41 replies to this topic

[Reptilizer]

Zyllos, on 09 April 2013 - 01:56 PM, said:

...

But what PGI has done is they take months to rework a mechanic and taking weeks to just add/subtract a number from a XML file. If this is truely a beta, changes need to be happening quickly, especially since we are getting closer to launch.

I agree.
If you do not have the knowledge or the tools to change parameters to the last digit based on the analysis of data, you can do it by iterative approximation.
Totally ok to change values constantly moving back and forth until you see it fits. Hell yes, its beta after all. we are all beta testers and nobody should complain when we just do that: Test stuff.

But this is not happening. Changes are slow and in between. Weapon parameters just require a simple number change in a spreadsheet. Still they seem very reluctant to tinker around and react mostly to "forum trends" or obvious blunders (after some explanation by the community...).


This week there was no patch at all. Would be totally cool if everything was already totally balanced and the launch just around the corner. But that is not the case. They add content (and lots of it, Kudos to the Content Team!) without changes to the base values of the mechanics of the game.
Whis is bad, because the more stuff is in the testlab, the more difficult it will be to adjust values. A linear increase in the parameters (content) results in an exponential increase in possible interactions (bugs/balancing). Tackling the "big heap" in the end, when everything is "in" is a sure way to fail.
Even made WORSE by the fact that they obviously lack in the ability to preemptively predict and solve those problems by analysing in-game data!

I just do not get the trajectory they are following there. Then, i also just may be too daft

Edited by Reptilizer, 10 April 2013 - 05:50 AM.

[blinkin]

Kattspya, on 10 April 2013 - 04:36 AM, said:

But not getting good statistical analysis is no reason not to get even bad statistical analysis. At the moment and throughout open "beta" they have not shown to make use of any statistics. There are still a bunch of weapons that are practically useless and that must reflect in the stats. All they would need to do is check the prevalence of a weapon in matches to see that it is underpowered compared to others or maybe not fun. But they aren't seen doing that. They aren't seen doing much of anything when it comes to balance. What they do are these large changes and then they don't revisit that change for a long while. I would much rather have quick oscillations going from underpowered to overpowered or even better from underpowered to less underpowered to balanced or almost balanced.

They aren't doing advanced statistical analysis they aren't doing amateur analysis and they aren't bruteforcing balancing. What are they doing?

"Lies, damned lies, and statistics" - Mark Twain