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Metalopolis prone to close positions, why? - Page 2

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I apologize to everyone in this thread for taking the OP seriously. My mod senses are definitely off today.

-- Chill
ch33psh33p
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
7650 Posts
February 15 2011 20:00 GMT
#21
Thank you for Frozenserpent and Tyler for bringing some common sense to this thread. A larger sample size would affirm such a result, but a sample size of 100 is readily enough to suggest the chances may not be completely even.
secret - never again
eLiE
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Canada1039 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-02-15 20:02:49
February 15 2011 20:00 GMT
#22
If my research class taught me anything, it's that you need a significantly high value to assume that you're getting close positions based on something other than chance. The book said 90% and up, and it's common to go as high as 95%.

I'll give the book example for clarity. If you flip a coin and it lands on one side 9 times out of 10, you can assume that the coin is likely rigged. Any less, and it's more likely that the coin landed the way it did due to chance.

EDIT: frozenserpent beat me to it, but a higher sample size always improves generalizability
How's the weather down there?
Deja Thoris
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
South Africa646 Posts
February 15 2011 20:01 GMT
#23
On February 16 2011 04:52 magha wrote:
Show nested quote +
On February 16 2011 04:50 Toast.yum wrote:
nkr: Yes it is


Taking sample sizes of 100 would prove that nobody in history has ever won a lottery.


I get your point but the sample size could increase to 1,000 and show the same trend, both in terms of starting positons and lottery winners.
It proves that 100 or 1000 is an appropriate sample size for what he wanted to do. More is always better but sometimes enough is enough.
Zedders
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Canada450 Posts
February 15 2011 20:01 GMT
#24
On February 16 2011 04:52 magha wrote:
Show nested quote +
On February 16 2011 04:50 Toast.yum wrote:
nkr: Yes it is


Taking sample sizes of 100 would prove that nobody in history has ever won a lottery.


there is a 1 in 1 million ++++ chance to win a lotttery ticket usually....theres a 1/3 chance that you will spawn close positions...
ALPINA
Profile Joined May 2010
3791 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-02-15 20:02:08
February 15 2011 20:01 GMT
#25
On February 16 2011 04:58 Frozenserpent wrote:
People are fucking retarded and need to learn some basic statistics before they say something like "not big enough sample size".

Even 50 can be sufficient to obtain a p-value < 5%.

In this case, p-value is definitely low enough to reject the assumption that it's 1/3rd.

Obviously if you want the exact ratios you'd want to expand on the larger sample size, but this is conclusive to determine that it's not 1/3rds.


Sample size of 100 proves nothing. Don't call people retarded and get a clue about what you are talking.
You should never underestimate the predictability of stupidity
Lonyo
Profile Blog Joined December 2009
United Kingdom3884 Posts
February 15 2011 20:01 GMT
#26
Well I have 53 games and the distribution is:

21 close positions
15 close air
17 cross

Which is pretty reasonable for random.
All ladder games, saved indiscriminantly (I save all my replays).

So @ OP, it's just you, although I did notice that it was a lot more even form the earlier replays (the 53 came from October to January).
HOLY CHECK!
mesohawny
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
Canada193 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-02-15 20:04:27
February 15 2011 20:02 GMT
#27
100 isnt a big enough sample size? jesus do you want the guy to quit his job?


I don't know why people are bothering to categorize close-air and "close"... they're both close, ones just a little closer by air... the ground distance is roughly the same...

in this case the close positions would make up 3/4 of the games because there are more possibilities to spawn close positions, rather than just the ONE (or two if you count the reverse) for cross-positions.

someone correct me if im wrong.
love you long time
TBO
Profile Joined September 2009
Germany1350 Posts
February 15 2011 20:02 GMT
#28
On February 16 2011 04:58 Frozenserpent wrote:
People are fucking retarded and need to learn some basic statistics before they say something like "not big enough sample size".

Even 50 can be sufficient to obtain a p-value < 5%.

In this case, p-value is definitely low enough to reject the assumption that it's 1/3rd.

Obviously if you want the exact ratios you'd want to expand on the larger sample size, but this is conclusive to determine that it's not 1/3rds.


The problem here is that you have millions of players who play 100 games on metalopolis and a few of them will get extreme results (and those will post in the forums), even if it is 1/3 chance.

If you have 100.000 people throwing a coin 15 times, you will get quite a few (6 in average) who will get a 15-0 or 0-15 result.

Only if lots of people get the same results as the topic creator, one could assume it is conclusive.
tealc
Profile Joined October 2010
109 Posts
February 15 2011 20:02 GMT
#29
Just create hundred custom games against AI and run your worker to the nearest position at the start of the game.
Lobotomist
Profile Joined May 2010
United States1541 Posts
February 15 2011 20:03 GMT
#30
We can argue all day, but does anyone know a good method to have a computer automatically do this? Any 1337 programmers out there?
Teching to hive too quickly isn't just a risk: it's an ultrarisk
Soma.bokforlag
Profile Joined February 2011
Sweden448 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-02-15 20:07:28
February 15 2011 20:05 GMT
#31
On February 16 2011 04:58 Frozenserpent wrote:
People are fucking retarded and need to learn some basic statistics before they say something like "not big enough sample size".

