191 replies to this topic

[Durasin]

Why not make the 8v8 an optional game mode? Yeah its how the game used to be in the beginning, but I find the 12v12 format to be far more enjoyable. Also most of the maps now are optimized for the larger numbers, making it way too easy for players to stretch themselves thin and get murder-balled. Idk, just not a fan of the event and kind of annoyed that its going to last for 10 days.

[Drunk CEO Monologues]

TestBacon, on 10 August 2025 - 11:26 AM, said:

I just recalled that August last year we had a prior 8v8 "event". IIRC it was as poorly received as this time's event. Did we learn nothing?

PGI has a habit of repeating its mistakes. I gave up the game 5 years ago when they forced soup queue on us. Only came back (with a new acct) recently because I was bedridden after a hospital stay and needed a distraction that was more interactive than streaming videos and I don't play video games usually. Pushing this 8v8 thing at the playerbase again reminded me of why I left.

The only way for PGI to truly fix its problems is fixing the matchmaker, which I am told they simply don't have the resources, expertise or willingness to do. As you long as you can't put together two balanced teams from a playerbase with widely varying skills, bandaids like reducing match size won't help much because tier gating will thwart your efforts. If they could find the resources to balance the skill from team to team you could still have reasonable matches even with just 100 people playing. The tools are out there (Jarl's list for one), and there are people who could do the coding. Just takes the desire.

I guess the good thing for me I'm mobile again and feeling better. Timing is perfect.

p.s. - good to see that the ability to block forum posters still exists

[ColdBrewed]

I'd like to weigh and say 8v8 is not my preferred game mode.

However it was fairly simple to understand and adapt to the new dynamic. I think it took two games for me to understand the new strategy (stay with your team). And the new load out requirements (AMS, Long range capable, enough short range to make 'em duck back behind cover).

Understanding it and enjoying it are two different things. The games are faster, and maybe more "intense". But it fosters a toxic environment much more quickly. The few exchanges I have heard over voice comms are mostly someone who's obviously frustrated with the night.

Allowing groups in the smaller matches further exacerbates the issues.

I guess I just have to wonder if the number of people they're placating outnumber the people now taking a break.

[Strelok7]

Didn't they just test Siege for an 8vs8, to put it into QP. Well, there is your answer to "What's with this sudden 8vs8 event".

This whole thing has been done before btw; not too long ago, actually.

People at that time have spoken:

• Leave QP 12vs12, leave it separate from other modes. It is for - "hey I wanna get in the game quick", "I wanna smash some mechs", "I don't want to invest myself in 30min of potential soap opera". Leave all the maps and all of the modes in rotation. PS where is FOREST COLONY SNOW CLASSIC???

• The rest of the MODES - opinion was like "whatever". Kind of like - 100 people = 100 opinions.

If it is time for an upgrade, then Devs should just simplify everything.

I see it as:

• QP - all good, get us all the maps pls. Designers spent life-hours of work on those...
  
• FACTION - has to be different, otherwise what's the point. Get rid of QP modes outa there - BORING. Throw in all the maps, all the modes like: Siege, Scouting, Escort, Incursion. Enact a voting system.
  
• EVENT QUEUE. Yes please! Has to be different than QP or FACTION though. Again, if it is not different - no point. I think Devs do a good job on these! Thumbs up! Keep it funky, keep it a wildcard. *I have people who don't even play MWO, and they see MWO events in passing. They always compliment MWO for keeping things fun, interesting, and fresh...

• TEST MODE nights - self explanatory. All good.

AND I dare you to make an event for 16vs16
07

Edited by Strelok7, 10 August 2025 - 08:41 PM.

[Me tarzan]

I have not been playing "since the beginning" But I have a solid 6 years in and I am a big supporter of MWO. I really do enjoy the game, usually... Like everything there are ups and downs, that is life. BUT I always come back and keep playing. I have spent plenty on all the premium features like I am sure we all have. I'm happy to do it, I wish to continue please make more.

