Gamertag change @ 800 points. Your thoughts?

lilboo

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I had recently changed my gamertag, and I just wanted to get some opinions from other people. I think 800 points AKA $10 is pretty messed up. I had like 13,000+ points in my account..thanks to various freebie sites, so essentially it didn't cost me any money (and 800 points compared to 13,000 isn't that big of a deal)

But had I purchased all my points, I doubt I would of changed it. But, I've known quite a few people (especially on my friends list) who have changed their gamertag..so it makes me wonder: Is 800 points fair? Why do you think they charge you to do something like this..and why so much?

Has anyone here changed their gamertag, if so, how do YOU feel about the price of it?
 
They charge you because if they didn't people would do it all the time. This limits the gamertags available (which could be a selling point to some). I think it's fine since it's unnecessary.

Though I do wish they would delete old tags (freeing up the name to be available). I miss my old tag that I can't get back. :cry:
 
I think it should cost 100 points at the most. I mean, some people join clans and such and want their names to match or other reason. But 800 ($10), thats criminal...
 
[quote name='zewone']They charge you because if they didn't people would do it all the time. This limits the gamertags available (which could be a selling point to some). I think it's fine since it's unnecessary.

Though I do wish they would delete old tags (freeing up the name to be available). I miss my old tag that I can't get back. :cry:[/QUOTE]

So, my old name on XBL---lilboo84--I can never ever ever get it back?
Jeeze. Not that I care since I DID change it..but still.

They SHOULD keep any gamertag change to your account..like if I wanted to convert back over..yes, maybe I'd have to pay 800 (or possibly less) to change it back to the original..but at least keep it available to that me.

That sucks that they don't delete them. So basically no one can ever be "lilboo84" even though it technically doesn't exist..?
 
[quote name='lilboo']So, my old name on XBL---lilboo84--I can never ever ever get it back?
Jeeze. Not that I care since I DID change it..but still.

They SHOULD keep any gamertag change to your account..like if I wanted to convert back over..yes, maybe I'd have to pay 800 (or possibly less) to change it back to the original..but at least keep it available to that me.

That sucks that they don't delete them. So basically no one can ever be "lilboo84" even though it technically doesn't exist..?[/QUOTE]
Well, mine was a different account. I didn't pay the $10 and change it. I'm not sure if your old tag is available or not.
 
yea, I thought of a cool name but instead of deciding to fork over $10 I just made a new silver account
 
I like the fact that the gamertag is 'permanent' as I hate when people on my friends list change names and don't tell me. It's also helpped me get prizerebel referrals to everyone who wants to change their GT but doesn't want to pay.


I do believe that they should integrate clan support into XBL so that you can make a clan and have the clantag on your name for free. I also wish that they would delete the old gamertags.
 
I don't care.

It's better then the last option (abandon your account and make a new one) and the price is high enough where people just won't do it on a whim (which I hate because people never send you a PM telling you they changed their name)
 
I changed the gamertag on my xbox because i bought it off of somebody, definately sucks to pay $10 but i didn't want to keep the name he had. I still have yet to get the rest of his live account info, do you guys know what else i would need from him so i can take his credit card info off the account?
 
[quote name='Dicerion']I changed the gamertag on my xbox because i bought it off of somebody, definately sucks to pay $10 but i didn't want to keep the name he had. I still have yet to get the rest of his live account info, do you guys know what else i would need from him so i can take his credit card info off the account?[/quote]

Wow, that was an idioctic move on both parties. He is going to cancel his account, and you will lose your 10 dollars.
 
I've got one question. I've been thinking about changing/fixing my gamertag as well since everyone calls me "MaTweleveKez." If I do change it, does that mean I need to resend friend requests to everyone on my previous friends list?
 
[quote name='Ma12kez']I've got one question. I've been thinking about changing/fixing my gamertag as well since everyone calls me "MaTweleveKez." If I do change it, does that mean I need to resend friend requests to everyone on my previous friends list?[/QUOTE]
No, it automatically updates your name on their friends list. A nice feature.
 
[quote name='Sporadic']I don't care.

It's better then the last option (abandon your account and make a new one) and the price is high enough where people just won't do it on a whim (which I hate because people never send you a PM telling you they changed their name)[/quote]

Funny thing, it seems like their server which run the adding and modifying users never has maintence done on it. I say this because I have had other GT's and when I try to recover my account or ask for the password I am unable to make progress.

I do feel however if you are the original creator of an account, you should have the ability to merge multiple xbl accounts, (transfer gamer points, and ms points.) This would not be hard to do and make it easier for everyone.
 
[quote name='zewone']No, it automatically updates your name on their friends list. A nice feature.[/quote]Oh sweet! Thanks for the quick response.
 
[quote name='Ma12kez']I've been thinking about changing/fixing my gamertag as well since everyone calls me "MaTweleveKez." [/quote]Yeah, I'm sick of being called "Zee Five-aber."
 
I don't think its a bad thing except for the fact i have access to his credit card info. Im not an ass so I wont' mess with it other than trying to remove it so mine can be the main. I think i just need his windows live id and password, correct?
 
