Home Gaming The latest Pokémon GO update allowed just one nickname change, and I’m forever grateful for it

The latest Pokémon GO update allowed just one nickname change, and I’m forever grateful for it

2 min read
21

 

Pokemon GO name change

The recent Pokémon GO update came packed with a host of excellent fixes and features. Though I don’t have access to it yet, I like the look of the new tracking system, and I do appreciate the return of the battery saver mode. My favourite change by far however, came from something so simple – the fact that I could change my nickname.  Granted, Niantic made provision for just one edit, but that’s all I needed.

You see, I’m rather fond of my nickname, ‘HairyKnees’. It’s one I’ve worn proudly since high school (the reason why I got it there is pretty self-explanatory I think), and one I’ve always used, always, in any facet of my life that allows it. My email address for example features it (I’ll need to get a more professional sounding one day I suppose), as does my online gaming persona.

Naturally, when Pokémon GO rolled around, it was obvious that I would choose ‘HairyKnees’ as my trainer name. To my dismay though, it was taken.

Being in a rush to get in on the action however, and thinking I could edit it at a later stage, I chose something off the cuff – ‘PeriPeriPorra’. Admittedly, that is an excellent nickname for me, but imagine my shock when I realised that Pokémon GO would never allow me to rename my trainer, ever.

I swallowed that horrible pill and lived with my newfound identity for a while, but it soon started to annoy me. Team Instinct aside, who’s going to take a gym seriously if it’s headed by a bloke called ‘PeriPeriPorra’? Nobody, that’s who! I lived with this shame for close to a month, before finally, Niantic, the gracious gods they are, updated the game earlier  this week and allowed for just a single name change. Oh happy days!

Funnily enough, ‘HairyKnees’ still didn’t work (whoever the hell took my name, I hate you), but something else did. It’s close enough that I feel no shame in using it…

HairyKnees

This whole saga got me thinking – am I the only one attached to my nickname to this degree? I’ve literally used nothing else in all my years of online gaming, and I have no desire to change my identity anytime soon, if ever. I am genuinely surprised that I had such an issue with not having access to it in Pokemon GO.

What value is there in a nickname anyway? What for example, prompted Geoff to name himself ‘Wobbly Onion’, or Alessandro, the ever impressive ‘xXxN0sc0p3_Joker360xXx*’? Would they ever want to change those identities, or are they attached to them for good?

And what about you? What nickname do you have, and where did it come from? Are you attached to it as I am to mine, or do you always make up something new on the fly and really don’t care (I’m looking at you, ‘ConstipatedTampon’)? I am genuinely curious to hear your thoughts, so please be so kind as to share them below.

*Ok it’s not that bad. It’s just Joker360.

Last Updated: August 11, 2016

21 Comments

  1. Pariah. It’s the one I relate to and it’s the one I chose. It’s the one I keep everywhere. I was given Tosh for a while but that’s long since fallen away. Obviously Tosh was commonly taken so for while the name was still being used, I changed it to ToshZA. That one stuck for a little, but then Pariah resonated with me, where ToshZA was a given name. I chose the one I related to and I’ve been happy for years.

    So yeah, I get your need for YOUR nickname. It’s your identity.

    Reply

    • Dane

      August 12, 2016 at 08:06

      LOG reference?

      Reply

      • Pariah

        August 12, 2016 at 08:25

        No?

        Reply

        • Dane

          August 12, 2016 at 12:34

          Okay.

          Reply

  2. Ottokie

    August 11, 2016 at 15:07

    I liked PeriPeriPorra xD

    Reply

    • Pariah

      August 11, 2016 at 15:08

      You’re such a Yahtzee…

      Reply

      • Ottokie

        August 11, 2016 at 15:08

        And if I can’t get that name, I am commonly known as Skattebol

        Reply

        • Pariah

          August 11, 2016 at 15:08

          LOL!!!

          Reply

  3. Zoe Hawkins

    August 11, 2016 at 15:08

    Moonstormer 4 lyf. That’s who I am everywhere, and if bitches steal my name, i’ll cut them.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

      August 11, 2016 at 15:22

      XD

      Reply

  4. Admiral Chief - Check

    August 11, 2016 at 15:14

    Ha1ryKnees seems so wrong

    Reply

  5. Craig Lotter

    August 11, 2016 at 15:16

    I’ve been unimaginative for years. I grab craiglotter wherever I can, primarily because it is so seldom taken. (That said, I did go to school with another craig lotter funnily enough…)

    Reply

  6. Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

    August 11, 2016 at 15:23

    Tyler Durden and Bob was taken and there was no way I was gonna call myself Marla

    Reply

    • RinceThis

      August 11, 2016 at 15:24

      WHY DID YOU SAY THAT NAME?! Oh, sorry, missread.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

        August 11, 2016 at 15:48

        LOL!

        Reply

    • Admiral Chief - Check

      August 11, 2016 at 15:24

      If you had a tumour, you could call it Marla

      Reply

  7. RinceThis

    August 11, 2016 at 15:24

    Oh how bloody gracious of them. Why would they restrict you in the first place? Suppose you have to pay for the change otherwise?

    Reply

  8. Matthew Holliday

    August 11, 2016 at 15:33

    Ive primarily been “Deviance” since 2007, had no reason to change, so Ive stuck with it.
    Went through the classics aswell, BenDover etc, was a running joke for a clan thing, actually used that one for a while.

    Reply

  9. Wesley Fick

    August 11, 2016 at 17:00

    I’ve used variations of “CataclysmZA” for years. I’m definitely not changing it. It’s a part of my gamer identity now.

    Reply

  10. Avithar

    August 12, 2016 at 08:12

    this game is actually still making the news lol…

    Reply

  11. Kensei Seraph - Terran Ghost

    August 12, 2016 at 13:33

    I originally used Jaguar as it is my favourite animal but changed to Seraphim for reasons I have since forgotten.
    In Guild Wars I started adding Seraph to the names of all my characters.
    After reading Sword Art Online I thought to myself “If VR is becomes a reality then being called Seraphim is a bit of a mouthful” and started using Kensei Seraph.

    Reply

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