I don’t need to tell you that gaming is big business and competitive gaming is breaking new ground at the moment and bringing a lot of money and corporate eyes into our nice little world. But with that comes responsibilities and that is where the main players are letting gamers down at the moment.
Over the past weekend I was wasting some time running around playing Call of Duty: Ghosts when I ended up in a lobby with a bunch of South Africans. Two of these gamers were sporting a well-known clan’s tag in game which instantly marks them out as top players. This was a sponsored clan who are receiving cash and goods from some of the top brands in the country. With that comes the expectation that they will play fairly and maturely.
So the game starts and within 2 minutes my headset is just full of racial slurs and swearing. This is not really new to COD games unfortunately so I went to mute the players and it was at this time that I noticed it was the two competitive gamers who were the culprits.
I sent out a tweet later that afternoon to the official clan twitter to let them know that they should put down some expectations of their players and racial abuse is definitely something that cannot be accepted. The clan has come back and we are chatting and it appears that the 2 players may not actually be part of the clan but are simply using their tags for whatever reason kids on the Internet do things.
And it was this that got me thinking. Why haven’t Microsoft and Sony created a verified option for clan membership? At the moment there is nothing stopping me from running around and pretending I’m part of the Strictly Business, Bravado, Energy or any of the other top teams in the world.
As an industry we are fighting for the right for eSports to be treated as a top-tier sport but two of the top companies involved in gaming have so far done nothing to help.
It wouldn’t take much for the two companies to create a feature where a clan leader creates the clan, sets their clan tag and adds details such as players, websites, logos etc. Then when those players are gaming we can check their tags and it will show they are verified clan members.
Clan leaders should then be able to see any reports filed against their players and be given an opportunity to nip bad behaviour in the bud. I know if I was someone like Razer or Red Bull and I saw someone I sponsored racially abusing a group of people I’d be pulling that sponsorship pretty quickly. The fact that these guys can lose their sponsors because of someone imitating them is a serious issue and should be tackled by someone. Sponsors don’t care if it wasn’t you, if the public sees them as part of the clan that is all they care about.
In my ideal world there would be a central database of clans and members held by an independent company that Microsoft, Sony and others (Dota etc) subscribe to and use to verify members who are playing on their platform.
(Awesome header image is a painting)
Last Updated: July 15, 2014
Sith JJ
July 15, 2014 at 12:36
COD has a way of attracting these dodgy kinds of people. Hey Gavin? 😉
Rince&pop
July 15, 2014 at 12:40
I think it’s Gavin that has a way of attracting these people 😉
Sith JJ
July 15, 2014 at 12:41
lol
Then he must be on COD 24/7
Admiral Chief Fairburne
July 15, 2014 at 12:41
Oh snap!
Sith JJ
July 15, 2014 at 12:42
Wait a second. What does make all of us then for supporting his site?
Admiral Chief Fairburne
July 15, 2014 at 12:48
I’m not supporting the site, I’m just here to troll sh!t
VampyreSquirrel
July 15, 2014 at 12:49
Dodgy of course. You had to ask when we associate ourselves with the likes of Rince, OVG, Trevor and Geoff?
Admiral Chief Fairburne
July 15, 2014 at 12:49
Dirty fawr?
Sith JJ
July 15, 2014 at 12:51
Well, I was attracted to the site because of Trevor’s sparkling personality. So kind and non-condescending. Unlike the other buffoons here.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 15, 2014 at 12:53
….still a better story than Twilight?
Sith JJ
July 15, 2014 at 12:53
More believable too.
Weanerdog
July 15, 2014 at 13:02
How the hell do you know how good the Twilight Story is? I am just curious.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 15, 2014 at 13:02
That’s why there’s a question mark at the end.
Admiral Chief Fairburne
July 15, 2014 at 13:04
Buffoon eh?
Sith JJ
July 15, 2014 at 13:39
Admiral Chief excluded, of course.
Rince&pop
July 15, 2014 at 13:05
Hey! We associate with you and question why every time we look in the mirror 0-O
VampyreSquirrel
July 15, 2014 at 13:16
I’d also question why I’m looking in the mirror if I was a ginger…
Admiral Chief Fairburne
July 15, 2014 at 13:20
XDXDXDXDXD
VampyreSquirrel
July 15, 2014 at 12:37
It’s quite stupid that people not officially affiliated with a clan can run around as though they’re members… and cause harm to the name of said clan.
