@PGI - I encourage you to carefully consider the costs to the growth and sustainability of the game of making this information public. Clearly, developing an effective matchmaking mechanic that produces fair, competitive and fun matches is a worthy and important step in the development of the product. However, the public humiliation of being a low tier player is likely to rapidly drive "casual" or less competitive players out of the game. Currently, someone who is of low to moderate skill (due to newness to the game, infrequent practice or, frankly, poor aptitude) can still enjoy the game in relative anonymity. Sure, they may die first or second on their team nine games out of ten and receive some "noob" trash talk (usually from frustrated teammates) but every once in a while they may luck into a good game where they finish off several weakened opponents, survive the match and wind up with a decent match score. They can then feel good about themselves... At least until the next disastrous match. While many on these forums might be happy for all such players to quit, the reality is that the continued survival and growth of the game depends upon these players sticking around long enough to buy some MC and maybe a mech package or two. Although I may not be a top tier player, I am generally a high achieving person. I have money to support the game and am willing to do so (and do.). However, if Tier 1 is "best" and Tier 3 is "average" and if I'm labeled as Tier 4 or 5 (and, after reasonable effort I'm unable to quickly improve it), I'm not going to continue playing the game for long. Additionally, I do not see "opt in" as a useful distinction. It will be assumed that if you have not opted in you are embarrassed of your tier, and therefore you are below average.
This is a significant potential "cost" I see to publicly displaying Tier rankings. So, what is the benefit that could potentially be achieved? I can understand why serious players who earn a Tier 1 or 2 rank would enjoy touting that on the forums and in-game, but how does that help to promote the sustainability and profitability of the game? To achieve a high tier, those players are playing frequently, and are already spending as much on the game as they are likely to, so I don't see this generating a substantial amount of additional revenue from that portion of the player base. So where is your business case in making this information public?
Edited by Kev Rosse, 20 August 2015 - 07:13 PM.