Algorithmic Handicapping (MMR) is Wrong for Overwatch

[Cuthbert-11649]

@Sheevah-1353

What is the fundamental difference in the handicapping (that is both positive and negative for players) and the simple reality that 12 different people in any match - under any system - will always have relative skill and performance differences between them as a byproduct of each player being a different entity?

That is to say - conceptually, your idea of handicapping, at least on that particular point, seems to be a natural byproduct of team-based, online games, rather than a nefarious, systematic manipulation of a player base. There will always be a best and worst performer/player within a match, and that is in no way an indicator that the system is rigged.

Hey Sheevah, nice to see you again. I’ve done a lot more meditation and research on this subject since we spoke last. I’m afraid time has only entrenched me further in my position, but I appreciate your questions and your open mindedness as always. Have you seen my new video based on this thread? It’s posted at the top.

Getting to your question, you are right that there will always be differences in player skill between any 12 players. The purpose of a competitive match, in a team-based game like Overwatch, is to prove differences of skill by the victory or defeat of either team. The winning team presumably has the best players, and Overwatch players rightly assume that their record of win/loss should determine their careers.

But the Matchmaker’s algorithmic handicapping of each match turns the entire premise upside-down, and defies players’ assumptions of the system. Yes, differences in player skill are natural. But the applications’ state of knowledge about those differences (MMR) is not natural, it is highly artificial. And the purpose for such statistical analysis (ensuring 50% odds for each competing team) is not one that most players have considered.

@Sheevah-1353

B) possibly using metrics that many wouldn’t feel are valuable to a competitive environment,

It may interest you to know that Activision Publishing Incorporated, the game holding company of Overwatch, has entitled themselves to use gender, income, and residential location as segregating factors, for the purpose of matchmaking. These are ‘details of invention’ in their 2015 Matchmaker patent.

@Sheevah-1353

C) does a less-than-ideal job of actually accounting for player skill when assigning MMR.

I am not actually saying this. I think that MMR does a virtually perfect job of determining players’ skill, relative to other players at their SR level. But I think the purpose of determining relative skill is, as you say, nefarious. It’s being done to effect handicapping without players’ knowledge or consent. I have argued and proven in my polls that the vast majority of players do not consent to being analyzed and handicapped this way.

@superiuxn0va-1487

any news if this is getting addressed for OW2?

Since they have made no comment on thousands’ of players complaint against the system, we can only assume Activision/Blizzard plans to carry their Matchmaker invention forward unchanged.