I want to see MWO not only just continue, but it would be nice to change the direction and get it growing again. I don't see to 8v8, as a solution to that. If anything 8v8 makes the game less enjoyable. I have been on the dealing and receiving end of what feels like more 1 sided stomps then normal. I don't have any data to support that, it's just how it feels. 8v8 also seams to really swing the group advantage to the team that has a group. This is not good for the game.

The events are fun, the new mechs and content is fun. But those are fleeting, in the moment things.

Battletech is alive and well in other arenas, I see the new Taptop mech packs in the gameing stores everywhere. There is a HUGE amount of lore to play into. I know there are those in the community that see this as just another vehicle first person shooter game. That is fine, but it does dimish the overall game and the universe.

Want to keep the game intersting with minimal Dev?
1. Re-introduce Escort with 1 change. 1 Human Player on the Escorting team is randomly selected and placed INTO the Escort mech to play as the escortee. Incentivise them with Something, C-Bills, MC, Colors, Warhorn, what ever...
2. Divide the QP cue into IS vs Clan. 12v10 1 Company vs 2 Stars. This should be simple, the Match maker knows who is piloting what. And roll back any tuning to make Clan and IS "balanced" Clan and IS are NOT balanced, that was the point of the lore. The invincible force was coming out of the unknown with Almost magical levels of tech. Balance the game by increasing the Tonnage or player count of IS vs Clan.

Is there Dev time to do something cool??? How about this:

Take the Event Que and turn it into a Campaign mode. Say a 3 day fixed deck IS 12 mechs Clan 10. Set an inital "budget" for outfitting in either CBiLLS or tonnage and a set tonnage of replacement equipment and say 10m C-Bills. You play any mech in your 10 or 12 mech stable in a match. You get ACTUAL salvage parts and armor, and then get to apply that to repairs to your mech(s) as needed. Use the Event rewards system to set goals and rewards for the Campaign


All I am saying is the fiction around the universe is plentiful and fun, play into that to make the games something better then just a stompy robot shooter, those are out there already with better UI and graphics, but the are NOT Mechwarrior.

Just my thoughts

[DangerCucumber]

I'm finding 8v8 totally unpleasant to play and too skewed by a better organised team. Also no tonnage limits so the moment a side has a big tonnage advantage, it's pretty over already. With 12 mechs per side there's room for a little bit of variety. Anyhow, I'm taking a break until 12v12 is back.

[Dingbat67]

I'm noping right out of 8v8. If you want to make this an event, fine. If you want to do 8v8 with respawns ... that would be great. But right now, it's just terrible. No, I will not adjust my playstyle, yes, I'd like to be able to play less meta builds but you can't in this context, if you're not doing big alphas PPFLD type damage, you're screwed. Not interested.

[Void Angel]

TestBacon, on 10 August 2025 - 01:42 PM, said:

How many different ways of hitting your thumb with a hammer does it take to have a useful sample size?

Well, how many begged questions does it take to discredit an argument? You honestly think they didn't notice the massive wave of failure-to-adapt whining the last time this went down? Is it likely they're doing it again for any reason other than they think they have to? The entire game is tuned for 12v12, and they know that - the only reason they're likely to be doing this now is because the handwriting is on the wall for population-driven matchmaking times.

Think a little.

Edited by Void Angel, 10 August 2025 - 07:11 PM.

[Void Angel]

Durasin, on 10 August 2025 - 01:54 PM, said:

Why not make the 8v8 an optional game mode? Yeah its how the game used to be in the beginning, but I find the 12v12 format to be far more enjoyable. Also most of the maps now are optimized for the larger numbers, making it way too easy for players to stretch themselves thin and get murder-balled. Idk, just not a fan of the event and kind of annoyed that its going to last for 10 days.

Because they won't get the data set they need then. And I mean, why are so many people confused as to why this is happening? They literally told us why they're going it. PGI isn't "pushing 8v8 at people," or "repeating their mistakes." They're doing this only because they need the data set - because match times are starting to get out of hand again and 8v8 is a solution for that. It'll also engender a TON of work rebalancing the entire game - they can't want to do that, but you can bet they have to.

