Okay so ive played a solid 300 games, on and off on Halo 4 since release, now, and overall with the Multiplayer I’m pretty satisfied. The maps could cater a little LESS to the Vehicular manslaughter types of Players but, Im hoping the DLC AFTER CRIMSON PACK -.- will help with this issue.
My only qualms so far feel trivial and the qualms others apparently have do also. Although there is one issue Im starting to progressively dislike more and more.
My issue with the Halo Matchmaking System, isnt the ‘Drop In’ integration, nor the apparent Button Combo glitches that have surfaced (which I think are brilliant as a way of allowing the skilled players to excel). No, my issue is with the Matchmaking System and how it puts games together based on Trueskill.
As 343i have already revealed, the Trueskill system is in place already despite the fact that the Ranking System is not, and for me, this is really starting to damage my experience with the game.
I recall launch day being in the same boat as everyone, learning new things, maps etc… but I was still able to be incredibly successful from Day 1, above others, no doubt because of my decade of FPS Experience. Dont get me wrong though! I like how the game matches you against players of your similar skill, my concerns are:
~ Why is this system even in place PRE-ranking system?
~ Why am I continually being placed into games against FULL teams while I have randoms with no Microphones? Why is there no rule to say a Team of 3/4 cannot find a game unless there is another To3/4?
Its almost like, the more successful I am in my games, the harder it gets for me on a Solo level, as more and more teams are allowed to come and dismantle my side of the Match due to a lack of Comms and apparent lack of skill from many of my teammates (map positioning, tactics NOT WEAPON ABILITY AS BY COMPARISON THIS IS PALES IN IMPORTANCE).
I hate how there is no REWARD to ‘tryhard’ in games. Its like, in almost every playlist now ASSUMING we have seperate TrueSkills for every playlist, I cannot find a mere ‘social’ game. Its disheartening, as my actual teammates who i play with regularly and have good chemistry with are often very busy with Uni work (as am I) at different times to me, so Im forced to play the game I love and am good at, alone against a Team of 3/4, in an environment where teamwork is EVERYTHING. This isnt COD where you can carry a team to victory, ESPECIALLY, in objective modes, so why on earth is there a system to force you into games of your skill when there is absolutely NO REWARD for it. ITS POINTLESS, and just causes frustration and a general dislike for matchmaking. The only time I enjoy it now, is if I play with a couple of friends I know who are nowhere near my own TrueSkill and so the system has to find a balance of them both for matchmaking. Its horrible and I really would like this to be changed. I recognise that in a competitive mode such as ‘PRO’ slayer, this mechanic should never NOT be integrated and I support this idea, but for public social matchmaking in playlists that ALL vanilla players opt for, a Trueskill system should not be dictating matchmade teammates and opponents based on Trueskill without providing both an incentive and a reward!
You could say, ‘‘Oh but the reward is EXP!’’. No. The reward in EVERY playlist is EXP, and EXP isnt a reward after SR30, as most players will have already obtained their choice of Primary and Package.
Its really starting to bother me, because I really enjoy this game, and when I can play competitively, because I have my teammates who I know are good at the game and we have chemistry, we stomp on players of my own skill level, but even this gets old very quickly due to the lack of reward.
I really feel like this mechanic needs to be removed from vanilla playlists and should only exist in the competitive hoppers. Sometimes when I cant find decent friends to play with, I just want to be able to jump into any game with any skill level of players and have fun. I dont want to have to sweating it out, every single game, when there is no reward.