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WTF!!! Random isn't random - Page 4

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Alpha
Profile Joined September 2004
France1495 Posts
December 25 2004 06:23 GMT
#61
On December 25 2004 15:09 Redan wrote:
1/3 * 1/3 = 1/9 Chance to get ZvT
1/9 * 1/9 * 1/9 = 1/729 Chance to get ZvT three times in a row
Simple?
That's correct but mmmm if u count Zvt = TvZ it's more likely to happen
The psi bolts enlighten me.
Nal_Testie
Profile Joined April 2004
Canada1257 Posts
December 25 2004 06:25 GMT
#62
Oh man by continuing this conversation even further you're making me want to find large stockpiles of bricks.
The fact that we have flamethrowers means at some point someone said to himself - Gee I sure would like to set those people on fire over there but im just not close enough to get the job done, if only I had something that would throw the flame on them
SuperCrazyMan
Profile Joined November 2004
43 Posts
December 25 2004 06:27 GMT
#63
Jesus Christ, calm down people. If what Testie said is true, which I do personally believe, Blizzard obviously implemented bias in the randomization algorithm to prevent morons complaining "omg random is fucked up cuz we all terran!!!!!! gayyyyyyy" Apparently, they wanted it to be an even distribution of races when random is selected by more than one person.

All in all, who gives a shit. We could all use some variety.
uhh hi ioM)SHARPTHING ObliviousLogic Babel(AijN)
J1
Profile Joined December 2004
Canada579 Posts
December 25 2004 06:33 GMT
#64
t-33% p-33% z-33% where does that other percent go?
Playing games in the ways of the DIAO...
Nal_Testie
Profile Joined April 2004
Canada1257 Posts
December 25 2004 06:35 GMT
#65
33.3333333
33.3333333
33.3333333
The last
.00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001% goes into those times you don't want to play a certain matchup and it fucks you, giving you that matchup out of spite!
The fact that we have flamethrowers means at some point someone said to himself - Gee I sure would like to set those people on fire over there but im just not close enough to get the job done, if only I had something that would throw the flame on them
ironchef
Profile Blog Joined August 2004
Canada1350 Posts
December 25 2004 06:54 GMT
#66
yeah sometimes it feels like its not completely random when you get the same race several times in a row.. but on avg i think its been pretty random for me in the long run

Although i do find the random race assignments testie mentioned quite interesting.
“Because your own strength is unequal to the task, do not assume that it is beyond the powers of man; but if anything is within the powers and province of man, believe that it is within your own compass also.” - Marcus Aurelius
gg_hertzz
Profile Blog Joined January 2004
2152 Posts
December 25 2004 07:01 GMT
#67
On December 25 2004 15:27 SuperCrazyMan wrote:
Jesus Christ, calm down people. If what Testie said is true, which I do personally believe, Blizzard obviously implemented bias in the randomization algorithm to prevent morons complaining "omg random is fucked up cuz we all terran!!!!!! gayyyyyyy" Apparently, they wanted it to be an even distribution of races when random is selected by more than one person.

All in all, who gives a shit. We could all use some variety.


calm down, from what?

Testie's the one throwing a tantrum that only Elton John can appreciate. But if you like suckin' Testie's nuts (pun fully intended) then so be it.
Liquid`Daaman
Profile Joined January 2003
Sweden1225 Posts
December 25 2004 07:07 GMT
#68
random ISNT random tho, at least not in random vs random.

it's built in to decrease the chances that you get the same race for both players.

had it been let alone it would of course be 1/3 that u get either zvz,tvt or pvp (since no matter what the first player gets, 1 of the 3 races drawn by player2 would mena they got the same one).

however, I believe blizzard edited this so that it would only occur 1 in 27 times!
Comfortably Numb
aseq
Profile Joined January 2003
Netherlands4000 Posts
Last Edited: 2004-12-25 07:16:43
December 25 2004 07:14 GMT
#69
I think Testie is right on the random thing...although it does puzzle me as to how you can actually get a mirror match, then, if it always 3-3-2, 2-1-1, 1-1-0...
Can't anyone remember having played something like rP-rZ versus rP-rZ ??

About the thing being random for a single player, it uses the system clock. I now and then play vs racine, and if i mess up my split i restart. You get 1 race for about 30secs-1min, then the next, then the next again. Try out plz? I think they're just using a few bits out of the system time. Kinda silly, but who restarts the game that often anyway? I don't think the regular 10 games-in-a-row of one race is non-random, or influenced by previous games, but i am not 100% certain here.

And plz stop talking about the coins, the probability you get the same matchup vs some other dude 3 times is:
1 (you,any race) x 1 (him,any race) x 1/3 (you2) x 1/3 (him2) x 1/3 (you3) x 1/3 (him3) = 1/81
The chance of you and him getting a particular matchup (like t-z) 3 times is :
1/3 ^ 6 = 1/729 (replace the 1's in the previous example by 1/3)

just like the probability you get heads 3 times is 1/8.

edit: t: z without the space results in some stupid smiley
Mora
Profile Blog Joined October 2002
Canada5235 Posts
December 25 2004 07:14 GMT
#70
the first post that mentioned actual chances was

me and my friend had zvt in rvr 3 times in a row

i believe thats 1/729 chance

the whole point of random is anything may happen, its designed to have equal odds but you could have same race for 8 games i suppose(more chance than most lottery :o)


He didn't say. "Damn, we had zvt times in a row, it was a 1/729 chance to get it again!". he said "damn, the chances of getting zvt 3 times in a row are 1/729".