Even 50 can be sufficient to obtain a p-value < 5%.

In this case, p-value is definitely low enough to reject the assumption that it's 1/3rd.

Obviously if you want the exact ratios you'd want to expand on the larger sample size, but this is conclusive to determine that it's not 1/3rds.


you shouldnt call people retarded when you obviously doesnt understand statistics. if you make enough studdies some of them will turn out faulty results even if the method is correct 99.9% of the time.

in this example, it is possible that the author of the thread felt "damn, i get alot of close positions" and therefore examined his stats.. the rest 99.99% of players which have a more even distribution never gave it a thought and probably are closer to correct ratios

edit. TBO was quicker than me..
thrawn2112
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
United States6918 Posts
February 15 2011 20:05 GMT
#32
lets get some p values up in here
"People think they know all these things about other people, and if you ask them why they think they know that, it'd be hard for them to be convincing." ES
Immersion_
Profile Joined May 2010
United Kingdom794 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-02-15 20:34:19
February 15 2011 20:08 GMT
#33
Apologies should have read OP more thoroughly
http://www.twitch.tv/sybar1te Sybarite#2581 - add me for Heroes games. .Play Hots and Overwatch currently. Feel free to add.
Deadeight
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
United Kingdom1629 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-02-15 20:09:17
February 15 2011 20:08 GMT
#34
On February 16 2011 04:58 Frozenserpent wrote:
People are fucking retarded and need to learn some basic statistics before they say something like "not big enough sample size".

Even 50 can be sufficient to obtain a p-value < 5%.

In this case, p-value is definitely low enough to reject the assumption that it's 1/3rd.

Obviously if you want the exact ratios you'd want to expand on the larger sample size, but this is conclusive to determine that it's not 1/3rds.




I know that if you analyse it statistically 100 samples is enough. The chance of getting that ratio is pretty low. And as Frozenserpent said the P value would be low.

But (if I understand OPs post correctly) the sample was not random. He looked at his last 100 games that he'd played on it right? Or did he play an extra 100 games?
Out of all the people who play it's pretty likely that this will have happened to someone. And when it does happen to someone that person will notice it.

Would be good if there was a way to check this without checking individual replays.
aristarchus
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
United States652 Posts
February 15 2011 20:09 GMT
#35
TBO wins the thread. This is definitely a statistically significant result, but I still don't believe it. Lots of people probably try this stuff, and a small number get really weird results and then post here. (This is a problem with academic research too - the way you settle it is to do more tests independently, and also to have some healthy skepticism about the likelihood that blizzard screwed something this simple up in that weird a way in the first place.)
NonY
Profile Blog Joined June 2007
8751 Posts
February 15 2011 20:09 GMT
#36
On February 16 2011 05:02 TBO wrote:
Show nested quote +
On February 16 2011 04:58 Frozenserpent wrote:
People are fucking retarded and need to learn some basic statistics before they say something like "not big enough sample size".

Even 50 can be sufficient to obtain a p-value < 5%.

In this case, p-value is definitely low enough to reject the assumption that it's 1/3rd.

Obviously if you want the exact ratios you'd want to expand on the larger sample size, but this is conclusive to determine that it's not 1/3rds.


The problem here is that you have millions of players who play 100 games on metalopolis and a few of them will get extreme results (and those will post in the forums), even if it is 1/3 chance.

If you have 100.000 people throwing a coin 15 times, you will get quite a few (6 in average) who will get a 15-0 or 0-15 result.

Only if lots of people get the same results as the topic creator, one could assume it is conclusive.



On February 16 2011 05:05 Soma.bokforlag wrote:
Show nested quote +
On February 16 2011 04:58 Frozenserpent wrote:
People are fucking retarded and need to learn some basic statistics before they say something like "not big enough sample size".

Even 50 can be sufficient to obtain a p-value < 5%.

In this case, p-value is definitely low enough to reject the assumption that it's 1/3rd.

Obviously if you want the exact ratios you'd want to expand on the larger sample size, but this is conclusive to determine that it's not 1/3rds.


you shouldnt call people retarded when you obviously doesnt understand statistics. if you make enough studdies some of them will turn out faulty results even if the method is correct 99.9% of the time.

in this example, it is possible that the author of the thread felt "damn, i get alot of close positions" and therefore examined his stats.. the rest 99.99% of players which have a more even distribution never gave it a thought and probably are closer to correct ratios

edit. TBO was quicker than me..

Ah, you guys aren't likely to get your PHD's when you can't even understand the OP's testing methods. He didn't examine the games that gave him the feeling that he got close positions. He got that feeling and ignored those games and loaded up 100 more games against the computer and recorded those results.
"Fucking up is part of it. If you can't fail, you have to always win. And I don't think you can always win." Elliott Smith ---------- Yet no sudden rage darkened his face, and his eyes were calm as they studied her. Then he smiled. 'Witness.'
Algar
Profile Joined September 2010
United States27 Posts
February 15 2011 20:10 GMT
#37
Your sample size is fine for your hypothesis p00n and that's an interesting assessment. Don't worry about the naysayers... the default response to any kind of sampling study in an internet forum is to say the sample size isn't big enough regardless of how big the sample size is and regardless of the application.

