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[Account Cold Storage] Should toon names be released too?

Dusk_Coven
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When an account is put into Cold Storage (an eventual part of the Performance Improvements Plan), should the character names be released back into availability?
  • InaMoonlight
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    Wouldn't be very cool, and most likely scare any retunee's away instantly if they risked that the names they chose and thought up over ages suddenly vanish... Imagine logging in again reading new interesting updates, only to see 6-10 chars named 654235632 if you had names like Cassiopeia, Picasso, Nyx, and so forth. Don't think, and hope that'd never happen, noone would return for longer then it took to see their char-list I fear.
    Edit = Typos ... as usual. <;D
  • idk
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    I am in favor of no.

    Granted, we do not own the names. Heck, we do not own our own account. As such Zos can do this. However, it is not a great business decision when there is not an actual need to do this. Former player comes back and has to rename their favorite character so decides not to renew the subscription. Yea, bad idea.

    The only time I have seen forced renames outside of inappropriate names has been with server mergers for obvious reasons.
  • Dusk_Coven
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    Wouldn't be very cool, and most likely scare any retunee's away instantly if they risked that the names they chose and thought up over ages suddenly vanish... Imagine logging in again reading new interesting updates, only to see 6-10 chars named 654235632 if you had names like Cassiopeia, Picasso, Nyx, and so forth. Don't think, and hope that'd never happen, noone would return for longer then it took to see their char-list I fear.

    But if you didn't care enough to log in -- for a long enough period that you ended up in Cold Storage -- would you care about your character name?
    If they did release your character name they'd probably give you a name change token of course. Then you can use accents or other tricks just like ACTIVE players have to do now.
    Edited by Dusk_Coven on December 3, 2019 8:06AM
  • Nyladreas
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    Dusk_Coven wrote: »
    Wouldn't be very cool, and most likely scare any retunee's away instantly if they risked that the names they chose and thought up over ages suddenly vanish... Imagine logging in again reading new interesting updates, only to see 6-10 chars named 654235632 if you had names like Cassiopeia, Picasso, Nyx, and so forth. Don't think, and hope that'd never happen, noone would return for longer then it took to see their char-list I fear.

    But if you didn't care enough to log in -- for a long enough period that you ended up in Cold Storage -- would you care about your character name?
    If they did release your character name they'd probably give you a name change token of course. Then you can use accents or other tricks just like ACTIVE players have to do now.

    Regardless of how long of a break there is, people simply DO care about things like names of their characters or whatever. Us, humans, we're just stupid and wired like that. Most of us anyway.
  • Dusk_Coven
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    Nyladreas wrote: »
    Regardless of how long of a break there is, people simply DO care about things like names of their characters or whatever. Us, humans, we're just stupid and wired like that. Most of us anyway.

    I'm thinking accounts that end up in Cold Storage are unlikely to ever be logged back in and the owners have forgotten about ESO.
  • zaria
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    Wouldn't be very cool, and most likely scare any retunee's away instantly if they risked that the names they chose and thought up over ages suddenly vanish... Imagine logging in again reading new interesting updates, only to see 6-10 chars named 654235632 if you had names like Cassiopeia, Picasso, Nyx, and so forth. Don't think, and hope that'd never happen, noone would return for longer then it took to see their char-list I fear.
    Agree, plenty of people who played eso back at launch dropped it and came back years later.

    Grinding just make you go in circles.
    Asking ZoS for nerfs is as stupid as asking for close air support from the death star.
  • Nairinhe
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    Dusk_Coven wrote: »
    Wouldn't be very cool, and most likely scare any retunee's away instantly if they risked that the names they chose and thought up over ages suddenly vanish... Imagine logging in again reading new interesting updates, only to see 6-10 chars named 654235632 if you had names like Cassiopeia, Picasso, Nyx, and so forth. Don't think, and hope that'd never happen, noone would return for longer then it took to see their char-list I fear.

    But if you didn't care enough to log in -- for a long enough period that you ended up in Cold Storage -- would you care about your character name?
    If they did release your character name they'd probably give you a name change token of course. Then you can use accents or other tricks just like ACTIVE players have to do now.

    Why not delete characters altogether then? You can always level another one :/
  • menathradiel
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    Dusk_Coven wrote: »
    Wouldn't be very cool, and most likely scare any retunee's away instantly if they risked that the names they chose and thought up over ages suddenly vanish... Imagine logging in again reading new interesting updates, only to see 6-10 chars named 654235632 if you had names like Cassiopeia, Picasso, Nyx, and so forth. Don't think, and hope that'd never happen, noone would return for longer then it took to see their char-list I fear.

    But if you didn't care enough to log in -- for a long enough period that you ended up in Cold Storage -- would you care about your character name?

