Abritrary Name Filter - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

Snow Bunny

Alcoholic From Yale

Join Date: Jul 2007

Strong Foreign Policy [sFp]

03 Mar 2008 at 02:03 - 1

So, I recently purchased another online multiplayer game, and when prompted for a IGN, instead of my old standby, I Snow Bunny I, I sat around for a bit, and thought of the name "Tryangle". As simple as it was, I liked the ascetic of the name and decided I'd make a char on GW named T R Y A N G L E.

Oddly, it was denied, due to "Words not permitted in Guild Wars" Code=031. I quickly made "Try Angle", which was accepted. I've had this happen twice now with names that for the life of me could not possibly be offensive.

Has anyone else had this happen? Is it just me or is it a bit odd?

ArTy

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2006

Australia

Overclockers Australia [OCAU]

03 Mar 2008 at 02:08 - 2

Maybe the dev who did the name filter is pissed at "R Y A N" for taking his beers without asking

Swift Thief

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Feb 2007

Aatxe Pirates [YaRR]

A/

03 Mar 2008 at 02:10 - 3

Well, my "Bin Laden is Coming" was censored for some odd reason too.

tuna-fish_sushi

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Dec 2005

California

E/A

03 Mar 2008 at 02:22 - 4

They banned almost anything with a space between every letter because it was really easy to type anything you want spaced out and its hard to filter that kind of stuff.

Saraphim

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Mar 2006

The Hand of Omega [WHO]

E/

03 Mar 2008 at 02:26 - 5

I seem to remember a similar thread a while back came to the conclusion that a "G" with spaces either side gets blocked by the filter. I've seen a few people ingame with spaced out letters, so it is possible to do, just not with the G.

Thought so, search was my friend for a change.

Lol... I wonder what I posted in that thread, can't even remember but it got edited.

wu is me

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Oct 2007

03 Mar 2008 at 03:55 - 6

=O "Gaile" and "Guild" are also prohibited.

guess it kinda makes sense tho, so, Gai Ie and Gui Id will have to do =P

Sab

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Dec 2005

03 Mar 2008 at 04:25 - 7

G is a very offensive letter.

garethporlest18

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2006

[HiDe]

W/

03 Mar 2008 at 04:29 - 8

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArTy

Maybe the dev who did the name filter is pissed at "R Y A N" for taking his beers without asking

I didn't steal any beers dammit!

Gaile Gray

ArenaNet

Join Date: Feb 2005

03 Mar 2008 at 05:31 - 9

In any game, you have a lot of people pretending to be staff members. It's called "impersonation," and it can be used to scam people of items, trash a guild, or steal an entire account.

We block the singular use of the letter "G" because we found that many people were using G M (name here) to try to pretend they are staff members at ArenaNet or NCsoft.

Sorry for the inconvenience, but I'm sure that you'll agree that preventing item scamming and account theft is a high priority and that we should address any potential abuse of the system that might allow players to be deceived.

t_the_nihilst

Academy Page

Join Date: Nov 2006

Columbus, OH

So Goth We Crap [Bats], Friday The [13th]

Me/

03 Mar 2008 at 06:19 - 10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snow Bunny

So, I recently purchased another online multiplayer game, and when prompted for a IGN, instead of my old standby, I Snow Bunny I, I sat around for a bit, and thought of the name "Tryangle". As simple as it was, I liked the ascetic of the name and decided I'd make a char on GW named T R Y A N G L E.

Oddly, it was denied, due to "Words not permitted in Guild Wars" Code=031. I quickly made "Try Angle", which was accepted. I've had this happen twice now with names that for the life of me could not possibly be offensive.

Has anyone else had this happen? Is it just me or is it a bit odd?

Hrmmm yeah, I tried to name my new PvE ele "Legendary Pink Dot." You know, after the band? I guess they assumed I was maybe a bot or something trying to advertise a website in-game, so I had to name her "Legendary Pink Dott." Not as good, but still good. Er... whatever.
Many people will make inappropriate character names and will only get in trouble if they piss someone off and get reported. Meanwhile, others will try to make characters with names that aren't offensive at all, and won't be able to. That's the way the cookie crumbles, I guess.

