Name-Squatting Policy (Full Version)

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Bananadin -> Name-Squatting Policy (6/27/2011 0:21:35)

I already posted the idea here but I believe it applies to the entire forums so I want to suggest it here, as well. The policy directly regards AQW but it can apply to the whole forum, EpicDuel, etc.

As I am part of many forums and communities, I like to share the ideas that each site incorporates into their system. One policy I saw on a favorite site of mine is called the "Name-Squatting" Policy, where members who had taken or reserved original names for themselves but never actually used the account got their accounts renamed to someone who payed. For example, if I want the account named "Epic" but someone already has the account, I will obviously be angry. However, what about the occasions where said account is still a Level 1 Warrior who has not one badge, item, or anything to their name.

I can guarantee that this would be a great way to profit if you were to implement this policy. As I previously mentioned, I am a part of many different forums and where this was implemented, the site gathered much more money compared to when it did not have the policy implemented.

Terms and conditions for this policy:

1.) The person with the username you want cannot exceed level 10 or have over 25 posts on the forums.
2.) The person has to be inactive for at least 1 year and 6 months for their username to be taken.
3.) If the person has a verified Guardianship/Dragon Amulet/Star Captain on their AQW account, their username cannot be taken.
4.) Due to the time and effort it takes to perform a name change, $_____ must be provided over a secure online payment plan (PayPal).

The fourth step can be substituted out if a developer finds a member going out of their way to help and being an exceptional member (That is how it was on my old forum; if an admin saw a member being an outstanding person or if they were staff, they would receive a free name change).

Also, for those who do not understand what the term "name-squatting" means, it is this:

squatting (v.) - The act or general practice of occupying a building or land illegally.

The way it is defined in the term is very similar, basically meaning that the person who made the account is occupying the name simply so they have it or so other people cannot have it. It is unfair and there are many accounts that are taken by people who have not even played the game.

Again, copy and paste from this but I think it should apply to the forums and all other online games.

Thanks for reading.



Everest -> RE: Name-Squatting Policy (6/27/2011 10:07:42)

I suppose the question I have is this - how do you know who wanted the name to reserve it for themselves, as opposed to those who signed up for the forums intending to use them but didn't really get around to it? I can't say I really see a large amount of name reserving here, though there are of course inactive users.

We do very occasionally rename extraordinarily inactive accounts, and by that I mean an account with zero posts that hasn't been signed into for years. However, we do require a good reason; another member simply wanting that account name isn't one really, since the original member clearly wanted it as well and may always come back to visit the forums. In those cases, however, we certainly wouldn't charge for it. And I can't say I would really favor adapting the system to accept payment for forced name changes in all honesty. Perhaps in a community rife with squatting, as you put it, that is necessary; but here I believe most people sign up for the forums because they'd like to join the community, and they like the name with which they do so.

This answer is only meant as a response to your suggestion for these forums, by the way. I didn't respond to the suggestion as it applies to the games as this board's purpose is really to focus on forum issues.



santalover123 -> RE: Name-Squatting Policy (6/27/2011 14:15:08)

I really don't see how that would make a huge difference on the forums, but on one of the games, yes. I once wanted to create an account with a specific username but it was already taken. Very annoying. I personally like this idea. Maybe it should just be a simple process like this:

If, during the character creation process, when entering your desired username, the username you want is already taken, the creation engine checks to see if the account associated with that username matches certain criteria (inactivity, low level, etc.) it gives you the username.

Back on topic: this could work on the forums, too.

Example: I go to create a forum account. I want username 'example'. If it's already taken, but the user is inactive (hasn't logged in in a while, very few posts) then you get it. When this happens, the old account gets changed from 'example' to 'example2' or something similar.
New user+'example'--->'example'+'example2'



Bananadin -> RE: Name-Squatting Policy (6/28/2011 19:28:48)

@Everest, you bring up several exceptional points. My suggestion focuses more so on the games, however, I should have emphasized that. But you raise very good points on why it could not be used on the forums. There are definitely issues regarding original names on games such as AQW or EpicDuel. I hardly see any names with just the root word but rather a word followed by either another word or an assortment of numbers. For example, if I wanted the account 'Banana', but could not use the name due to it being taken already, so I had to adapt and use 'Bananadin'. That is just an example, for the record. I thought Bananadin was kind of clever. :3 I do appreciate your opinions as it has showed me where my suggestion could be wrong in one place, thank you for your insight.

@santalover123, I like your idea but that would be hard to implement. It would take more effort on the Admins' parts, but they could just change both accounts' names accordingly. Also, regarding Everest's opinion on it costing money to change it, it is to prevent the Admins from either getting spammed or overwhelmed with requests, also giving the name change some sort of value due to effort it takes. It would bring in revenue for the game, improve the quality of it and make the players happy.




earth breather -> RE: Name-Squatting Policy (6/28/2011 20:10:39)

I don't like this idea. The Idea of putting so much time and effort into an account then losing it JUST Because you were busy for a year (overseas study etc) and couldn't get back in time to save your forums/epicduel/aqw account is unfair.



santalover123 -> RE: Name-Squatting Policy (6/29/2011 15:12:53)

quote:

I don't like this idea. The Idea of putting so much time and effort into an account then losing it JUST Because you were busy for a year (overseas study etc) and couldn't get back in time to save your forums/epicduel/aqw account is unfair.

