ETA on Matchmaking overhaul?

[Clatratus]

As the title suggests, I think that a matchmaking overhaul for all of the modes (except AI and brawl) is overdue. IMPORTANT NOTE: I know some of you like to stop right as you read something that you disagree with and make a response right then and there. Please try to read the entire thing. (INCLUDING the notes at the very bottom)
Quick match - Yes, the queue is supposed to be "quick" and the teams are going to be random unless you form a party. However, that does not mean match people with huge skill gaps together. A player who is playing on a plat/diamond/master level should not be playing in a game with someone who is in bronze.

Unranked - Same problem that quick match has.

Hero League - I am just going to avoid this completely because most of the issues can be fixed by improving the report system and adjusting the ranked entry requirements which are way too easy to meet.

Team League - I am sure that I do not have to include the MANY pictures of the messed up match ups. Grand masters playing against bronze players, diamond players playing with bronze players, grand masters playing with silver, and the list goes on.....

Notes:
- I know I mentioned players of very low skill level in a certain way in this post. To clarify, I am not hating on these players. I know that they are just playing the game and trying to get better but throwing them in the deep end is not good for both parties.
- I know that there are instances where the matchmaking system doesn't manage to screw up and creates 2 balanced teams but this is becoming a rare sight unless you form a party of 5.
- Argument: " If a team has 3-4 players with a very high skill level and 1-2 low skill level players, the game balances that out by putting 1-2 low skill level players on the other team." Response: I am sure the MMR balances out but the game is not balanced. A balanced match would have two teams of equal skill. The matchmaking system should not decide that two teams with an overall MMR of 1890 should consist of players with the following MMR: Team 1: 2300, 2300, 2300, 1300, and 1250 Team 2: 2400, 2200, 2300, 1500, 1050.

[Stormcall]

A player who is playing on a plat/diamond/master level should not be playing in a game with someone who is in bronze.

People complain about queue times NOW. Do you really, seriously think they're gonna wanna wait even longer so they can be matched up with 9 other plat/diamond players?

[NoiseTank13]

Yeah it's not going to happen.

There is zero indication that Blizzard gives a hot gay fuck about the current Quick Match MM. The rules they had at the beginning of the games existence is now so vague and useless with all the 'role but not really classified as role' heroes they may as well go whole hog and toss it all out the window.

They prioritize queue times over quality matches, which I find amusing because I'm so used to 45 minute queue times during my stint in Super Monday Night Combat.

[DesoPL]

Since Stukow release, i got more lost matches in QM, while before his release i got more wins.

*sighs*

Activision pls.

[skorpio]

Since Stukow release, i got more lost matches in QM, while before his release i got more wins.

*sighs*

Activision pls.

Well, ppl must learn how to counter him first. Backdoor, avoid narrow places and beware his AA, it's slow but deals dmg equal to hidden Sgt. Hammer. I saw too many low health heroes (Tracer mostly) who died to accidental AA. Also his silence is little buggy, it's start working in moment of cast but animation is a bit slower and need additional 0,5 sec to show up. Also I can't charge with Varian through silence zone, because it's always interrupts charge.
And matchmaking still sucks. Yesterday I got 3 tanks in my team and couldn't do a shit.

[Stormcall]

They prioritize queue times over quality matches, which I find amusing because I'm so used to 45 minute queue times during my stint in Super Monday Night Combat.

I wouldn't play a game with 45 minute queue times. Neither would...well, most of the people who play QM. The vast majority of people who play HotS just want to get in and play a relatively quick game, if they can't do that reasonably quickly they're going to move on to something else. So yeah, most people are GLAD that they prioritize queue times, cause the vast majority of us won't fucking wait 45 minutes to get into a match.

[Tenjen]

Yes, blizz confirmed with me that before i even hit ready I will instantly get 4 diamond 1 team mates and the rest of you get fresh off the boat players.

There are certain balances and limitations to what can be achieved in MM based on the available population. It is never going to be ideal and often choosing one positive factor sacrifices the rest (such as aiming for short queue times)

[TITAN308]

I'd gladly take 3 minute queues instead of the garbage we have now.

