34 replies to this topic

[Tesunie]

I find it so funny how polarized people seem on this, but back when 8v8 was standard and talks of going to 12v12, many people felt the larger match sizes would be bad because more mechs meant longer match searching times, more weapons and eyes on the field, shorter time to die/kill, etc. Now that it's being tested if it would be good to go to 8v8, we have complaints about it just "being bad" with no explanation from some people.

The only explanation I've seen so far that seem valid has been that a disconnect hurts more, or that premade groups have greater influence.

My follow up question for people though is: If you do not like 8v8, why do you not like it and what else would you propose to help with the long MM times?

[Tesunie]

Djinnhammer, on 12 August 2025 - 03:28 AM, said:

You should be able to solo if you want of course, but you shouldn't ever be of the opinion "groups aren't fair"...

Sorry. I meant to react to this, got distracted... then found my open browser tab with this and realized I never responded.

I feel that people should be able to play solo without issue as much as people should be able to play in set teams as well. I do agree with the fact that people shouldn't moan about groups as much as they seem to, though if the MM could handle it I would love to see a toggle option for solo queue only, or any queue. I personally, even as a solo player, do not care if I drop with premade groups and I'm a fill in, or if I'm fighting only other solo players. I suspect it's probably a vocal minority on the forums who are just load complaining about groups.

I agree that people are missing a huge amount of potential fun if they choose to never join a group to play in a more coordinated manner, but at the same time different personalities like different things. I have times where I want to play with other people, and other times where other people are too overwhelming for me and I just don't want to be social. I don't see why we can't have both, and it sounds like, despite your very strong initial post, you seem to agree that we should be able to have both. Sounds more like you are just tired of hearing people complain about the groups, and I can understand that too.

[pierrethemonkey]

sorry fellas I had a few beers before I got online and posted. I'm grateful for the quality community we have on MWO. I've been finding the 8v8 matches to be of a lower quality than the 12's so I fired off at the hip.

[Void Angel]

MacKerris, on 12 August 2025 - 10:41 AM, said:

Personally I found the 8x8 to be horrible. Matches take just as long to start, if not longer. According to what I have run into, many just stopped playing and won't be back until it's back to 12x12.

I'd like to draw your attention to the fact that you are in Tier 5, and thus can be matched with Tier 3. That's not bad or anything - it's just that your matchmaking pool consists of some 82% of the player base. Tiers 2 and 1 are less fortunate, particularly during off-peak hours, which is why this test phase is happening.

pierrethemonkey, on 12 August 2025 - 12:51 PM, said:

sorry fellas I had a few beers before I got online and posted. I'm grateful for the quality community we have on MWO. I've been finding the 8v8 matches to be of a lower quality than the 12's so I fired off at the hip.

You are most certainly the first everdrunken poster in the history of Mechwarrior Online - and indeed, the entire internet!

[pbiggz]

MacKerris, on 12 August 2025 - 10:41 AM, said:

They changed to 8v8 and i still lose therefore I have found something new to blame

ftfy

[KursedVixen]

KingScar, on 11 August 2025 - 02:40 AM, said:

With 8v8 we have pretty much lost brawling, Now we just get people sniping and sitting at mid range and with the changes to squad size we have had many players in our clan an otherwise say they will not come back if those changes stay kind of defeats the point of clans if we can't even play with each other solos need to get with the program and join a clan....after all it's clans vs clans not solos vs solos.

To add to the problem is the maps are mostly designed for 12vs12 now instead of 8vs8 like in the early life of this game so now especially on larger maps, there's too much room.

Edited by KursedVixen, 12 August 2025 - 01:41 PM.

[pbiggz]

KursedVixen, on 12 August 2025 - 01:38 PM, said:

To add to the problem is the maps are mostly designed for 12vs12 now instead of 8vs8 like in the early life of this game so now especially on larger maps, there's too much room.

Large maps are actually good, they just need to tweak spawns and objective locations to make sure they flow better. Small toilet bowl arena maps that cater to nascar are easy for puglandia to not think about and bad for the game, and the heart and soul of this knee jerk is a bunch of guys who only ever pilot annihilators realizing they have to get really good at positioning immediately.

[Khosumi]

KursedVixen, on 12 August 2025 - 01:38 PM, said:

To add to the problem is the maps are mostly designed for 12vs12 now instead of 8vs8 like in the early life of this game so now especially on larger maps, there's too much room.

