Dev. blog - Changing Names, 27 August

[Great_one]

well seeing as it will come out on a tuesday or a wednesday, and there are 0 days off on those days in my school. it looks like i will have a hard time getting great one. Might go for something Greek or very well known to the educated world. perhaps i shall nab Charles Evremonde, or Charles Darnay.

[forestfrolic]

YES! D____U____X will now be Dux! or Dux Bellorum, or Dux o North, or Dux o Forest, or or or!

[Chained_life]

Not exactly how I thought they would do this.

 

 

 

Guess I gotta stay up until 3am-5am so I can change the name to what I want, before all the people register all the good names. Americans are gonna get screwed over :| (Especially PST like us) and thankfully my school doesn't start for 2 weeks. Or am I hopefully missing something?

[Jard_Y_Dooku]

[hide=Rather large quote pertaining to Username as a Primary Key]

My word... they use player usernames as the primary key?! It is incredible that a company filled with software engineers doesn't appear to have heard the concept of an unique ID number for each account as the primary key. If they'd done this in the first place, there would be no issues whatsoever. ID numbers are meant to be transparent to the user of the application and never change. Usernames are very poor record identifiers.

 

 

 

Consider the way phpBB is designed (correctly). All our usernames are not the unique reference to our ID. Yes, they are unique, but they are not identifiers. We have ID numbers for that... for example, mine is 189809. This number, in the Tip.It's phpBB database, references everything about my account, and is why username changing is easy and efficient.

 

 

 

In fairness when "in the first place" occurred. - they didn't have a company at all, let alone one filled with software engineers. Just a couple of guys who were almost still hobbyists.

 

 

 

Yup pretty much straight out of university and started up with 2-3 people.

[/hide]

 

 

 

Granted, and yet - I'm a very inexperienced student, just about to start a Computer Science course in September and I would of never considered using a username as the primary identifier in a database. ;)

 

 

 

Maybe it's a sign of the change over the years, or just me - but it seems a rather bad move, they understand that now though obviously.

 

 

 

Shame they didn't sort out a better identifier than the username with this update, although I don't want to imagine the work involved in Runescape's systems to straighten out that issue... -.-

 

 

 

Awesome, you possess brains.

 

 

 

My word... they use player usernames as the primary key?! It is incredible that a company filled with software engineers doesn't appear to have heard the concept of an unique ID number for each account as the primary key. If they'd done this in the first place, there would be no issues whatsoever. ID numbers are meant to be transparent to the user of the application and never change. Usernames are very poor record identifiers.

 

 

 

Consider the way phpBB is designed (correctly). All our usernames are not the unique reference to our ID. Yes, they are unique, but they are not identifiers. We have ID numbers for that... for example, mine is 189809. This number, in the Tip.It's phpBB database, references everything about my account, and is why username changing is easy and efficient.

 

 

 

As a software developer I find it as confusing. :?

 

 

 

Maybe some parts of the game use modules whom need fast access to the actual names (not id's), because if only the id's are stored it makes 2 requests. One to the corresponding module and one to a different module for the actual username. :?

 

 

 

Anyway, I like this update, I will change my name as soon as it's possible.

 

Good job, Jagex! :

 

 

 

You find ID numbers as primary keys confusing? Usernames are used and viewed by users. ID numbers are NOT viewed or used by users. Except in URLs, to know which record to access... but those are generated by software and are only viewed by the user if they care to look at the address bar, or used to copy the link. IDs NEVER change because there is NO reason to do so. A user (unless they are insane, like me) NEVER cares or wants an ID number to change, because it does not matter. It means nothing aside from the SOFTWARE (NOT users) being able to uniquely identifying them.

 

 

 

ID numbers separate recognition into two groups - by software, and by user. It is a logical, more modular design, and considering IDs never change, and usernames may, who in their right mind would assign a username as a primary key? In fact, Microsoft SQL doesn't even let you change the value of a primary key field AT ALL unless you remove the bindings. While I do agree that is a bit silly because of cascade updates, it just goes to show - IDs do not change.

