Ok, lately I've been thinking about Microsoft's Trueskill system, the basis for most all Matchmaking services on XBL. For those of you who don't know how it does what is does, basically it uses a modified Bell Curve to try and determine where players fall on it to make matches.
Most people would agree its a flawed system. Yet I think the basis of most of their complaints falls to something even more basic; the Bell Cruve itself. It uses a single curve, where I believe a Double Bell curve would've been more appropriate. And why is it inappropriate? Because the single curve relies on there being some defintion of an "Average" or "Middle" player; which I believe cannot exist in any game, much less a competieve one.
Now think real hard while going through this. Think about all the games you've ever played. No lying to yourself either; can you, anyone you know, or played with, be objectively described as "Average"? Is it even possible to have such a definition? If you really think about it, it isn't - you're either good or bad at a game. There isn't any middle ground. You can't tie every game; you can have a perfect 1/1 K/D every game. Not everyone wins all the time; nor does everyone lose all the time. You're either good at a game the majority of the time, or bad at it the majority of the time. Which is why a Double Bell Curve is more appropriate; it seperates the two from each other, reflecting this difference.
While yes, it is perfectly possible to have different levels of "good" and "bad", the two don't cross.
And while no, I don't know how I would go about fixing this issue, or dealing with the complication of parties, I do think that starting with a more acccurate basis from where to start would definitely improve all MM systems in the future.
In addition, this not intended to be critical of people considered "bad" at a game. I believe everyone has a right to play any game they buy regardless of how good they are at said game (the exception to this being those who would cheat, whom I believe should have their controllers and consoles explode, but thats another story). In addition, I am referring to the objective ways of measuring good and bad, not the subjective ones. K/D, W/L, Objective caps etc, not the BR/M4A1/Ken/Zerg etc. tussles people have on forums and in-game. In your intend to turn this thread into one of those fights, don't even post. You're just wasting everyone's time.
Most people would agree its a flawed system. Yet I think the basis of most of their complaints falls to something even more basic; the Bell Cruve itself. It uses a single curve, where I believe a Double Bell curve would've been more appropriate. And why is it inappropriate? Because the single curve relies on there being some defintion of an "Average" or "Middle" player; which I believe cannot exist in any game, much less a competieve one.
Now think real hard while going through this. Think about all the games you've ever played. No lying to yourself either; can you, anyone you know, or played with, be objectively described as "Average"? Is it even possible to have such a definition? If you really think about it, it isn't - you're either good or bad at a game. There isn't any middle ground. You can't tie every game; you can have a perfect 1/1 K/D every game. Not everyone wins all the time; nor does everyone lose all the time. You're either good at a game the majority of the time, or bad at it the majority of the time. Which is why a Double Bell Curve is more appropriate; it seperates the two from each other, reflecting this difference.
While yes, it is perfectly possible to have different levels of "good" and "bad", the two don't cross.
And while no, I don't know how I would go about fixing this issue, or dealing with the complication of parties, I do think that starting with a more acccurate basis from where to start would definitely improve all MM systems in the future.
In addition, this not intended to be critical of people considered "bad" at a game. I believe everyone has a right to play any game they buy regardless of how good they are at said game (the exception to this being those who would cheat, whom I believe should have their controllers and consoles explode, but thats another story). In addition, I am referring to the objective ways of measuring good and bad, not the subjective ones. K/D, W/L, Objective caps etc, not the BR/M4A1/Ken/Zerg etc. tussles people have on forums and in-game. In your intend to turn this thread into one of those fights, don't even post. You're just wasting everyone's time.
