Username Resets

I think its about time to have a username wipe. I'm not saying all active players loose their name and then someone comes along and steals it. Basically mods alert everyone about the reset and set like a month period. Login, name is saved like I said. But if you don't, then your name will be allowed to be registered to anyone. This way all the people from years ago who quit and stuff (who have no need of the names) will have to give their names up to the players who are active/new players. The characters itself shouldn't be deleted though. Let's say someone where to quit dcuo then come back after the reset. They will be alert about it, and will be given the option to re-register the name. While rewarding active players this will also clear up all the useless slot in the database too so win-win. Agree or Disagree? Would like to hear everyone's opinions of the matter.

Let's hope nobody who plays the game ever;

1. Goes into military service
2. has to have extended medical care like chemotherapy
3. Has their game platform break and are on a budget so it will take several months to get a new one

This is a bad idea, and hurts the people who deserve to be hurt the least.

I agree, but freeing names who were not used for over two years are in 99,99999% of all cases ditched accounts. When I worked in another community we free'd up usernames to be used who haven't been logged in for over 2 1/2 years (800+ days). It caused more issues than it resolved, also started to see impersonators all around.

It's best to leave it untouched—permanently banned account names could/should be freed after a while though.

Those are very unlikely in most cases. Even if they were, it's just a name. They are given a free name respec anyways. I do understand what you mean though, people get busy and shouldn't be punished for it. But at the same time, being busy/away is not really helpful to dcuo. Everyone else who will dedicate money and time to the game should be put at top priority.

I've worked on private servers before a bit and we also did a name reset. It wasn't a game like DCUO where it had an in-depth level system and such but it did have goals you work towards. We deleted all inactive accounts and didn't have too much problems. I can see where it can be quite annoying though when people come back and complain about having to register a name. But come on... There would be a few months of heads up. If you are seriously away that long, not even checking up with DCUO do you really care about your name being changed?

I don't know about you, but I wouldn't do anything that even has a chance of making life more unpleasant for someone going through chemotherapy.

Maybe all the chemo patients can apply for a special dispensation with the name change. Otherwise, wipe away.
DCUO has done it before, think they added _AP to the end of loads of stagnant accounts sometime after the hack, freeing up loads of original names. I say go for it.

i don't get why a username wipe is something people would ask for. if the name you wanted is taken, just be more creative about it and add a twist that no one would expect.

You made your point, no need to make the OP look totally insensitive.

I wrote up a long message but won't even post it because it made me go into a whole 'nother topic. lol but honestly you playing this whole "What if they are chemo" thing out doesn't even make sense to me. I've seen family/friends go through this treatment and if anything something like this would do the opposite. Probably wouldn't even bother them. It's a name change. When you are fighting for your life, things like this don't matter. Plus I'm sure they could log on and simply verify their account. I have all sympathy in the world for people going through this because I've lost a loved one recent when they were going through chemo but in all reality, if you haven't been playing the game, why do you need that name taking up space. We can play this "What If" game all day but it will be pointless... I mean what if someone were trapped in the forest for 3 months and couldn't get home to verify their account? What if all internet went out for a month and they couldn't verify? If anything the problems that should be discussed should be within the system and things not more about the reasons people can't verify.

Not everyone wants 3 numbers in their name. Yeah you can be creative but the name choices are getting scarce..
I know I'm not the only who doesn't like people with spaces in their name or having them myself. I know I'm being lazy but PMing someone is annoying without a keyboard when you have to put a quote around the name. And thinking like this is the reason that I don't invite alot of people to groups unless they are nearyby because their name is like N3K40Nn K11nG09

Didn't know I was playing a "thing". I brought 3 possible scenarios in which the OP's solution to people not having enough originality on their own could be hurtful to people who don't deserve it. I don't want to play a "what if" game either, a change was presented, I said I objected and gave reasons why. It wasn't a philosophical exercise.

nobody said you need to put numbers, hell i originally was gonna be just brawler, i just added john and a space infront of it and thus, john brawler was born. also barely a week ago i made a character called blastburn. to be honest you can be creative and come up with a different yet still original name, and the whole adding numbers thing is a reason you can do that.

