MMO accountability

[Uncle Shags]

I forgot to clarify in the original post, this whole idea is in anticipation of future MMOs. The current MMO world really doesn't really require this type of system. But there is so much potential in this genre and future game design shouldn't have to be limited by the potential for anonymous players to ruin everyone elses experience. Our real world functions like it does in a large part due to accountability. There are real consequences to your actions. That doesn't work in gaming because you can simply disappear and start over. I think that if MMOs are going to improve as simulations of aspects of the real world (warfare, economics, politics, etc), there needs to be a way to overcome the accountability issue.

This is similar to what Windows Live does now. Your Live ID has a reputation which other people can impact and that will stay with you from game to game unless you start a new Live ID.
I don't overly favor the concept, personally.
I like accountability within a game but I think accountability between games is a step too far.

Not sure what you mean by "too far". It would be voluntary, so if you didn't want to attach a particular game you wouldn't have to. And if you are an honest gamer you have nothing to worry about. It would just be another positive line on your gaming resume.

I think 80% of the value of this can be accomplished with 2 simple things:
1. a mechanism for safe trading that minimizes the opportunity for scams.
2. a way to tag a player as a jerk, and have that tag associated with the player's account (rather than just that character) so that you could see that he's a jerk even if he switches characters or deletes his character and rerolls. the only way you should be able to start fresh with a new reputation is to start fresh with a new copy of the game (and the new license key that comes with it that allows you to start a new account).

Agreed. But that 20% can mean a lot, especially if you consider advancement in MMO design which could allow for greater realism, investment, risk and conflict. And with the ease of buying a new version of the game to start fresh it's not really a deterrent at all.