Faer

La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo

Join Date: Feb 2006

03 Mar 2008 at 06:25 - 11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

Sorry for the inconvenience, but I'm sure that you'll agree that preventing item scamming and account theft is a high priority and that we should address any potential abuse of the system that might allow players to be deceived.

But why not block the use of "G M <xvariable>" instead? Or, what about a warning on the login screen or somewhere else noticeable to alert users to the problem? Simply blocking the singular use of the letter "G" in names is not going to be nearly enough to stop people from impersonating staff, and while it is a step to deter such action, I feel that perhaps different steps could have been taken that would have inconvenienced less users (though I am aware at how little an inconvenience not being able to use G by itself in a name is).

Chik N Nuggets

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Oct 2007

calgary, alberta, canada

The Crimson Knighthood [CRIM]

W/

03 Mar 2008 at 07:04 - 12

lol i made a ranger called "C U M" earlyer XD

Pleikki

WTB q8 15^50 Weapons!

Join Date: Nov 2006

???oo ???ugs ???lan [?????????]

03 Mar 2008 at 07:15 - 13

mm.. Im making new char next week.. will some of my new names will be censored aswell :d

Bryant Again

Hall Hero

Join Date: Feb 2006

03 Mar 2008 at 07:22 - 14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faer

But why not block the use of "G M <xvariable>" instead? Or, what about a warning on the login screen or somewhere else noticeable to alert users to the problem? Simply blocking the singular use of the letter "G" in names is not going to be nearly enough to stop people from impersonating staff, and while it is a step to deter such action, I feel that perhaps different steps could have been taken that would have inconvenienced less users (though I am aware at how little an inconvenience not being able to use G by itself in a name is).

It could be seen as G A for "game admin" or A M for simply "admin." Many possibilities.

Quote:

Originally Posted by t_the_nihilst

Hrmmm yeah, I tried to name my new PvE ele "Legendary Pink Dot." You know, after the band? I guess they assumed I was maybe a bot or something trying to advertise a website in-game, so I had to name her "Legendary Pink Dott." Not as good, but still good. Er... whatever.

Now that doesn't make much sense. Maybe "dot" has something to do with "bot?"

RhanoctJocosa

Legendary Korean

Join Date: Aug 2006

The Benecia Renovatio [RenO]

W/

03 Mar 2008 at 07:56 - 15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faer

But why not block the use of "G M <xvariable>" instead? Or, what about a warning on the login screen or somewhere else noticeable to alert users to the problem? Simply blocking the singular use of the letter "G" in names is not going to be nearly enough to stop people from impersonating staff, and while it is a step to deter such action, I feel that perhaps different steps could have been taken that would have inconvenienced less users (though I am aware at how little an inconvenience not being able to use G by itself in a name is).

But that would make too much sense.

Now we wait for Gaile to actually reply when it matters.

Desbreko

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Oct 2005

California

Fifteen Over Fifty [Rare]

03 Mar 2008 at 07:57 - 16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryant Again

Now that doesn't make much sense. Maybe "dot" has something to do with "bot?"

It would be to stop things like Guildwarsguru Dot Com being used as a name to advertise a website.

cthulhu reborn

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2007

the Netherlands

W/Mo

03 Mar 2008 at 08:08 - 17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faer

But why not block the use of "G M <xvariable>" instead? Or, what about a warning on the login screen or somewhere else noticeable to alert users to the problem? Simply blocking the singular use of the letter "G" in names is not going to be nearly enough to stop people from impersonating staff, and while it is a step to deter such action, I feel that perhaps different steps could have been taken that would have inconvenienced less users (though I am aware at how little an inconvenience not being able to use G by itself in a name is).

