So many of you know that custom-games matchmaking/finder has been discussed in the passed. The typical matchmaking playlist scenario would not work because the system operates by choosing a gametype and map for you. Another idea many have suggested is a searcher takes you to the lobby of another player. But then how would you know which gametype/map you’ve been sent to?
I believe that Hash-tags maybe a solution to help players find and join into custom game matches. Just as you use tags to search through Public File Browser on Halo Waypoint, a tag system could be added in-game to custom games.
Clarification: This is not a system in which the game matches you with other players. But a system where open parties can allow players to search for and join their games.
How this would work:
When creating a new gametype or forge map, players will have the options of adding Tags just like they do when they upload these items to their file share.
For instance, if a Player Created a cool “Tower Of Power” map and gametype, the player could #TowerOfPower, and now players around the world can search for that custom game.
Players around the world would be searching for games and filtering by these tags to find the most ideal game possible via an in-game drop-down menu. Players can either join games in the lobby or in progress.
Problems
There are 2 ways this system could be abused:
-
People could fake their hashtags. Just like fileshares can lead you to stuff you don’t want to see, so can bad party leaders.
-
People could join games so party leaders start the game up, and then quit immediately after the game starts up. This could ruin custom games.
Solutions
-
Just like with fileshares, players can rank party leaders, which can then be shown when browsing a listing of games available to jump in. If a user is a poor party leader, the player after the game can give the player 1 star as opposed to let’s say 5. Players could then filter what games are available by the highest-ranked party leaders. Players can only rank a party leader if they actually have played a game under the party leader so that random players are not voting for each other.
-
People quitting is going to happen. It happens all the time. However, if a player ruins a game, the party leader (or any player in the party) can block said player from ever appearing in a custom game with them again.
When the banned player searches for games, the party leader who banned him/her won’t show up anymore on the list of available matches.
So what do you guys think?