Game Center Adds Names to Friend Requests

· by · News

Apple updated Game Center on Tuesday so that user’s names are displayed when making friend requests instead of just their account handle. The company introduced the change with an updated terms of service agreement that appears when users launch the Game Center app on their iPhone, iPod touch or iPad.

Game Center, now with real names

Game Center is a social networking service Apple launched along with iOS 4.1. It lets users play with other Game Center users in compatible games, and also lets them keep track of in-game statistics.

Previously, Game Center would only show the nicknames users assigned to their accounts when sending friend requests. Since users could create nicknames that didn’t necessarily show their real name, it could be difficult to figure out if a request was coming from an actual friend.

Game Center now displays the name associated with your Apple ID, so if you want to keep that name private create a second Apple ID account. Since Apple IDs are free, there isn’t any penalty for create extra accounts.

Jeff Gamet

Jeff Gamet

Jeff is the Mac Observer's Managing Editor, and co-host of the Apple Context Machine podcast. He is the author of "The Designer's Guide to Mac OS X" from Peachpit Press, and writes for several design-related publications. Jeff has presented at events such as Macworld Expo, the RSA Conference, and the Mac Computer Expo. In all his spare time, he also co-hosts the We Have Communicators podcast, and makes guest appearances on several other podcasts, too. Jeff dreams in HD.

Sign Up for the Newsletter

Enter a valid email address

Join the TMO Express Daily Newsletter to get the latest Mac headlines in your e-mail every weekday.

Adding to list…

No Comments

Add your comment

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?