Facing a firing squad of basement dwellers, Blizzard has abandoned a controversial forum update that would have required players to post using their real first and last names. The idea was to discourage users from flaming and trolling by revealing their true identity, but gamers furiously protested the idea over privacy concerns - and rightfully so.
Fortunately, the company has recognized what could have been a disastrous move. In a statement, Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime said that instead of displaying your Real ID when the new StarCraft II board launches, you'll post with your StarCraft II Battle.net character name and character code. That also applies to the Cataclysm forum when it opens alongside the forthcoming World of Warcraft expansion.
Despite the current change of heart, don't be surprised if similar matters arise in the future. "Over time, we will continue to evolve Real ID on Battle.net to add new and exciting functionality within our games for players who decide to use the feature," Morhaime said. Blizzard still plans to move forward with new features such as the ability to rate posts and improved search functionality.