Cannot personally speak for jackherer's contribution or lack of, but biass has definitely done his part above and beyond most people for the FAF project, so can we address points and arguments rather than even hint at ad-hominem attacks please?
Morax wrote:Downlord wrote:1) Mr-Smith left because he no longer cares to keep learning the game over and over due to drastic balance changes and updates
2) Taffy quit because since he works now he doesn't have time to keep up with the drastic changes as well
3) Blackheart stopped playing regularly for likely the same reasons
4) galacticfear quit because you changed the balance in a way that makes traditional setons games FAR different
5) Many 1v1 players from the United States and timezone behind EU has quit because of players that quit for along the same reasons
6) Adding equilibrium to global points proved the devs are not making the right decision to PROACTIVELY improve the system and rather continue to just point out that we "do not understand the maths" or are not worthy
I do feel the need to make a counter-argument here. I would argue, strongly, that a player whos mindset is that 'Very little should change so I don't have to learn again', and who gives up when that happens, is in essense
not actually a competitive player at all.
As evidence, I bring up the massively growing world of E-Sports to the table. Examine the games, their progress and changelogs, and the discussion boards for their competitive groups (I personally follow the competitive worlds of DOTA 2, Overwatch, CS:GO and Team Fortress 2), and there are two constants. Firstly, all of these games are affected by development and gameplay changes that are deliberately and forcefully shifting the metagame, and in dramatic ways. Secondly, that the best players in the game, those celebrated and lauded by fans, are those who adapt most quickly to the meta shifts. They display the true depth of their skill in that adaptability, that they understand how the game flows under the hood and see what the developers did, and why. I
do not speak for anyone other than myself here, but aside from my respect for their sheer skill, I have never had much respect for the
additude towards the game of any of those you picked to name
I will also point out that people's lives do move on, and I wouldn't expect to keep players for longer than a few years at the very top. Very, very few pro gamers manage that, in any game. For me, I'm much more concerned about the part of this you and others got right: New people don't appear to be replacing the old guard at the same skill level.
On a happier note, you're absolutely right about the rating system causing issues. Again, I can't speak for anyone else, but I really don't think it's in a good place right now. I am not certain if the mess that is the rating system, or the gameplay and balance, are more to blame for the lack of replacement top players, but I'd be willing to bet both play a part. Adding EQ (And now BHEdit) to the rating system was always acknowledged to be a kind of band-aid, not a cure. I remember talking this through with you, and I was very clear that I think the way forwards is some kind of multi-faceted averaging system. I would also argue for a rating reset of... some kind.
