Policy Updates

Right, so is there any plan to give general notice of these rule changes and clarifications of policy to the players who don't visit the forums or the website? If you're going to increase penalties, then an in-game announcement at the log in screen or a revised EULA seems in order.

make the person who reports offensive names write a 1000 words report as to why they think the name is offensive :P

this is not joking FYI

if you need to write a long explanation as to why you think the name you want to report is offensive, then it cuts down the majority of players who are "report happy" it also make the report "sincere" if you think that its really offensive, i am sure you have millions of word to say about it. if you can't find anything to say about why its offensive, they why report it in the first place. ey?

ANet cant write 1000s words on why they think some are offensive. The fact of the matter is that some names are just offensive.

People who dont check the GW website are probably not the one who are doing the bad names in the first place. If they do have an offensive name ANet lets them know and the logical thing would be to check the policy updates.

I have a character with a clever pun-in-cheek sort of name, that I'm reluctant to play now, as I'd rather just avoid a 3 day account ban. The character is only used now for item storage and birthday presents (#2 on the way). I do believe there is a huge and random bias on what they ban, given it depends on different employees on different days, and their moods.

However, take for example the following very well known name:
"Pussy Galore"
(google if not familiar...)

Clearly and without any doubt whatsoever, if some wanker decides to report a player using this sort of name (or something similar - take "Pwn Star"/etc), that player will get a name ban.

"Goldfinger" is rated PG. That's right, not the more restrictive PG-13 (~ rated-Teen) - but PG. I think this illustrates the excesses to which they're willing to go with this new and clearly stricter policy...

This part really irks me! I mean, really - they can't give a simple yes/no, so that you can avoid a second name ban? Sure, in the past, I guess you were better off just changing the name, rather than waiting 2-5+ days for a response from support (definite 2-5+ days extra downtime now -vs- potential 3 day ban in future). But with the new rules NOW, do you really want to risk a second name ban?!?

GoldFinger the movie does not follow the same guildlines that guildwars players have to. Most will know what you are refering to and you might be away with it for awhile. The policy is put their to avoid names like " I RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GOed you mom", Eat your babies , and overly excessive vulgarity. People however exploit this and ANet has to enforce this policy cause people are immature and want to make a 30 second joke. The just want you to make a normal name and play... if you want to be vulgar do it somewhere else.

After playing for 4 years and as a loooong time lurker this has finally prompted me to actually post in the forums (yes I know that's lame). I understand the desire to prevent “offensive” or “abusive” behavior, but this situation already seems to be near the bottom of a very slippery slope.

First off this is a game. Read that again a GAME. This is not saving the world, it’s supposed to be fun and amusing, I would even argue it’s a bit immature in its very nature.

I find people lashing out against "immature" behavior to be laughable. Your playing a game, and for god’s sake and a teen rated game at that. Big deal some guy/girl has a name like "Hard Nuts"...."oh no they are ruining my playing experience, I can't handle it!!"

Are people really that thin skinned that this would offend them? Maybe the guy works in a walnut factory and this is somehow related to that. Is this going to adversely affect a 10 year old playing the game? First I would argue that 10 year olds would be much better served playing outside...but I digress. I see much more immature behavior portrayed in movies like Shrek...who's audience is largely populated by 10 year olds.

If a name seems very offensive, OK go ahead ban it. On the other hand names like “Princess Wacksmore”…. Immature yes offensive hardly.

A 10 year old likely wouldn’t read anything into it (if they did the damage is already done). And if you’re an adult and have a problem with it why don’t you spend your time worrying about some of the real problems that exist in this world, trust me there are lots of them.

Get over it. It’s just a GAME.

Peace out.......

Wow sirbonkers you just said what everyone has been saying the whole 9 pages. We understand its just a game -Sonata- had a long post that should have ended the whole "its just a game arguement".

It doesnt matter what one person means by making a name. Yes it could be innocent in their mind, but that doesnt mean others dont take it wrong. ANet has to look out for everyone and if that means banning a name then so be it.

BTW I am laughing at myself for saying this, but I am going to anyway.

ITS JUST A GAME CHANGE YOUR NAME AND GET OVER IT.

I find it really depressing that we had 6 pages debating this. I don't understand how some people can't fathom that the outside world might be more sensitive than themselves. It shouldn't be hard to see why and what ArenaNet's intentions are with this policy. It's obvious it should have been more clear from the get go, but I can't fault them for giving the players a chance to show some modesty and restraint all the while having fun playing Guild Wars.

I think Guild Wars 2 should come with a greater warning to players when creating their names. Take the process more seriously because you're guaranteed to regret being sarcastic/humorous with your character's name.

