In an effort to protect iOS Game Center users from fraudulent activity, Apple has updated the platform's Terms of Service and will now force gamers to reveal their real identities when sending out a friends request to another player. So, let us get this straight: Firefly was canceled, Uwe Boll is still making movies and now Apple will no longer let us hide behind gamer tags as we destroy all comers during a fierce game of Cro-Mag Rally?
Worst. Millennium. Ever.
OK, maybe we're being a little melodramatic. The only time an iOS Game Center user's true identity will be revealed is when the player opts to send a friend request to another player. Gamer tags will still be used when making random match up as well as with games that support leader boards. The changes to iOS Game Center's terms of use comes on the heels of a similar venture undertaken by Blizzard Entertainment with their Battle.net service. Earlier this year, Blizzard saw fit to force users of their service, which among other things, facilitates player-to-player communications the company's smash hit World of Warcraft, to reveal their real names. So many members of the game's subscriber base voiced outrage over their loss of anonymity that Blizzard opted to retract the policy, allowing players to hide behind the names of their avatars once more. Whether or not iOS Game Center users will respond to Apple's decision in a similar manner remains to be seen.
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