You gave 3 reasons as to why people wouldn't be able to verify their name. Ok good input but you rode that whole chemo thing. Didn't want to get all philosophical with it but needed to so I could explain why it is an invalid reason. Same could go for the console breaking. Honestly tough luck. Don't know how much times I had things like this happen where I wasn't in the place to do something.. I just said oh well and made do with what I had. I can guearentee though that 80% of all active accounts would be from players who quit.

Yeah I agree with being creative but at some point we will run out of names to be creative with. Some people would like a name to be themed with their character or something they would enjoy. I have made 5 characters with creative names but the point was I've tried so many names leading up to it that it wasn't funny. The ratio of players online in dcuo the names registered is probably 1:20. Probably more lol

I gave an example, I could have used traction, or a neck injury. I gave an example. And again, I created a toon about 4 weeks ago with a completely original name, Cosmic Edge for a celestial character. If people put some thought into it, there are original names out there.

Never said that there wasn't. I have made 5 characters with all creative names. But not everyone wants a random name you know. Like something to do with your power or character theme. Nobody wants to sit there brainstorming for names. Overall, if you haven't been playing the game, tough luck. There are players who pay monthly for the game but we should cater to you because of what reasons? I guess I was hoping for someone to reply about an in-game response. I wasn't prepared to discuss stuff like reasons they wouldn't be able to log on which is why my posts are coming off like this. Just don't see how people would care about a game they hardly play.

Are you okay with the possibility of losing the name you really really like during one of these "pre-notified wipes"?
Say you're well aware of it and how to prevent it, but something unexpected happens and your ability to login is stopped.
You lose your name, and someone else who wanted the same thing snatches it up, so re-registering for your favorite name is not an option.

Are you okay with this loss? Does the system seem to be working as hoped in that scenario?

If it was a year with 3 months notice then I could agree to it.

DCUO never did a name wipe, they did a sever merge. You used to have to pick what server you wanted to be on, and there were several PVP servers and several PVE server which were each named (and I would guess no phase shifter as well). When the game went to one server for each platform, everyone's name was appended with the server they came from.

Let me start this reply off by saying thanks for actually putting me in the senario, instead of attacking me lol have a feeling people will start to later on in the topic which I'm ok with...

But anyways, yes I have thought this through. You will know about a month or 2 in advanced. I'm sure I would be able to get online for a few seconds or even have a friend or family member log on for me if I was away. Now WHAT IF I somehow lost contact with everyone and I had absolutly no way of logging in before the wipe? Hmm I honestly would be ok with it. I understand how messy databases can get with a lot of players. I understand there were players who registered and remained loyal deserve to have best picks. I also figure that if something was keeping me away from dcuo for months altogether that whatever was keeping me away would be more important. I mean basically if not, I would be saying I'm going to let good names go to waste even though I have no interest in actively playing the game. But I wouldn't do that. I stopped playing clubpenguin many years ago and wouldn't mind making a new name. Same with XBL. I haven't been on since I got my PS4. Wouldn't mind coming on to a username reset because I know someone would probably put better use to that name than I would. As long as my profile data and things were still there.

Yeah It could even be more time than that! lol people think that I want DCUO devs to login to twitter and say "Login with in the next 10 mins of your name will get changed."

Yeah I agree. And the chemo patients could just log on for a few seconds to verify. But yeah even adding _AP to end of name. I mean I even said allow them to change their name completely and people still complain haha

To me its too 50/50 to incorporate a change like this. Many people feel that its just a name so what does it matter if lost...which works both ways...why does it matter if someone doesnt get the name they want if its just a name.

I think the game is too far past the halfway point to start removing names for whatever reason.
Though youve given the most realistic suggestion for it ive seen in my time here.

You also have to remember the players and the maturity level and how far these people go to appear better or "win" or get what they want.

Im not shooting your idea down, its logical to a degree, I just disagree.