I totally agree that they need something in place to ensure people aren’t just using clan tags willy nilly.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 15, 2014 at 12:38
That doesn’t like something the real @VampyreSquirrel:disqus would say O_o
Admiral Chief Fairburne
July 15, 2014 at 12:41
Will the real VampyreSquirrel please stand up?
Rince&pop
July 15, 2014 at 12:41
0-O Edit it before people notice!
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 15, 2014 at 12:44
Laaaaaaaaaaaaame
Rince&pop
July 15, 2014 at 12:44
Tehehehhe
Jonah Cash
July 15, 2014 at 12:42
“That doesn’t like”…. well if that doesn’t like it then that can go and jump off a roof!!! Hahahaha
Rince&pop
July 15, 2014 at 12:42
Indeed 😉
Sith JJ
July 15, 2014 at 12:43
Not many does like @VampyreSquirrel:disqus 😉
VampyreSquirrel
July 15, 2014 at 12:44
Thanks JJ… I think… wait O.o
VampyreSquirrel
July 15, 2014 at 12:43
What are you trying to imply Mr Trevor? O.o
Rince&pop
July 15, 2014 at 12:43
I think the question is what the heck he is actually saying 😉
VampyreSquirrel
July 15, 2014 at 12:44
Also true
Sith JJ
July 15, 2014 at 12:44
He’s speaking in code. Though I’m not sure if he knows what the code is.
Rince&pop
July 15, 2014 at 12:46
Haha! 🙂
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 15, 2014 at 12:46
I didn’t become an Emperor to be called Mr :/
Sith JJ
July 15, 2014 at 12:47
Self-appointed like a dictator.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 15, 2014 at 12:51
Did I ever tell you how I became Emperor?
Sith JJ
July 15, 2014 at 12:53
Announced it from your carton castle in Rince’s basement?
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 15, 2014 at 12:53
Oh. Never mind then 🙁
Rince&pop
July 15, 2014 at 13:04
Haha!
VampyreSquirrel
July 15, 2014 at 12:48
Ok Miss Trevor then?
Sith JJ
July 15, 2014 at 12:50
Yesssss
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 15, 2014 at 12:51
No, that would be Miss Tina if I remember correctly.
VampyreSquirrel
July 15, 2014 at 12:58
So what were you implying Miss Tina?
It’s not like I don’t talk intellectually all the time 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 15, 2014 at 12:59
…
Kensei Seraph
July 15, 2014 at 13:06
Very nice.
Sith JJ
July 15, 2014 at 12:39
Yes. There should be a way to fine people like this. Like Gavin said, it’s becoming one big business now, so it should be treated as one.
If you sell a shirt with a Mickey Mouse on the front and you’re not affiliated with them or have the applicable licensing you’ll be fined thousands. In professional gaming it should be no different.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 15, 2014 at 12:45
On the other hand, do you really want a scenario where clan tags are potentially monetised? For instance, specific letters can be bought and locked out, under the guise of being reserved by “regulated clans”? I don’t like this idea at all.
Sith JJ
July 15, 2014 at 12:46
You’re just sour because “Spectacular Banana” is already taken.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 15, 2014 at 12:47
There can only be one Spectacular Banana!!!
Sith JJ
July 15, 2014 at 12:50
I get what you’re saying though, but things like this incident with Gavin (not the ping pong incident) does reflect very badly on those clans.
Robert Hart
July 15, 2014 at 12:47
I cant see any possible working way that this could be implemented.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 15, 2014 at 12:50
I think it would set a dangerous precedent, and I can only see gamers getting nickel and dimed.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 15, 2014 at 12:52
Plus you’ll get Team Cockmunch getting upset that someone else registered Team Cockmunch first… or did they?
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 15, 2014 at 12:55
Exactly, it’ll all boil down to who can register specific tags the first, irrespective of who has used those tags before. To be honest, I rarely take note of clan names in games, because it’s not something I particularly care for. If a gamer is making racist or obscene comments, that’s on him or her, rather than whatever mythical gang or syndicate they belong to.
Admiral Chief Fairburne
July 15, 2014 at 13:11
It would be really funny if that clan exists, and the members have military ranks:
Private Cockmuch
Private First Class Cockmunch
Major Cockmunch
General Cockmunch
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
July 15, 2014 at 12:54
Dangerous? How so?
