Changing your nickname in rf2

[Rouke]

ISI like things complicated so here's reminder on how to change your name/nick.

The easiest way is to go to UserData/player, open your player.PLR file with notepad or similar and change your Player Nick="
Ideally this already should work online.
(Player name=" is for offline I think)

If it doesn't work, then you also need to change the following:
Go to (windows) user\appdata\roaming\.rfactor\rfactor\rFactor.name
First right click/properties and un-check read-only and apply.
Open the .name file, change your nick to the exact name and save.
right click the file again, thick read-only and apply.
mission complete.

It could take 2 server join-attempts for rf2 to 'get it', no idea why but I've had this happen before.

[Wim Navigator]

Thanks for the explanation Rouke.

I just tried, changed the plr file and that didn't work.
I changed the name file and there are three names; Wim - Navigator - Navigator.
So I changed the second one in Wim, got into the game twice as you said and the screen shows only Navigator.
I went back in the name file and what did it say? The second one was changed somehow in my real last name(!!)
Changed it back, changed different, tried all combinations, also in the plr file; it just don't work.

I think it has to do with the new build? I was always shown as Wim Navigator, now there's only one name visible.
I can't seem to change it.

So, that's that. My job is more important than this silly thing. I am not calling this league silly, just the fact I can't change my name and at the end of the day; it's just a game and I'm not putting my job on the line for it.
The fact my real name was "exposed" (be it only in the name file, but could come online) scared the crap out of me, so I'm done figuring this out as you may understand.

Sorry, I'm out of ideas. If it doesn't work (what seems to be the case) I just leave; don't want to break rules here.
Try again later this evening (first have to open presents;) ) and will see if al comes out okay or I say goodbye.

[Rouke]

I don't know how/why but in my .name file the first and 3rd line are empty, the 2nd line shows my full name. and that seems to work.

The 'real name' is probably because you registered rf2 under your real name. and it would show in the rf2 window when you start. but it has little to do with how a name or nick is displayed off and online.

pro-tip: do not validate rf2 on the ISI forums, then it probably will show your real name.

[Rik Walker]

I just tried, changed the plr file and that didn't work.
I changed the name file and there are three names; Wim - Navigator - Navigator.

It's the 3rd line in the .name file that you need to change. Having changed it, you also need to make the file read only or else it might get overwritten. Also make sure that rF2 isn't running at all before making the change.

For now there's no compulsion to change your name anyway. As long as we are running open or semi-open races we won't be enforcing the name rule. Hopefully by the time we do you'll agree it's worth going through the hassle . Or ISI will wake up & realise that it is entirely reasonable to have multiple online names for a single account and make it easy to implement them...

nb: we've been going in one form or another for nearly 20 years now, since long before it was actually possible to race online! We started out on Compuserve which was a subscription only service that existed when web forums like this simply didn't exist. Being a subscription service, real names were the only option. I've seen so many online communities disappear in the meantime that I'm convinced that that using real names, or at least reasonable facsimiles of, is instrumental in our long term success.

[Wim Navigator]

Well, after several trial and error, now I got it

I understand the need for real names as I too hate the anonymous bangers (lets call them that, not all).
It can really mess up the race or even a league, so that's a good thing it's needed here.
Nice this exception can be made.

Solved one problem, got another one
Rouke said the server was soon to be restarted and right after that (might be coincidence) I was back in the server list.......
No problem, I just wait for the club server. I stood up out of my (way to low I realize now) playseat and can't move at all now.
Hurt my back, on the couch now hoping it's all right in time for the club evening.
Let me see what file that is to change: "repair back: 0.0 values 1.0 - 0.0"

[Rouke]

Check upgrades for back as well

Yeah, I have those random shutdowns as well, not ctd's but just back to lobby for no reason at all. Not too often and usually on join.

Hope it aint too bad with yer back though!

[Wim Navigator]

Just curious; I got thrown back to the server list, but was that a restart, a few minutes after the race was over and the new weekend was started? You were talking about the bumps, I had smoked a cigarette.....right then?

