Numbers Guys: The origin

[trotter]

Here is something I have wondered for a while:

What is the origin of the numbers names for new players?

I have two theories

a) Instructions upon signup say to use "alpha-numeric characters". People don't know what this is, and assume that the instructions are saying basically to choose a number for yourself.
b) New players who leave their desired ingame name blank get assigned a string of numbers.

Is it one of the two? Or something completely different?

[USRanger]

I'm pretty sure it's B.

[moot]

Not B.. 'GameID' just doesnt sound enough like e.g. 'nickname'.

[LYNX]

When they bugger up registration what Snailman calls Hitechs first intelligence test.  They are assigned a number as a "FAIL".

[B4Buster]

I've thought of this too. I think it's just people that see the two week free trial, and instead of coming up with a meaningful name, they just fun their hand accross the number pad. They probably do't take it seriously, thinking they won't play the game after the two weeks

[Lusche]

A.

I have actually asked two or three of them in the TA. None of them had any idea what "alphanumeric" meant, so they assumed they had to put in a number.

And of course there is that ever growing number of players that do not read anything at all, just hitting a few keys to proceed as fast as possible. Of course, that are the same that ask the same question over and over again, can't find the TA on the arena login screen and constantly yell "NO, DO TELL ME NOW HOW FLY PLANE"

[Getback]

I always thought they were Prisoners serving 10-15 who think of their number as an ID.

[1701E]

Heck about 2 1/2 years ago on my 2 week trial, I could have sworn I remember seeing something about a registration code, thus I tried faking one.  I was an idiot, yes, no doubting that.  I was still new to PC games at the time (use to be only N64/PS1/PS2/ect. games).

It worked as I got in, but then realized my username was numbers.  I attempted to stay out of the way, and stay quiet; learn things through watching, and it worked well.
 
Then if ya are one of the <I will censor this word now> that thinks 1701E is "numbers guy", I would have been considered "Numbers guy" till tour 97 or so.

As a still new guy (started pay in tour 88), I can tell ya, we aren't very smart.

[jab116]

I remember being asked for a login I.D: JAB116
and a game I.D: Hellrasr
Ended up backwards & for my first 2 years of AH, had to go with JAB116

[Masherbrum]

It's their handle.   I'll usually just say "check 6 numbers guy" if it's a "Phone number".   Zip codes are easier to recite.   

[Anaxogoras]

At least it's easy for them to change it.  Not all numbers guys are clueless, however.  999000 is a deadly gunner in his bombers, and I'm sure there are others, but not many!

[Getback]

At least it's easy for them to change it.  Not all numbers guys are clueless, however.  999000 is a deadly gunner in his bombers, and I'm sure there are others, but not many!

I think 9s has been 9s since AW days. If you see a guy named 4510 or something like that he was at the very beginning of AW. At that time they use to automatically assign numbers. There use to be several of them. We'd always ask where were the rest of the 4,000 series. Was kind of funny.

[macleod01]

It's their handle.   I'll usually just say "check 6 numbers guy" if it's a "Phone number".   Zip codes are easier to recite.   

I have to say, that seems to be what it is. When I first started out, I cant remember all the questions, but I never got asked for a GameID. Maybe I did but just never read it. Anyway, when I first signed on, It was my phone number! I had to fly around for a few months with my phone number stenciled above the moving target lol

[SectorNine50]

It is "B."  I remember signing up and reading that if you don't put in an ID, you get one assigned.

The only complaint I have about numbers guys is giving them check 6's is a pita...

[frank3]

I thought that you were assigned a 'NewU' + number? Or was that changed? (haven't played for over 5 years)