Streamlining Account/Profile Creation / Login Process

[jitspoe]

The account creation / login process has been a complaint from a lot of new players, and I'll admit it is pretty confusing.  I'm looking for feedback on how to improve it.  I'm not ready to move the whole account creation process to the game, yet, I don't think, but I think there are a lot of things that can be done to improve the flow with the existing system.

Some thoughts for easy fixes:
- Account creation name entry should be blank if the player hasn't set a name (and has a noname#### name).
- Should only be one entry for profile creation - just use the player name as the profile name.
- If no player name has been set, set the player name to the name on the profile.

[Rockyar_96]

maybe remove the question:

What is the answer to all questions? - 42
 

[jitspoe]

maybe remove the question:

What is the answer to all questions? - 42
 

That's just for forum registrations, and I think I've removed it anyway.

[T3RR0R15T]

I think it is confusing for players to go to a website and register an account if they are a few minutes in the game. They need to close the game before they can play it. Is that logical? So i would make a short (name, password, email) account registration in the game.


Maybe something like this:

1. first start
2. welcome menu, where the player can set a name and the language* (*only used for the tutorial translation atm). Maybe add the "advanced"-button under the name field. The page should only have a "Next" button (no console or website link). go to 3.
3. actual noprofile menu (without the console and website link).
3a. If they click "just play": go to 8.
3b. If they click "create profile": go to 4.
4. Menu to choose: Create a new account (with an information, that there is a website to add/edit more names and other account related things) or log in to an existing account.
4a. Create new account: Name field (filled with the name from step 2), a password field and an email field. Click on a "register"-button: 5.
4b. Login menu: Name field (filled with the name from step 2), a password field, the auto-login and remember password checkboxes. Click on a "login"-button: 7.
5. Rules page (don't cheat, only one account,...) with a checkbox to accept this rules. Click on a "register"-button: 6.
6. If the registration works go to 4b and show a registration complete message there. If there was an error, go to 4a and show an error message there.
7. If the login works go to 8, if not go to 4b and show an error message there.
8. Load the normal menu.

[jitspoe]

Well, you have to exit the game to activate your account from your email anyway...

[MyeRs]

It's not the actual registration process that is likely confusing, and it's also probably not registering on a website that confuses new players either. IMO It's the website itself.

Let's look?

http://digitalpaint.org/ --- Direct me to make account? If I'm new, that's a lot of effort to find.

Most games have the top of the page as a spot to login, so you can login/create account while anywhere on the site. (Also, your game acc should automatically be registered to forums to avoid having new players make multiple different acc's for 1 game).

Compare to:

http://combatarms.nexon.net/
http://crossfire.z8games.com/index2.aspx
http://na.leagueoflegends.com/

etc... I just took 3 games that I've played before as examples - but basically it's far easier to log in on the website - it shows you that you NEED an account - which DP doesn't until AFTER you download/open it --- I usually make my acc while downloading, not after opening game and realizing oh hey I need an acc - but only for some servers? Sometimes I get kicked? etc... --- There's confusion everywhere.

[T3RR0R15T]

Well, you have to exit the game to activate your account from your email anyway...

What about temporary accounts? If a player creates a new account ingame, he can use it for a week (without activation). After that, the account will be "closed" until the player activates it. If he doesn't activate it in the next month, the account will be deleted. Show the player on each game start a message if the account isn't activated.

[jitspoe]

It's not the actual registration process that is likely confusing, and it's also probably not registering on a website that confuses new players either. IMO It's the website itself.

Let's look?

http://digitalpaint.org/ --- Direct me to make account? If I'm new, that's a lot of effort to find.

Most games have the top of the page as a spot to login, so you can login/create account while anywhere on the site. (Also, your game acc should automatically be registered to forums to avoid having new players make multiple different acc's for 1 game).

Compare to:

http://combatarms.nexon.net/
http://crossfire.z8games.com/index2.aspx
http://na.leagueoflegends.com/

etc... I just took 3 games that I've played before as examples - but basically it's far easier to log in on the website - it shows you that you NEED an account - which DP doesn't until AFTER you download/open it --- I usually make my acc while downloading, not after opening game and realizing oh hey I need an acc - but only for some servers? Sometimes I get kicked? etc... --- There's confusion everywhere.

Interesting point.  I don't know that registering an account necessarily needs to be a prominent feature on the site, though.  You only need to do it once you've decided you want to keep playing the game.  I would kind of prefer that people NOT register an account if they are just going to try the game for a few minutes and decide they don't like it.  The game directly links to the account creation page when you go to create a profile, so there shouldn't be an issue finding where to register an account once you've run the game and get the prompt.  I think the real problem is the fact that people register an account, but then don't set their name in the multiplayer settings to be the same as it is in-game, or they use a bunch of colors and the name gets truncated... things like that.

What about temporary accounts? If a player creates a new account ingame, he can use it for a week (without activation). After that, the account will be "closed" until the player activates it. If he doesn't activate it in the next month, the account will be deleted. Show the player on each game start a message if the account isn't activated.

An interesting idea, but I think it would be a nightmare to maintain in practice.  People would think they have an account set up correctly when they first played, then come back a week later and the account is gone, or the name is registered to somebody else, etc.  Then there would also be the issue of people using temp accounts as multis, to evade bans, etc.