nice article!
That's some research you did there.
I'm not sure if I like the rise of the barcode names myself, but if it get's really out of hand with the barcodes I'll have myself a "make a friend"-day per week where i punch in a 0-12 name and a random character number into the add friend button and just chat away ^_^

Darkhorse

United States23455 Posts

February 02 2013 15:13 GMT

#28

Losira says, "Barcodes are for women and children. I will make rank one, and do it like a man!"

Sherlock-Canada

Canada269 Posts

February 02 2013 15:14 GMT

#29

Yeah, I think it's pretty boring to see bar codes on the ladder. I get why pros want to do it; but if their strat is really good, surely it will get out anyway?

Penev

28536 Posts

February 02 2013 15:15 GMT

#30

Was it in the GSL code a preliminaries that I saw someone who actually named himself "bar code"? Anyway, fun read.

dynwar7

1983 Posts

February 02 2013 15:17 GMT

#31

Are you really a forestry scientist, Orek?

Grovbolle

Denmark3819 Posts

February 02 2013 15:17 GMT

#32

The reason people did was that in BW names had to be unique. Meaning that only one aaaa player could exist.
With lIlIIIllIIl it was possible to have a lot of players with similar names, plus you couldn't do the /stats IlllIIIIllllI

Raven_zero300

United States33 Posts

February 02 2013 15:18 GMT

#33

I think Blizzard should ban the barcode names from GrandMaster league. If that isn't enough, ban them from matchmaking against GrandMaster players. This crap is getting to the point of sillyness.

EleanorRIgby

Canada3923 Posts

February 02 2013 15:23 GMT

#34

i understand why pros do it, its the only way to smurf. But then you get the random master players with barcodes who bm every time they lose.

paralleluniverse

4065 Posts

February 02 2013 15:25 GMT

#35

On February 02 2013 23:52 Fenrax wrote:

Show nested quote +

What would be the point? You could do the same with Lee instead of I and Kim instead of l (or any other words) and then add a random string of numbers.

Kim is not a gibberish name.

Zelniq

United States7166 Posts

February 02 2013 15:27 GMT

#36

What's going to be interesting is when HotS comes out and now it shows you a number next to your avatar in the ladder map loading screen, the number that indicates your level in their new account leveling system. I'm not sure but does it show your total cumulative levels amongst all 3 races? so even though after enough time most high level players will have the same maxed level making themselves indistinguishable, if anyone ever offraced in either ranked or unranked ladder, it'll add it and separate themselves from others? discouraging people from offracing probably.. also it shows what league you're in so there will be some master/grandmaster distinction there too. of course there's always been avatars but most barcode names will try to stick to the same default avatar i suppose. same with decals i guess

Blaine

Italy188 Posts

February 02 2013 15:28 GMT

#37

High school math should have taught you that u can simply do 2^12

NotYetAWoman

Norway49 Posts

February 02 2013 15:28 GMT

#38

On February 03 2013 00:27 Zelniq wrote:
What's going to be interesting is when HotS comes out and now it shows you a number next to your avatar in the ladder map loading screen, the number that indicates your level in their new account leveling system. I'm not sure but does it show your total cumulative levels amongst all 3 races? so even though after enough time most high level players will have the same maxed level making themselves indistinguishable, if anyone ever offraced in either ranked or unranked ladder, it'll add it and separate themselves from others? discouraging people from offracing probably.. also it shows what league you're in so there will be some master/grandmaster distinction there too. of course there's always been avatars but most barcode names will try to stick to the same default avatar i suppose. same with decals i guess

or they just switch accounts inbetween players in the team.

nomyx

United States2205 Posts

February 02 2013 15:29 GMT

#39

On February 02 2013 23:28 zere wrote:
(Z)

lll

2-2, I expected more out of that IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII guy

Zandar

Netherlands1541 Posts

February 02 2013 15:35 GMT

#40

On February 02 2013 23:47 paralleluniverse wrote:
The same rule should be applied to SC2, and these accounts with barcode names should be forced to rename..

Why?
Clearly there is a demand for anonymity.
Instead, blizzard should provide them with a proper way of hiding their ladder games if they want, instead of forcing them to be public. The choice should be with the player.