202 replies to this topic

[Roadkill]

Roadbeer, on 14 April 2014 - 08:13 AM, said:

IIRC, new players are given an Elo of 1300, which is on the downslope high side of the Elo bellcurve.

The off-center starting value is a side effect of an online multi-player game. Because Elo is a zero sum system, if some random guy plays a few games of MWO to give it a try, loses 10 in a row, and quits forever he has essentially added a few points to the system. If a few thousand random guys do that, they'll collectively move the mid-point of the bell curve below the starting value.

[Roadkill]

Abivard, on 12 April 2014 - 01:13 AM, said:

In conclusion I make no claims that Elo itself does not work. I claim it does not apply to MWO as it is.

A better system than a simple Elo rating is needed to base matchmaking off in MWO!

Elo is not up to the job by itself!

Abivard, I still don't agree with everything you are saying, but I feel it is important for me to acknowledge that you've changed your tone. I appreciate the change and commend you for making it.

I think that Elo is a fine base for matchmaking in MWO. But I agree with you that it isn't sufficient by itself and that more is needed in order to give the matchmaker more tools with which to create good matches.

Sadly, I suspect that the player base is too small for any ranking system to work very well.

[Charons Little Helper]

Roadkill, on 14 April 2014 - 12:44 PM, said:

And all players will have a sudden series of "bad games" after their 25th match as their rating tries to re-adjust to the -200 Elo nerf disappearing.

I agree - a better system would be a 250 point nerf for the first game - reduced by 10 for each subsequent game. It'd make change less jarring.