 

 

 

About the performance issue - most of these types of arguments are invalid. Generally, queries (not "requests") are extremely fast*, and as far as I'm concerned, if you can't handle less than a millisecond for an extra query simple as ("SELECT username FROM master_users_table WHERE id = ;"), program something else. There are many games and other applications that express far less concern over much longer and more complex queries. Functionality over performance nonsense. Obviously it's not BAD to express concern over performance, but you need to judge it well. We're not in the days where you had to be like Howard Hughes over the size of your variables, or the time for a tiny query like fetching the value of one field of one row with a indexed primary key.

 

 

 

I hope you've all enjoyed this lesson on database design. :)

 

 

 

* GENERALLY, I said. Obviously it depends on the complexity of the query, amount of data requested and returned, state of the indexes, etc, etc, etc...

[The Dark Lord]

The only problem is that people will no longer have their usernames -- their account's identity -- when they decide to come back.

 

 

 

Hopefully their idea of "inactive" is over a time span of multiple years without logging on once.

[Badgers]

I'll be waiting for this system update to grab the name Badger :)

[Tim]

three words:

 

 

 

OH GOD YES.

[Zaaps1]

I bet people are going to make accounts with names they want so they "reserve" that name. Then when the update rolls around, they just sacrifice that name on the useless account and set it to their main.

[Peregrine]

I'm not sure if I'm the only one wondering this - but..

 

 

 

Do you think Jagex will release the name-changing system ingame or on one of their websites?

 

 

 

Examples:

 

 

 

Ingame:

 

Jagex makes a certain NPC (Like the Makeover Mage/Thessilia/Hairdresser) who may or may not charge a fee to change your display-name.

 

 

 

Website:

 

Jagex makes a feature on one of their websites (Like the 'Change Password'/'Recover An Account' features), you navigate to that page, log in, and change your display-name.

 

 

 

There one thing I see that Jagex could do with an ingame feature is they could potentially create a money-sink. This could range from 10k to 10m, although I personally wouldn't like to pay much more than 1m for a namechange. Also, the higher the price is, the less name-changing spam you have.

 

 

 

I'm not sure what benefits having the feature on the website would yield, but I'm inclined to believe it might be more secure. Feel free to point out what you see and correct me where I'm wrong. ^^

[Smapla]

I bet people are going to make accounts with names they want so they "reserve" that name. Then when the update rolls around, they just sacrifice that name on the useless account and set it to their main.

 

 

 

however, most of the 'good' names which aren't taken by an active account, are taken by an innactive account, and will only become available at some time after this update

[Tim]

I bet people are going to make accounts with names they want so they "reserve" that name. Then when the update rolls around, they just sacrifice that name on the useless account and set it to their main.

 

and on that note, I plan on using the disowned skiller I had: "Tim Runite" \

[paul191600]

So this update is basically going to fail for the people that live in the US, particularly on the Pacific Coast, that have to get up for work/school since it will be a weekday? If this is wrong please correct me, I was really looking forward to this update.

[forestfrolic]

I bet people are going to make accounts with names they want so they "reserve" that name. Then when the update rolls around, they just sacrifice that name on the useless account and set it to their main.

 

Wait. So I made an acount a few months ago with a name I really liked and wanted to reserve. Then I realised name change system was coming out, and kicked myself for creating the account because now I can't change my name to that. You're saying I can?

[forestfrolic]

So this update is basically going to fail for the people that live in the US, particularly on the Pacific Coast, that have to get up for work/school since it will be a weekday? If this is wrong please correct me, I was really looking forward to this update.

 

Why do you think that? Unless you're aiming to get a ridiculously common name, you should be fine.

[Danqazmlp]

So this update is basically going to fail for the people that live in the US, particularly on the Pacific Coast, that have to get up for work/school since it will be a weekday? If this is wrong please correct me, I was really looking forward to this update.

 

 

 

 

 

I don't really think It's Jagex's fault that people will try and get the names they want when the system is first made. With 1m+ members, it's obviously going to be a rush as people with numbers in their names clamber for those without, but much as with account names now, it's first come first served, and theres nothing anybody can do about it.

 

 

 

I'm personally wondering what critetia they will use for inactive accounts, and wondering if they will remove peopl's display names after x time on not being online after the update.

