Exciting OWL News

[GaiaFirebird-1840]

@masterifrit2-1737

2-2-2 was such a drastic change that OW may as well be an entirely different game.

Perhaps, but I don’t think in a good way! I think forcing restrictions on core elements of gameplay is a terrible way to go.

@masterifrit2-1737

I feel like this statement is subjective at best.

Of course. I don’t speak for everyone! But judging by the amount of complaints about balance and this particular meta, and the harshness of the nerfs on deck in response to that, and even negativity widespread among the pro community, it’s a safe bet that this is the most prominent sentiment.

@masterifrit2-1737

Power creep was caused by goats. Now that 2-2-2 is here, balance will merely take time.

Power creep was not caused by GOATS and even now, after the demise of GOATS, they’re still committing the same mistakes. 2-2-2 hasn’t fixed balance in the slightest, and if anything, it’s even more out of whack than ever before.

@masterifrit2-1737

Considering the OW player count isn’t public, I’m curious as to where you are getting this information. Objectively, OW must be doing well enough to invest into an entirely new medium—The Nintendo Switch. A dead or declining player base would be worth investing into further.

Overwatch at its peak was at like 40 million players. Blizzard’s entire catalogue is at less than 40 million now. Some sites have placed estimates based on games played as at less than 10 million, some as low as 5 million. Putting the game on a new system to reach a new audience could be just as much a ploy to recoup losses as it is a sign of success.

[OnePointSix-2548]

yeah yeah 142k ppl farming tokens we know, thx

[Voxel-11825]

@Baja-11423

Impossible…this is game is dying remember

Views are down by quite a lot compared to last year.

This game is far from dead, but a decline in esports viewership isn’t a good sign. Especially considering Blizzard is putting so much money into in a desperate attempt to make it grow.

[nega5-1728]

Remember guys:

OWL bad.
OWL killed the game and my dog.
Overwatch is dead gaem

[Prett-1169]

@Voxel-11825

Views are down by quite a lot compared to last year.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the article say that views are up since last year…?

[masterifrit2-1737]

@Prett-1169

doesn’t the article say that views are up since last year…?

Yes, it does. The article also discusses a metric that is more accurate and objective than viewership-AMA. A metric that was developed by the gaming industry and a 3rd party, Neilson.

@Socrates-11282

Or it’s a last ditch effort

Selling 3-year old game for $40 dollars hardly seems like a last ditch effort, but I guess I don’t really know.

@Socrates-11282

And completely nullifying the biggest plus of Role Q.

The biggest part of role queue was better matches, not so everyone could play DPS. That is why QP Classic and No Limits exists.

@Socrates-11282

If the devs decide to wait out the queue times, this game will die.

I stated in an earlier response that the devs have to do their part, too.

@GaiaFirebird-1840

Perhaps, but I don’t think in a good way! I think forcing restrictions on core elements of gameplay is a terrible way to go.

Why not? The more competitive a game, the more strict the rules and parameters. A simple look at an NFL, NBA, or MLB rulebook will support my claim.

@GaiaFirebird-1840

Power creep was not caused by GOATS

I don’t feel like looking up every DPS buff and tank nerf that occurred during GOATS, so I will name the ones off the top of my head—McCree, 3+ buffs, D’va 3+ nerfs, armor nerf, Soldier 2+ buffs, Reaper 2+ buffs (one nerf, but a net gain), Pharah buff, Junk buff, Mei and Tracer buffs (I am not sure about Tracer’s bomb buff. It may have come after). I will stick by my statement that GOATS caused a power creep.

@GaiaFirebird-1840

further.

Overwatch at its peak was at like 40 million players.

We know that OW hit 40-million players because it was news.

@GaiaFirebird-1840

Blizzard’s entire catalogue is at less than 40 million now. Some sites have placed estimates based on games played as at less than 10 million, some as low as 5 million.

Provide a website, but they’d better have a source or citation, otherwise it’s just hearsay.

I don’t claim to have the answers. I don’t know player counts or access to data. I’m simply giving my point of view, and I could be wrong.

[Drazan-11346]

You can thank activision for that

[Crazyshark1-2319]

@shev-11116

I dont have internet can someone say what the link said

@GaiaFirebird-1840

I can’t read so I’m afraid I can’t answer your question.

