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  • Subject: On Microsoft and Gamertag purging
Subject: On Microsoft and Gamertag purging

cars, girls & cake all day everyday

I've always been hopeful. I've been looking to change my GT to something a little less...random.

There are so many original and simple names that have been taken before the 360-era and weren't migrated. These names have been sitting around since about 2005 and Microsoft hasn't bothered to take measures to remove these Gamertag names so that other people can use them.

The entire "olde account history" argument I'd consider null now since it's been seven years already, and especially with the move to the internet for a lot of features of Xbox Live I would think that anyone who's really wanted to migrate their old names would have done so already. Special cases are a minority, and I feel I can safely say that Microsoft has a knack of not catering to a minority (which, incidentally, is likely why they haven't bothered with this issue)

Do you think they will go forward with mass deleting all of the pre-360 Gamertags, or somehow un-registering all of the pre-360 Gamertag names any time soon? Any time at all? Can they go forward with that? Maybe it's the reason they haven't. I had pop-tarts today they were good.

  • 12.28.2012 4:10 PM PDT

Posted by: Falcon Saber
I like how your sub box is full of science and political videos but your recommendations are full of anime girls kissing each other.

Just Zoid being Zoid ^_^

They might do it when they migrate over to the New Xbox

  • 12.28.2012 4:11 PM PDT

I don't mind this idea, but I actually really like my GT.

  • 12.28.2012 4:11 PM PDT
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We all wear masks and the time comes when we cannot remove them without removing our own skin.

Depends what the contract was back then when the people signed up for Xbox Live.

  • 12.28.2012 4:11 PM PDT

If they warn people far in advance, and the accounts aren't active, what's the harm in it?

  • 12.28.2012 4:11 PM PDT

cars, girls & cake all day everyday

Right...it's only possible if the contract stated that their account can be deleted at any time for any reason, correct?
Posted by: Buddha Milk
Depends what the contract was back then when the people signed up for Xbox Live.

Hopefully we'll just start over with names, to be honest. I think the mistake was including all of the new 360 Gamertags on the same account system when migration was introduced.
Posted by: Teh_Zoid
They might do it when they migrate over to the New Xbox

  • 12.28.2012 4:14 PM PDT
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They might be able to do something like Riot does with LoL. Every year they sweep through their system and remove the names accounts that have been inactive for a specified amount of time. The owners of these accounts can still log in at any time in the future, but they'll be prompted to make a new name upon doing so.

[Edited on 12.28.2012 4:16 PM PST]

  • 12.28.2012 4:16 PM PDT

cars, girls & cake all day everyday

Nothing short of -blam!- brilliant.

I assume they would be able to keep their stats and history upon signing up again? The stats would be tied to email and password, not their username. That's what we need! Stats and history tied to Windows Live ID and not Gamertag accounts. Then we could have a system similar to that.
Posted by: Mr Pinata
They might be able to do something like Riot does with LoL. Every year they sweep through their system and remove the names accounts that have been inactive for a specified amount of time. The owners of these accounts can still log in at any time in the future, but they'll be prompted to make a new name upon doing so.

  • 12.28.2012 4:21 PM PDT
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  • Noble Legendary Member

"Insert generic signature here"

They did this already back in 09.

Not a lot of folks were pleased with it.

  • 12.28.2012 4:22 PM PDT

If I remember correctly they are going to start doing something like that.

It isn't just "Pre-360" accounts though it's dead accounts in general. Of course if someone doesn't sign in for 2 years they aren't going to remove the gamertag but if it's a COMPLETELY DEAD account that hasn't been touched in 5 years they're going to put the gamer tag up for grabs and if that person returns they have to choose a new name.

  • 12.28.2012 4:23 PM PDT

I gaze upon the stars and see the majesty that is the universe.


EGO mos bulla astrum.

I personally think there should be a contract wherein if you don't use your account within a year after its last usage it should be deleted with the name free to be used. No sense in letting good names be taken by people who don't play Xbox at all anymore.

  • 12.28.2012 4:25 PM PDT
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Posted by: Count Blinkula
Nothing short of -blam!- brilliant.

I assume they would be able to keep their stats and history upon signing up again? The stats would be tied to email and password, not their username. That's what we need! Stats and history tied to Windows Live ID and not Gamertag accounts. Then we could have a system similar to that.
Posted by: Mr Pinata
They might be able to do something like Riot does with LoL. Every year they sweep through their system and remove the names accounts that have been inactive for a specified amount of time. The owners of these accounts can still log in at any time in the future, but they'll be prompted to make a new name upon doing so.


Yep, in Riots system accounts and summoner names (essentially gamer tags) exist separately. So an account can exist without a "gamer tag" in their system and retain all of its stats, information, ect. and if someone who owns that inactive account decides they want to sign in at some point in the future they're prompted to create a new name for their account.

  • 12.28.2012 4:25 PM PDT
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They already do this brah

Accounts that haven't been active for SEVEN straight years go dead and the gamertag is reusable again. Just friend request the account and when it's not there anymore, that means the account name is usable again.

  • 12.28.2012 4:27 PM PDT

cars, girls & cake all day everyday

Maybe they could put the limit at something less than 5 years (2 years) and put a bar at a level of activity too, for instance not signed in for two years and NO game history. Make it recurring to keep Gamertag squatters on their toes.

(haha, just thinking aloud)
Posted by: loiter squad
If I remember correctly they are going to start doing something like that.

It isn't just "Pre-360" accounts though it's dead accounts in general. Of course if someone doesn't sign in for 2 years they aren't going to remove the gamertag but if it's a COMPLETELY DEAD account that hasn't been touched in 5 years they're going to put the gamer tag up for grabs and if that person returns they have to choose a new name.

  • 12.28.2012 4:28 PM PDT
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  • Veteran Heroic Member
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"Better a little which is well done, than a great deal imperfectly." - Plato


Posted by: Count Blinkula
I had pop-tarts today they were good.


What kind?

  • 12.28.2012 4:29 PM PDT