    You have no idea of the circumstances behind not logging in for so long so you can't presume that it's because someone "didn't care". There have been times when I've been unable to login for months due to real life commitments, including moving house, and caring for my father when he suffered a serious health condition. There are always going to be times when real life must take priority; you can never assume that because someone isn't logging in, it means they have lost interest in playing.
    Edited by menathradiel on December 3, 2019 8:13AM
    Tank Girl
  • rpa
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    Being forced to rename a char is highly disrupting and annoying welcome for anyone trying to get back into game. Don't do that unless it it is for a server merge or because an inappropriate name.

    There are plenty of names if your uniquely special one is already taken. I'd suggest using an uniquely special naming scheme instead.

    (I myself like my names as short as possible, finding a 5-6 letter one is easy.)

    Edited by rpa on December 3, 2019 8:20AM
  • Dusk_Coven
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    Nairinhe wrote: »
    Why not delete characters altogether then? You can always level another one :/
    Hmm... If someone came back after years, would they completely start a new toon because the game is so different?
    In any case, deleting a character would probably delete gear too unless they set up a gear dump, which would be more process.
    Releasing a name is different. It gives current and new players a more comfortable experience instead of trying over and over again to make a name hopefully without special characters or numbers (if numbers are even allowed).
  • zaria
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    Dusk_Coven wrote: »
    Wouldn't be very cool, and most likely scare any retunee's away instantly if they risked that the names they chose and thought up over ages suddenly vanish... Imagine logging in again reading new interesting updates, only to see 6-10 chars named 654235632 if you had names like Cassiopeia, Picasso, Nyx, and so forth. Don't think, and hope that'd never happen, noone would return for longer then it took to see their char-list I fear.

    But if you didn't care enough to log in -- for a long enough period that you ended up in Cold Storage -- would you care about your character name?

    You have no idea of the circumstances behind not logging in for so long so you can't presume that it's because someone "didn't care". There have been times when I've been unable to login for months due to real life commitments, including moving house, and caring for my father when he suffered a serious health condition. There are always going to be times when real life must take priority; you can never assume that because someone isn't logging in, it means they have lost interest in playing.
    Yes, its also an decent segment of players who treats eso as an annual single player game. They buy the chapters and do them then leave eso until next year.
    Grinding just make you go in circles.
    Asking ZoS for nerfs is as stupid as asking for close air support from the death star.
  • Dusk_Coven
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    You have no idea of the circumstances behind not logging in for so long so you can't presume that it's because someone "didn't care". There have been times when I've been unable to login for months due to real life commitments, including moving house, and caring for my father when he suffered a serious health condition. There are always going to be times when real life must take priority; you can never assume that because someone isn't logging in, it means they have lost interest in playing.

    I suspect Cold Storage isn't going to be for people who haven't just logged in for a few months or maybe even over a year. If they are even implementing it, my guess is they are going to have a cut-off where they believe people have basically abandoned the game. They might even put in some repeated "hey, come back, here's a special promo" offer some time in there to check if you are still alive before they move the account into Cold Storage.
    That they are thinking about it suggests a lot of accounts are dormant for years.
    Edited by Dusk_Coven on December 3, 2019 8:33AM
  • RaddlemanNumber7
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    No. It's cold storage, not an abattoir. People will not be happy to come back to the game if they find that their characters have had all their names cut off.

    PC EU
  • Nordic__Knights
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    Dusk_Coven wrote: »
    You have no idea of the circumstances behind not logging in for so long so you can't presume that it's because someone "didn't care". There have been times when I've been unable to login for months due to real life commitments, including moving house, and caring for my father when he suffered a serious health condition. There are always going to be times when real life must take priority; you can never assume that because someone isn't logging in, it means they have lost interest in playing.

    I suspect Cold Storage isn't going to be for people who haven't just logged in for a few months or maybe even over a year. If they are even implementing it, my guess is they are going to have a cut-off where they believe people have basically abandoned the game. They might even put in some repeated "hey, come back, here's a special promo" offer some time in there to check if you are still alive before they move the account into Cold Storage.
    That they are thinking about it suggests a lot of accounts are dormant for years.

    cold storage well hit with 6 to 8 months of not loging in not 3 years its to easy the server of its load so its not going to take FOREVER to get put into play js
  • Dusk_Coven
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    No. It's cold storage, not an abattoir. People will not be happy to come back to the game if they find that their characters have had all their names cut off.

    What about people who checked out the game during free play week and basically never came back? Accounts like those could very easily be considered for Cold Storage. Some accounts might not even have a paid copy of the game to log back into.

    I would think Cold Storage means they think you won't come back. And chances are if you do come back there's a process required to move your account out of Cold Storage.
    Edited by Dusk_Coven on December 3, 2019 8:47AM
  • Kadoin
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    And when players mistakenly identify new name holders as some one else...?
  • Dusk_Coven
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    Kadoin wrote: »
    And when players mistakenly identify new name holders as some one else...?

