Algorithmic Handicapping is Wrong for Online Games

[rhainsict-1418]

@Cuthbert-11649

@Goldlantern-1543

Of course the forums overwhelmingly thinks things other than their own performance are the primary reason for losses in ranked games. No poll will ever say otherwise. Most players aren’t self-aware enough to realize that matchmaking isn’t a problem. It’s actually very good in this game.

players are biased to favor it

The “it”, of course being, they favor support that reinforces putting less effort into achieving the same result as those who put in more effort.

So yes, in general, it is fair to assume the general response to those polls is skewed.

@Cuthbert-11649

Do you think that ranked, competitive matches should be algorithmically handicapped?

The game isn’t algorithmically handicapped, the game and supporting software is designed to give both teams a more balanced opportunity of winning the match.

@CelineDion-11727

I’m a real, unhappy person all my own!

You good bro??

@Hanqz-2506

Where are these polls?

A great question, in fact

@Cuthbert-11649

The old “Battlenet” forum of Overwatch (now decommissioned)

Very convenient…

@DRUNKINJEDI-11320

wish they did that for every online competitive game

Can you give me an example of a mainstream competitive video game that doesn’t use an SR AND MMR based system?

I can give you examples of games I’ve played that do use it.

• Overwatch
• CSGO
• Valorant
• League of Legends

These are the only competitive video games I’ve played. I’m interested in seeing some games that use a different approach and yet nobody has been able to give me an example so I’m still waiting.

@HintOfMalice-2431

People just aren’t interested in reading a 50,000 character dissertation about a very minor issue in their limited and valuable downtime.

In the amount of time it would take for someone to read this, they could get a VOD review done and be well on their way towards improving at the game and understanding how to be a real competitor.

@CelineDion-11727

bad-faith arguments

@Kaedi-11739

Win streaks and loss streaks are common, but are not related to your actual skill rating or MMR. Naturally of course the higher you climb the more difficult the matches will get (that is the point of a ranked ladder of any competitive game). It’s also not uncommon to ride on your emotions (get energized when you win, get tilted when you lose). Anyone who says there are “forced wins or losses” in Overwatch are fooling themselves.

Here is a handy detailed guide to matchmaking and skill rating in Competitive Overwatch.

The rating and matchmaking system is confusing, and a good overview does not appear to be available. The official overview1 is incomplete and does not answer a number of common player questions and concerns. This information below is gathered from sporadic developer posts and videos, salted with my own experience and experiments, various forum threads, and watching streams. Note that since Blizzard does not give exact algorithms, I do have to fill in some gaps, or leave some items unknown. Final…

WyomingMyst provides a much better summation of winning and losing in Overwatch. And the link they shared in the same thread is much more in-line with how software is more likely to be written.

People dismiss his post because he negates human error in game play. Which is the biggest factor in all of this.