I spent a few days coming up with some really cool names for my characters. I sampled a few fantasy name generators and altered them to my liking. It is a rewarding experience when someone tells you they like your character's name, not because its funny or insulting, but because it goes along with the fantasy theme of Guild Wars. Makes me feel that my character is very much part of the game.

All I'm saying is take the naming process a little more seriously.

Bof reminds me of boff. You could be in real trouble.

boff Vulgar Slang.

v., boffed, boff·ing, boffs.

v.tr.
To have sexual intercourse with.
v.intr.
To engage in sexual intercourse.

and this is what happens when you give kids power. enjoy GW2.

Seriously QFT. When GW2 comes out I'm going to wait and see if it has a similar system to this. The reporting system has ruined so much of the game, I'm usually afraid to even speak in chat for fear of being reported because someone disagrees with my ideas.

What happens to customized weapons if toons name is changed? Those cannot be used afterwards?

GW wasn't designed to be an IM or IRC program.

Similarly, "first names" were not meant to be placeholders for jokes or statements.

Community Relations has avoided this thread like the plague ever since the debating started. I guess they may have said all they have to say, but some answers to questions people pose would be nice.

Fril, your argument to Chocobo1 is absurd. At the same token, I could say that Guildwars wasn't designed to be a morality policing program either. Someone screaming absurd things in Lion's Arch doesn't infringe on my gameplay. They're probably an idiot, but a harmless idiot none the less. What people name their characters has NO effect on my gameplay, therefore their possibly offensive names shouldn't be altered. Because it DOES have an effect on their gameplay. (Players get attached to their character's names, and are often known by them within their guild, alliance, and friend circles)

I have been offended by many names people have come up with. However, it's not my place to be mister high-horse and report them for it. The entire premise is ridiculous.

I love the new policy and I /reported 10 or more names yesterday afternoon. You all can say what you want about "rational" or "immature" or the rest of your self righteous blah blah blah, but, I am doing Anet a service helping them police the naming policy and perhaps getting rid of those who would abuse the system on purpose. Of course there will always be innocents involved, that's just life. You have heard of friendly fire I'm sure. PEW PEW PEW! hehe

Actually, you'll have to do some research to find the name...Google Latin Translator is crap for finding anything remotely vulgar. I had an occasion to get a little latin in my Fine Arts degree and have some previous knowledge...I guess I should have said only "educated" people have a right to be offended by it?

As for Wyrmfinger...the filter blocked it, not a person. And I wasn't trying to get away with anything. I could easily have gone with Dragonfinger...I went with Wyrmscale. Seriously, worm and finger...these are "common" references to penis? Are you high? How anyone could "figure out" that finger or wyrm is offensive is a prime example of how 'tards have no business using the /report feature. Other words that mean penis, by that standard, would include any cylindrical object/creature...so Snake, Axelrod, Treestump, Fencepost, candlestick and Pillar can be banned because someone sees a penis in their head when they hear these words? Seriously, people need to grow the phuque up!

Funny...I spend the whole day telling middle school kids what is and is not appropriate. And yet, I feel the need to fight for people's right to have a little fun with their name in a Teen Rated game...I have no idea why Teen rated only applies to game content and not player "content"...the whole thing seems stupid. I hate censorship when it makes no sense. I understand the need for standards...but some of what gets banned just doesn't deserve it.

ITS JUST A NAME, CHANGE YOUR GAME OR GET OVER IT

If the name Hitler is not allowed then how about Chairman Mao or Robert Mugabe, both are tyrants to the outside world but i'm sure each have their fair share of followers.

Then we have the problem with western leaders like George Bush, to the western world hes seen as one of the good guys (aside from his obvious stupidity) but im sure to the middle east hes just as much of a tyrant as Hitler.

I understand the need for naming restrictions but they should stop at offensive words. politics and religion should be left out.

Also its just english names that get banned, i played a monthly tournament with a mesmer called Anal Seepage, the games were on obs for a couple of weeks and nobody noticed just because it was written in welsh.
I know theres a lot of people with really offensive names that never get caught out because they just dont use english.

We're challenged with trying to maintain a balance between allowing player creativity in character names and having to take action on names that are offensive by reasonable standards and according to our policy. It's sometimes a challenging balance to maintain because, as we see in the discussion here, people disagree on what is offensive. Because of this, there will always be questions from players about what we consider offensive or not. Every name is taken on a case-by-case basis, so apart from the broad guidelines outlined in the naming policy, I cannot comment on individual names. When names are reported, we do have a team of people reviewing the names, so it's not just based upon one person's perspective.