12v12 is more enjoyable, because the entire game is tuned for it now. 8v8 might still be less enjoyable for most people if the game were re-tuned for it - but no format is a good format if nobody can find a match.

[Dingbat67]

I just submitted a bunch of cancellation requests to support. Not going to spend one more dime for this game on 8v8.

[Light Horse]

(Semi-)long wait times are unfortunate. But this is a 12x12 game. If it's otherwise, I think the game dies.

At the least, I'm going to wait a week or two, till we are back to 12x12.

[GreyNovember]

Backreading, but it's VERY curious how there's a bunch of 1-post accounts doing the rounds of "8v8 bad" both here and on the steam forums.

The key similarity is they do the thing where they don't explain why it's bad. They just collectively grunt "BAD" in one thread.

Feels like someone has a lot of free time and alt accounts.

[RookClayBard]

PGI

this game is 10 years old , while yall did things right , what keeps us playing is more .... a monopoly , at this point i want a mutnay and make my own mech game .

which i started last year .

but it be so easy for yall to make this title a real banger , but what the hell ya doing ? standing the microsoft office in an 8-5 cerical jerk .

look at crossout , they died for some realy simple fails .

yall guys just aint trying .

if your haveing a hard time getting matchs add mech drops to the quick match , that way if we have to waite 2 minuets for a match at leaste we can go threw up 2 4 mechs or something .

Edited by RookClayBard, 10 August 2025 - 10:31 PM.

[Mochyn Pupur]

First and last match on 8v8. Dumb idea once again. To shove this at people during an event and when time and time again, it has been rejected by the majority of players just shows how bad the game has become.

[GOLDslit96]

unsure of why you would as 1 AFK or DC will significantly change dynamics of the game play. But tolerable... perhaps in the future only 4 or 5 day with extra incentive to play...

[John Ardenne]

8v8 is a major mistake, if this becomes the main mode, I'm done, that's how much I hate this. Matches are too short. I like long wait times, I like long matches. I love faction play events. This isn't a game for 12 year olds.

MAKE IT STOP

Edited by John Ardenne, Yesterday, 04:59 AM.

[UMPA Viper]

Just curious , who here has had wait times more than 5 minutes in the last several months ? I have not. More than 5 minutes i could understand some frustration. So where is the cutoff in minutes , and who determines that it is to long ? It's all an opinion of the individual on how long they are comfortable waiting. I keep seeing posts from the select few on outrageous wait times. What are they in minutes ? Not being critical on anyone here , just honestly curious.

[Shyarngol]

This has been pretty terrible so far. Thanks for trying to figure out how to fix que times with a different approach, but I will likely wait to play very much until it returns to 12x12. The builds and the skills and everything are set for the larger matches and its just not fun right now

[CallMeCombine]

GreyNovember, on 10 August 2025 - 09:15 PM, said:

Backreading, but it's VERY curious how there's a bunch of 1-post accounts doing the rounds of "8v8 bad" both here and on the steam forums.

The key similarity is they do the thing where they don't explain why it's bad. They just collectively grunt "BAD" in one thread.

Feels like someone has a lot of free time and alt accounts.

this seems dismissive but I don't blame you. I thought the same thing while reading this before playing last weekend.

I've been a lurker for a few years, just felt like I needed to pipe up lest this get pushed into the status quo. One of my friends is another 1 post marty in this thread. He posted after I encouraged him to give this thread (a thread for giving a piece of your mind about 8v8) a piece of his mind about 8v8. Some people are a little more terse than him but methinks it folly to discount the grumblings.

--

I've found there are a similar % of people afk in the pool. We're just working with 16 points on the curve instead of 24, but now their absence makes a larger difference in the game, reinforcing my feeling these matches are decided before the mechs start moving more now then before.

Anyone else noticing this?

[Solomon Birch]

How does 8v8 speed up wait times if everyone stops playing until 12v12 is back?