Adjustment suggestion discussion for matchmaking (Ranked level requirement issues)

(Whens_Phoenix) #1

Instead of posting the usual extremely verbose and salty sob story, I just wanted to make this thread to discuss and give suggestions on how to approach two massive issues, this game currently has due to it’s business model.
If you are confident enough to take the server browser away from the userbase, then you better make sure your product works. I don’t care for casual matchmaking, so this all comes from experiences in ranked exclusively.

Since you opted for a free to play model, Dirty Bomb account creation is automatically plagued by two problems, as it is with every competitive game (e.g. Couter-Strike GO). People will create smurf accounts (for those who don’t know: this means an experienced player creates another account, to be matched against lower ranked people) and alternate accounts for hacking. In both cases the only thing, which currently stops them is that ranked has a minimum level requirement. However this is simply way too shallow. In an ideal world, people would ‘not be a dick’ and not abuse this. However in it’s current status if somebody is really feeling themselves, they can easily grind up a throwaway account in a single day, and shit all over the playerbase until they inevitably get caught. This is more than enough time, to reach ranked matchmaking as well, and drag your cronies to higher ranks while you are at it (example for this in the evidence below).

The end result is a worse experience for all players going by the actual rules.

Here are some ideas on how to approach this:

  • This one’s obvious: simply increase the goddamn level requirement. [I’d suggest 20+, since that is also used for stopwatch high level servers]
  • Punish people who queue up with hackers in the same group in matchmaking. If not, just outright ban them as well.
  • While this solution is hamfisted it seems to work for valve: Add an actual real value requirement on top, if you want to enter ranked. (e.g. attach a phone number to enter CS matchmaking in valve’s case)
  • Add mercenary unlocks as an additional requirement for ranked (e.g. you need to have one of each type unlocked before you can use it)

If you have some other/better suggestions, I’d be very curious to hear them.

CLICK HERE for some evidence for a 1-day hacker account I’ve encountered in matchmaking recently (these are more obvious to showcase than smurfs, also due to anonymization being a requirement I cannot really give them as evidence in these forums in the first place)

(Melinder) #2

A lot of people pushed for increasing the level requirement to 15 at the end of Ranked Season 2, and the response they were given was that, if this were to happen, 80% (don’t quote me on that value, though it was definitely above 70%) of the playerbase would immediately be ineligible to participate in ranked, and those who were would see queue times go up to an hour frequently.

Dirty Bomb’s playerbase is filled predominantly with players who only hang around for a few days before quitting, and so the community concluded that player retention is the most important factor in ensuring ranked remains relevant.

I can’t speak so much about the smurfing problem as I myself am guilty of it. They could increase the level requirement, but they would run in to the above issue, they could perhaps limit ranked to accounts that have owned Dirty Bomb for longer than a certain amount of time, though players could mass produce accounts to prepare for the future. The “Prime Matchmaking” feature from Counter Strike could work, though people are able to buy cheap sims, as I know this is done frequently on Counter Strike

(Aisolon) #3

Or lock new accounts from entering ranked for atleast 1 week. In a normal scenario, people that are actually new will never go for ranked for a while, and honestly they should be kept from having access to ranked within a few hours of them picking up the game. Maybe couple it with level requirement. Anything to stop the cheaters and smurfs from ruining peoples lives.

(Whens_Phoenix) #4

@Melinder said:
80% (don’t quote me on that value, though it was definitely above 70%) of the playerbase would immediately be ineligible to participate in ranked, and those who were would see queue times go up to an hour frequently.
I did not know this. Still this is the usual free to play situation I bet. I don’t feel, that people who as you said:
@Melinder said:
only hang around for a few days before quitting
are worthwile to be considered here though. The issue I want to focus on in this thread is ranked exclusively. The people who make up the target audience for ranked from my point of view, do not overlap with this ‘majority’ of players anyways. Meanwhile the core 30-20% that do show an interest in ranked, are actively turned off by the current status of it (as you might be able to tell from the amount of threads complaining about ranked matchmaking in this very forum).
Having “shorter” queue times does not make up for obviously wasted time. I usually wait at least 10-15 minutes at the moment for a match already (I’m in the gold ranks). Getting one after such a long wait time, to then be stomped into the dust by a guy aimbotting openly does not make for a compelling experience.
It has to either stop, or go the way of execution, and be turned off until it can be guaranteed, that it does actually work the way it is supposed to.

It’s not the fault of the consumer, if the product does not work. You cannot advertise something as functional, if it clearly is not. People cheat the system enough already in other comparable competitive environmnets. Look at sports for example. Doping is an issue, which has been around for a longer time than Dirty Bomb even exists. It’s the job of the authorities (or devs in Dirty Bombs case) to adress this.

Let’s just try to keep brainstorming actual solutions in this thread. It’s a better idea than trying to evaluate the problem itself, right? I mean we all agree it exists…

@Melinder said:
they could perhaps limit ranked to accounts that have owned Dirty Bomb for longer than a certain amount of time, though players could mass produce accounts to prepare for the future. The “Prime Matchmaking” feature from Counter Strike could work, though people are able to buy cheap sims, as I know this is done frequently on Counter Strike

@Aisolon said:
Or lock new accounts from entering ranked for atleast 1 week.

A timed lock might help. Any additional hoop a potential smurf/cheater has to jump through, which a legitimate account would not notice as a burden is a good idea.
Keep those coming.

(scrub_lord) #5

I still wonder where the hell all these new players keep coming from. Its like a constant flow of newbies who never make it to level 15 that make up most of the current playerbase.

(Guziol) #6

Nothing like waiting 30 min for a match because people keep on dodging just so i can roll the motherfucking dice and see if i got the smurfs or actual new people on my side. I’m tired of my personal input having no impact on the outcome of a match because it’s all decided in the lobby. Fuck this. And it’s not like the games are balanced with nobody smurfing. Getting thrown into a game with 9 bronzes when im top gold rank is sure fun for everybody too.

(Homu1124) #7

I wouldn’t mind a level cap increase. It would help with the level imbalances and experience requirement for players. I’m high level now and even I don’t want to play ranked in this state. Might as well increase the cap to filter off smurfs and the inexperienced, the smurfs especially.

(GatoCommodore) #8

well, in paladins, people do require to play their basic champion to an extent to be able to get into ranked.

one of my friend calculated that if the guy is really skilled, his champion will rank up faster

one of the goal that i see from this is new players will need to understand a minimum of 7 champion type of gameplay to be able to get into competitive.

its a good system, but it does takes time.

why dont we raise it to level 10 so we get middle ground since theres so little amount of player going over the level 10.