Again, our standards are the same as they have always been. What we consider offensive is the same as prior to the publication of the Naming Policy. The Naming Policy just existing standards found in the User Agreement into more detail so that players have a better idea of what we consider potentially offensive.

The frustration I've seen here related to issue of "throwaway" PvP characters with offensive names has already been raised with Support.

Our policy is not very different from what you see in other games. In fact, in many ways, our policy is more lenient (example: we allow real-world references/non-fantasy names).

I've once heard what I thought was a pretty spot on quote:
Those that blame policy without explanation, are hiding behind it. (A quote from my college Project Management Professor)

Policy is meant to be challenged and there are always exceptions to the rule. Policies are great, yes. However, if they are evaluated on a case by case basis, then why can't players like Twinraven retort with the reason they picked their name in the first place? Obviously a name like Wyrmfinger can be construed as very benign, especially with the explanation he gave to defend it. I'm sure you would agree if you read his statement.

I jest loveeeeeeee doin this. Right back atcha pal. What works for the goose works for the gander and all those other famous sayings.

Well, it's interesting to spot that a name like Hitler is the example shown on the naming policy page, but at the same time the means Anet uses to fight these unappropriate names is a method that was used by the nazi government themselves, more clearly: let the people report unwanted subjects after which they will take care of the problem following strict procedures.

If we as players have to play E-police in a world that's not even ours, where we have almost nothing to say, then we're heading in the wrong direction imo. Once again national socialism comes to mind.

I understand you don't want those names in your game Anet and 'bad' people are found everywhere just like in real life. It's your game though and you set the rules so you should take responsability for it and deal with it yourself, don't let the mob take care of it, that's where you cross the line imo. Ofcourse people should know that certain things are unappropriate, but that's all subjective. What's right or wrong is different for each person.

It only increases my personal feeling of getting as few interaction as possible with strangers in this game.

Is there really no better way to solve the problem, more user friendly, more community friendly?

As I said before it doesnt matter what the person made the name thinks, it is about how others interpret it.

ANet asks: Why did you make this name?
Answer: BS BS BS (behind the bs) I thought it would be funny to piss a few people off.

To Gun Pierson: There probably is a better way to solve the problem, but why would ANet want to spend money on completely changing a policy they have after 4 years?

Why did they in the first place?

Here's one:

Add an emote [/die] that automatically kills you off in RA/TA, exempts you from the /report and dishonor hex systems and negates any gained faction/glad points. That way, leeching is only possible if players DO NOT use this emote!

or

Bring balance to RA/TA (i.e.: one healer, 1-2 casters/aux-heal-dmg-support, 1-2 physical) by way of scripted template detection. I know it'd take up time and resource, but this is one BIG area of PvP (RA/TA's about 20+% of PvP I believe?) that I feel can use the time and resource for improvements. I'm not saying take away from GW2's crew, I'm simply implying that, when there's some spare bodies that can take up interest in this project, why not allot some time and care to bring peace into the currently turmoiled arenas?

Either option is meant to take away from the frustrations of gaming in RA/TA. A game's meant to be enjoyed, not the opposite (D-Hex, /report, temp-bannings, etc..).

These things need change.

You've heard of assholes I'm sure.

First off if they are leeching and get glads points WHY IN THE HELL would they use the /die emote. Others want to sync and I get that, but didnt they make that against the rules now?

They didnt make a better system in the first place because they didnt know the outcome of this one. Regina said they based it off other games which I guess worked. They also wanted to give the players some dignity and make characters name that don't offend people. Most of the people do this, but everyone knew this day would come in which people abuse the /report system. Luckily, it is sorta near the end of GW so they dont have to make that many changes. ANet doesnt know the outcome of another system they could have put in so why take the risk if they are going to have to completely change it half way through (As in like Year 2 instead of Year 4.)

The comparison of banning characters to nazism made me laugh a little.

Wow...how did he get out of gwen form anyway? Pop a tonic and wait out the duration? O_o Also funny :S

Will someone define "pornographic name" for me? Does it mean a sexually explicit name (in which case it would already be covered by some previous BS rule) or is it using the name of a porn star? ie... (i wont post here) LOL. Sorry if it had been asked already.

You thinking it was about banning instead of a questionable public report system made me cry a little.

If a person did not close out guildwars when they made the April 1st Gwen thing you were still your normal character. You could not pop tonics while in the Gwen form.

Pornographic Names covers both sexually explicit and Porn Star names. I remember someone had a character named Jenna Jamesson and it was banned.