[quote name='help1']I like the fact that the gamertag is 'permanent' as I hate when people on my friends list change names and don't tell me. It's also helpped me get prizerebel referrals to everyone who wants to change their GT but doesn't want to pay.


I do believe that they should integrate clan support into XBL so that you can make a clan and have the clantag on your name for free. I also wish that they would delete the old gamertags.[/QUOTE]

But when you play the game that your a clan in. It tells everyone, for example even though I haven't played it in a while GRAW2 shows your rank, and clan name under your gamertag. BF2 has a symbol that shows people in clans.

I think it might cost $10 cause much like here they might have to manually change your gamertag. Plus the $10 cost keeps people from changing it all the time. I want to change mine but can't think of anything good, and the best gamertag I've ever seen is already taken. "lordthundernutz"
 
I think it kind of sucks. See, before I got my original Xbox, I had read in Xbox magazine about how MS was no longer allowing 2 people to have the same Gamertag, one without a space and one with. Example: Zewone and Zew One.

However, I remembered the article incorrectly some 6 months later when I got my system, thinking I could not include a space in my GT. Thus, I ended up with MattYoung. I'd like to change it to Matt Young (yes, it does bother me) but $10 is fairly steep for a space.
 
[quote name='Z-Saber']Yeah, I'm sick of being called "Zee Five-aber."[/quote]

haha, I do that to every person that has a number in there name =P
 
The $10 doesn't bother me, the fact that they don't delete old gamertags out of their database does. I want my old name back.
 
That's precisely why when I made up my Live gamertag, I wanted it to be strange enough that I wouldn't have 12340 at the end of it... ;)

I almost used "Doctor_Jest" Elric's personal physician... but I generally just use that on other boards...

Thanks to Matt and Trey, I have a silly tag that doesn't really get used by many folks... (I thought it up while watching the MechaStriesand SP episode on DVD... heh)

But 800 points makes it a decision that has to be weighed a little more than "I need a new name". ;)
 
[quote name='zewone']They charge you because they lost so much money on the first Xbox and are trying to recoup their losses by charging you for every last thing on XBL, including $50 a year to subscribe to it, sucker.[/QUOTE]


fixed.
 
[quote name='zewone']$50 a month 'eh?

You must be rockin' that Xbox Live Platinum.[/QUOTE]


whoops. :oops: fixed again.
 
[quote name='Matt Young']
However, I remembered the article incorrectly some 6 months later when I got my system, thinking I could not include a space in my GT. Thus, I ended up with MattYoung. I'd like to change it to Matt Young (yes, it does bother me) but $10 is fairly steep for a space.[/QUOTE]

OCD much?
 
I'm just pissed that mine came out all lowercase, as did my older son's when I signed us up in April. I typed the capitals in, but I always show in lowercase on other people's systems (I think?). On my own system it is capitalized. With my son's gamertag it is worse since his is 3 names put together and the capitals really helped make it stand out. Then I signed up my younger son a few weeks ago and the capitalization worked on his. I'd hate to have to pay $10 to fix the capitalization, but I don't think it would really fall under the category of a gamertag change. I asked about this before and no one could explain why mine came out that way. It must have been a glitch in their servers at the time. I suppose I could bug them about it, but I've never felt it was THAT important :lol:.

Matt Young - I see your point in wanting the space in there. But imagine if yours came out "mattyoung" when you typed "MattYoung". At least the capitalization worked for you! I did mine on the 360 by the way (not the computer). And I did my youngest son's in exactly the same way, so I have no idea why it came out differently.
 
[quote name='io']I'm just pissed that mine came out all lowercase, as did my older son's when I signed us up in April. I typed the capitals in, but I always show in lowercase on other people's systems (I think?). On my own system it is capitalized. With my son's gamertag it is worse since his is 3 names put together and the capitals really helped make it stand out. Then I signed up my younger son a few weeks ago and the capitalization worked on his. I'd hate to have to pay $10 to fix the capitalization, but I don't think it would really fall under the category of a gamertag change. I asked about this before and no one could explain why mine came out that way. It must have been a glitch in their servers at the time. I suppose I could bug them about it, but I've never felt it was THAT important :lol:.

Matt Young - I see your point in wanting the space in there. But imagine if yours came out "mattyoung" when you typed "MattYoung". At least the capitalization worked for you! I did mine on the 360 by the way (not the computer). And I did my youngest son's in exactly the same way, so I have no idea why it came out differently.[/quote]

Try doign an account recovery, and typing it all in as CAPS. This worked on the XBOX 1.
 
I think its to much. I do see the point of having it a cost, so not everybody changes all the time, but 800 points is excessive.

My gamertag is my real name (becuase the name I usually use on forums was taken) and I've recently wanted to change it. I tried emailing Microsoft and asking for a free name change becuase I "accidently" used my real name. No dice. The guy just sent me the link on the site telling me to pay 800 points. Seemed he didnt read my question and just brushed it off with a simple link.
 
