4 ms·

I’m not sure what definition of game you’re using, where having to validate your account with a real life identifier (which feels vague, since basically every m

by akerl_ 4y ago

I’m not sure what definition of game you’re using, where having to validate your account with a real life identifier (which feels vague, since basically every multiplayer platform already has accounts tied to email addresses, because of course they do) makes something “not a game anymore”. But that’s not the definition that I’m aware of in use anywhere else.

branon 4y ago
Email addresses aren't real-life identifiers, although they could be used that way. And on the inverse, I can buy a burner phone with cash and defeat Blizzard's requirement easily. But it's pretty clear what Blizzard is going for here, since we know their platform is competitive and thus harsher on individuals viewed as bad actors. Blizzard knows full well that most people signing up to play only have one phone number, which is most certainly a real-life identifier for those players. My point is that if players feel compelled to self-censor their interactions online for fear of repercussions[0], then they are not playing a game. They are instead representing themselves as individuals on a social network with competitive/gamified attributes. Requiring phone numbers to play is just a method to gently reinforce this. To each their own - this might be exactly the type of game you like to play. But it departs pretty strongly from the classical definition of "video game" that I grew up with. [0] For example, your primary phone number being disallowed access to all Blizzard services. Maybe they go even further and request that 3rd party services ban you for off-platform violations. Moved this down to a footnote so as not to spread FUD, I'm sure they don't currently do this, nor do I expect them to. But cross-referencing phone numbers would make it very easy to start.
- akerl_ 4y ago
  Overwatch’s only social features are in-game voice/text chat, whose purpose is primarily coordinating with your team. If this helps censor the people who are interrupting the game to shout racist insults or read their manifestos, that seems like a win for gaming to me. Putting something in a footnote doesn’t make it it FUD, for what it’s worth.
  - q-big 4y ago
    > If this helps censor the people who are interrupting the game to shout racist insults or read their manifestos, that seems like a win for gaming to me. Why not let stupid people shout stupid things ...
    - akerl_ 4y ago
      Because it’s disruptive to the rest of us trying to play the game?
      - q-big 4y ago
        Come on: also in real life stupid people say stupid things all the time.
        akerl_ 4y ago
        Yes. Is that relevant here? In-game chat isn’t bound by any requirement to support everything that stupid people can do in real life.
        q-big 4y ago
        > In-game chat isn’t bound by any requirement to support everything that stupid people can do in real life. Do you seriously claim that "not preventing" already means "supporting"?!
        akerl_ 4y ago
        To be hopefully crystal clear: Overwatch voice chat is a privately hosted service that’s built to be used by players during overwatch games. Blizzard moderates the content of that chat to remove disruptive content, where disruptive means “chat that makes people not enjoy playing overwatch”. In general, that’s people shouting slurs at their teammates or rambling about nonsense. Changes like the phone number requirement are part of their approach to expand the preemptive blocking of this activity. And I am fully in favor of them doing this, because it improves the quality of the game.

by akerl_ 4y ago

branon 4y ago

Email addresses aren't real-life identifiers, although they could be used that way. And on the inverse, I can buy a burner phone with cash and defeat Blizzard's requirement easily. But it's pretty clear what Blizzard is going for here, since we know their platform is competitive and thus harsher on individuals viewed as bad actors. Blizzard knows full well that most people signing up to play only have one phone number, which is most certainly a real-life identifier for those players. My point is that if players feel compelled to self-censor their interactions online for fear of repercussions[0], then they are not playing a game. They are instead representing themselves as individuals on a social network with competitive/gamified attributes. Requiring phone numbers to play is just a method to gently reinforce this. To each their own - this might be exactly the type of game you like to play. But it departs pretty strongly from the classical definition of "video game" that I grew up with. [0] For example, your primary phone number being disallowed access to all Blizzard services. Maybe they go even further and request that 3rd party services ban you for off-platform violations. Moved this down to a footnote so as not to spread FUD, I'm sure they don't currently do this, nor do I expect them to. But cross-referencing phone numbers would make it very easy to start.

akerl_ 4y ago
Overwatch’s only social features are in-game voice/text chat, whose purpose is primarily coordinating with your team. If this helps censor the people who are interrupting the game to shout racist insults or read their manifestos, that seems like a win for gaming to me. Putting something in a footnote doesn’t make it it FUD, for what it’s worth.
- q-big 4y ago
  > If this helps censor the people who are interrupting the game to shout racist insults or read their manifestos, that seems like a win for gaming to me. Why not let stupid people shout stupid things ...
  - akerl_ 4y ago
    Because it’s disruptive to the rest of us trying to play the game?
    - q-big 4y ago
      Come on: also in real life stupid people say stupid things all the time.
      - akerl_ 4y ago
        Yes. Is that relevant here? In-game chat isn’t bound by any requirement to support everything that stupid people can do in real life.
        q-big 4y ago
        > In-game chat isn’t bound by any requirement to support everything that stupid people can do in real life. Do you seriously claim that "not preventing" already means "supporting"?!
        akerl_ 4y ago
        To be hopefully crystal clear: Overwatch voice chat is a privately hosted service that’s built to be used by players during overwatch games. Blizzard moderates the content of that chat to remove disruptive content, where disruptive means “chat that makes people not enjoy playing overwatch”. In general, that’s people shouting slurs at their teammates or rambling about nonsense. Changes like the phone number requirement are part of their approach to expand the preemptive blocking of this activity. And I am fully in favor of them doing this, because it improves the quality of the game.