A trend that keeps appearing in online games is barcode names. What is behind this in games like LoL or The Division?
It seems strange at first glance. Normally, players in games have names, fantasy designations, or tags that sound particularly martial or catchy. In fantasy games, they are called Leeegolas or Darkélf42, you might meet a Grunzor or the Facemeltor next door – strange combinations of letters that are somewhat recognizable as a name.
But there are also players who call themselves IIllIIllIIIllIIIlllIIllll. Why do they do that?
IIIIlllllIII and his buddy llllIIIIlll
These barcode names are about disguising oneself.
Now, this isn’t usually a big deal, because people with this name stand out in a sea of “normal names.” But what if an opposing team consists entirely of people with “barcode names”? How can you then tell who the supporter is and who the damage dealer is?
That is exactly the idea behind it in games like “The Division.” Because players who use barcode names are simply not identifiable in The Division in a team that consists only of people with such names.
They killed lllllllIIII – the pigs!
The names are formed, for example, with a capital “I” (Ieh) or a lowercase “l” (el). Combinations of these are indistinguishable.
It is unclear who the damage dealer or healer is, even if the match has already started. This way, opponents cannot prioritize, cannot say: We will all fire together at “Facemeltor,” then Grunzor and Darklegolas are no problem anymore, without their supporters.
This is the advantage of barcode names in games where teamwork matters.
Being anonymous sometimes has advantages
But even when playing alone, it can be an advantage if you usually know each other. Especially in Starcraft: Brood War, this was very common a few years ago. Even today, it is associated with Korean professionals.
At a high level, some pro players have such a reputation, such fame, that other opponents at that level know how the pro player acts and which tactics he prefers, so that the name can become a disadvantage: “There is Grunzor, he always plays these roles and hangs around these spots, I can prepare for that.”
Moreover, barcode names are harder to “report” when a system requires the name to be spelled out in a ticket.
Oh God, there is IIIIllllIIIllll – We are all going to die!
At some times, barcode names were so “feared” that opposing players simply left the match when they were to face a team with such names. Because they knew: We will get beaten.
In many games, “barcode names” are an old habit that has since disappeared because developers intervened or because “fame” is now more valuable in the age of Twitch and Youtube than such gameplay advantages.
While the “barcode names” still lend a kind of “mystery reputation” and many first think of someone seasoned as a pro when they call themselves that.
In The Division, barcode names are a problem
In The Division, “barcode names” were, until recently, a problem. YouTuber MarcoStyle points this out along with other issues to justify that The Division has significant problems with balancing.
You can read an article about the future of The Division here:
The Division 2 or an expansion? – What are they working on in Malmö?