Yes I play HL (Plat), but sometimes you just want QM to jump in and get your game on.

I mean honestly, who isn't ALT-TABBED or using a 2nd monitor during wait/load times with HOTS?

[Tenjen]

my queue's are ussually ultra short both in league and QM

[Vdarkblade]

I'm in agreement that QM does need some loving to try and help out from the current layout. Yes we want fast queue times, but not at the expense of quality games. More often than not you can look at the draft and see which team has the better odds before the match even starts. I've been grouped with 4 specialists and a healer vs. tank/healer/2nd support/2 dps comps.

Some fixes they can look at:
1. Make QM use base comp: tank/healer/3 dps (dps being either pure dmg or specialist). If it's a longer queue time, than so be it. It's like WoW. tanks and healers get the faster queue times for dungeons. This would (a) allow for more balanced match making, and (b) allow for players to work on playing something outside of their norm if they don't want to wait longer.
2. Reward players. Again, Blizzard can take from what they have learned in their other games. WoW incentives for dungeons are bags for specific roles. Bring that to HoTs. If certain roles like tank or healers are lower, than give them extra XP, or a loot box for every 5th match they queue up for it. There are ways to open up the options.

I'm sure there are many ways they can help this out, but I do think QM needs some tuning. Some people don't want to go through HL and drafting, but would still like actual comps to perhaps work towards interest in HL. People start in Bot games to get comfortable to move to QM. Then use QM to get comfortable for HL.

Would love to get others thoughts.

[NoiseTank13]

I wouldn't play a game with 45 minute queue times. Neither would...well, most of the people who play QM. The vast majority of people who play HotS just want to get in and play a relatively quick game, if they can't do that reasonably quickly they're going to move on to something else. So yeah, most people are GLAD that they prioritize queue times, cause the vast majority of us won't fucking wait 45 minutes to get into a match.

Way to completely miss the point of what I was saying (So much so I'm positive you did it on purpose to be a contrarion cunt). I'm used to those queue times, I didn't fucking say it was acceptable or good.

Know what else is about as unacceptable as 45 minute queue times? Current QM.

[Stormcall]

Way to completely miss the point of what I was saying (So much so I'm positive you did it on purpose to be a contrarion cunt). I'm used to those queue times, I didn't fucking say it was acceptable or good.

Your phrasing implied that queue times like that are no big deal, if that wasn't the point you were getting it, perhaps try rephrasing.

[NoiseTank13]

Your phrasing implied

aka

"I assumed"

[Mormolyce]

I swear every few months the bandaids they put on QM matchmaking fall off.

It seems to not care about mismatching number of tanks and supports per side again? The hell? That was a huge problem before they "fixed" it.

How hard is it to just mandate that "# of Team 1 tanks" = "# of Team 2 tanks" and "# of Team 1 supports" = "# of Team 2 supports"? And I flat out don't believe that would have a big impact on queue times.

And yes heroes like Varian and Medivh fuck with this balance but still. It could be better.

People complain about queue times NOW. Do you really, seriously think they're gonna wanna wait even longer so they can be matched up with 9 other plat/diamond players?

We have this argument every damn time.

[Deleted]

TBH I see all problems coming from QM MMR connected with the others. Rather than worried about a diamond player playing QM against or with bronze it would make much more sense to not let "QM heroes" almost free in plat+ even with negative w/l ratio. QM in its nature can almost be won solo, bad heroes like Valeera seem to dominate there. Most people play QM solo and calls rarely happen - team coming together is often more random than anything planned. Whenever I see someone banning Valeera for example in ranked I know "this guy plays mainly QM and is clueless about drafts or team or map conditions". Instead make everyone do like 15-20 placement matches for the first time or if they have less than 30 games played in HL in previous season.

[Stormcall]

aka

"I assumed"

Yes, based on your words. If you didn't want people to assume you meant that, perhaps you should rephrase, cause what you said pretty much lines up EXACTLY with what I "assumed".

[NoiseTank13]

Yes, based on your words. If you didn't want people to assume you meant that, perhaps you should rephrase, cause what you said pretty much lines up EXACTLY with what I "assumed".

You were the only one assuming that. Maybe the problem lies with you.