I think they are doing this to make sure the patch is actually balanced because I don't think PTR was all that helpful. The skill level in PTR was definitely lower than retail so it's possible they want to shorten the seasons, starting with season 4 with 1.4, to gauge a better level of balance. A lot of their changes were very small and I think they want to see how people's records might have changed from season 3 (1.3) to season 4 (1.4).

This also gives blizz an opportunity to look at balance from the maps they use in ladder. It might be possible zerg is OP in every way but due to the maps they are favoring terran (not saying this is true). It could also be that protoss was never broken but the maps made it easier to deny scouting and thus the 1/1/1 was easier to pull off (also not saying this is true).

Whatever blizz reasoning behind shortening the seasons I'm sure it's a very good one and my guess it has to do with patches and maps and how they effect balance.

Zealot Lord

Hong Kong747 Posts

September 27 2011 00:27 GMT

#184

Eh, I don't really like this change - 6 seasons a year is too many (feels like GSL lol >.>), I personally thought a new season every quarter was just right. Getting placed at the top of your division somehow doesn't seem as rewarding with such short seasons, could be just me though.

They should just weed out the inactive players through a slow gradual MMR decay for extended periods of inactivity, its stupid that every season you have like a third of the master league players with just nothing but the 1 placement game played. Not to mention a MMR decay is good for people who have taken a long break from the game, you don't really want to play the same people that you played when you were at your peak skill levels anyways.

Also, why do I have this feeling that those people who are active for just the 'first 8 weeks' will probably then be active only for the first 4~6 weeks in two month seasons? I hope I'm wrong though =/

CeliosB

Canada100 Posts

September 27 2011 00:53 GMT

#185

two months is perfect, now if they put in terrible maps we only have to play them for 2 months

Rasun

United States787 Posts

September 27 2011 01:05 GMT

#186

I like that their will be a set time and you know for certain when a new season is incoming. Also, I like the shorter time because its kind of going to be, "how high can I get before the next season, can I beat my ranking finish from last season." Its more like a race to see who can make the most of limited time and where you finish a season can be something you can set goals for. Also, new maps every season will keep things fresh and get bad maps out quickly.

Sina92

Sweden1303 Posts

September 27 2011 01:07 GMT

#187

GSL MAPS PLS BLIZZ

User was temp banned for this post.

blooblooblahblah

Australia4163 Posts

September 27 2011 01:12 GMT

#188

I'm okay with this if it means they get rid of some of the awful maps in the ladder pool. And add Daybreak of course.

svefnleysi

Iceland623 Posts

September 29 2011 01:50 GMT

#189

Seems too short to me. Three months is the bare minimum in my opinion. Otherwise ladder rankings just lose a lot of their meaning.

WarChimp

Australia943 Posts

September 29 2011 03:47 GMT

#190

We now need map of the week. Iccup had it right. Just a rotation of new maps every week would be fantastic. Laddering on these same maps end after end is just brutal and gets very tedious.

Shortening the seasons is good. Still just waiting on multiple replays...

Nyctophobia

Canada99 Posts

September 29 2011 05:03 GMT

#191

Hey, this means I don't have to play Abyssal Caverns or Nerazim Crypt much longer!

Well, hopefully. I don't think Blizzard knows a good idea when they see one...

BigFan

TLADT24920 Posts

September 29 2011 05:23 GMT

#192

I like this idea. More maps and at least you can consider it a clean start even though the MMR remains the same. Maybe I'll go Protoss after this season then XD

shockaslim

United States1105 Posts

October 06 2011 13:25 GMT

#193

I think that this warrants a sort of revitalization for the new information posted on Oct 5th.

http://us.battle.net/sc2/en/blog/3665635/Season_3_Lock_Incoming-10_5_2011#blog

Season 3 is coming to an end soon, and Season 4 is on the horizon. At the end of each ladder season, leagues are “locked,” which means players can no longer be promoted or demoted out of their current league or division, and bonus pools will stop growing. That’s no reason to quit playing: even after leagues are locked, players will still be able to play out their remaining bonus pool and compete for standing within their divisions until the season ends two weeks later. The matchmaking skill ratings which determine league promotion and demotion will also continue to update during the lock, so games played during the lock still count toward Season 4 league placement.

The Season 3 lock will go into effect the week of October 10. Season 3 will officially end and Season 4 will begin during the week of October 24. Season milestone rewards will be locked in at this time and bonus pools will reset. Hidden skill ratings used for matchmaking and league placement will carry over from the previous season, so players who have completed placement matches in a previous season will only need to play one new placement match after Season 4 starts.

Beginning with Season 4, two changes are coming to future ladder seasons:

Each season will now last for approximately two months.
Grandmaster league placement time will be reduced to one week (from two weeks) to account for the reduced season length.