There's no such thing as too much room, get out of here with that lmao.

There is still a severe symptom of teams refusing to use more than 2% of any given map and sit cheeks to cheeks with other mechs in 1 grid space. Come on now, don't pretend like there's too much room.

[GargoyleVine]

I am still having fun with 8v8, reminds of the old days of MWO except no frozen city at night yet and only one crimson match, other than that I can't complain and not that I really care but noticed my psr has been going up way faster

[Modat5]

8v8 is not fun...

I have been playing this game since beta.... and that's been many years now. This 8v8 is horrible. The people I drop with concur with this sentiment.

If this continues we will be quitting playing MWO.... which will be a sad day. But, the match quality is just gone to ****.

Anyone who is cheating ( and yes there are unfortunately losers who will cheat at a really old game like this ) just makes the 8v8 match even worse.

The small match size just magnifies the cheating problem. Or at least makes it seem worse as now instead of maybe one or two that appear to be cheating out of 12 you now have a higher percentage of cheater per drop. Example 2 out of 8 vs 2. out of 12.

Piranha, you need to fix this. Give us back 12v12 and let 8v8 be an option if that's what people want they can pick it.

Thank you,

Modat

Edited by Modat5, 14 August 2025 - 05:27 PM.

[Bud Crue]

Modat5, on 14 August 2025 - 05:25 PM, said:

8v8 is not fun...

Anyone who is cheating ( and yes there are unfortunately losers who will cheat at a really old game like this ) just makes the 8v8 match even worse.

The small match size just magnifies the cheating problem. Or at least makes it seem worse as now instead of maybe one or two that appear to be cheating out of 12 you now have a higher percentage of cheater per drop. Example 2 out of 8 vs 2. out of 12.

Piranha, you need to fix this. Give us back 12v12 and let 8v8 be an option if that's what people want they can pick it.

Thank you,

Modat

Cheating? Cheating in a game this old? With a population this tenuous? That is what you take issue with in 8v8 over 12v12? Seriously?! Of all the issues 8v8 introduces at this point in the game, the possibility that 1 or even 2 people on any given night of play, might be cheating is the last thing I would have expected anyone to complain about (and to be fair, there are plenty of things one could complain about here). I just...I can't...I don't know what to tell you, other than yes, there may be the occasional hack who is cheating, but if THAT oh so rare incident in this oh so old game is what is making 8v8 a terrible experience for you, I think you are justified in dropping from the game. FWIW, I've been playing this game at all levels for over 10 years and I am confident in having encountered ACTUAL, REAL, even PGI seemed to agree, cheaters: twice. 8v8 hasn't changed that incredibly rare experience any more frequent or problematic in the game that I have played.

[Rondoe]

I seem to remember PGI saying the 8v8 was only a temporary thing for the summer due to a lower count player base because people are out doing summer things.

[Void Angel]

The announcement referenced longer matchmaking times (which are caused by falling player count) as the reason. So they might use it as a seasonal thing, but... that might not be very responsive, since I don't know if they can turn it on/off on the fly. And in any case, game balance feels really wonky right now because literally everything is tuned for 12v12 - from spawn points to individual 'mech quirks. That in turn means that the game will need to be re-tuned for 8v8 to work in the long run...

And that likely means that if they go to 8v8, they'll have to stick with it.

[Otto Chthon]

8v8 really isn't very good. It takes every mediocre or downright bad element of this game and aggravates it. I'm also puzzled by the complaints about queue times. Do you guys ever set foot outside your assault mechs...? I've never had a hard time getting into quick play games.

Edited by Otto Chthon, 14 August 2025 - 09:48 PM.

[Tesunie]

Otto Chthon, on 14 August 2025 - 09:48 PM, said:

8v8 really isn't very good. It takes every mediocre or downright bad element of this game and aggravates it. I'm also puzzled by the complaints about queue times. Do you guys ever set foot outside your assault mechs...? I've never had a hard time getting into quick play games.

Currently, when I was last on the game, assaults where at 59% of the queue size. So MM times has been long for most people attempting to find matches.

This is why I suggest Drop Decks over 8v8. Still would require rebalancing of the game and maps, but probably less than going back to 8v8, while still providing better MM times.