(If it even winds up being implemented)
1) I think it's just for forum accounts and 2) it would only be for accounts that have very few accomplishments (small amount of gold, not many items, low level, no money spent on the account, etc) and have been inactive for multiple years. Maybe they should have an option that you can set to prevent it being taken.



Bananadin -> RE: Name-Squatting Policy (6/30/2011 23:14:57)

@santalover123,

1.) It would apply mainly to multiplayer games. 2.) Thank you for clarifying that while I wasn't on the forums.

@earth breather,

Their actual account is not being deleted, rather, it is just being renamed so that another member can use the name. It would bring revenue for the game/site and would ultimately make the members happier.



123ev456 -> RE: Name-Squatting Policy (7/6/2011 10:43:51)

Bananadin said:

quote:

The way it is defined in the term is very similar, basically meaning that the person who made the account is occupying the name simply so they have it or so other people cannot have it. It is unfair and there are many accounts that are taken by people who have not even played the game.


If someone really had the malicious intent to sign up just to prevent others from using their name, why do you think they aren't capable of getting level ten in an efficient amount of time?


How about this:
Someone is inactive for a year, below whatever minimums etc., and someone requests to use their name.
The player is sent an e-mail saying that someone has requested their name, they may either make a purchase on the account in the next thirty days, or forfeit their name. If they do not respond, they will receive another e-mail. A name that has been taken cannot be taken again. You may not take more than one name per e-mail address.



The Forgotten -> RE: Name-Squatting Policy (7/6/2011 14:31:54)

It's an awful lot of work for little to no benefit. And since forum policy restricts each individual to one account, it is quite unfair to strip older users of their chosen names (which they rightfully have first dibs on) and grant them to new users. The system simply isn't feasible.

Also, please note that Forum Suggestions is for forum-related suggestions only. Game suggestions do not belong here and should not be discussed further in this thread.



Bananadin -> RE: Name-Squatting Policy (7/7/2011 5:58:19)

quote:

How about this:
Someone is inactive for a year, below whatever minimums etc., and someone requests to use their name.
The player is sent an e-mail saying that someone has requested their name, they may either make a purchase on the account in the next thirty days, or forfeit their name. If they do not respond, they will receive another e-mail. A name that has been taken cannot be taken again. You may not take more than one name per e-mail address.


I suppose that is fair to the "squatter", if that is the case. I just don't like seeing numerous accounts that are level one and occupy a name someone else could be using.

quote:

It's an awful lot of work for little to no benefit. And since forum policy restricts each individual to one account, it is quite unfair to strip older users of their chosen names (which they rightfully have first dibs on) and grant them to new users. The system simply isn't feasible.

Also, please note that Forum Suggestions is for forum-related suggestions only. Game suggestions do not belong here and should not be discussed further in this thread.


If there were plenty of people who were assigned to do that job, it could be evenly distributed between staff who were selected to do it, and it wouldn't be that much work for everyone. Plus, you could exclude it to anything such as:

1.) A member-only perk.
2.) You could get a name change included with upgrading.

This is a forum suggestion, partly. I initially suggested it in the respective thread for it in AQW, but I felt as though it could apply to the forums as well, but it doesn't seem as though it would work out as well on the forums.

Personally, I think it would bring in a lot of extra revenue in AQW. There are many different ways you could do it; as I mentioned, you could exclude it to members (may drive more people to buy memberships) or it could be a feature you get anyway with upgrading (essentially the same thing).

To use an example, if the user "Haze123" wants to use the name "Haze" instead, why should an inactive user prevent him from doing so?

I do apologize for continuing the discussion on the game, but it doesn't really get debated on in the suggestion thread. If you have any questions or complaints regarding the policy in AQW/ED, feel free to PM me and talk to me about it. I have even more ideas, and I have no doubt that it will bring in some money for the game. As I previously mentioned, it was an avid policy on an old forum I used to go on, and it was very successful. If anything, it would have more luck in the games opposed to the forums.

Cheers.



Lord Barrius -> RE: Name-Squatting Policy (7/7/2011 16:13:39)

I think I should emphasize something that has been stated already, but appears to have been glossed over:

Forum Suggestions is for *forum* suggestions. This board exists for the purpose of proposing adjustments to the forum's operation, not AE's games. A change in AE game policy is up to the staff of the individual game(s) in question, especially in the case of monetary suggestions (which are not permitted in game suggestions boards for that very reason, as financial policy is a game staff decision, not a player decision).

If the topic can't stay focused on forum suggestions, we're going to have to lock this thread. Please keep this topic focused on its impact on the forum's operation.



Bananadin -> RE: Name-Squatting Policy (7/8/2011 13:32:18)

@Lord Barrius

quote:


I do apologize for continuing the discussion on the game, but it doesn't really get debated on in the suggestion thread.


If it doesn't work on the forums, I can accept that. Everest raised a lot of good points, as did others so if there's nothing left for the forum portion of it, then feel free to lock the thread. I would at least like to discuss an in-game version of it with someone, if it is not too much to ask. I stand by my opinion of it having a lot of potential, please let me know.

Cheers.



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