We're Freeing up Old Character Names

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Hodari wrote:

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Durentis wrote:

Generally, I think the expectation is that an online (especially gaming) account has permanence regardless of duration of inactivity

No, I think it's perfectly reasonable at some point to say "Use it or lose it." [...] Most games would probably just delete the inactive accounts like that altogether [...]

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EnviousMind wrote:

Guess I have to log in to all of my 30 characters this evening.

That joy.... ;)

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Durentis wrote:

Not unless they're on 30 separate accounts. Only one character on each account to save them all. Actually, even just signing in to post on the forums is probably enough to make your account active.

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EnviousMind wrote:

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Durentis wrote:

Not unless they're on 30 separate accounts. Only one character on each account to save them all. Actually, even just signing in to post on the forums is probably enough to make your account active.

Oh, I must have missed that. Should have read it more thoroughly. Thank you very much for that information.

Have a nice day! :)

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Durentis wrote:

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EnviousMind wrote:

Guess I have to log in to all of my 30 characters this evening.

That joy.... ;)

Not unless they're on 30 separate accounts. Only one character on each account to save them all. Actually, even just signing in to post on the forums is probably enough to make your account active.

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Durentis wrote:

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Hodari wrote:

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Durentis wrote:

Generally, I think the expectation is that an online (especially gaming) account has permanence regardless of duration of inactivity

No, I think it's perfectly reasonable at some point to say "Use it or lose it." [...] Most games would probably just delete the inactive accounts like that altogether [...]

Well, this is the main point to disagree on in the absence of actual numbers and I fully expect the player base to split their opinions naturally across it.

Keep in mind when you argue for unique names in a game (by accepting freeing them as a reasonable option) that, as the number of players approach infinity, player names approach the likes of FJDSU-47A9L-3JAL7-MQU1X-N73G5. We see names not much unlike this already. Hardly names worth advocating for, I think. They're certainly neither personal nor easily distinguishable from others so as to identify them at first glance to particular account.

But I'm arguing simply that names shouldn't be globally unique so that GGG is never put in the position to place internal convenience over permanence in the first place. A good name system would take a fair bit of additional effort to implement initially ($$$!), but provide a good and permanent solution (SUATMM!). And with names unique to an account, players would be less inclined to bash their keys to find a character sequence that works.