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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBattle.net preview: Real ID
by Robin Torres 
Feb 9th 2010 at 8:00PM
Blizzard mentioned this new cross-game social aspect of Bnet at last year's BlizzCon. Real ID is an optional system for chatting with and keeping track of "real life" friends in any Battle.net game. You invite friends with your Real ID. If they accept, you can find out what game they are playing and on what realm and character. You can also chat across realms or games. You won't have to remember the usernames of your Real ID friends and family, because you will see their real names on the interface. And you will also be able to broadcast messages to all on your Real ID friends list, rather than just chatting one at a time.
I cannot wait for this to be implemented for WoW accounts. I would love to be able to chat with my friends who are scattered across many realms and who defect to play StarCraft. I really think this is great for more hardcore players (I'll be on my Alliance alt until you Hordies can get your act together for the raid) or very casual, chatty altoholics.
Will you use the Real ID system?
Filed under: Blizzard, News items
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)
Res Feb 9th 2010 8:50PM
I think the article makes it pretty clear you have to opt-IN by actively inviting people.
CDave Feb 9th 2010 8:24PM
So it's basically Blizzard's verison of Steam Community.
peagle Feb 9th 2010 8:25PM
Sounds like Steam friends, can't see why it wouldn't be just as popular.
Netheral Feb 9th 2010 9:10PM
Don't forget, blizzard has borrowed/copied/stolen? (can I say that? :o ) things like this before and most of the time it becomes VERY popular, even moreso than it's "original".
Kyle Feb 9th 2010 8:26PM
You have an opt out ability. Don't add or accept anyone with your REALID. Problem solved.
b0ydrgn Feb 9th 2010 8:29PM
Probably not, I use Vent, works fine with no typing. Besides, don't play anything but WoW
Colerejuste Feb 9th 2010 8:32PM
I'd use it. I've already got Steam and XFire (mostly to track how much time I do spend gaming).
The casual guide I've been in for about 4 years now, made up of mostly RL friends has drifted somewhat. Some people have moved to different realms, and as soon as Starcraft and Diablo are released, there will be moves to different games.
It would be good to have an in-game channel to these folks, or even a channel where you don't necessarily have to be playing a Blizzard game.
syi Feb 9th 2010 8:57PM
is this available as of now?
Robin Torres Feb 10th 2010 9:41AM
No this is a preview of changes to come when Starcraft II comes out.
Gaurisk Feb 9th 2010 8:48PM
I'll try it about a year after launch, when some of the bugs have been ironed out.
uncaringbear Feb 9th 2010 8:52PM
I can't wait to use this new feature. I am sick and tired of the artificial barriers that were put into place to prevent you from easily talking to your friends on the opposite faction or on another realm. This could not come any sooner.
Gwaendel Feb 9th 2010 9:08PM
This is the really most important feature of the new Battle.net to all WoW players. You think you'll have as much of a choice about it? They made us merge battle.net accounts, and the new battle.net is why, this is also an integral part of that. Embrace it and learn about it now.
Abraxxis Feb 9th 2010 9:05PM
I won't be using the Real ID. In a previous guild, I was quite close to people, and shared names & phone numbers. When things went sour, they went really sour. In my current guild, I intend to keep some distance.
I was hoping the battlenet chat would allow me to maintain touch with my guild, I'm no longer holding that hope.
Rob Feb 10th 2010 8:04AM
Seems like you should be able to 'unfriends' people. That would solve that issue.
JackOfAllGames Feb 9th 2010 9:33PM
I'd love to be able to chat with guildies cross-server and cross-faction. In order for me to use it, there will have to be privacy settings. I'd rather not even have people know my name. I'd want to define a nickname or something. I don't want to have to think about inviting someone to an account-wide friends list. Without some privacy settings, I'll have to be picky. I don't want to be picky.
Then the ability to control what friends can see would be nice. The ability to occasionally go invisible to people would be nice. Probably more stuff given time.
For me, I'll have to wait and see the details before I decide whether I'll use it. I do have high hopes for this system.
Robin Torres Feb 10th 2010 9:45AM
This feature is for chatting with friends who already know your real name. Of course, you CAN give your real name to other people in game if you like, but this is really for people you already trust enough to know who you are.
loop_not_defined Feb 9th 2010 9:44PM
Oh god yes. Most of my real life friends (that play WoW) play on different servers, and even more are Starcraft/Diablo fans.
Jayfitty Feb 9th 2010 9:49PM
I am the leader of an Alliance guild and we also have a Horde alt guild on a different server. With this new change I think it will make it easier for my guildies (and myself) to play their horde toons and not feel so disconnected.
Bryan Dare Feb 9th 2010 9:52PM
Hooray for breaking down cross-faction communication barriers! I'll finally be able to talk to my silly Horde-hating friends in-game, and even my friend who plays Starcraft and didn't care for WoW when he tried it (grr). Can't wait!
/happy
alpha5099 Feb 9th 2010 10:09PM
I principally play Alliance because that's what my friends play. I have no intention of abandoning my Draenei Shaman, but it'll be nice to be able to play more Horde alts and still being able to talk to my friends.