I'm just glad to see other people as frustrated with these types of responses as I usually am.
Thanks. I like to play.
eLiE
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Canada1039 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-02-15 20:13:32
February 15 2011 20:10 GMT
#38
On February 16 2011 05:02 TBO wrote:
Show nested quote +
On February 16 2011 04:58 Frozenserpent wrote:
People are fucking retarded and need to learn some basic statistics before they say something like "not big enough sample size".

Even 50 can be sufficient to obtain a p-value < 5%.

In this case, p-value is definitely low enough to reject the assumption that it's 1/3rd.

Obviously if you want the exact ratios you'd want to expand on the larger sample size, but this is conclusive to determine that it's not 1/3rds.


The problem here is that you have millions of players who play 100 games on metalopolis and a few of them will get extreme results (and those will post in the forums), even if it is 1/3 chance.

If you have 100.000 people throwing a coin 15 times, you will get quite a few (6 in average) who will get a 15-0 or 0-15 result.

Only if lots of people get the same results as the topic creator, one could assume it is conclusive.


It doesn't matter who plays the games because the random spawn placement is standardized, and you're just looking at whether the map generally spawns people at close positions. It doesn't make sense that it would randomly pick people to always spawn close, and it's more likely to be a general problem, if there even is one (I don't think there is).

And I wouldn't say 6 out of 100,000 people is a lot. That's 0.00006% of people hitting the jackpot, statistically insignificant.
How's the weather down there?
NonY
Profile Blog Joined June 2007
8751 Posts
February 15 2011 20:12 GMT
#39
On February 16 2011 05:09 aristarchus wrote:
TBO wins the thread. This is definitely a statistically significant result, but I still don't believe it. Lots of people probably try this stuff, and a small number get really weird results and then post here. (This is a problem with academic research too - the way you settle it is to do more tests independently, and also to have some healthy skepticism about the likelihood that blizzard screwed something this simple up in that weird a way in the first place.)

How does he win the thread? While he makes a relevant point, he hasn't provided the data to prove that the phenomenon he claims is happening is actually happening. At the moment, he's relying on faith that nothing has caused a problem in SC2's ability to give random positions on Metalopolis.
"Fucking up is part of it. If you can't fail, you have to always win. And I don't think you can always win." Elliott Smith ---------- Yet no sudden rage darkened his face, and his eyes were calm as they studied her. Then he smiled. 'Witness.'
ALPINA
Profile Joined May 2010
3791 Posts
February 15 2011 20:12 GMT
#40
On February 16 2011 05:09 Liquid`Tyler wrote:
Show nested quote +
On February 16 2011 05:02 TBO wrote:
On February 16 2011 04:58 Frozenserpent wrote:
People are fucking retarded and need to learn some basic statistics before they say something like "not big enough sample size".

Even 50 can be sufficient to obtain a p-value < 5%.

In this case, p-value is definitely low enough to reject the assumption that it's 1/3rd.

Obviously if you want the exact ratios you'd want to expand on the larger sample size, but this is conclusive to determine that it's not 1/3rds.


The problem here is that you have millions of players who play 100 games on metalopolis and a few of them will get extreme results (and those will post in the forums), even if it is 1/3 chance.

If you have 100.000 people throwing a coin 15 times, you will get quite a few (6 in average) who will get a 15-0 or 0-15 result.

Only if lots of people get the same results as the topic creator, one could assume it is conclusive.



Show nested quote +
On February 16 2011 05:05 Soma.bokforlag wrote:
On February 16 2011 04:58 Frozenserpent wrote:
People are fucking retarded and need to learn some basic statistics before they say something like "not big enough sample size".

Even 50 can be sufficient to obtain a p-value < 5%.

In this case, p-value is definitely low enough to reject the assumption that it's 1/3rd.

Obviously if you want the exact ratios you'd want to expand on the larger sample size, but this is conclusive to determine that it's not 1/3rds.


you shouldnt call people retarded when you obviously doesnt understand statistics. if you make enough studdies some of them will turn out faulty results even if the method is correct 99.9% of the time.

in this example, it is possible that the author of the thread felt "damn, i get alot of close positions" and therefore examined his stats.. the rest 99.99% of players which have a more even distribution never gave it a thought and probably are closer to correct ratios

edit. TBO was quicker than me..

Ah, you guys aren't likely to get your PHD's when you can't even understand the OP's testing methods. He didn't examine the games that gave him the feeling that he got close positions. He got that feeling and ignored those games and loaded up 100 more games against the computer and recorded those results.


So he could still be wrong, 100 games cannot prove anything, can they? People are saying that even if the chance of getting close positions is 1/3 the statistics made from 100 games can still be wrong..
You should never underestimate the predictability of stupidity
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