Johan du Preez
July 15, 2014 at 16:17
Next thing they charge you a small fee to register a clan then before you know it each member must pay to join the clan as well. 90% of the transaction will go to ms and the clan leader will receive the rest of the 10%.
Then before you wipe your eyes out you have to pay monthly to keep the clan n active.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
July 15, 2014 at 17:39
Ok yeah you have a valid point. Didn’t think of it like that. Sad that something that would technically be a good idea can’t work because our human nature is so teribad
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
July 15, 2014 at 13:08
I pretty much agree. It’s a nice idea in principal – I just don;t quite fathom how it could ever be implemented, unless you have one single service – like Steam – running across all games and platforms. That’s unlikely to happen.
Hammersteyn
July 15, 2014 at 12:49
Well I think Activision should regulate the clans or create a body that does this if you could convince them. That way all gaming platforms are covered including PC.
Pieter Smal
July 15, 2014 at 12:50
Is Lazygamer perhaps better than NAG? Now there is a question for you, if regulation was ever in doubt…
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 15, 2014 at 12:52
Does anyone still read NAG? By the way, their magazine is getting super thin these days. :/
Pieter Smal
July 15, 2014 at 12:53
I know. It really is shameful how much they have gone astray. The forum is still up and running, but nowhere as educational (or participational) as Lazygamer.
Johan du Preez
July 15, 2014 at 16:12
Nag forums was always a cesspit of intolerance. Yeh im looking at you Miktar ….
Pieter Smal
July 15, 2014 at 16:55
I thought I was the only one who hated him… *smirk*
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
July 15, 2014 at 12:54
Their articles in their magazines are also usually over a month old and there are barely any game reviews. Sad actually. I don’t want to see NAG go the same way as PCFormat 🙁
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 15, 2014 at 12:59
I know what you mean. Print media is dying.
I’m surprised they haven’t pushed their website more, but it might boil down to manpower more than anything else. But on the other hand, there are sites out there that outshine them in this regard – take Lazygamer for instance.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
July 15, 2014 at 13:03
I think the problem goes around getting a magazine out to print. Your news that you put together in any given month can only be put to print in the following month.
The internet can provide you with instant posting of any topic.
So I honestly don’t think it’s about poor quality but rather that the internet is just faster.
Even game reviews come out faster on the net than in print. It’s tough to stay ahead of the game in print when gaming itself is moving to online meaning gamers can get their news online too.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
July 15, 2014 at 12:52
Interesting point. Definitely something that should be looked in to
Rags
July 15, 2014 at 12:54
It’s something the game creators should do. Quake Live already has this functionality. You can only be part of a clan if you are sent and accepted an invite request.
Johan du Preez
July 15, 2014 at 16:11
True but Quake Live (Quake 3) had just under 15 years to sort out bugs and features :). They should just copy it over to COD:Ghosts seeming they are using the quake 3 engine still.
Rags
July 16, 2014 at 09:57
Yep, it should actually be fairly easy to do if your game handle is tied to an online account. But I don’t know how open consoles are to online databases, feature changes, and updates, for developers.
Kensei Seraph
July 15, 2014 at 13:02
What about those clans that are PC focused or cross-platform?
GrIdL0cK
July 15, 2014 at 13:11
I think at the point where gaming gets to the same level of actual sports, you won’t need differentiation. It’s not like you see someone with a “Messi” shirt and think it’s actually Messi. When we are at the point where professional gamers (like Dendi) are recognisable by simply looking at them, that’s the day when gaming has made it imo.
Gavin Mannion
July 15, 2014 at 16:27
Problem being that we play over the Internet can can’t see who the person on the other side is
GrIdL0cK
July 15, 2014 at 17:25
Very few major competitions are played over the Internet. Most will have to be through LAN. When eSports becomes the big thing its going to be, people will have to make public appearances too.
Check out South Korea as a prime example. The eSports players are the poster children for the country. The best StarCraft 2 players are in TV adverts for Coca Cola. Hell, didn’t one of the eSports teams even go to the World Cup so that the footballers could “meet their heroes” ? lol
Brian Murphy
July 15, 2014 at 16:55
“As an industry we are fighting for the right for eSports to be treated as a top-tier sport but two of the top companies involved in gaming have so far done nothing to help.”
Yeah, no thanks. The last thing we want Microsoft or Sony delving into, is who owns which acronym. That’s a bit of a stretch there Gav, it appears through no action by Sony or Microsoft, you were able to find out the information you were looking for.