The only part of that should be in debate is whether TvZ and ZvT are the same thing. (and they aren't if he specifically got only zerg or only terran in all 3 games).

Happiness only real when shared.
aseq
Profile Joined January 2003
Netherlands4000 Posts
December 25 2004 07:15 GMT
#71
btw, can't we mail bliz asking how the random system works? they should be friendly enough to tell us..
dt
Profile Joined October 2003
Germany126 Posts
December 25 2004 07:35 GMT
#72
I have disassembled Starcrafts "random" algorithm long ago, Nal_testie is right of course. It's quite complex and the person who coded it was probably drunk. The probability of a mirror 1vs1 matchup if both players go random is exactly 1/24, for instance.
karelen
Profile Joined October 2003
Sweden2407 Posts
December 25 2004 07:52 GMT
#73
the truth is out there
zzzzzz
tranCe[RaGe]
Profile Joined November 2004
United States420 Posts
December 25 2004 07:57 GMT
#74
For how fair this game is i think blizzard would have taken the extra 5 mins to make it random :D
Carpe Diem, Love and Hope...
HooTie
Profile Blog Joined September 2004
United States177 Posts
December 25 2004 08:31 GMT
#75
This is too much math to think about over christmas break :D.
HooT HooT
Bill307
Profile Blog Joined October 2002
Canada9103 Posts
December 25 2004 08:34 GMT
#76
On December 25 2004 13:39 gg_hertzz wrote:
I really don't see how random can actually be random. If it could be, then BW would be the most complex instrument in the solar system.

Isn't it all just a series

If true then excute this

Else

excute this

?


There are LOTS (infinitely many, in fact) of mathematical functions that generate sequences of random numbers. E.g. set your calculator to Radians mode (as opposed to Degrees mode) and enter any number other than 0 into this function, in place of x:

f(x) = sin (4 * x)

Now take the result ("f(x)") and enter it into the function again, in place of x. Do this over and over and you'll get a random sequence of numbers between 0 and 1.

Of course, the functions used in real random number generators are much more complex. With this function here, if you get a number that's REALLY close to 0, then the next number will also be really close to 0, but slightly farther away. A proper random number generator should not be this predictable. Furthermore, this function does not result in uniformly-distributed numbers, i.e. you are more likely to get some numbers than others. A proper random number generator should return uniformly-distributed numbers. And yes, such functions do exist.

For more information or examples, use Google .

Oh, and last of all, computers usually generate the initial value based on the computer's internal clock, e.g. they might use the number of milliseconds that have elapsed since midnight and generate a sequence of random numbers starting from that value. Alternatively, the computer can use a given value, and this is what SC will do when you play a replay: it will start with the same value that the actual game started with. This will result in the exact same sequence of random numbers, allowing the game to be played back correctly.
gg_hertzz
Profile Blog Joined January 2004
2152 Posts
December 25 2004 08:37 GMT
#77
Oh Bill, you sound so sexy when you try to confuse me with big words.
PuertoRican
Profile Joined April 2004
United States5709 Posts
December 25 2004 08:50 GMT
#78
dunno about anyone else, but when i random, i get terran mostly, then zerg, not much protoss.

somedays i can get protoss like 3 times in a row, but then it will switch back to terran.

the random thing can mean random, but in the 7 years ive played, random is terran favored.
If anyone orders any merlot Im leaving. I am NOT drinking any fucking merlot.
Juiyo
Profile Joined May 2004
Canada174 Posts
December 25 2004 09:04 GMT
#79
i remember back in tha days 1.6
when we both go random
i could guess ppl race by there color..On Lost Temple Ladder

Maybe im a magician..
http://www.ege.ca - Manager
Azmo
Profile Joined March 2003
Sweden83 Posts
Last Edited: 2004-12-25 09:57:07
December 25 2004 09:08 GMT
#80
On December 25 2004 14:11 Nal_Testie wrote:
...
You fucking idiot. I was saying what I was saying as fact. Not even speculation or a hypothesis.

IF 8 players random there will be 3/3/2
If 4 players random there will be 2/1/1

IT WILL NEVER
EVER
EVER
BE
DIFFERENT

Stop pissing me off.


do you have proof?

if it's unlikely that the 2 random players in a 1:1 have the same race, and we have similar effects for games with more than 2 players, then, it makes no sense to me for this to be programmed specifically for certain ammount of players in a game, but instead an effect of a general algorithm.

my point is, it makes no sense for it to be impossible to get more than 4 players of the same race in an 8 player game (with all random players, yes..)

also, i am quite certain i have been in a 6 player racewar game where there were 4 of one race (everyone left the game ofcourse).
that was one game of several hundered, however, since some games end early because of lag or other problems, this would not be valid statistics in any way, however, they do show the existence of the possibility of 4 of one race in a 6player game, unless i'm insane and imagined it :-/.
You say you love flowers but you pick them. You say you love animals but you eat them. I fear the day you will tell me you love me.
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