Why the 8-character callsign limit, with no dashes or underscores?

[Skyyr]

The current naming limitations just seem... archaic. Sure, it won't make a difference in game performance, but increasing the character limit and available characters would allow people to use clearer, more adult, easier to comprehend callsigns. For example, changing the limitation to 12 or 16 characters and allowing dashes and underscores would allow someone who enjoys hunting ducks to use the callsign "Duck_Sacker," whereas they were previously limited to using "DckSckr" (which resulted in many unwarranted, colorful PM's from in-game players).

Is there any reasoning as to the severely-limited naming conventions? Would it be easy to get this to change? It just seems like a really small fix that would make a relatively bigger difference and allow for some more creative (and original) callsigns. Allowing dashes and underscores would be a big improvement, instead of requiring everything to be run together.

[ImADot]

I believe it has to do with the Unix database (Oracle or some other).

[hotcoffe]

I believe it has to do with the Unix database (Oracle or some other).

it has nothing to do with db... 
probably its something they decide very early stages of development(I am talking about char limit, not special chars) and never bothered to change it later on since nobody complained.

[BaldEagl]

My guess is it was limited due to text messages being limited to a single line in the text buffer although that's since changed.

[Bizman]

No matter why it's limited, but IMO it serves a good purpose. I understand your point in Duck_Hunter, but even now it's sometimes difficult to salute an enemy whose name contains 1 instead of l or would it rather be I. Make the naming case sensitive and add all of the marks and no one will get saluted any more except the pitiful few with a correctly spelled simple name.

- 812man -

[Arlo]

DuckHntr

[captain1ma]

8 character limit is a dos/unix thing. they probably never bothered to change it. they could change it if they wanted to, but how do you salute I_know_what_I_am_But_what_are _U_3456 of the nightmare Monkey's Uncles of wallstreet???

[GScholz]

The whole chat system is pretty archaic with its text commands, and is basically a remnant of AH1. We should be able to just click on the name and get a popup menu with options for salute, squelch, tune to radio etc. Or click and drag to a free radio slot. Friends lists with notifications and location functions etc...

[68Raptor]

As others have already mentioned the current system does limit the amount of leet gamer tags. IMO it makes this feel more of a game for the grown ups instead of the 8 - 12 year olds. 

[Karnak]

Icon size of friendlies?

I_know_what_I_am_But_what_are _U_3456
3.5

Would be an obnoxious icon.

[captain1ma]

 

 

[Zoney]

In AirWarrior you could use symbols.  Remember the guy everyone either called "fish" or "shark with the callsign of

<')^><

[BaldEagl]

In AirWarrior you could use symbols.  Remember the guy everyone either called "fish" or "shark with the callsign of

<')^><

There was also bat whos call sign was ^--^

[Oldman731]

There was also bat whos call sign was ^--^

And Kitty.

- oldman

[shppr01]

It is always a good thing to try to keep the callsign short for the reason of someone calling check six. they can call out a short name fatser than trying to call out a longer one . Just my op.