze" and already it's been taken.