[Rouke]

Tonight we tested server values for collision penalties (it was mentioned in the special events/Portugal thread) in the first race it was obvious too low, so I closed the server, increased values and restarted the server. and you never came back

This don't happen much though, but currently there's a few items to iron out before we move into the more serious stuff. rf2 is quite user-unfriendly.

[Wim Navigator]

Okay, I understand.
I never read when I drive, so some things go right by me. (Drink and drive is something else; one glass of sherry and I'm 0,5 faster.......hehe, it's actually true. ONLY sim driving btw )

Also, I didn't realize we were going to bump in the race; I thought just in the practice sessions.

It's a weak thing of me; I already said I take racing to serious and I go up in the driving. Having a good drive or being in a good lap and thrown out (even if it's my own fault by not reading) I get "pissed". It just bums me out.
That happened at the last restart of the server......I was focussed, had a good run, was in the last turn and there I was in the server list........something "clicked in my head". Didn't wanna start all over and just didn't want to drive no more.
Not your fault of course, but that's me, I can't help it.

Sorry again for not responding on the r/s question; knew where you were, but that's all.......didn't read, didn't see we were alone. was just going

[Rick Stratton]

FWIW - one the server side, there is an option to FORCE use of real names. What I'm guessing is that the server will use the first line of that NAME file [one used to register with ISI] and not the 3rd line [nick]. This feature does indeed work, we tested it a few builds ago.

Currently we do not use this feature, and technically there are some workarounds possible if you ever got into a situation where you wanted/needed to join a server that was using it but you didn't want your real name exposed, but that's a different thread.

[Marcel Gerber]

you're welcome http://www.mediafire.com/download/y23pp ... hanger.rar

[Rouke]

Nice!

[Ray Walton]

Never understood the need for nicknames and/or anominous titles. My name IS really Ray Walton and that is how I am signed I on with all sites and on-line accounts I belong to (well except the perverts hard porn sites of course where I first met Rouke and Bret ). Why should I not be proud of my actual name ?? Why does Lewis Hamilton not race under a nickname or for that matter any other real world driver? What is so different about sim racing or any other on-line activity ??.

Sure if you have not led a reasonably honourable life and are ashamed of who you really are then just change your name in the real world and simply use the same changed new name in the sim world too. So many people IMHO make unnecessary silly problems for themselves. Sorry to be blunt but that is for me the hard facts. I was born Ray Walton and have no reason not to stand up and be counted as who I really am. Sure I know many guys who do not like their given name and permanently use a nickname so in affect that does become their real name like a George Rogers might rename himself in all walks of life to his popular known name of say Ginger Rogers or George "Ginger" Rogers as he has ginger hair maybe.

But 90% of folk I know just use their real names or shortened versions of it; like I never use my full given name Raymond as prefer always to be called Ray and sign on everywhere as Ray, which is of course not a nickname at all. Only exceptions to that is where you have to use your birth certificate and passport full given name like with Doctors, Tax offices and immigration departments abroad for example.

Anyway also to what Rik said above too, just adding my relevant two pence worth guys. Just want to make a point and encourage folk to be proud and unashamed of who they really are. No offence meant or intended, but I hope some old git words of wisdom. Main thing is enjoy the Legends League racing here as I believe it is second to none for quality organised on-line sim racing, nick names or not (but I hope not when we are all back fully re-established as we soon will be).

[Rouke]

Its the internet Ray. Not everyone wants, likes, or feels the need to go around all sites/communities/programs using their real names.
And using a nickname is very common and does not mean people are [insert reason] , its just because it don't matter much most of the time.
By the way, 'hard porn sites' lol, you know nothing!*

But allot of people also registered with some silly name in rf2, if that name sticks they are known as 34rrt56 forever. because not everyone realises and rf2 account is also a race-name. it was not like this in rf1 so easy to make that mistake. and then it becomes sensible to want to change to your real name, or whatever.
I registered rf2 as Denstjiro, I had to use this trick so i could race as Rouke.


Oh, and how long have we been together? 10 years now? the moment any of you bloody admins/stewards and other fools pronounce my name right on teamspeak/skype, FOR ONCE. I might agree with you


* nothing!!

[Grant Riddall]

I pronounce it as like saying rock.. But kinda dragging it out like, rooooooooooeeerrrrrrrkk...