I've changed mine and IMO 800 points is way to much for a simple name change. 400 points is about right. Also, IMO I thought original xbox owners LIVE user who transfered their account & the remainder of there time to 360 should've had a chance to change their name "once" before we started 360 gold account.
 
Interesting that the people who want to change their name find it too high, and the people who don't, don't.

The point of the cost is to discourage the name change except for those who really, really want it. Live is supposed to be a community, and there's no community if Bob can decide to be Joe one day and then Bill the next. The transient nature of internet forums has led to this nymshifting pseudo anonymity people seem to feel they have a right to and it's done nothing but lower the quality of community and removes the societal pressure against being a dickwad.

Your gamertag is a way for people to recognize you, nothing more, nothing less. Making it harder for people to recognize you goes against the whole intent of the system. If you really feel like you made a bad choice and can't tolerate it anymore then suck it up and pay the $10. Otherwise do everyone a favor and live with it.

It's not like MS is out in left field with this either. My wife uses LiveJournal regularly and they charge $15 to change your username.
 
[quote name='io']I'm just pissed that mine came out all lowercase, as did my older son's when I signed us up in April. I typed the capitals in, but I always show in lowercase on other people's systems (I think?). On my own system it is capitalized. With my son's gamertag it is worse since his is 3 names put together and the capitals really helped make it stand out. Then I signed up my younger son a few weeks ago and the capitalization worked on his. I'd hate to have to pay $10 to fix the capitalization, but I don't think it would really fall under the category of a gamertag change. I asked about this before and no one could explain why mine came out that way. It must have been a glitch in their servers at the time. I suppose I could bug them about it, but I've never felt it was THAT important :lol:.

Matt Young - I see your point in wanting the space in there. But imagine if yours came out "mattyoung" when you typed "MattYoung". At least the capitalization worked for you! I did mine on the 360 by the way (not the computer). And I did my youngest son's in exactly the same way, so I have no idea why it came out differently.[/quote]
just FYI, i have played with both you and your son once on live and i remeber that they both had capitals
 
[quote name='Ma12kez']I've got one question. I've been thinking about changing/fixing my gamertag as well since everyone calls me "MaTweleveKez." [/QUOTE]


What the hell is your name supposed to say then?
 
800 dollars is a lot, but i think its good because it keeps people from changing their tag excessively. if i was 200 points i probably would have changed mine 2 times by now.
 
[quote name='RAMSTORIA']800 dollars is a lot, but i think its good because it keeps people from changing their tag excessively.[/QUOTE]

800 dollars would certainly be excessive, thankfully it's only 800 points.
 
[quote name='RAMSTORIA']800 dollars is a lot, but i think its good because it keeps people from changing their tag excessively. if i was 200 points i probably would have changed mine 2 times by now.[/quote]

QFT. ;)

EDIT: I waited too long. :razz:

I have actually wanted just "Rig" since I had an Xbox, but it was always taken. Yet, the account sits, unused. I wish they'd free it up and let me have it!
 
I wish I could use Renegade Zero, instead of with the 0 at the end. Someone else used it too, it wasn't even me that had that GT before. If I could change it I would though, with all the deals on points, its cheap enough anyway.

I have a friend on my list who used to constantly change his GT, at least once a week. Not an exxageration, but he must have changed it at least a dozen times. Lately, he's only changed it once in the past couple months.
 
I keep wanting to change mine...having something with more than one word (or more specifically, something with a space) is nothing but headaches. If you try to look at someone's profile page on the XBox site and do the spacing wrong, it comes up as "not found."

Unfortunately plain old "KaneRobot" was used and abandoned back in the O.G. XBox days, so I won't be going back to that. And on that note, I also wish they would delete inactive accounts after a set period...maybe 2 years.
 
Yeah I can understand that it costs $$ to change..this way people aren't constantly changing names like crazy!
But still..$10 is crazy! Glad it was technically free..lol
 
$10 is a total ripoff just to change your name.

Now I wouldnt mind soo much if you could make your name anything you wanted in-game. I dont see why they dont do this. So my friends will see that 'Puffa469' is online playing RS Vegas, but in that game I should be able to have whatever name I want. Maybe I want to be Dick Gozinya in Vegas, and then play as Phil McKraken in Gears.
 
I think it is a fair price. MS does not want people changing the tags so often, it makes perfect sense to me. I like my name since it does not have a number or some crazy play on words. Now, I MIGHT change it now, as my DJ days are behind me, but it is fine.
 
Microsoft made me change mine on the old console, I believe because it had a space in it. At least I got a free copy of Links out of the deal.
 
[quote name='shieryda']Microsoft made me change mine on the old console, I believe because it had a space in it. At least I got a free copy of Links out of the deal.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I think they made everyone do that if it was the same name.

Like: Big Daddy and Big_Daddy. I believe the one with the space had to change, but got a free game. Apparently, mine was ok....since I have a space in mine.
 
I think 400 pts is more favorable. All mine match and no one has it as i made it up for rpg games and i just use it for all my gaming where this name i use here it my auto and forum names that ive used for years.
 
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