    There's still account name. And if they ended up in Cold Storage, I rather doubt anyone remembers them at all. Or if they did, they'd stop to ask, if releasing names were an established part of Cold Storage.
    zaria wrote: »
    Yes, its also an decent segment of players who treats eso as an annual single player game. They buy the chapters and do them then leave eso until next year.
    If that's a demographic then ZOS would be foolish not to recognize it and subject themselves to moving people back and forth from Cold Storage. Which would quickly demonstrate their heuristic for who goes into Cold Storage to be incorrect.
  • Elwendryll
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    It depends on the time limit before you're put in cold storage. I've had characters straight up deleted after a few years without playing on a game.

    I think it should be okay to release character names after let's say a 2 years inactivity, after repeated warning emails to the player over the last few months before being put in cold storage.

    Do I think it's necessary?

    Absolutely not.
    If you can't come up with an original name, that's on you :p
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  • idk
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    There is a major difference between putting an account/characters into cold storage and removing all of their names. Zos has clearly chosen to not release their names with the current parameters they have described. Given that OP has not provided any worthy reason, and in fact explained releasing names was not needed at this time, Zos has no reason to reconsider their current agenda.
    Edited by idk on December 3, 2019 9:28AM
  • nickl413
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    So what name is the OP trying to get?
  • Dojohoda
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    No.
    Fan of playing magblade since 2015. (PC NA)
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  • essi2
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    Not practical, and as others have pointed out, you might aswell just delete old characters then.
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  • richo262
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    I think it would be reasonable that, if an account is in cold storage for X years that the names get released. It doesn't remove your characters names or anything, it just means, if another player creates a character with that name it lets them. The character on your account loses its name and you cann't log into it without giving it a new name. It would be reasonable to send out a notification email to the owner of the account "Hey, if you don't log in other players may be able to use your character name and you may have to choose a new name".

    Unfortunate fact of life is people do die. They won't be taking their ESO characters with them.
    Edited by richo262 on December 3, 2019 9:50AM
  • Danikat
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    Wouldn't be very cool, and most likely scare any retunee's away instantly if they risked that the names they chose and thought up over ages suddenly vanish... Imagine logging in again reading new interesting updates, only to see 6-10 chars named 654235632 if you had names like Cassiopeia, Picasso, Nyx, and so forth. Don't think, and hope that'd never happen, noone would return for longer then it took to see their char-list I fear.

    Yeah that would be me. If I took a break from a game, head about an interesting update and was thinking about coming back then reinstalled it only to find my characters had been stripped of their names I'd uninstall and never look back.

    I realise some people think a character name is just something you have to have so other people can add you to groups or whatever and it doesn't matter what it is. But for me it's important - it's part of who they are. You may as well suggest randomising their appearance or changing their class and alliance without asking. It would ruin the character.

    So it could be a great idea if they want to ensure people who aren't currently logging in regularly will definitely never come back again. But if they're doing that why not just delete the accounts all together instead of taking 1/2 measures?
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  • RaddlemanNumber7
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    The only players I can really see being keen on this are ones who have perma-banned accounts. When the perma-banned account goes into cold storage the character names would become available for the player to re-use on a new account.

    I'm assuming of course that the characters on perma-banned accounts are not already being completely deleted, and their names freed up. I don't know how that works. I haven't had my account banned.
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  • Maggi12
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    what will happen with those ppl who are in the guild, but not played 10 months or so. And the guild leader did not kicked them? Will they remain "as is" in the guild roster list?
  • redlink1979
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    No since "freezing" doesn't mean deleting.
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  • eklhaftb16_ESO
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    What would be the point of releasing unused names when we can use spaces in our names? The amount of possible combinations and variations is absurdly high without even resorting to accented letters. Grab a phonebook (if you still can find any these days) and check how many different Johns or Peters there are. ;)

    I suppose you could just entirely delete one-time trial accounts that haven't been touched for several years, as it is highly unlikely those people will ever be back (they probably don't even remember the game). But names taken by people who actually bought the game should be reserved permanently; after all, they paid for it.
    Edited by eklhaftb16_ESO on December 3, 2019 10:44AM
  • redgreensunset
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    As someone who has had to take a hiatus from games from 6-10 months due to health issues let me just say vocally no. Also a friend of mine is stanioned abroad from anywhere from 6-12 months and doesn't always have good enough internet access where he's posted to play an mmo. In neither case does it mean we won't ever be back.
    And there's a whole lot of hypothetical scenarios about how people may not ever come back if they don't play for 6-12 months, well here are two real life scenarios about the opposite.
    So no, just no. Use your creativity and think of somehting else.
  • Nairinhe
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    nickl413 wrote: »
    So what name is the OP trying to get?

    ^ This, BTW. And even then OP is much better off asking name owner if they maaaaaybe could let them take the name
This discussion has been closed.