I figured this is big enough of an interview to deserve its own thread/discussion.
01. 00:00:09 Special Episode Interview with Grant Davies 02. 00:01:43 Whats happening with the Group Matchmaking timeline 03. 00:04:05 Challenges of implementing all the new content and upgrades 04. 00:08:10 How to balance game MMR vs Location for matchmaking 05. 00:11:12 How does the point system really work 06. 00:13:58 What is involved in picking the ladder map pools 07. 00:18:07 Teasers of upcoming changes, content and updates 08. 00:20:42 Newly found bugs and what's being done about them 09. 00:27:41 How much more popular did SC1 become after SC:R was released 10. 00:29:06 Journey to becoming a programmer & What it takes to be a game dev 11. 00:31:17 Thoughts on the state of the Korean scene 12. 00:34:30 Thanks to Grant for joining us
Aw, I was hoping for a more solid estimation of SC:R's affect on Brood War, but I guess the data is hard to come by. PC bang usage time metrics (limited, but basically the only publicly available stat in Korea) suggest Brood War's slooooooow, decades-long decline has stalled with the release of SC:R, so that supports the idea that it had an important stabilizing effect.
On October 18 2019 21:51 Q~Bert wrote: Was Rapid included for filler?
Nice interview. I enjoy that Brood War is a small enough scene where it's possible to personally coordinate with the project lead.
Rapid needs to try and make his questions a bit more concise imo. Case in point: at the start grant talks for about a minute and a half about matchmaking, rapid then goes on for about 4 minutes while not really adding anything before finally getting to his question. Not a huge deal just a minor observation.
It's always nice having Rapid around not just for filler, guy's knowledge increased tremendously. It doesn't matter what answers Grant gave - we already know we're not going to get team matchmaking. Honestly, game could be ten times more successful and popular if they first finished 2x2 and then publish it, even if the launch was on 2020. After hype is over, majority is gone, I don't believe even having 2x2 later on will bring players back.
On October 19 2019 07:53 outscar wrote: It's always nice having Rapid around not just for filler, guy's knowledge increased tremendously. It doesn't matter what answers Grant gave - we already know we're not going to get team matchmaking. Honestly, game could be ten times more successful and popular if they first finished 2x2 and then publish it, even if the launch was on 2020. After hype is over, majority is gone, I don't believe even having 2x2 later on will bring players back.
That's a really positive outlook that you have there...Actually I am pretty sure once the team matchmaking is released, it will bring back a lot of players and new ones regardless of the time it is released lol
Still excited for team matchmaking. Before SC:R released, I started playing a few 2v2s every night with an old friend from the brood war days, and it's really made me remember how good BW team games actually are. Hope it comes early in 2020, been waiting 2 years! :D
On October 18 2019 20:51 Waxangel wrote: Aw, I was hoping for a more solid estimation of SC:R's affect on Brood War, but I guess the data is hard to come by. PC bang usage time metrics (limited, but basically the only publicly available stat in Korea) suggest Brood War's slooooooow, decades-long decline has stalled with the release of SC:R, so that supports the idea that it had an important stabilizing effect.
for now. we'll have to see how more and more top pros leaving for military service will affect this situation.
On October 22 2019 07:34 elluel wrote: What is team matchmaking exactly? They never delved into this.
2v2 Ladder.
Wait, that doesn't exist? Or does it just average the MMR of you and your partner, regardless of random/premade? I've thought that the reason to have separate 2vs2 team in the ladder tab of a profile is to assign a MMR to each one.
On October 22 2019 07:34 elluel wrote: What is team matchmaking exactly? They never delved into this.
2v2 Ladder.
Wait, that doesn't exist? Or does it just average the MMR of you and your partner, regardless of random/premade? I've thought that the reason to have separate 2vs2 team in the ladder tab of a profile is to assign a MMR to each one.
On October 19 2019 07:53 outscar wrote: It's always nice having Rapid around not just for filler, guy's knowledge increased tremendously. It doesn't matter what answers Grant gave - we already know we're not going to get team matchmaking. Honestly, game could be ten times more successful and popular if they first finished 2x2 and then publish it, even if the launch was on 2020. After hype is over, majority is gone, I don't believe even having 2x2 later on will bring players back.
That's a really positive outlook that you have there...Actually I am pretty sure once the team matchmaking is released, it will bring back a lot of players and new ones regardless of the time it is released lol
I wouldn't hold my breath, the Carbot skin had a ton of hype and now almost noone is even using it, it had no impact. I expect something similar for 2v2 ladder.
On October 19 2019 07:53 outscar wrote: It's always nice having Rapid around not just for filler, guy's knowledge increased tremendously. It doesn't matter what answers Grant gave - we already know we're not going to get team matchmaking. Honestly, game could be ten times more successful and popular if they first finished 2x2 and then publish it, even if the launch was on 2020. After hype is over, majority is gone, I don't believe even having 2x2 later on will bring players back.
That's a really positive outlook that you have there...Actually I am pretty sure once the team matchmaking is released, it will bring back a lot of players and new ones regardless of the time it is released lol
I wouldn't hold my breath, the Carbot skin had a ton of hype and now almost noone is even using it, it had no impact. I expect something similar for 2v2 ladder.
The skin was a gimmick, the ladder used to be an essential part of the community in leagues and ladders. It would theoretically be one of the few things that might motivate me to casually play the game again. A skin on the other hand never would.
On October 19 2019 07:53 outscar wrote: It's always nice having Rapid around not just for filler, guy's knowledge increased tremendously. It doesn't matter what answers Grant gave - we already know we're not going to get team matchmaking. Honestly, game could be ten times more successful and popular if they first finished 2x2 and then publish it, even if the launch was on 2020. After hype is over, majority is gone, I don't believe even having 2x2 later on will bring players back.
That's a really positive outlook that you have there...Actually I am pretty sure once the team matchmaking is released, it will bring back a lot of players and new ones regardless of the time it is released lol
I wouldn't hold my breath, the Carbot skin had a ton of hype and now almost noone is even using it, it had no impact. I expect something similar for 2v2 ladder.
What hype? I LITERALLY do not know ANYONE that wished for the comic skin. Everyone was like "Comic skin? I dont care". I bought it to support Blizzard and in the vain hope for a faster team matchmaking, but actually using the comic skin for competetive gameplay? Hell no, lmao.
On the other hand, I know from several people (myself included) that they are desperately waiting for team matchmaking. But will the 2on2 ladder have an actual impact on player base? Probably not, but it is still a feature that they should have included with the release of the project...
Can't kill the only place with a 2v2 ladder (ICCup) and then never release a proper replacement. That is just BS.
EPT
