Something tells me MMR is out the window

Competitive Discussion
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Source please thanks.

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Well, there are two extreme views on this issue: the first group says that each of these patents is somehow built into Overwatch, while the other group denies everything and assumes that there is no manipulation in the game at all.

Since we know that there is smart matchmaking in other games and Overwatch also works with a secret MMR, it can actually be assumed that matches are put together according to certain criteria that go beyond pure SR value.

Very many players, with the exception of the top 5-10% perhaps, have been reporting anomalies and inconsistencies since the beginning of Overwatch. About inexplicable streaks and conspicuously unequal teams.

Much of this can be explained by player misbehavior, i.e. cheating, smurfing and trolling. But still, many of these streaks are not explainable until today.

It is absolutely improbable that so many players experience these reproducible ups and downs at the same time. Also, the length and impact of these streaks are extremely similar. As if there was an internal switch that, once a certain threshold is reached, ensures that the matches you are thrown into have to run in a certain way.

I wouldn’t say that you don’t end up where you belong because of this matchmaking. I think this behavior could also be a bug in the AI if you are quite close to your skill level. It just sucks that the user experience is just extremely bad because of it.

This also explains why smurfs and significantly better players simply don’t notice this problem. Because until they play at their skill level, they can move around freely. And once they reach the top, they meet extremely talented players for whom certain variances are no longer as decisive as they are in the middle ranks.

TLDR: There is something going on behind the scenes of the matchmaker. Be it a deliberate manipulation or a faulty code. All we know is that such mechanisms are used in the gaming industry to improve player retention. So why should Overwatch be an exception?

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Why are the top 5-10% an exception?

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124

EXACTLY what comes in mind everytime I hear RigGed open his mouth

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125

The variance comes from wildly different capabilities.

At the top, these differences have already leveled out.

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Its because Overwatch gives us a free pass, they love us SO much! :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

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Like what? Can you give an example?

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128

In Gold, you can have people with both Bronze and GM skill, ok? That’s the entry level for all new accounts. People then move to their true rank.

In GM, there should be no more bronze players. While GMs can easily play at any rank below GM, it is not possible for Bronze players to play above Bronze. Call it a “skill funnel.”

The higher you get, the fewer discrepancies there are. Because to get to the top, you need a solid skillset, from aiming to movement to game sense.

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Or to demonstrate in in another form:

Bronze matchmaking:

Player 1: -2.5
Player 2: -2.4
Player 3: -2.8
Player 4: 3 (GM Smurf)

Gold matchmaking:

Player 1: +3 (MMR)
Player 2: -2
Player 3: 1.5

GM matchmaking:

Player 1: +2.9
Player 2: +2.8
Player 3: +3.0

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Use the little magnifying glass icon up in the top right corner of your screen and search for Jeff Kaplan inseart desired content.

  • You’re welcome
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131

The article I found you guys had potg as a definite - “some” others they dismissed. However all patents cost $$.

And the gdc video which goes into detail how match making works looks exactly like OW.

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Wouldn’t be the first time a company created a thought experiment and shelved it for something better.

Hell… Wouldn’t be the first time Blizzard created a thought experiment and shelved it for something better.

Project Titan?

Oh wait… Overwatch?

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133

Wow you just ignored the potg and “some” were dismissed.

Anyhow, if they have an idea that they think will make them money, they’ll probably use it. It’s the whole side where skill of a player is but 1 aspect that rubs me wrong.

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I recommend playing a different game that’s going to rub you right then. Its not Blizz’s job to cater to a few players who can’t adapt to their system.

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135

Oh I moved on thanks. Ow has moved to a distant 2 nd. Just trying to avoid some unexplained losing streaks in OW2.

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If you properly learn to play the game, you’ll never endure this issue. :+1:t4:

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137

Sadly not all people realizes this, which is why they end up constantly complaining…

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138

How do I learn that I didn’t do already?

Edit:
Vods
Streamers
Aim trainers
Mini games
Playing the game
Tutorial

There’s more I have to do to learn?? I haven’t learned this game already?

And your saying if I know this game I’d rank up? Is that garunteed?

1 Like
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All it really can do is taking a snapshot of your match history (let’s say like 100 games back 'til now), and base your MMR on that. That would probably be a large enough window to catch you at both your bottom performance and peak performance, which would give you a fair:ish average.

It can’t really take people messing with the system into account and label the behaviour as “throwing” etc. It’ll just see the stats from a thrown game as poor performance and adjust the MMR accordingly.

I think. I guess. I don’t know. I have zero sources :frowning:

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My games recently have been all over the place too. Im on console and get bronze silver and gold, or silver gold and plat players almost every game. Matches are almost always a stomp in either direction and you can usually tell within the first minute which team is going to win.

So many leavers this season as well. It’s literally a third of my games. Honestly I think a lot of these are people giving up and quitting the game for good.

I just play Hammond now. I’ve given up trying to be honest. I used to be a support main but I’m fed up of trying to play as a team when the competency of my team mates is so low. So I just roll around spawn camping the supports. If my team can manage a 5v4 fight for the point we win and if they can’t we lose. It’s a good a plan as any in this joke of a game.

On another note I think the rigged matches feeling a lot of people get with this game (including me) can be explained pretty easily:

It takes one bad, new, drunk, asleep player to throw a game. It takes 6 players alert and playing to win to get a victory. It’s pot luck which side you end up on, and if you’re 500sr or so within your actual skill level theres very little you can do to change it. It’s literally a roll of the dice - 50/50… if that’s by design or chance who knows.

I’ve had multiple 10+ game win streaks and 10+ game loss streaks this season. The wins are easy and the losses are next to impossible. I don’t think it’s rigged, although it does feel that way. I just happened to get the potato who can’t hold his controller straight or focus on his screen that game. And in Overwatch it only takes one of them to ruin it for everybody else.

As soon as you realise the outcome of the match has very little to do with your individual skill and play, then you start to care less about winning or losing, and just try to find some way to have fun during whatever outcome you happen to land on that match.