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| Halo 2 Matchmaking: Setting a precedent | |
| Posted By: nof | Date: 2/4/05 3:30 a.m. |
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Halo 2 Matchmaking:
Most of us here are casual gamers, we enjoy having a serene indifference to the outcome of the match. As long as our intentions were honorable and our combat prowess the mightiest we could muster, we cared neither for winning or losing. Unlike the professional players, the silent majority didn't raise an alarm or climb on top of a soapbox when Halo 2 came into our homes. We enjoyed not being spawn killed from across the map by a player who has been mastering the game for countless nights. Grenades were no longer an anonymous killer, flung from Neverland to our position, killing before we could fire a single shot. Bungie created the matchmaking service. A clockwork of programming code and database connections heralded the coming of an age where we could be teamed with similarly deadly teammates and opponents. We didn't have to fear our competitive brethren any longer. At first we all harmoniously shared the lower ranking levels while we watched as the gamers of rage and hatred shot up o the upper echelon of Bungie.net's ladders. "Look at that guy" we laughed, "he's been playing Halo 2 since it came out to get that level, what a rank whore." Collectively and slowly our rank improved. We became unconsciously aware we were better than somebody. Introspectively we found our plowshares became mighty weapons. We all found a sense of might and awe at our own dexterity at the controls. A badge we neither
We found no place to hide from defeat, matchmaking put us next to equal opponents, ones that could kill us equally as we killed them. Matchmaking turned into a process where going in alone, without your friends, meant risking being teamed up with an anonymous teammate who's skill level was not guaranteed. Casual gaming metamorphosed into, casualty. Losses occurred that didn't happen before. Slammed fists of frustration and lips shouting rationalizations started coming from indifferent souls. With selfish haste we teamed with friends who
Winning turned into an haunting habit. Parties dissolved after several losses because nobody wanted to be a loser. Maybe we could find a couple partners who would win? Accusations and excuses flew back and forth justifying actions and battlefield disappointments. The flag was so close… wasn't it? Desperate friend requests where sent to those who we knew marshaled strength on the battlefield. "Hey man, let's play some team slayer, I need to get my level up" we said. Then the final transformation happened. Instead of marching bravely into combat, caring neither for defeat or victory, we started playing games that did not tarnish our now concrete gamer tag badge. Parties where formed not with friends, but with those who killed with efficiency. The weaker started to be left behind. Out of desperation players started doing every evil thing they could to win. Unconventional and dishonorable methods of gaining glory where employed just to keep some badges shining. Winning made us brighter, more pronounced. Every time our badge got dirty it frustrated us. The enemy had devoured us from the inside; infecting us with the smoldering rage that drives their relentless crusade for perfection, spawn camping, and Battle Rifle/Plasma Pistol combinations. Casual gaming has turned into, casual winning. Under our bloodthirsty hearts we all cowardly declare our casual gaming habits. That is until we login to Xbox Live. Bungie's new system made is possible to go online, find a good game and smash things up. Unfortunately it also gave us the excuse to win and the 'badge' necessary to show we did. I'm not the only one who shares these thoughts. "Matchmaking means nothing", "Rank doesn't mean anything" is something said across the XBL servers yet nobody plays without skilled teamates. Team Skirmish is neglected while Team Training became a popular playlist, not just because of how easy it can be to win at times, but because it doesn't matter if we do. | |
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