RuneScape: Name Change
Written on October 1, 2009 by Incogneto
Yes, as of today, the first of October you can finally change your display name on RuneScape. Here is a part of the update:
Changing your display name
The ability to change display names is currently only available to members of either RuneScape or FunOrb. To change your display name, visit the Account Management section of RuneScape or FunOrb and select ‘Change your display name’. You can then change your display name to anything that is not currently in use by or ‘held’ for (see next paragraph) another player. (NB: Once you have changed your display name, you will be unable to do so again for 28 days, even to revert back to your previous display name, so make sure you are happy with your new name before confirming the change.) After these 28 days, you will have a period of time in which you can revert back to your previous display name, should you wish. You will have at least 7 days after the 28 days to revert to your previous display name, as it will be ‘held’ for you and unavailable to anyone else in this time. Depending on how long that name was in your possession before you changed it, you may have more than 7 days to revert to your reserved name. Read more…
For years this has been suggested, and for years the suggestion was ignored. Why have Jagex decided to release it now? Why did they not implement the change before? What do people think of this? Read on to find out what I think.
As you have read in the quote from RuneScape.com changing your display name is only avaliable to paying members of the game. Why you ask? I think that they really did not care about letting you change your name or not. I think that they were in their meeting, talking about new ways to make money and thought: “We can let members change their names!”. Thinking that this will make people who dislike their display names buy members or even try it for the first time in order to change their names. This is an extra £5 or whatever in their pockets! As if they did not earn enough.. Also, free players who are trying it for the first time, only because they wanted to change their name may be sucked into a members life. Now they have another customer who will pay every month. I find this increasingly shocking.
You won't be changing your name today buddy, you are not a member.
Loyal members who have played the game for years are prohibited from changing their names just because they are not members. What about those young players, who devote their nights and weekends to RuneScape yet they are not allowed members for any reason? Do they not deserve the right to change their name? I am repulsed.
Why did Jagex not introduce this years ago? There could be a few reasons, but you can not really know. Maybe they just did not care. They simply did not think it was needed. I personally think they were focusing on gameplay and graphics. They did not find it a required update. Now they have came up with a way which will most likely increase profits, they jumped at the idea.
Another thing which is interesting, names are now case sensitive. You can have names like ‘I-Mike-I’ or ‘lowercase’. This is a good thing, it will make your name look how you intended it to.
Also, if you abuse the system. For example you have an offensive name, are forced to change it and you change it to another offensive name you could be banned from changing your name for a year and you will be assigned a name by a Jagex Moderator. It will be funny what the Mods come up with, I’d love to see a name like ‘iabusejagex’ or ‘icantfollowrules938′. I would laugh out loud 
!
In the past this has been suggested many times, and everyone seemed to have wanted it. I think that this is a good update, and everyone seems to like it a lot. It is an extra bonus. It is about time also, many people dislike/d their name on RuneScape and now you can change it.
Please comment on this blog post, and tell RSBlog what you think.
-Incogneto
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…I find this ridiculous, Jagex is a business, the goal of most businesses is to make money, just because they are a business that owns a MMORPG and are looking for ways to make more money you get mad…Welcome to real life.
I am not mad, I am voicing the opinions of F2P’ers. Loyal ones.
Business is what Jagex is, but they never created RS for money at first. Do you think they thought RS would go this far?
They should be more fair on F2P’ers and offer a better deal. Like one name change, as it really is not fair.
Users are what makes the game good, and I imagine there are more F2P’ers than P2P’ers. RS Is loved for it’s great community and without those loyal F2P’ers then the game wouldn’t be as good. I know I would have started as an F2Player and never bought P2P because I would think there are like no members online.
Jagex are ungreatful and should really not let F2P’ers suffer. They could easily allow F2P’ers to change their name by clicking a few buttons, at no extra cost..
I don’t see changing names as necessary in the first place. It isn’t hard to come up with an original name and I am the type of person who can find sentimental value in just about anything. I don’t understand why anyone would want their name to be so unoriginal that they have to put 5 numbers at the end of it anyways.
Good article, but I think your stance on not making name changes for free players is wrong. Money may have been a factor, but it isn’t exactly a big deal anyways.