 

 

 

One quick quote that made me smile though:

 

 

 

After some hastily scribbled calculations, it looked like the worst case would be around 40,000 of these look-ups per second. That, incidentally, is quite a lot.

 

y'dont say :lol:

[mrpadre]

Yessssssssssss I'm finally gonna be able to get the 1 out of my name! Also gonna change my pure's name to something I thought of, but was taken. I think I'll be able to get it, if I don't get it because I live in Arizona I'll be so freaking :wall:

 

 

 

As long as that "Mr Padre" doesn't decide to come back...

[Stewie_Griffen]

Oddment1 shall now become...Oddment.

 

 

 

In your face, you inactive unranked, oddment, you.

[jcube69]

yes n hopefuly even if u havnt loged in in 2yeas but still pay for meme they wont de activate u..i took about a 7 month break but still paid...y? one to keep my 5 dollars a month ad two because i know i would come back soemday and well 60 dollars a year is nothing...

[paul191600]

So this update is basically going to fail for the people that live in the US, particularly on the Pacific Coast, that have to get up for work/school since it will be a weekday? If this is wrong please correct me, I was really looking forward to this update.

 

 

 

 

 

I don't really think It's Jagex's fault that people will try and get the names they want when the system is first made. With 1m+ members, it's obviously going to be a rush as people with numbers in their names clamber for those without, but much as with account names now, it's first come first served, and theres nothing anybody can do about it.

 

 

 

I'm personally wondering what critetia they will use for inactive accounts, and wondering if they will remove peopl's display names after x time on not being online after the update.

 

 

 

One quick quote that made me smile though:

 

 

 

After some hastily scribbled calculations, it looked like the worst case would be around 40,000 of these look-ups per second. That, incidentally, is quite a lot.

 

y'dont say :lol:

 

Guess I just have to hope that the names I would want wouldn't be taken by the time I am able to log in. W/e

[The Observer]

I'm not sure how this would work out, I mean will I have a friends list full of strangers whom I don't know but actually have known them for years?

[Maximusa]

Seems like they should of began with something a little better than usermanes to identify.. however anyway.. I dont mind the update as obviously due to what they have im guessing it takes alot of effort to make such a system. Which is nice of them.

 

 

 

However on a personal level I already like my username and only possibly will try to get 'bazza' or 'baz' instead. Otherwise I dont mind what I got already.

[Gandorf61]

I don't think I'll change my name when this comes out so I'm not really too excited or worried. :

 

 

 

This has been my first account and pretty much the only one I play on so I don't think I would ever be happy with another name other than the one I already have. Besides someone already has the name Gandorf and is on the highscores. If the name Gandorf gets freed up I might just decide to take it to get rid of the numbers on my name. Since everyone will be fighting to get the names with no numbers I could just keep mine and be cool that way. :P

 

 

 

I'm wondering what Jagex considers an unused account. Will they only be freeing up names of accounts that don't make it off tutorial island? Or are all accounts that have been inactive for "x" amount of years going to have there display name freed up for others?

[Lunar_Drifter]

I don't know if anyone's thought of this or not, but what about stat signatures and stat tracking websites? This will completely change their dynamic.. either the user will have to create a new sig or register a "new" character each time they change their name, for every site they use; or the sites will have to change their coding to incorporate name changing and automatically recognize a name change and act accordingly.

[Guest]

Edit: I realised now how it will work =) sounds like a good idea.

 

 

 

Get rid of those nooby names i created when i was about 12.

 

This will also add more security if people cannot see your "Account" name, and just your "display" name.

 

 

 

What i don't like about it, we'll soon see the return of ex-famous rs players (well.. their names).

[forestfrolic]

I don't know if anyone's thought of this or not, but what about stat signatures and stat tracking websites? This will completely change their dynamic.. either the user will have to create a new sig or register a "new" character each time they change their name, for every site they use; or the sites will have to change their coding to incorporate name changing and automatically recognize a name change and act accordingly.

 

I don't see why that would happen. Say I change my name to Dux. People in-game will be able to go on highscores and type in dux to find my stats, even though my account name is really d----u----x. So wouldn't the dynamic stay the same? The only thing people will have to do is change the name in their signature to fit their new display name.