Perhaps they also wanted to block G Spot and G String type of names. :P

Personally I am more annoyed that they would block the name Litany of Damnation which I wanted even though the game contains Damned Clerics. Kinda makes the censorship silly when you block it in character names but not for monsters or NPC's.

Yawgmoth

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2005

03 Mar 2008 at 08:22 - 18

It's done wrong and needs a fix.

After doing some tests I'm sure the game would be able to block just all the "G M" and "G A" without blocking the single letter "G".

For example a word "Guild" and word "Wars" are allowed separately, but whole "Guild Wars" contains disallowed words!
You can go test variations of the F word, no matter how you split it with spaces it's disallowed. But take another disallowed word, like for example "Shit" (disallowed) and add spaces to make "S H I T" - this one is allowed by the system!
There's more! For some of disallowed strings the system disallows all longer strings that contain the shorter one, for example "Admin" is detected no matter where it is in the word, disallowing whole "Ogradminx" string. But some matter only if they are at the begining of the string! Like "Gm" disallowing any string that starts with those 2 letters - "Gmoragus" is not allowed but "Xgmoragus" is. And some words are disallowed only if it's a whole word with nothing added - example: "Nig" is not allowed but "Anig" or "Niga" is.

I see no technical reason of prohibiting the use of the single letter "G", while the system can be set up to just disallow "G A" and "G M".

It really needs a fix, else I won't be able to create the mighty team of:
"Mending Spiker A"
"Mending Spiker B"
"Mending Spiker C"
"Mending Spiker D"
"Mending Spiker E"
"Mending Spiker F"
"Mending Spiker G" <- now this guy's name is disallowed, sad.
"Mending Spiker H"

Jake_Steel

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Oct 2007

Portland, OR

The Older Gamers (TOG)

N/Me

03 Mar 2008 at 08:35 - 19

There goes my OG "G Money" name...

tmakinen

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2005

www.mybearfriend.net

Servants of Fortuna [SoF]

E/

03 Mar 2008 at 09:56 - 20

Quote:

Originally Posted by cthulhu reborn

Personally I am more annoyed that they would block the name Litany of Damnation which I wanted even though the game contains Damned Clerics. Kinda makes the censorship silly when you block it in character names but not for monsters or NPC's.

I usually substitute 'darn' for 'damn' to get around the filter, although in the above mentioned situation the result might not sound quite right

Filtered NPC/monster names are funny, too.

"----ed Cleric is using Bane Signet!"
"I am attacking Captain ----ang!"

In any case, the explanation for 'the evil G' kind of makes sense, but just kind of.

Esan

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2007

Wars

03 Mar 2008 at 13:54 - 21

Why is the (allowed) name "Spearchucker" filtered out by the profanity filter? If you don't believe me, try saying it in all chat with the chat filter set to max.

Kusandaa

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jul 2006

N/Mo

03 Mar 2008 at 14:28 - 22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esan

Why is the (allowed) name "Spearchucker" filtered out by the profanity filter? If you don't believe me, try saying it in all chat with the chat filter set to max.

Oh I believe you x]. One of my friends had the name "Spear Chucker" in his name once; the whole name was censored actually (his internet handle/nickname, which he used often, got censored too, haha). He's the one who told us about it.

Bet it's something related to sex though. These things get filtered even though they're in the game (Cockatrice staff anyone? x]).

[Rhiannon]

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Feb 2008

England

03 Mar 2008 at 14:58 - 23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esan

Why is the (allowed) name "Spearchucker" filtered out by the profanity filter? If you don't believe me, try saying it in all chat with the chat filter set to max.

It's a racist term. Google it if you need to know more.

In general, what's the point of trying to beat the system with some sad arrangement of letters? a) you'll likely get an enforced name change anyway, and b) you'll likely get ignored by decent players as they'll think you're backward ...

Keithark

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2006

Be Aggressive B E Aggressive [AGRO]

E/Me

03 Mar 2008 at 15:18 - 24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

In any game, you have a lot of people pretending to be staff members. It's called "impersonation," and it can be used to scam people of items, trash a guild, or steal an entire account.

