Jump to content
LCVG

Interesting email I received from MS...


fishepa

Recommended Posts

Here is an email I just recieved from MS about my Gamertag:

 

You're receiving this e-mail because your Xbox Live? gamertag is almost identical to another subscriber's gamertag.

 

To make sure all your stats, hits, tackles and wins are counted, we need you to create a new gamertag. Within the next 10 days, you will be prompted to change your gamertag when you go to your dash. Simply follow the directions to change your gamertag and you will be up and running again in no time ready to play. Don't worry about losing anything...all your stats will carry over to your new gamertag.

 

And as a show of appreciation for making the switch, we'll send you a free copy of Project Gotham Racing? 2. You must call 1-800-4MY-XBOX, within the next 7 days to receive your free copy. Let them know that you received this e-mail about changing your gamertag and they will take care of the rest.

 

We apologize for the inconvenience?but with your new gamertag, the other 1 million players worldwide will have no problem finding you on their Friends List.

 

Happy Gaming

The Xbox Live Team

 

Has anybody received this email before? Why do I have to change mine? I want the other guy to change his. I already have PGR2. This pisses me off.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 112
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Wow, that's a new one. I'd hate to receive an email like that. Maybe they're asking you because the other subscriber has an earlier join date?

 

I guess call them, ask why a change is necessary for a merely similar name, ask why the other subscriber doesn't change his, and explain that you already have PGR2. Polite but firm might get you more mileage.

 

Good luck!

 

-j

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thats B.S. I'd call them and demand to know the sign up date of the other guy, and if he signed up after you, I'd tell them to make HIM change the tag.

 

I'd also want to know what HIS tag is. If you subscribed after the other guy, I'd remind them of how you haven't had any problems with stats and friends lists so far and if they insist on you changing your tag, then they need to give you a free 12 month subscription IN ADDITION to the copy of PGR2.

 

 

J.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is a proven fact that Xbox Live is case-sensitive - meaning that WarEagle and WAREAGLE are two totally distinct possiblities?

 

If so, either their database must also be case sensitive. If it is case-sensitive, and they coded their programs correctly, you would NEVER have to worry about the data getting crossed.

 

Unless MS didn't spec it out correctly to the game developers, and they are passing the gamertag to the MS databases without regard to case, in which case I can see the screwups happening.

 

If the gamertags are NOT case sensitive, then the mere fact that your gamertag is "almost identical" to anothers is never going to be an issue to the database. There is absolutely no way in hell that any database would mistake "WarEagle" for "War Eagle".

 

Carlos.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Okay, just got off the phone.

 

They said there have been problems with people reporting negative feedback to usernames that are identical except for a space in between words. For example, my gamertag is WarEagle, there is also someone that is War Eagle. So they are making both people change gamertags. So I thought to myself, when people send negative feedback, don't they have to select a screen name to send it too? So how could they confuse mine with the other unless we were both in the same game?

 

Anyhoo, I had my choice of PGR2, Top Spin, or LInks 2004. Well, I already own PGR2 and Links, and then she said they're out of Top Spin. So they are sending me Links 2004 for my trouble. :evil:

 

She said I could take it into a store and exchange it for something else since it will be sealed. I was like, uhh, ok. :roll:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Buck@Jul 2 2004, 10:12 AM

I got the same email and have been part of XBL since the first round of beta. I'm really interested to hear what this gamertag is that is close to mine. My money is on Fuck Buttswell.

Maybe B uck.

 

:)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Whooter@Jul 2 2004, 10:13 AM

Unless something has changed, gamertags are NOT case-sensitive.

 

This is total horseshit. I'd tell 'em if they're going to make you change your gamertag, they can cancel your XBL account, and that you're selling your Xbox and going with PS2.

Man, you guys are ruthless!

 

I have a hard time getting angry with people and demanding things, it's just not my personality.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Man, you guys are ruthless!

 

I have a hard time getting angry with people and demanding things, it's just not my personality

Sometimes you have to get that way, I'd call Microsoft back and talk to someone higher up the ladder than the person you talked to. The first person you talk to is usually 99.9% of the time the person that can't do much for you as opposed to the person above them with higher powers :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's the reply that MajorNelson, the Xbox live rep on the Xbox Live Forums gave when challenged on this:

 

The team did not take this decision lightly. Also, this ability for users to create names that differ by one space (Major Nelson vs MajorNelson) was fixed long ago...but there was a moment in time where the system allowed users to sign up with a space....and the system saw them as two different accounts. Now that the service is maturing, and we have added all the Tsunami features (clan support, messaging etc) some of the new features had some problems with names that were too similar...so that forced a change.

 

Poor coding. They'll probably blame the database though. The database always gets the blame first - until we DBA's prove differently. 8)

 

Carlos.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

MajorNelson just went on to say:

 

I am trying to share as much information as I can, but the one thing I can tell you is that this is absolute...there are not options for NOT doing it. Yea, I know it sucks big time for those that were affected.

 

Sounds like it's a done deal. Sorry about that guys. How about we start a new thread wherein we can help those of you in need of new gamertags.

 

For Example:

 

Buck Thrustwell --- Buck ThrustNotSoGood

WarEagle -- WarApteryx

 

Just being helpful, guys! ;)

 

Carlos.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

DAMN IT I JUST checked an I got the same email. Soon as I heard about the spacing thing I knew I'd get it. Damn Damn, and I already have all the games they are offering. looks like an exhange at the store for me.

 

And I've been thrillho, since DREAMCAST :evil: :( :evil:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Carlucci@Jul 2 2004, 10:27 AM

Here's the reply that MajorNelson, the Xbox live rep on the Xbox Live Forums gave when challenged on this:

 

The team did not take this decision lightly. Also, this ability for users to create names that differ by one space (Major Nelson vs MajorNelson) was fixed long ago...but there was a moment in time where the system allowed users to sign up with a space....and the system saw them as two different accounts. Now that the service is maturing, and we have added all the Tsunami features (clan support, messaging etc) some of the new features had some problems with names that were too similar...so that forced a change.

 

Poor coding. They'll probably blame the database though. The database always gets the blame first - until we DBA's prove differently. 8)

 

Carlos.

I like how they said the system was maturing, but it can't do something it used to be able to do. What's their definition of maturing?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

F-that if you already own a game they are offering I would demand at least a 12 month free subscription card for LIVE.. Explain how great of an xbox customer you are and that you already own the entire library of games and the only thing you can benefit from would be the Free Card. Explain to them how much money you spend on the system/warranty/games/service and that you would no longer spend it on MS products if they cannot compensate you for this inconvenience.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...