[Irres-1198]

This company is all smoke and mirrors.

[Baja-11423]

Is this really a response in THIS thread? OP gave you an article essentially claiming the opposite?

[xerox8521-2734]

@Tealos-1658

https://www.esportznetwork.com/overwatch-leagues-season-2-viewership-says-good-things-about-the-league/

https://www.esportznetwork.com/overwatch-leagues-season-2-viewership-says-good-things-about-the-league/

[Devils-1895]

The views aren’t down. They are up…by quite a lot. The OP literally linked evidence of that so its not even an opinion. Uts a fact that OWL views were way up.

[Hauven-2768]

@masterifrit2-1737

For anyone who loves the OWL, I found this article that provides some cool viewership numbers for the 2019 season. (If you hate it, too bad, the numbers are positive).

https://www.esportznetwork.com/overwatch-leagues-season-2-viewership-says-good-things-about-the-league/

Posting for easy access to the URL. However, how do we know how accurate this truly is? For example, surely it’s also counting all those ‘viewers’ who happen to be just there for the drops (tokens) and not actually actively watching the stream?

[Baja-11423]

People forget they also gave out tokens last year for “being afk”…you could get tokens after every map…it’s a null argument really

[Foxter-2791]

We did have one of the most diverse games being played at the grand final. Doom, Reaper, Mei, Bastion and Pharah being the dps. Still followed the same kinda meta but it was definitely more flexible.

[Socrates-11282]

@masterifrit2-1737

The biggest part of role queue was better matches, not so everyone could play DPS. That is why QP Classic and No Limits exists.

The biggest plus of Role Q is that people can play what they want, that is the entire purpose of it.

@masterifrit2-1737

I stated in an earlier response that the devs have to do their part, too.

The devs are the only ones that can come up with a reasonable solution.

[masterifrit2-1737]

@Socrates-11282

The biggest plus of Role Q is that people can play what they want, that is the entire purpose of it.

Your comment doesn’t make sense. Pre-role queue, players could literally play whatever hero and role they wanted. Role queue is a restriction, not a freedom. You can queue for whatever role you want, sure, but you are restricted once you get in the match.

Role queue enforces 2-2-2 creating a restriction and more balanced team comps.

@Socrates-11282

The devs are the only ones that can come up with a reasonable solution.

No, absolutely not. It’s the devs job to balance the roster. It’s the players responsibility learn new roles and heroes.

The fact that players complain everyday about long DPS queues is a failure to adapt to the changes to the game, and it’s a flawed player mentality.

[Socrates-11282]

@masterifrit2-1737

Your comment doesn’t make sense. Pre-role queue, players could literally play whatever hero and role they wanted.

It’s called filling, people felt the need to play heroes they didn’t want to to make the team typically resemble the 2-2-2 format. People wanted Role Q so they could play the roles they want, so saying “Those who filled prior to 2-2-2 will come back and fill” ruins a main point of Role Q.

@masterifrit2-1737

The fact that players complain everyday about long DPS queues is a failure to adapt to the changes to the game, and it’s a flawed player mentality.

Those that complained about their teams comps prior to 2-2-2 refused to adapt by flexing.

[INVID-11742]

I hope new teams join the League for 2020.

[AeLynn-11513]

THE DEVS HAVE SAID- IN THE DEV TRACKER- THAT THEY HAVE A SEPARATE TEAM FOR DOING THINGS INVOLVING OVERWATCH LEAGUE.

Overwatch League was announced in 2016!!!
Overwatch came out in 2016! It just took a while to build up.

Please quit with your biased bull**** and accept the fact that, just because you don’t like OWL, doesn’t mean that the game is suddenly dying.

The game is receiving balance changes, not entirely aimed at OWL. That’s how “balance” works, it has to be “balanced”. Crazy concept, I know.

@JoshuaNoh-1358

Aside from meta considerations, it’s important to prioritize individual hero balance

Don’t believe me? Go read the full quote for an example.
Or look at the Dev comments on nerfing Torbjorn so that he was less dominant in lower elos.
Or any of the other hundreds of examples of the Devs explaining changes and saying “We did this for X reason”, where X was NOT OWL.