former Halo 2 And 3 Max Hoberman, UX design lead, responded to an article praising skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) on November 20, saying it was a “failure” in modern gaming. He claimed that it increases tension and separates high-level players from the rest of society.
In a long time Twitter topic It was first reported by computer gamesHuberman gave insight into how SBMM is designed in Halo 2 And 3 He claimed that it was being used poorly by other developers in the industry.
SBMM determines how players of the same level are matched in ranked games – although it can also be implemented in unranked playlists. It’s a controversial topic in video games due to how much it affects the player’s experience, with developers yet to reveal exactly how it’s implemented. It has recently sparked controversy Call of duty Community.
Hoberman explained that it was important for SBMM to allow for fun matches, as well as more stressful and high-stakes matches, which doesn’t happen in many modern titles. “The failure of modern skill-based matchmaking, imho, is that it was designed to maximize these perfect match scenarios and minimize others,” he said, referring to strictly matching players of the same level.
“I intentionally allow for diversity in the range of levels at which we match you,” he explained. aura 2‘s Smmm. “Why don’t we always match people evenly? My thinking was that these are actually the most stressful matches in the group.
the Gaming Radar article He reacted by claiming that SBMM improved the first-person shooter experience for players, and was criticized mainly by the content creators – who benefited from it the most. Huberman disagreed.
“Separating highly skilled players from the general public, and forcing them to wait for long periods, is a form of discrimination,” he said. “There is more that can be done. Derogatory views like these, among game developers, are offensive – and a disservice to players.
Halo 2 It redefined online multiplayer gaming when it was released in 2004. It offered various playlists that players could choose to customize their experience, whether they wanted to enjoy fun games with their friends in specific game modes or be matched with players of similar skill levels for more competitive matches. .
Instead of providing variety, SBMM is now strictly implemented across all playlists, preventing players from playing casually with friends, even in unranked modes, Hoberman said. Many players agreed with the former developer, saying that first-person shooters are not fun anymore.
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