We block the singular use of the letter "G" because we found that many people were using G M (name here) to try to pretend they are staff members at ArenaNet or NCsoft.

Sorry for the inconvenience, but I'm sure that you'll agree that preventing item scamming and account theft is a high priority and that we should address any potential abuse of the system that might allow players to be deceived.

People should not be stupid enough to pay any attention to "in game GM's" anyway. GM can get my e-mail and shut down my account if they need to talk to me about something then they can do it that way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by [Rhiannon]

It's a racist term. Google it if you need to know more.

In general, what's the point of trying to beat the system with some sad arrangement of letters? a) you'll likely get an enforced name change anyway, and b) you'll likely get ignored by decent players as they'll think you're backward ...

Racist my arse...it is a descriptive name for a paragon (they actually "chuck" spears yanno) and all the whiny people who cry about it being a racist name need to stfuad.

Ouchie

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2007

[Leet]

R/

03 Mar 2008 at 15:38 - 25

I think
G Spot

has something to do with it

/Conspiracy

Jake_Steel

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Oct 2007

Portland, OR

The Older Gamers (TOG)

N/Me

03 Mar 2008 at 16:16 - 26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keithark

Racist my arse...it is a descriptive name for a paragon (they actually "chuck" spears yanno) and all the whiny people who cry about it being a racist name need to stfuad.

Now you're just being obtuse. Spearchucker the racial slur predates the "paragon" gaming class by decades.

Much like Porch Monkey: You aren't taking it back.

Allanon754

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Mar 2006

Rochester, NY

Kings Beyond the Wall [KING]

Mo/

03 Mar 2008 at 18:10 - 27

So Gaile you and A.net have spend hours and hours trying to fix this problem... and this is what you have come up with? Honest to god that's sad... it shows how GW2 has so much more priority.

Snow Bunny

Alcoholic From Yale

Join Date: Jul 2007

Strong Foreign Policy [sFp]

03 Mar 2008 at 18:10 - 28

Gaile, I understand the "G" thing, while I do believe if it were that much of a problem, you could make the censor more specific, instead of eliminating G entirely.

However, I've gotten this with other names, and look at the third (or 4th?) poster's linked name. It's complete gibberish and is censored.

It's simply odd to me, as well as an awkward solution to a potential problem

Gaile Gray

ArenaNet

Join Date: Feb 2005

03 Mar 2008 at 19:21 - 29

The letter "G" is not blocked or eliminated. The letter "G" standing alone is blocked. I'm sorry that some of you disagree with that block. Since the filter was developed by people with an aggregate of many dozens of years in customer service dealing with in-game issues, I'm going to figure that they know what they're doing, since they've had real-world (as opposed to the posted theoretical) experience with the various issues. I'm also going to show them their due respect by assuming that such a block was not made frivolously but instead was made with consideration and, when possible, implementation of other practical means to accomplish the shared, intended purposes.

Predictions that the sky is falling, or that doom will befall Guild Wars 2 because of the block of a stand-alone letter may be a tad over the top.

netniwk

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2005

Bellgium

W/E

03 Mar 2008 at 19:35 - 30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

Predictions that the sky is falling, or that doom will befall Guild Wars 2 because of the block of a stand-alone letter may be a tad over the top.

but it will end the world in 2012 ,amirite?

RhanoctJocosa

Legendary Korean

Join Date: Aug 2006

The Benecia Renovatio [RenO]

W/

03 Mar 2008 at 20:35 - 31

Spearchucker is blocked? No it isn't?

Aerian_Skybane

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2006

House of Caeruleous [HoC]

R/E

03 Mar 2008 at 21:36 - 32

The only thing I have to complain about filters is that they only block words. I wish they could block people. Ah that would be the day.

Covah

Forge Runner

Join Date: Aug 2006

Ontario, Canada

Catching Jellyfish With [소N트T ]

Me/Rt

03 Mar 2008 at 21:40 - 33

Quote:

Originally Posted by RhanoctJocosa

Spearchucker is blocked? No it isn't?

