Two weeks of paid name changes
by John Himes 
Nov 8th 2007 at 9:30PM
It's been a couple weeks now since the paid name change service was initially offered and I've noticed a few people in my guild that have taken advantage of it. While it's certainly personal preference, a lot of the changed names seem worse to me than the old ones. Some of them were obviously chosen for comic value, since they're reminiscent of the guy in the picture over here.Regardless of my opinions about the specific names, everyone I've talked to has said that the service was quick and easy. I also haven't heard any horror stories regarding sociopathic players changing their names to wreak more havoc upon unsuspecting victims under a new moniker. From my limited experience, it seems like an overall positive change to the game.
Have you paid to change your name? What was your old one and what's your new one? Was your experience with the service a good one?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Arras Nov 8th 2007 9:41PM
I changed my main's name to a sort of joke/pet name so I could name my alt (now main) my main's name (still with me?).
I forgot to read the fine print about when you change your name, your former name is locked for 90 days.
Lame.
I'm sure there's a reason behind it, maybe a system replication or load balancing issue.
But still.
Lame
Donjo Nov 8th 2007 10:54PM
I changed my name on an alt that I was letting my friend play on my second account (he changed it when he transfered it). The change was super fast (like 2 minutes) and pretty painless.
steve Nov 9th 2007 12:24AM
I changed my name from Kungen to Dekion, I think it's pretty obvious why I changed it :P
sirotrax Nov 8th 2007 10:22PM
Some dumb shit in my guild renamed his warrior from Haylie to Angrybarbie.
/sigh
Icepuck Nov 8th 2007 10:29PM
@1
The two main reasons I see a 90 day lock-out on the names.
a) Stop people stealing your old name and assuming you identity
b) Corruption/conflict issues with data-recovery and backups that are held for said 90 days.
Icepuck Nov 8th 2007 10:30PM
and I forgot...
c) Stop people changing thier names backwards and forwards repeatadly
Erika Nov 8th 2007 10:52PM
I changed my priest becuase it had the weird a and just picked something else. It took about 15 min or so.
vlad Nov 9th 2007 1:42AM
paid character appearance coming soon prolly
Bk Nov 8th 2007 11:13PM
thunderbaron to tehsuck, I said id change my name to whatever anywanted for 5 dollars, and success, I was 5 dollars richer
Bk Nov 8th 2007 11:14PM
and I mean 15$, so I made 5 :)
Felbane Nov 8th 2007 11:21PM
As soon as I heard of this feature, I considered naming my alts in a similar manner as one of my RL friends, where each one has a common component in the name (i.e. he had "Healzya" (Priest), "Stabzya" (Rogue), "Shockzya" (Shaman), "Fearzya" (Warlock), "Critzya" (Mage), etc.) Then I decided I didn't want to spend 50 bucks changing names... besides that, I think mine are pretty clever (ex. Delaeh for my resto druid, Hailee for my frost mage, Bullett for my Tauren hunter...)
Autumnbear Nov 8th 2007 11:23PM
I changed my Tauren Druid from 'Autumnbear' to 'Spiritkeeper'.
Even though nobody else wants my user name, I'm a little nervous and scared that after the 90 day waiting period that somebody will 'ninja' it.
Once I get it back though, I'll be happy. I'll keep it for my Human, whenever Blizzard gives Humans either a Hunter/Shaman/or Druid class.
Alexander Nov 8th 2007 11:25PM
@7 -
doesn't the name change cost ten bucks?
so if the change costs ten dollars...
(-10) + 5 = (-5)
you're still five dollars poorer.
Way to go, mathman!
Paperclip1 Nov 9th 2007 1:01AM
I had no idea how much I'd get into the game and how much I'd regret naming my main this, but my first name was Mike + Theresa = Mikeresa. (Me + my then girlfriend.)
We broke up some time after I hit 60, and I just didn't have the patience to level up the exact same character to 60 just because of the name. Then when I got to 70, I really started hating the name.
Needless to say I've been looking forward to this feature for a looong time.
The experience was flawless as could be, btw.
Bk Nov 8th 2007 11:29PM
@11
I actually got $15, - 10=5, I dominate math.
JeffreyM Nov 8th 2007 11:40PM
actually im pulling a prank on my GL who i told everyone to tell him i gquit so when he logs on hes gonna flip out on vent and call me an A-Hole lol, then im gonna pull a chris hanson on him and come out of no where and tell him its a prank, BEST PRANK EVR!!
Erika Nov 8th 2007 11:55PM
@13 Good luck and dont get booted forever.
Pex Nov 9th 2007 12:45AM
rofl @ 15
Well, I won't probably change mine, since I actually took a good name to start with.
My friend most probably will, though.
rand al'thor Nov 9th 2007 1:39AM
i used to have a toon named zelino but then i changed his name to one of my favorite bands, pedrothelion. his class, a feral spec'd tauren druid.
Django Nov 9th 2007 4:56AM
I had wanted to change my character to Django from Ikasuhade, as that is the name I wanted from the start, however some Troll Rogue who hasn't signed on for 2 years has that name currently... What a jerk.