Think they said it was filtered, not blocked.

Aleron

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jan 2007

Colorado Springs

Spirit of Elisha [SOE]

E/

03 Mar 2008 at 21:50 - 34

I suppose Anet could have just blocked the variable of "G M" but they chose to block G instead. No big deal to me. I still love the game and will continue to play it. Those of you whining about it, go over to WoW

[Rhiannon]

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Feb 2008

England

04 Mar 2008 at 13:00 - 35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keithark

Racist my arse...it is a descriptive name for a paragon (they actually "chuck" spears yanno) and all the whiny people who cry about it being a racist name need to stfuad.

Take a look at a site like www.urbandictionary.com and then tell me you honestly don't think it could be considered offensive. Would you consider the other names listed there as appropriate?

Some people just revel in playing the system to see how far they can push it. Mostly it's immature kids who know no better. Sadly not always.

If it's an honest mistake, just use a different name. It's not like there aren't countless other ways you can incorporate the word 'spear' in a name without risk of offending people.

Kashrlyyk

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2005

04 Mar 2008 at 14:43 - 36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

The letter "G" is not blocked or eliminated. The letter "G" standing alone is blocked. I'm sorry that some of you disagree with that block. Since the filter was developed by people with an aggregate of many dozens of years in customer service dealing with in-game issues, I'm going to figure that they know what they're doing, since they've had real-world (as opposed to the posted theoretical) experience with the various issues. I'm also going to show them their due respect by assuming that such a block was not made frivolously but instead was made with consideration and, when possible, implementation of other practical means to accomplish the shared, intended purposes.
...

It is the "Shut up, we are professionals" response. argumentum ad verecundiam

DDL

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Nov 2007

04 Mar 2008 at 15:08 - 37

Let's be perfectly honest: if you honestly can't think of a name without incorporating a single G at some point, you probably don't have the required brain power for Guild Wars.

Filtering systems will always exist, because idiots will always try to be offensive. They will always be more restrictive than people would like, and always imperfect.

There's only so much effort any coding team is prepared to waste on idiot-filtering, given that they generally have an awful lot of other coding to do.

In other news, the name that was blocked because it was gibberish may have been blocked...because it was gibberish. Making names by smashing your forehead against the keyboard isn't a very good tactic.

Jake_Steel

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Oct 2007

Portland, OR

The Older Gamers (TOG)

N/Me

04 Mar 2008 at 17:30 - 38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kashrlyyk

It is the "Shut up, we are professionals" response. argumentum ad verecundiam

That doesn't make it untrue Dumpling.

Snow Bunny

Alcoholic From Yale

Join Date: Jul 2007

Strong Foreign Policy [sFp]

04 Mar 2008 at 17:34 - 39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake_Steel

That doesn't make it untrue Dumpling.

It's a rather clumsy solution to the problem. That's all I'm saying. Sure, you can throw "real world experience" in my face, but to me, that accounts for very little, especially considering (not trying to start an ANet bash, believe me here) certain mistakes ANet has made in the past.

It's an awkward solution, it's just what I think.

Ekelon

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Dec 2005

Rebel Rising [rawr]

A/W

04 Mar 2008 at 17:52 - 40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

The letter "G" is not blocked or eliminated. The letter "G" standing alone is blocked. I'm sorry that some of you disagree with that block. Since the filter was developed by people with an aggregate of many dozens of years in customer service dealing with in-game issues, I'm going to figure that they know what they're doing, since they've had real-world (as opposed to the posted theoretical) experience with the various issues. I'm also going to show them their due respect by assuming that such a block was not made frivolously but instead was made with consideration and, when possible, implementation of other practical means to accomplish the shared, intended purposes.

Predictions that the sky is falling, or that doom will befall Guild Wars 2 because of the block of a stand-alone letter may be a tad over the top.

Well, in any case, the letter "X" isn't blocked stand alone

Hence my IGN, X Ekelon X.